It is "suddenly last summer" and the winter season is here. We put the clocks back last Sunday and turned on the heating. Summer had its ups and downs. We in Ontario enjoyed warm weather with timely rain to rid us of the smog and keep the lawns green. Out west they were not so lucky - droughts, grasshoppers, poor wheat crops, and in British Columbia a near collapse of the lumber industry thanks to our neighbours in the south. 

Despite 9/11 the mood here is upbeat. Social events, picnics, and village festivals were well attended The Viva Goa Festival drew a crowd of more than 3500, mostly from the younger generation which left our community fathers beaming. Of course it is the women and mothers who do all the hard work. 

Our jobs and housing scene are not too bad either. For the newly arrived finding a job can be trying, but the overall unemployment rate is less than that for the rest of the country. Businesses and industry complain about the lack of skilled personnel. The Federal Government is revamping the immigration policy to ensure that 300,000 make it to Canada every year. However, the educational and skills levels have been raised so it is not that easy to come here. New arrivals with dual incomes and savings from back home can find affordable modern housing in the suburbs of Toronto. Mortgages are in the 7-8%, and home salespersons, called realtors here, say that business is good. 

However, as community we have had our sad moments. In Mississauga, 12 year old Brendon de Souza lost his three year battle with cancer, but will be forever remembered by his school and his community. In Calgary, the community and business leaders mourned the loss of Tony Sequeira who died in a boating accident. Memorial services were held for him at the Canadian Petroleum Club and other organizations where is loss was termed irreplaceable. 

As will be noted in the next section of this newsletter there are a host of events one can look forward to foil the cold of winter, not least the expected arrival of Goa Fenny in Toronto!.