Let’s Build a Filipino Community & Cultural Centre in South Vancouver
Filipino BC is working alongside community members and organizations to help bring the Filipino Community & Cultural Centre to life in Vancouver. We invite you to learn more about the centre, explore the What We Heard Report, and see what’s already taking shape. Your voice matters in this journey—join us in shaping what comes next.
Did you know the Filipino community is the third largest immigrant group in BC—and the fastest growing—yet we still don’t have a dedicated space to gather and celebrate our culture?
Roadmap to the Filipino Community & Cultural Centre
COMPLETED
IN PROGRESS
COMING SOON
STAGE ONE
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In April 2023, Filipino BC was founded with a vision of creating community serving institution capable of addressing our diverse needs and aspirations. From the beginning, a legal structure and governance framework were established to ensure accountability, transparency, and long-term sustainability.
While we dreamed of all the community could accomplish together we knew we would need a comprehensive and detailed plan to meet those objectives.
STAGE TWO
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Our Public Engagement Plan engages BC's Filipino and the broader community in creating culturally relevant programming and infrastructure like the Filipino Community Centre. Our plan is designed to educate and inform as well as to collect critical data to deliver purpose-built spaces that serve not just the Filipino community but also address the needs and service gaps within our province, particularly those of similar racialized diaspora communities.
Through open houses, focus and interest groups, community outreach, town halls, and surveys, we are ensuring a wide range of voices and perspectives are represented. We have completed Phase 1 and Phase 2, and moving on with Phase 3, with a continued commitment to making this a truly community-led project.
Engagement Phases:
Phase 1 – Sharing information and gaining an understanding of community values and needs
Phase 2 – Collecting feedback on engagement results and proposed building programming
Phase 3 – Gathering feedback on the schematic design and final programming
STAGE THREE
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*During our public engagement, essential services and programs were identified by the community. We have been collaborating with the community to develop these programs and services, and we will continue building ongoing programming that reflects and supports their priorities.
Guided by community feedback from our first phase of Public Engagement, we have already launched a number of programs that reflect the priorities and aspirations of our community. Throughout 2025-2026, we will continue to expand these offerings to ensure that the Filipino Community Centre is truly purpose-built for the programs and services that already exist and thrive within the community.
Programs currently underway or in development include Filipino language classes, peer support initiatives, senior support services, STEM classes, legal advocacy and outreach, youth mental health programming, the expansion of Kusina, and a range of networking and cultural events.
Our team is committed to:
Developing and implementing programs and services that support the Filipino community and beyond.
Organizing events that celebrate Filipino culture and heritage while fostering unity.
Supporting neighbourhoods with high Filipino density and other displaced communities.
Partnering with nonprofits, faith-based organizations, neighbourhood houses, and other service providers.
Offering arts, culture, and social services programming that strengthens community connections.
By grounding our work in existing strengths and community-led initiatives, we are building a foundation for a Filipino Community Centre that not only honours our heritage but also addresses the evolving needs of our community.
STAGE FOUR
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To ensure the sustainability and growth of the Filipino Community & Cultural Centre, we are developing a comprehensive development and funding strategy for Filipino BC. This strategy supports the expansion of programs and services now, while laying the groundwork for the FCCC's future. By combining grants, sponsorships, partnerships, annual giving campaigns, monthly donorship, targeted funding, social enterprise, and community events, we are building a strong and resilient foundation to meet both immediate needs and long-term goals.
STAGE FIVE
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The "What We Heard" Report will summarize findings from both phases of public engagement concerning the creation of a Filipino Community & Cultural Centre. This includes feedback gathered from surveys, town halls, open houses, focus groups, and program participants. Additionally, the report will synthesize existing scholarly research and relevant findings pertaining to the project and the ongoing programs of Filipino BC.
The report includes a literary review and analysis of relevant scholarly research, a detailed account of Phases 1 and 2 of public engagement, and a summary of community feedback and key findings. It serves both as a record of what has been heard so far and as a foundation for the next steps in developing the Filipino Community & Cultural Centre.
STAGE SIX
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The Foundation partners with donors and their families to align contributions with their philanthropic goals, addressing community priorities while generating essential financial support. Guided by the values of bayanihan (mutual aid) and kapwa (shared humanity), the Foundation fosters a shared responsibility to strengthen the community and improve society as a whole.
In response to the April 26 tragedy, when our community came together to grieve, care for one another, and begin healing, the Kapwa Strong Fund was created. What began as emergency and recovery funding has now closed, and the Kapwa Strong Fund Endowment has been established as a new and separate fund. This endowment focuses on long-term healing, resilience, and community capacity—supporting the Filipino community not only today, but for generations to come.
Vancouver Foundation helped establish the endowment to ensure it addresses urgent needs while providing ongoing support for programs, services, and initiatives that empower the Filipino community well into the future.
This endowment is critical for the Foundation because it provides a stable, lasting source of funding. It supports growth plans, including the development of a Community Land Trust and the management of grant disbursements that reinvest directly into programs and services. Transparency is central to this work: the Foundation will provide regular public reporting and share updates in community spaces and through networks to make information easily accessible to all. By creating a sustainable funding source, the Foundation can ensure long-term support for the Filipino community without relying solely on government funding, allowing programs and services to continue uninterrupted for years to come.
STAGE SEVEN
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As part of the planning for the Filipino Community & Cultural Centre, a comprehensive approach is being taken through a Feasibility Study, Business Plan, and Operating Plan to ensure the Centre’s sustainability, effectiveness, and impact.
The Business Plan provides a strategic overview, including an executive summary, market analysis, organizational structure, marketing and sales strategy, services and programs, risk analysis, impact evaluation, and financial forecasts over 1–5 years. It is primarily intended for government bodies, stakeholders, and potential investors to demonstrate the viability and long-term sustainability of the project.
The Operating Plan focuses on the day-to-day functioning of the Centre. It maps business processes and workflows, sets operational goals and timelines, defines resource requirements, estimates the operational budget, and establishes key performance indicators. The Operating Plan is reviewed annually to align with the broader Strategic and Business Plan and is intended for the Board, partners, staff, volunteers, service users, and the wider community.
The Feasibility Study evaluates the project from a holistic perspective, covering project introduction and summary, programming and site evaluation, design options, cost analysis, project financing, revenue generation, and implementation. The Feasibility Study is intended for all stakeholders to ensure that decisions are informed, data-driven, and aligned with community needs and aspirations.
Together, these three documents provide a robust foundation for the planning, implementation, and long-term success of the Filipino Community & Cultural Centre.
STAGE EIGHT
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The project proposal for the Filipino Community & Cultural Centre will outline the vision, development goals, and objectives, drawing from the Business Plan, Strategic Plan, Operating Plan, and Feasibility Study.
Key elements of the proposal include:
Technical inventory and analysis of the proposed site, including mapping
Environmental inventory of the site
Development concepts for the Centre and staging/support facilities
Main development phases, emphasizing the structure of the first phase
Infrastructure capability aligned with project scale
Identification of environmental issues and hazards, with planned remedies
Assessment of economic, social, and land use impacts, including conflict resolution strategies
Engagement and mitigation measures with First Nations communities
Economic feasibility, with cost estimates and projected revenue streams
Ownership and management structure
Evidence of financial capacity to complete the master planning and approval process
This proposal will serve as a comprehensive roadmap for government stakeholders, demonstrating the project’s feasibility, sustainability, and alignment with community needs while providing a clear path for implementation.
STAGE NINE
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A capital campaign for the Filipino Community & Cultural Centre is a comprehensive fundraising effort designed to secure the financial resources necessary to construct or significantly renovate the building. This campaign engages all levels of government, private and public foundations, major donors, and other stakeholders. Importantly, the broader community will not be heavily engaged during the majority of the fundraising, respecting the history of previous centre attempts and prioritizing trust-building within the community.
The campaign is structured in three main phases:
Quiet Phase
Also known as the silent or leadership phase, this initial stage focuses on securing major gifts and pledges from key supporters before publicly announcing the campaign. Contributions often come from wealthy individuals, foundations, corporations, and all levels of government through grants, matching funds, or direct allocations. This phase typically accounts for up to 80% of the total campaign goal. Securing these key gifts early demonstrates momentum and confidence, establishing a strong foundation for the public phase. Key strategies include major gifts, corporate and foundation grants, naming opportunities, and government partnerships.The public phase, which focuses on engaging the broader community, will be detailed in Phase 10 – Engage Community in Public Fundraising Efforts.
This phased approach allows for strategic, sustainable fundraising while balancing the need to build trust within the community and secure critical resources for the Filipino Community & Cultural Centre.
STAGE TEN
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While donations for programming and services are open to the community throughout, the community will not be asked to participate in fundraising for the capital plan until this phase.
Once a substantial portion of the fundraising goal is secured through the Quiet Phase, the campaign enters the Public Phase, designed to engage the community and raise the remaining 20% of the goal. This phase provides opportunities for everyone to contribute, big or small, toward the development of the Filipino Community & Cultural Centre.
Community fundraising initiatives could include karaoke nights, benefit concerts, fashion shows, talent showcases, crowdfunding campaigns, silent auctions and raffles, art exhibitions, sports tournaments, seasonal craft fairs, and matching campaigns. These activities not only raise funds but also strengthen community connections, highlight Filipino heritage, and foster a sense of shared ownership over the Centre.
Completion and Celebration
Once the fundraising goal is met, the campaign will conclude with a celebration—such as a groundbreaking or ribbon-cutting ceremony—honouring the contributions of donors, volunteers, and the community. Even after this milestone, community engagement continues, ensuring ongoing support for both the Centre’s construction and the growth of its programs and services.
In April 2023, Filipino BC was founded with a vision of creating a community serving institution capable of addressing our diverse needs and aspirations.
One aspiration is to work alongside the community to create a purpose-built Filipino Community & Cultural Centre in BC with facilities and programs that suit our needs. This includes affordable housing, archives & museum, athletics & sports gyms, performance & exhibition areas, child & senior care, and more.
While we dreamed of what the entire community could accomplish together, we knew we would need a comprehensive and detailed plan to meet those objectives by Filipinos, for everyone.
Why do we need a centre?
As the third largest cultural group in British Columbia, Filipino Canadians deserve a dedicated, unifying space that is accessible and inclusive. Currently, there is a lack of community spaces in British Columbia that provides culturally inclusive programming and services for Filipinos. Addressing this issue is essential to alleviate social isolation, foster belonging and promote unity within the Filipino community.
The Demographic Profile of Filipinos in BC