Featured Articles and Events
Victoria Filipino Canadian Association (VFCA)
The Victoria Filipino Canadian Association honors and respects the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations, as well as the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples on whose traditional territories the organization operates.
As an organization of Filipino Canadians on stolen lands, we commit to continuously learn about Canada's colonial history and the ongoing impacts of violence on Indigenous peoples, as well as recognizing our collective role in advancing truth and reconciliation.
Our History
Filipino immigration to Canada began in 1946, but it wasn’t until the late 1960s that their numbers grew significantly due to new immigration policies. As the North American city closest to the Philippines, the Capital Region became an early home for Filipino immigrants. Many of these early settlers were healthcare professionals, teachers and domestic workers seeking better economic opportunities and a stable future for their families.
Collaborative Associations
VFCA, together with BCHS, VFCCA, and VFCCSA, actively supports and advances shared goals for the Filipino Canadian community across Vancouver Island. United in purpose, we strive to foster mutual growth, share resources, and drive impactful initiatives through collaboration.
Bayanihan Cultural and Housing Society (BCHS)
The Bayanihan Community Centre is a vibrant and essential part of the Filipino-Canadian community in Victoria, British Columbia. Rooted in the Filipino ethno-cultural tradition of Bayanihan, the term for community volunteerism, the centre operates as a hub for Filipino culture, social services, and community support. This spirit of collective action is reflected in the work of the Bayanihan Cultural and Housing Society (BCHS), which was founded to advance the charitable and service objectives of the Victoria Filipino-Canadian Association (VFCA), the Victoria Filipino-Canadian Seniors' Association (VFCSA), and the Victoria Filipino-Canadian Caregivers' Association (VFCCA).
Victoria Filipino Canadian Caregivers Association (VFCCA)
The Victoria Filipino Canadian Caregivers Association (VFCCA) is a vital non-profit organization based in Victoria, British Columbia, dedicated to supporting Filipino caregivers, migrant workers, and temporary foreign workers in the region. Originally established on December 31, 1987, under the name International Childcare and Domestic Services Association, the organization was officially registered as a non-profit in February 1989. In 2001, it rebranded to the Victoria Filipino Caregivers Association (VFCCA) to better reflect its growing focus on caregivers and their unique needs.
Victoria Filipino Canadian Seniors’ Association (VFCSA)
The Victoria Filipino Canadian Seniors’ Association (VFCSA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of Filipino-Canadian seniors in Victoria, British Columbia. Established in 1988 by a group of new immigrants from the Philippines and Canadian citizens of Filipino ancestry, the association was initially called the Victoria Filipino-Canadian Golden Age Association. Key founders include Fely Arevalo, Dominador Celeste, Lourdes Celeste, Adoracion Cubangbang, Serafin Cubangbang, Isidoro Emmanuel, and Potenciana Emmanuel, with help from Flora Bariuad, Connie Custodio, and Nor Gonzales. The association finalized its constitution in 1989 with the help of Attorney Domingo de Lara and officially registered under the Society Act. In 1995, the name changed to the Victoria Filipino Canadian Seniors’ Association (VFCSA), a title it holds to this day.
