Canadians of South Asian Heritages Museum

ਦੱਖਣੀ ਏਸ਼ੀਆਈ ਵਿਰਾਸਤ ਵਾਲੇ ਕੈਨੇਡੀਅਨਜ਼ ਦਾ ਅਜਾਇਬਘਰ | दक्षिण एशियाई विरासतों वाले कनाडाईयों का संग्रहालय

Help bring the Province’s new museum to Vancouver

Email the Minister of Tourism to show your support for the museum

Support our vision to make Vancouver the future home of the Province of BC’s Canadians of South Asian Heritages Museum.

Tell the Province why Vancouver is the best location for their new museum: Use our letter template (48 KB) to email your support to the Honourable Anne Kang, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport (TACS.Minister@gov.bc.ca), and your MLA. Find instructions for emailing your support letter

ਸਮਰਥਨ ਲਈ ਸੈਰ-ਸਪਾਟਾ, ਕਲਾ, ਸੰਸਕ੍ਰਿਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਦੇ ਮੰਤਰੀ (Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport) ਨੂੰ ਈਮੇਲ ਭੇਜੋ! | समर्थन के लिए पर्यटन, कला, संस्कृति और खेल मंत्री (Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport) को ईमेल भेजें!

ਇਸ ਪੱਤਰ ਦੇ ਨਮੂਨੇ (48 KB) ਦੀ ਵਰਤੋਂ ਕਰਕੇ ਸੈਰ-ਸਪਾਟਾ ਮੰਤਰੀ (Minister of Tourism) ਅਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ MLA ਨੂੰ ਲਿਖੋ, ਇਹ ਦੱਸਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਕਿ ਵੈਨਕੂਵਰ ਇਸ ਨਵੇਂ ਮਿਊਜ਼ੀਅਮ ਲਈ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਸਹੀ ਥਾਂ ਕਿਉਂ ਹੈ। | इस पत्र टेम्पलेट (48 KB) का उपयोग करके पर्यटन मंत्री (Minister of Tourism) और अपने MLA को लिखें, यह बताते हुए कि वैंकूवर इस नए संग्रहालय के लिए सबसे उपयुक्त स्थान क्यों है।

Download letter template for email (48 KB)

Review instructions for emailing your letter

The City of Vancouver and our community partners are championing Vancouver as the future home of the Province’s new museum celebrating the contributions of South Asian Canadians in BC.

ਸਾਡੇ ਇਸ ਦ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਟੀਕੋਣ ਦਾ ਸਮਰਥਨ ਕਰੋ ਕਿ ਵੈਨਕੂਵਰ, BC ਪ੍ਰਾਂਤ ਦੇ ਨਵੇਂ ਮਿਊਜ਼ੀਅਮ ਦਾ ਭਵਿੱਖ ਦਾ ਘਰ ਬਣੇ, ਜੋ ਦੱਖਣੀ ਏਸ਼ੀਆਈ ਵਿਰਾਸਤ ਵਾਲੇ ਕਨੇਡੀਅਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਨਮਾਨਿਤ ਕਰੇਗਾ! | हमारे इस दृष्टिकोण का समर्थन करें कि वैंकूवर, BC प्रांत के नए संग्रहालय का भविष्य का घर बने, जो दक्षिण एशियाई विरासतों वाले कनाडाईयों को सम्मानित करेगा!

This museum initiative is the outcome of a provincewide, community-led engagement process, launched by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, to shape a space that honours the histories, cultures, and ongoing contributions of South Asian Canadians in BC.

Learn more about the Province of BC’s proposed museum

News release in Punjabi and Hindi

As the historic heart of South Asian settlement in British Columbia and one of the top visitor destinations in Canada, our city offers an ideal setting to reflect on the past and celebrate and share stories of South Asian Canadians with the world.

Mayor Ken Sim

Why Vancouver is the right choice for the museum

South Asian communities were foundational to Vancouver’s growth: Establishing the museum here would honour that legacy while creating a lasting space for celebration, education, and connection.

Vancouver’s deep historical connection to South Asian communities: Vancouver was home to the first community-owned Gurdwara in North America, the first mosque in BC, and the first Punjabi Market in Canada. The city was also the site of pivotal events such as the Guru Nanak Jahaz tragedy, making it a meaningful location for a museum that reflects this rich history.

A hub for visitors and residents: Vancouver is BC’s premier tourism and transportation hub, welcoming millions of visitors annually by air, ship, rail, and road. It’s an ideal location for a museum that serves both residents and visitors.

A vibrant and diverse community: Vancouver is home to established South Asian communities, businesses, and organizations that could actively engage with and support the museum, while Vancouver’s diverse cultural make up fosters cross-cultural dialogue.

Opportunities for collaboration: Vancouver offers opportunities for collaboration with established cultural and educational institutions, such as the Chinese Canadian Museum, Museum of Vancouver, and Vancouver Art Gallery.

Our commitment to community: The City of Vancouver is committed to addressing historical injustices faced by South Asian Canadian communities. Learn about our efforts to address historic and ongoing racism toward South Asian Canadians

Voices of community support

“Vancouver is the logical place for a museum to honor the legacy in the city that was home to the earliest South Asian settlers who contributed so much to the fabric of the City and defining moments in our shared history. It is a meaningful place to elevate our cultures, stories, and contributions into both local and global conversations. This museum will be a tribute to our ancestors and a beacon for future generations.” — Wally Oppal, Former BC Supreme Court Justice and Community Advocate

“Vancouver’s story is made richer by the voices and histories of our diverse communities. With more than 9 million visitors each year, and as the gateway to the rest of the BC, Vancouver is the ideal location for a new museum that elevates the stories of the South Asian Canadians who have shaped our province. It would be a powerful addition to our tourism landscape and the museum would benefit from the city’s existing tourism infrastructure, partnerships, and global attractiveness.” — Royce Chwin, President & CEO, Destination Vancouver

“This museum would honour the past and create a lasting space for celebration, education, and connection — something South Asian Canadian communities in Vancouver have long called for. It would be a powerful symbol to see our stories represented alongside other major cultural and tourism institutions in Vancouver.” — Pall Beesla, Punjabi Market Collective

"The Canadians of South Asian Heritages Museum belongs in Vancouver, a city that has long been central to South Asian history in British Columbia. The City’s commitment to reconciliation and to elevating South Asian voices reflects the value of this vital community. Vancouver’s centrality makes it the ideal home for the museum, where visitors from B.C. and around the world can learn about and celebrate South Asian heritage." — Humna Khan, Student, Masters of Community and Regional Planning

“This museum will mean so much to the South Asian community but it is also for everyone including people all over Lower Mainland and the millions of tourists that visit Vancouver to enjoy and learn more about our long rich history here in Vancouver. Our community roots started in Vancouver with the 2nd Avenue Gurdwara in Kitsilano, the mill workers who lived here, rail and farm workers, the booming fishing industry, and the Fraser River that supported us. My wish is that this museum finds a home in Vancouver.” — Harjit Dhillon, Sunset South Asian Senior Women’s Group

City commitment

In 2024, Mayor and Council unanimously passed a motion supporting the museum (315 KB) and committing, in principle, to covering one-third of the capital costs, including land, for a Vancouver location, subject to a financial and project review.

The City is actively engaged in the Province’s site selection process and is ready to support next steps should Vancouver be chosen.

The final name for the museum has yet to be confirmed by the Province. Learn more: Canadians of South Asian Heritages BC Museum

We recognize that not everyone identifies with the term ‘South Asian Canadian’. For more information on why we currently use that term, review our FAQ.

Instructions for emailing your support letter
How to email your letter
1. Copy the template below or download the template (32 KB), then paste it into a new email.
2. Fill in your information at the bottom:
  - Your full name
  - Your address or postal code
  - (Optional) Add a short personal note about why you support the museum.
  - Send your email to the addresses below
Who to send your email to

Send the email to:
- TACS.Minister@gov.bc.ca
CC:
- Joan.Phillip.MLA@leg.bc.ca; s.chandraherbert.mla@leg.bc.ca; Brenda.Bailey.MLA@leg.bc.ca; Adrian.Dix.MLA@leg.bc.ca; Terry.Yung.MLA@leg.bc.ca; Dallas.Brodie.MLA@leg.bc.ca; Christine.Boyle.MLA@leg.bc.ca; Sunita.Dhir.MLA@leg.bc.ca; David.Eby.MLA@leg.bc.ca; Mable.Elmore.MLA@leg.bc.ca; Niki.Sharma.MLA@leg.bc.ca; George.Chow.MLA@leg.bc.ca; Joan.Phillip.MLA@leg.bc.ca
Add subject line

Choose Vancouver as the location for the Canadians of South Asian Heritages Museum

Copy this email letter content and fill out your information at the bottom of the letter

Dear Minister Kang and Vancouver MLAs,

I’m writing to ask you to choose Vancouver as the location for the new Canadians of South Asian Heritages Museum.
Vancouver is the best place to share South Asian Canadian stories with a global audience while also serving as a vibrant and inclusive space for all South Asian communities across BC to gather, celebrate and host cultural programming.

In addition:
- Vancouver has a deep connection to South Asian Canadian history. It was one of the first places South Asian people settled in BC and is home to many important firsts — like North America’s first community-owned Gurdwara, BC’s first Mosque and Canada’s first Punjabi Market. Vancouver was also the site of major historic events including the Guru Nanak Jahaz tragedy, which continues to spark important national conversations about equity and the South Asian Canadian experience.
- Vancouver is a welcoming and accessible city and the best place to honour the history and contributions of South Asian communities from all across BC.
- As a top tourist destination with excellent transportation and accommodation options, Vancouver is easy to visit – whether you are coming from Surrey, Seattle, New York or Mumbai.
- Vancouver is home to many different South Asian Canadian communities and leading cultural organizations making it the best place for collaboration and to bring people together.
- In addition, the City of Vancouver is dedicated to uplifting South Asian Canadian communities and is currently working with community to address historical discrimination and impacts today.
Please make Vancouver the home of this important museum. It would be a lasting tribute to the dreams, resilience and contributions of South Asian Canadians and a place where future generations can see themselves reflected in our shared history.

Sincerely,

[Add your full name here]
[Add your address or postal code here]
[Optional: Add your personal connection or reason for support into the letter]
Documents
News releases
- October 15, 2025: Vancouver seeks to become home of new provincial museum celebrating South Asian Canadians
  - ਵੈਨਕੂਵਰ ਦੱਖਣੀ ਏਸ਼ੀਆਈ ਕੈਨੇਡੀਅਨਾਂ ਦਾ ਜਸ਼ਨ ਮਨਾਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਨਵੇਂ ਸੂਬਾਈ ਿਮਊਜ਼ੀਅਮ ਦਾ ਘਰ ਬਣਨਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ (225 KB)
  - वैंकूवर दक्षिण एशियाई कनाडाईयों का उत्सव मनाने वाले नए प्रांतीय संग्रहालय का घर बनना चाहता है (259 KB)
- Office of the Mayor (November 13, 2024): City Council Advances the Creation of South Asian Cultural Centre of Excellence (315 KB)
Council report

Council report (November 13, 2024): Members' Motion - Establishing a South Asian Cultural Centre of Excellence in Vancouver - Standing Committee on City Finance and Services (100 KB)