Miguel Gameiro and Olavo Bilac at the Toronto Portugal Week – Observer
Singers Miguel Gameiro and Olavo Bilac will headline the Toronto Portugal Week, which will take place in June in the Canadian city, a source from the organization told Lusa today.
“When there is no government or municipal support, organizing an open-air event, with large budgets, is not easy, featuring artists from Portugal, renowned singers, such as Miguel Gameiro and Olavo Bilac, as we will bring this year, to many cost, but we will do it with great pleasure”, said Joe Eustáquio, president of the board of ACAPO (Alliance of Portuguese Clubs and Associations of Ontario).
The concerts with the participation of former bands Gameiro (Polo Norte) and Bilac (Santos e Pecadores), will take place on June 10, 11 and 12, at Earlscourt Park, north of Toronto, next to the intersection of Caledonia Road and St. Clair Avenue West.
We have a feeling that we have a responsibility to represent the Portuguese in the Toronto area, used to this type of shows, where Portuguese gastronomy is not lacking, the Raízes do Nosso Povo folklore festival, a celebration of Portugal”, underlined the leader. .
The official commemoration takes place on the 13th of May, on the anniversary of the official opening of Portugal to Canada, at Praça Camões, in Rua do Colégio.
An area that “is not very recognized by the Portuguese”, but that “integrates the history of the community”, where it is located on the local Luso-Canadian Walk of Fame that represents “the past and future of the community”.
The Portugal Day Parade takes place on June 11, at Dundas Street West, between Lansdowne and Ossington, followed by Trinity Bellwoods Park, where the usual tribute to volunteers will take place.
Between 1987 and 2017, ALIANÇA had an impact on the culture of the large community in this region, with a stop that our recognized institution is to return and create a parade that honors our culture and that Portugal represents in this country to try” Explanation Joe Eustáquio
Before the beginning of the pandemic, ACAPO had 37 active associations, and there were worrying concerns about the future of some collectivities, mainly folkloric groups.
In this sense, the leader appeals to all members of the community to support, “whether monetarily or through voluntary work with the associative movement, so that Portuguese culture remains present in Canada”.
According to data from the 2016 Canadian census, 483,610 Portuguese and Portuguese descendants lived in Canada, that is, 1.4% of the country’s population.
Most reside in Ontario (69%), Quebec (14%) and British Columbia (8%).