Viva
Goa 2019, North America’s largest Goan Cultural Festival will be celebrating World
Goa Day today, July 27, 2019, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. With the most
authentic multi cultural experience of Goan cuisine, music and culture across
the globe. the festival will begin with a Community Thanksgiving Mass
celebrated by the Goan Overseas Association (G.O.A.) and Association Alliances.
The line up of international and local talent includes Ester Noronha, whose
movie ‘Kantaar’ will also be screened, along with Grenville Pinto, Colin D’Cruz
from Goa and bands like Goa Amigos, Blindfold Test, and Club Harmony.
President of G.O.A, Selwyn Collaco, shares
his own experience as a Goan in Canada, “Goans have done very well individually
in Canada and have contributed a lot. However, as a unified community, we still
have a lot to of work to be done. We have to continue to work together to
create pride in our Goenkarponn, especially in future generations. Today, this
is what the G.O.A is focused upon; it is my vision as the president. The
success of this organisation has been through the cooperation and collaboration
of our members. This year, we launch the new immigrant settlement program to
help immigrants to integrate when they arrive in Canada,” says Selwyn.
Ryan De Sa, originally from the island of
Divar, is the Founder and Managing Partner of De Sa & Associates PC, a law
firm in Canada. He immigrated to Canada in 1997 with his parents and two elder
sisters. “What never ceases to amaze me is the monumental amount of progress
and change this incredible Goan community has made since that time. I had
learned very early that this country provides unlimited opportunities to those
who are bold, hard-working and open-minded. I am enthralled by the work done by
the G.O.A in amalgamating itself into the fabric of Canadian ideology, society,
and customs.
Ryan explains that from business events to
retiree programs, to immigration services, and even social events or feasts,
the presence of the Goan people is felt around Canada. Goans also strive to
participate in volunteer organisations like local homeless shelters, food banks
and charity events like the one they recently did for the Canadian Victims of
Sri Lanka. “It makes me very proud that in times of dissent and instability
abroad, we continue to open our arms to those around the world that are in need
of our embrace,” emphasises Ryan.
Greta Dias was born in Kampala, Uganda and is
the daughter of parents originally from Carmona, Salcete, while her husband is
from Moira. They are parents of two children and four grandchildren. “My
husband decided to migrate to Canada from Uganda, East Africa in 1971. We were
very fortunate as the company he worked for transferred him to their company in
Canada. I had never left home and always had my parents and sisters around, not
to forget my large network of friends. I was overwhelmed with the welcome
reception we received from the local Canadians as we used to call them ‘white
Canadians’.
When the Dictator, Idi Amin, ousted all
Asians from Uganda, she was reunited with her family informs Greta, who worked
for Canada’s National Airline, Air Canada, for 25 years. Currently, Greta is
the Director of Seniors at the G.O.A Club; she shares her experience of life in
Canada: “For any immigrants coming to this wonderful country, it takes about
two years to adjust to the climate, culture and everything you were accustomed
to in your home country.
Clearly, Goans
have added Goenkarponn to Canada to
create what we may possibly termCanadakar-ponn.
