By ReyFort Media
“I think today is going to be a special day.”
So said Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim in his final remarks on his council motion to expedite the delivery of a Filipino cultural centre in the city.
“Let’s make history today,” Sim said.
Indeed, history was made Wednesday, December 10, when Vancouver city council approved the mayor’s motion, which represents the furthest point the Filipino community has reached in its longstanding quest for a cultural centre.
As Sim explained, the motion he co-presented with Councillor Lenny Zhou provides an “accelerated path” for the potential rezoning of a Mount Pleasant location eyed for a proposed centre that is planned to be part of a hotel development.
“The time for delaying is over,” Sim said, referencing the 40 years that the community has advocated for a centre.
“We see you. We hear you. We love you,” Sim said.
The motion notes that a preliminary proposal has been brought forward by PortLiving for a Main Street Filipino cultural centre and dual-tower hotel development.
PortLiving is the company of Filipino developer Macario “Tobi” Reyes.
The proposed project spans two sites in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood at 1940 Main Street and 143 East 3rd Avenue, both within a five-minute walk of the future Mount Pleasant Broadway Line station.
The motion also relates that the Filipino Legacy Society of Canada (FLS) has formally been registered for the purpose of coordinating and advancing efforts of the Filipino community toward the establishment of a Filipino cultural centre.
FLS will work in coordination with organizations such as, but not limited to, the United Filipino Canadian Associations in BC (UFCABC), the Filipino Seniors Club of British Columbia (FSCBC), the Filipino Seniors Club of British Columbia(FSCBC), Cebuano Society of Canada, Diversity and Inclusion Support Group of BC, and the Seniors Intercultural Society of BC.
FLS will also work with these additional organizations: One Filipino Cooperative of BC, Fil Cooperative One Housing Society, Fil-Can Cultural Heritage Society, North Peace Fil-Can Community Bayanihan Assn, Global Multicultural Affairs Society Canada, Philippine Bagong Pag-Asa of BC, Burnaby Filipino Cultural Society, Dimasilang III International Artist Group, and True North Hinirang Eagles Club.
The motion likewise provides for an interim community space.
The measure directs staff to work with FLS and Filipino stakeholders to identify a suitable city-owned or city-controlled property for use as an interim community space.
The temporary community space will be used while the project goes through rezoning and development.
Sim’s co-presenter Councillor Zhou said that the creation of a Filipino cultural centre is “long overdue”.
Zhou also expressed frustration that some quarters tried to politicize the issue.
During the deliberations, council members acknowledged the leadership of B.C. MLA Mable Elmore in advancing a Filipino cultural centre.
Elmore represents Vancouver-Kensington and she is the first and only MLA in the province who is of Filipino heritage.
Voting in favour were Sim and Councillors Zhou, Lisa Dominato, Sarah-Kirby Yung, Mike Klassen, Peter Meiszner, and Brian Montague.
Councillors Rebecca Bligh, Pete Fry, Lucy Maloney, and Sean Orr abstained.
FLS chairperson Warren Dean Flandez thanked Mayor Sim and council for their support.
“With support from the City of Vancouver, as well as the provincial and federal governments, we
have an unprecedented opportunity to create a permanent home for our community. I look
forward to working with all levels of government to help realize this dream,” Flandez said.
“Today is where the hard work begins: Our community will secure a temporary space where we
can gather to shape the future of the centre. I cannot wait for these conversations and
engagements, because we deserve a space where families, children, seniors, and our most
vulnerable can access quality services and share our rich culture.”
Flandez continued: “Let’s come together to leave a lasting legacy for future generations of Filipino Canadians. It’s time to build the Filipino Cultural Centre in Vancouver!”
Preliminary concept of the 1940 Main Street hotel tower with the Filipino cultural centre (right)) and the 143 East 3rd Avenue hotel tower (left) by Formosis Architecture and PortLiving.
ReyFort Media 
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