By Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport

VICTORIA – We are proud of British Columbia’s diversity. It’s a big part of what makes our province such a great place to live. Canadians of South Asian heritages have origins in nations such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan with a diaspora as far-reaching as Fiji, Africa, the Caribbean and further. South Asian immigration to B.C. has been integral to the growth and success of our province.

South Asian communities have diverse, rich and dynamic cultures that are foundational to the province. We have a remarkable opportunity to bring these communities together through engagement and dialogue to create a first-of-its-kind cultural space.

Creatively investing in cultural infrastructure in the province brings light to stories that have not had sufficient space, highlighting the richness and depth of histories in B.C. that define this province. We look forward to a robust consultation that speaks to the multitude of South Asian communities that have arrived here and their diverse contributions to the province.

We want to hear from individuals and communities about what they want to see, hear and feel in this new cultural space. We are excited to learn more about what this initiative means to individuals and communities. As well as seeing the vision of this groundbreaking space come into focus, unifying so many British Columbians.

Collaboration is essential to the success of this work. Working side by side to bring together the perspectives and expertise of individuals and communities has resulted in many engagement opportunities accessible to everyone. We have learned so much from each other already. It is important that we respect all ideas that are brought forward and the feedback guides the future vision.

No decisions have been made. We want to hear from you. Do you want a museum highlighting the stories of past generations, teaching us valuable lessons of how we move through the world today? Is there a desire to create a space to showcase art and culture that has never been seen before? Is this a place to co-create community understanding of the past, present and future?

We know that communities want to actively live, learn and connect within a space that honours their heritage and identity. The answer to how begins with you.