Joint Statement On a Collaborative Community Effort to Advance a Provincial Filipino Cultural Centre
Mabuhay House Society and the Pinoy Festival Alliance are pleased to announce a collaborative, community-led effort to advance a proposal to establish a Provincial Filipino Cultural Centre, with the former Burnaby Firefighters Banquet and Conference Centre identified as a potential site.
This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to supporting a community-driven initiative, with distinct and complementary roles in service of the Filipino community in British Columbia.
Mabuhay House Society will serve as the lead proponent, responsible for engagement and discussions with the Provincial Government, the Federal Government, and the City of Burnaby regarding a potential site and the long-term development of a Filipino Cultural Centre.
The Pinoy Festival Alliance, together with Mabuhay House Society’s Council of Leaders, will support community engagement and mobilization, fostering broad participation among Filipino organizations, cultural groups, community leaders, and families across Metro Vancouver.
In July 2025, the Province released the What We Heard Report, which summarized community input on priorities for the location and characteristics of a Provincial Filipino Cultural Centre. The report was compiled with the support and technical assistance of Mabuhay House Society, drawing on survey data and qualitative feedback from Filipino organizations, community leaders, and families across British Columbia.
Survey respondents consistently identified access to transit, location within Metro Vancouver, and parking availability as the highest-ranked priorities, alongside accessibility for seniors and persons with disabilities, safety, proximity to Filipino population hubs, affordability of programs, inclusiveness across diverse Filipino identities, and the ability to activate a space quickly.
The former Burnaby Firefighters Banquet and Conference Centre has been assessed against these community-identified priorities. The assessment reflects alignment with survey criteria, particularly with respect to access, inclusivity, regional reach, and practical readiness.
Together, Mabuhay House Society and the Pinoy Festival Alliance are committed to working constructively with public partners and the broader Filipino community to pursue a viable, fiscally responsible, and community-aligned path toward establishing a permanent Provincial Filipino Cultural Centre that honours Filipino heritage, strengthens community connection, and provides a lasting home for culture, learning, and gathering for generations to come.
Mabuhay House Society Board of Directors
Pinoy Festival Alliance Society Board of Directors