Filipino BC Announces Proposed Site for Filipino Community & Cultural Centre
FEBRUARY 8, 2026
Filipino BC has announced the proposed location for the future Filipino Community & Cultural Centre (FCCC). The approximately 100,000-square-foot facility, along with affordable housing, is planned for a 3.12-acre site at 396 SW Marine Drive in South Vancouver.
The proposed Centre would serve as a community and cultural hub designed to provide a permanent home for Filipino culture, services, and gatherings in British Columbia. The announcement marks a significant step forward in Filipino BC’s long-standing effort to establish a space shaped by and for the Filipino community.
South Vancouver was identified as a priority location due to its large and growing Filipino population. More than 60% of residents in the area identify as immigrants, with many families facing barriers to accessing culturally responsive services. Crucially, the site’s strategic proximity to the SkyTrain, Marine Drive, and Vancouver International Airport positions it as a gateway for the entire province. This connectivity transforms the project into a central destination, ensuring accessibility for Filipino communities across British Columbia.
“This project represents a generational investment in the community with the potential for transformative outcomes,” said RJ Aquino, Chair of Filipino BC. “We recognize that initiatives of this scale can shape lives for generations, which is why centering community voices at every step of the process has been essential.”
Grounded in Community Input
The proposed Centre builds directly on extensive community engagement led by Filipino BC over the past two years. In February 2025, the organization released its What We Heard Report, informed by input from more than 2,000 Filipinos across British Columbia.
“The What We Heard Report reflects the heart of our community,” added Aquino. “Thousands of Filipinos shared what we need, what we dream of, and what we can build together—access to culturally responsive services, more resources for families and individuals, and a shared vision for a Filipino Community & Cultural Centre here in BC.”
Filipino BC views the report as a guiding document for the project’s development and long-term impact. Informed by two rounds of extensive public engagement, early architectural programming includes a museum and archives, an auditorium, seniors space, childcare, a multi-purpose sports court, an innovation and technology hub, and a range of other cultural and community-driven programming.
“This is just the beginning,” said Aquino. “It shows what’s possible when we come together and sets the path toward a future shaped by us, for us.”
Government Engagement and Policy Alignment
On March 24, 2025, Filipino BC issued an open letter to Canada’s three major federal political parties calling for investment in community infrastructure. Commitments to support the project were received from both the Liberal Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party.
The Filipino Community & Cultural Centre was later identified in Budget 2025 as part of the federal government’s $51-billion Build Canada program, recognizing its broader public and community value.
Filipino BC has worked closely with the City of Vancouver for more than two years. The proposed location aligns with the Province of British Columbia’s Transit-Oriented Development framework, supporting inclusive and accessible community infrastructure near rapid transit. The location also supports Metro Vancouver’s Metro 2050: Regional Growth Strategy, and the City of Vancouver’s Vancouver Plan 2025 which focuses much of the city’s future growth and density along the Cambie Corridor and nearby transit-oriented areas.
Community Partnerships
The project is being advanced in partnership with Hungerford Properties as development partner, and in collaboration with South Vancouver Neighbourhood House (SVNH). The partnership is intended to expand SVNH’s capacity, as the organization currently operates beyond its existing space while serving a high-need community.
"Our partnership with Filipino BC spans nearly three years, and we have proudly supported their team and navigated the challenges and milestones of this shared journey together,” said Michael Hungerford, Partner at Hungerford Properties. “Hungerford remains fully committed to this vision, anchoring a project from the ground up that is designed to be of lasting service to the community."
A key component of the Centre will be a Community Food Centre focused on addressing food insecurity in South Vancouver. The model emphasizes dignified access to food and connects individuals and families to culturally responsive programs and services.
“The Food Centre is designed to meet people where they are and respond to the realities families face every day,” said Mimi Rennie, Executive Director of South Vancouver Neighbourhood House. “By offering dignified access to food within a welcoming, community-based space and connecting people to culturally responsive services, this partnership strengthens local supports and builds long-term stability and wellbeing in South Vancouver.”
Next Steps
Filipino BC will continue community engagement, refine programming priorities, and advance early design work for the Centre, with plans for additional community engagement events in the summer. The organization says that maintaining accountability to community voices will remain central as the project moves forward.
In the coming months, the organization anticipates submitting a formal zoning application to the City of Vancouver and will continue working with the City and other partners to support projects that benefit the community.
“The Filipino Community & Cultural Centre is about belonging, opportunity, and long-term community wellbeing,” said Aquino. “We are excited to continue building this vision together.”
