October 1, 2025 - The dream of having a Filipino hub in Vancouver, BC is getting close to fruition.
In a media release, the newly formed Filipino Legacy Society of Canada (FLS) announced that it is “dedicated to the development of a Filipino cultural centre in Vancouver.” It aims to “build and bestow to future generations an enduring legacy that honours the contributions of Filipinos to British Columbia and Canada.”
The establishment of the FLS follows a province-wide public engagement survey, funding commitments from both the provincial and federal governments and punctuated by growing calls for a dedicated cultural space following the tragic events of the Lapu-Lapu street festival in April of this year.
In the media release, FLS founding chair Warren Dean Flandez said, “This cultural centre is about honouring those who came before us and inspiring those who will follow. It is not only a Filipino project (but also) a Canadian legacy, a place where heritage is celebrated, pride is nurtured, and bridges are built across communities.” Flandez is an awarded cultural facilitator, educator, entrepreneur and Juno-nominated artist. He is joined on the FLS board by other community leaders in the areas of business, law, finance and real estate.
Guided by the principle of “honouring the past, shaping the future,” the FLS promises to work with “various stakeholders, including all levels of government and the development industry, to found and operate a cultural centre that serves as a gathering place for Filipinos and the broader public.”
The non-profit has the support of Vancouver mayor Ken Sim who calls the formation of the FLS as a “notable step” in the Filipino community’s journey. “The launch of the Filipino Legacy Society marks an important milestone, and I look forward to seeing their vision continue to grow for the benefit of the entire city,” said Sim.
At the City of Vancouver council meeting on September 16, mayor Sim and councillor Lenny Zhou co-submitted a notice of motion on advancing the project which is envisioned to be located on Main Street. The said motion may be included in the meeting agenda of the council’s standing committee on finance and services for October 8.
During a community town hall meeting organized by the FLS on September 20, City of Vancouver chief of staff Trevor Ford hinted at a potential groundbreaking of the future site as early as 2026 should the mayor and councillor’s motion receive council approval.
At a recent town hall meeting held at the Vancouver city hall on September 27, it was revealed that Vancouver real estate developer Macario “Tobi” Reyes will be working with the Filipino Legacy Society. Reyes confirmed that the proposed centre will be 60,000 square feet in size and will be a component of a future hotel that he will operate.
To sustain the viability of the proposed cultural centre, Reyes committed to donate a portion of the future hotel’s revenue profit estimated to be $1.5 million annually that will go towards the annual cost of operating the centre. The annual donation as well as an endowment fund are envisioned to keep the planned centre financially sustainable.
In 2023, councillors Lenny Zhou and Rebecca Bligh co-presented a motion supporting the creation of a Filipino cultural centre in Vancouver, citing the significant contribution of Canadian Filipinos in the province. The motion was unanimously approved by council.
Also in 2023, the BC provincial government provided funding for planning and public engagement on the development of a Filipino cultural centre in the province. A public engagement survey and a series of roundtable discussions with Canadian Filipino community groups took place in 2023 and 2024 which resulted in the What We Heard report released earlier this year confirming the overwhelming desire of the Filipino community to have its own dedicated space.
The creation of a Filipino cultural centre also received support from the federal government when it committed to become a “funding partner for… a new cultural centre in British Columbia” in the 2024 national budget. It further promised that it will “contribute to build…a new Filipino cultural centre that will create a designated space for the Filipino community to come together and celebrate its culture and heritage.”
About the Author
Rachel-Reid Ramon started writing for magazines and newspapers when she was still a junior at the University of the Philippines’ Communication degree program majoring in Journalism. She continued to write in a public relations/corporate communications capacity in various private and government offices until moving out of the country in 1997 to work as Programme Officer for the arts and culture branch of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO-SPAFA) in Bangkok, Thailand. At the end of her term, Rachel found herself immigrating to Canada in the year 2000 and again searching for new beginnings.
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