This is one of the Canadian CED Network's CED in Manitoba Profiles Project produced 50 stories of Manitoba communities working to build fairer and stronger local economies, reduce poverty, and revitalize neighbourhoods.
Early immigrants and refugees from the Philippines, the majority of which were medical professionals, began to settle in Winnipeg in 1959. Half a century later, in part due to the Government of Manitoba’s Provincial Nominee Program, Winnipeg’s Filipino community is the second fastest growing ethno-cultural community in the city with a population of over 50,000 people.
As a result, Winnipeg has become Canada’s largest Filipino per capita community in the country.
As the central hub for cultural, social and educational activities for the Filipino community, The Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba (PCCM) provides extensive programming for immigrants and refugees, including: monthly welcoming meetings for new Filipinos; candle lighting ceremonies; orientation, information and citizenship lessons; ESL classes; dancing classes; martial arts classes; and indigenous language classes.
