Mayoral Candidate Muhammad Ahmad’s Commitment to the Centre (A Letter to Filipino BC)
OCTOBER 8, 2026
On October 7, 2026, we wrote to every mayoral and council candidate with three concrete asks for municipal support for the Filipino Community & Cultural Centre.
Mayoral candidate Muhammad Ahmad and Bright Future Vancouver have responded. Here’s what they’ve committed to:
Dear Filipino BC team,
Thank you for your letter and for the work you have done to bring the Filipino Community & Cultural Centre closer to reality.
I grew up eating chicken adobo, and I know Filipino culture is part of the fabric of this city. I also know Aj personally and have seen the commitment and hard work he has put into building this vision and serving the community. The Filipino community has helped Vancouver thrive as workers, small-business owners, artists, caregivers, neighbours and community leaders. It deserves a permanent place to gather, celebrate, access services and build what comes next.
If elected Mayor, I will make this project a priority in my first 100 days. I will direct City staff to work with Filipino BC and its partners to identify and remove city-level barriers, coordinate the necessary approvals and move the project toward breaking ground as soon as possible.
I will support each of the commitments in your letter:
Expedite rezoning and municipal approvals needed to enable the proposed centre, residential uses and affordable housing at 396 SW Marine Drive.
Work with Filipino BC, the Province and the federal government to establish a meaningful City contribution, including through a Community Amenity Contribution or another appropriate funding partnership.
Advocate for ongoing municipal funding for Filipino BC’s programs, partnerships and organizational capacity during planning and construction, so the centre can open ready to serve people from day one.
The South Vancouver Food Hub, affordable housing, cultural and recreation spaces, and the programs Filipino BC has already built make this more than a proposal for a future building. It is a community-serving project with work underway and partners ready to move.
The City should be at the table helping make it happen. I would welcome a briefing and a visit to the proposed site.
Sincerely,
Muhammad Ahmad
Mayoral Candidate
Bright Future Vancouver
We’re grateful to Mayoral candidate Muhammad Ahmad and Bright Future Vancouver for making this commitment toward the Filipino Cultural Centre and for recognizing the significant contributions and impact of the Filipino community, as well as the importance of having a permanent home for our community. This project has been more than three years in the making, shaped by the voices, work, advocacy, and support of so many people across our community.
As we hear from the other mayoral and council candidates in response to our October 7 letter, we’ll keep you updated on their commitments and what they are proposing for the Centre. Thank you to everyone who has continued to believe in this vision, speak up for it, and help move it forward — we’re building this together.
