David Eby's BC NDP promises $15 million to create new Filipino Cultural Centre | Daily Hive

Preliminary concept of 1940 Main St., Vancouver, featuring hotel uses and the Filipino Community and Cultural Centre. (Formosis Architecture/PortLiving)

If re-elected in the provincial general election on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, a BC NDP government led by David Eby would set aside $15 million to help establish a permanent Filipino Cultural Centre.

Premier Eby announced the campaign pledge today, building on the provincial government’s previously stated intentions and community consultation on creating a new permanent purpose-built home to celebrate Filipino Canadian heritage and contributions to British Columbia.

“Filipino Canadians have a vibrant history in British Columbia, and a dedicated cultural centre is long overdue,” said Eby.

We are proud to move forward in the spirit of ‘kapwa’ and make sure that this cultural centre captures the diversity, vibrancy and resiliency of the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos who call B.C. home.”

You might also like:

The provincial funding would supplement the federal government’s commitment, announced in 2025, to help fund a Filipino Cultural Centre in B.C. However, the amount of federal funding has not been publicly disclosed.

Several local Filipino organizations have put forward competing proposals to lead the development and operation of a permanent centre in Metro Vancouver, including one proposal in Burnaby and two in Vancouver.

However, neither the provincial government nor the federal government has indicated a preferred proposal or host city for the centre.

With that said, the leading proposal so far involves building two mixed-use hotel towers just off Main Street in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, with the cultural centre occupying the lower floors of one tower. A portion of annual hotel revenues would go towards the centre’s ongoing operating and programming costs. Vancouver City Council gave this concept its preliminary endorsement in late 2025, with the developer’s submission of a rezoning application identified as the next step. The developer has partnered with the Filipino Legacy Society.

There has been considerable momentum for the project, especially after the deadly tragedy during the 2025 Lapu Lapu Day block party in Vancouver.

1940 main street 143 east 3rd avenue vancouver portliving hotel filipino cultural centre

Preliminary concept of 1940 Main St. (south hotel tower with the Filipino Cultural Centre) and 143 East 3rd Ave. (north hotel tower), Vancouver. (Formosis Architecture/PortLiving)

In September 2026, work was well underway to convert the former Blenz Coffee space inside the Library Square atrium in Downtown Vancouver into a temporary Filipino Cultural Centre operated by the Filipino Legacy Society, with its efforts supported by Vancouver’s municipal government. Spanning more than 1,500 sq. ft., the interim centre is expected to open soon and serve the community until a permanent home is ready.

“While Filipino Canadians are a core part of Vancouver’s diverse fabric, until now, we have not had a cultural home in our city,” said Warren Flandez, the chair of the Filipino Legacy Society.

“For decades, we have had to gather in borrowed spaces. With this interim space at Library Square, an iconic location in Vancouver, the Filipino community will have a place we can proudly call home, for now.”

interim filipino cultural centre library square vancouver september 13 2026 f

Celebration event for the interim Filipino Cultural Centre at Library Square in Downtown Vancouver on Sept. 13, 2026. (Filipino Legacy Society)

Just days before Eby called a snap provincial election, the provincial government announced it had selected Surrey as the host city for a new South Asian museum. A memorandum of understanding has been signed with the City of Surrey to advance planning. Vancouver was also considered as a potential host city, but no specific site, budget, or timeline has been established for the project.

The selection of Surrey follows the provincial government’s earlier decision to establish the Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown district. The non-profit organization overseeing the museum, which opened in Summer 2023, received more than $50 million in funding from all three levels of government.

You might also like: