Surrey to host British Columbia’s South Asian heritage museum
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The city of Surrey, British Columbia, will host a new provincial museum dedicated to the history and heritage of people with roots in South Asia, a southern sub-region of Asia including countries like India and Pakistan.
The B.C. government and the city signed an agreement on Friday to begin the process of finding a location for the museum, which was originally promised in 2020.
Surrey won the bid over Vancouver, and local residents and business leaders have been advocating for the museum to be located there for years, citing the city’s large population with South Asian heritage, nearly 40 percent. The museum aims to celebrate the contributions of South Asian Canadians to British Columbia’s cultural, economic, and political life. Balbir Gurm, a member of the museum’s advisory committee, believes the project will build community pride and support well-being by honouring cultural identity.
Currently, officials are still determining an official name for the museum, acknowledging the term “South Asian” can be divisive and seeking a more inclusive title. The province and the city will continue to consult with communities to ensure the museum reflects their stories and needs, though no completion date has been set.
