The Filipino community in Surrey has a strong advocate in city hall, and it’s none other than Mayor Brenda Locke.
In a townhall with members of the community at the central branch of the Surrey public library on June 11, 2024, Locke said that she wishes Filipinos to be able to celebrate and share their culture and heritage in their own cultural centre in Surrey.
Locke told community members that she wants to see a Filipino cultural centre built in the city.
“We are going to do it here in Surrey,” Locke said.
Meantime, Locke said everyone can have a taste of Filipino culture and heritage in the upcoming Fiesta Extravaganza on June 29 and June 30 at the Surrey civic square next to city hall.
Fiesta Extravaganza is being presented by ReyFort Media Group’s Rey Fortaleza and the Fil-Can Cultural Heritage Society led by president Primarosa Roine.
Fiesta Extravaganza was first held at the Surrey civic square in 2023, and it was backed by Locke herself.
“How much fun was that?” Locke recalled 2023 Fiesta Extravaganza at the June 11 townhall meeting.
“I hope you all come and you will have a great time,” the Surrey mayor also said about the June 29-30 Fiesta Extravaganza.
The June 11 townhall was organized by Filipino BC, a nonprofit dedicated to the development of a provincial Filipino community centre in Vancouver.
Filipino BC is also committed to working with other groups in the community to create more spaces like a Filipino cultural centre that Mayor Locke envisions in Surrey.
Locke was invited to the townhall by Mable Elmore, the first and only Filipino to become a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in B.C.
Elmore has a mandate from the provincial government to advance the development of a Filipino cultural centre.
In her remarks, Locke acknowledged the ongoing work of Elmore to elevate the Filipino community.
The townhall also saw the attendance of Jinny Sims, MLA for Surrey-Panorama.
Like Locke, Sims wants to see a Filipino cultural centre built in Surrey.
And similar to Locke, Sims likewise praised the work of Elmore in the community.
“She always brings to the table the Filipino perspective,” Sims said about Elmore.
Elmore has declared that she is running for another term as MLA for Vancouver-Kensington in the October 19, 2024 election.
During the open forum, Fiesta Extravaganza organizer and media entrepreneur Rey Fortaleza urged the community to support Elmore in the upcoming provincial election.
“Mable is the key in our dream to have a Filipino cultural centre and so let us make sure she remains an MLA,” Fortaleza said.
In her remarks, Locke noted that Surrey is a diverse city and it is proud of its different communities.
“This is why we want the Filipino cultural centre to come here,” Locke said.
Locke is a former Surrey city councillor and previously served as Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of British Columbia for Surrey-Green Timbers.
She was elected Surrey mayor in 2022. She previously served as MLA in Surrey-Green Timbers.
Surrey is the largest city by land area and second most populated in Metro Vancouver.
In her first State of the City address, Locke outlined her vision to prepare Surrey to become the biggest city in B.C.
“Surrey will soon be the largest city in the province and is projected to reach one million people as early as 2042,” Locke said in her address.
In 2023, Surrey had a population of 610,480 people.
As Locke noted, Surrey is very diverse. About 45 percent of its residents are immigrants. In addition, 38 percent of Surrey residents speak English as a secondary language.
In 2021, seven percent of Surrey’s population are Filipinos.
In her remarks, Locke pledged to help Filipinos to share their culture and heritage.
“I’ll help you to become more visible,” Locke said during the townhall.
Meantime, Filipino BC leaders RJ Aquino, Kristina Moser, and Armor Valor Corrales shared plans on the group’s mission to create spaces and programs for the community.
The group envisions a purpose-built community centre that will include affordable housing, museum, sports areas, performance and exhibition spaces, child and senior care facilities, and other community amenities.
The federal government as well as the B.C. provincial government have expressed support for a Filipino centre in the province.
