By ReyFort Media
Vancouver city council on July 29, 2026 voted unanimously to give the Filipino community a downtown space to gather, celebrate, and plan future steps for a permanent Filipino cultural centre.
The place is at the atrium of the central branch of the Vancouver Public Library, specifically at 205-345 Robson street.
City council is providing the space at a nominal rate of $10 to cover a period of two years.
This means that the community will have its own place while work continues toward the development of a new and permanent Filipino cultural centre.
Council also approved a grant of $50,000 to prepare the space for use.
The Filipino Legacy Society (FLS) will operate the space, in cooperation with partners.
The approval of the interim space follows the historic December 2025 motion by Mayor Ken Sim and Councillor Lenny Zhou to advance a Filipino cultural centre in Vancouver.
The motion stated that FLS will work with partners in the community to develop a cultural centre, namely, 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.
The list also includes the One Filipino Cooperative of BC, Fil Cooperative One Housing Society, Fil-Can Cultural Heritage Society (FCCHS), North Peace Fil-Can Community Bayanihan Assn, Global Multicultural Affairs Society Canada, Philippine Bagong Pag-Asa of BC, Burnaby Filipino Cultural Society, Dimasalang III International Artist Group, and True North Hinirang Eagles Club.
In response to the approval of the interim space, FLS chair Warren Dean Flandez issued the following statement on July 29:
“Today’s unanimous vote sends a strong message: The Filipino community is seen and heard by
the City of Vancouver. We are grateful to all at City Hall who continue to champion the nearly
four-decade dream of establishing a home for Filipinos in Metro Vancouver.
“For too long, we have had to gather in borrowed spaces, but today’s vote to provide an interim
space at Library Square, an iconic location in Vancouver, gives Filipino culture visibility and our
community a place we can proudly call home for the next two years.
“We also want to recognize the $50,000 granted to FLS for tenant improvements to the space,
which requires renovations such as new plumbing and a kitchenette. We are committed to
ensuring that every dollar goes toward improving the space for all members of the Filipino and
broader community.
“FLS looks forward to opening the interim space in the fall, allowing Filipino groups to share and
celebrate our culture, and community organizations to meet and determine the programs and
services needed in a permanent Filipino Cultural Centre,” Flandez said.
CAPTION: Vancouver city council on July 29, 2026 unanimously approved a Filipino community space at the atrium of the central branch of the Vancouver Public Library in downtown Vancouver.
ReyFort Media 
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