Newsline Canada

The Goan Community in Toronto enjoyed a year and a season others abroad can only dream about.

On December 25 we awoke to a white Christmas with just enough snow to clear the driveway with ease, build a snowman, and go about entertaining relatives and friends in the time honoured manner.

The year-end is also a time to count one's blessings:

• We Goans here can count ourselves among the 44% of Canadians who express satisfaction living here -the highest rating in the western world.
  
  
• We had Youth Day 2002 and were relieved to see the Holy Father make it down from the steps of the plane and inspire us all with his presence, despite the foreboding of pundits who questioned his strength.
  
  
• Many of us are glad we made it here over the past 30 years. The immigration laws for emigrating here are much tougher now. The new laws stress on academic achievement, years of specialized skills,and a job-in-waiting - few of us including our PM would qualify for if we had to do so now. However,it is still relatively easy to qualify to emigrate to Canada.
  
  
• Despite the above, Canada with it's birth rate of less than 1.5%, is heavily dependent on admitting 300,000 immigrants a year to sustain our lifestyle. Hopefully many of these will be our folks from Goa and the Gulf to inject new blood into our own community here. For those of us successfully settled here, we can do more to make the new arrivals feel welcome here.
  
  
• On a lighter note we have enjoyed a wealth of material comforts. Goan delights such as sausages, sorpotel, and Christmas treats were readily available for the early birds. Suppliers were swamped with orders and sold out well before Christmas day.
  
  
• Those who had been good were rewarded with bottles of the celebrated Kingfisher beer from India, and Kenya's famous Tusker lager. Goa Fenny is in the works next year for those who promise to be exceptionally nice.
  
  
• The Goan Community here has a reputation of knowing how to have fun at social events, particularly the New Year's Bash. This year is no exception, and events hosted by the Goan Overseas Association and the Gulf Goan are expected to draw full houses.

The ' Wish List ' compiled by Goan Voice Canada from listening to well-known Goan community leaders include the following:

• That 'just for once' the leaders of the main community groups come down and meet for a 'face to face' talk to establish 'rules of the road' and other agreements so that collectively we can achieve more for our community.
  
  
• We very successfully organized social events and casino trips. We need to use these good organizational skills to do more to advance the common good.
  
  
• That we display more empathy coupled with tangible action for our folks and institutions in Goa.
  
  
• That we acknowledge and commend those working for our community groups (especially our youth).

Letter from Goa

VARIOUS imaginative and high-sounding titles have been bestowed on Goa over the centuries. Let us add here on of our own: Goa Centre for Celebrations. Down here on the west coast of India, the year is about to ring out after having thrown up a innumerable celebrations, religious or otherwise. Perhaps I am repeating when I say that people have been coming here not only attracted by the beauty of our land but for a lot of other good, bad and even ugly reasons.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will arrive here soon, to have a good rest at a South Goa resort. North Goa seems to be at the losing end, at least where celebrities are concerned, since the advent of the "River Princess". Anyway, one wonders whether the year-end in Goa is fine enough time for such a thing. His deputy, Advani, will be here too. The Goa cops are already hard put to contain the threat that the Al-Qaeda terrorists have infiltrated Goa to bomb the Israelis who descend on Anjuna and other beaches for the New Year celebrations.

The round of rave parties has already begun and the cops are said to be on the lookout to stop them. But who can see in the dark? Definitely not the cops, who can't even see crime in broad daylight. Despite these eternal handicaps they are now burdened with watching Goa's rough, serpentine roads to see that no harm comes to the national leaders, who would be here to rest for a couple of days or more.

The terrorist bit has already terrorized the tourists, who would have been here in several thousands otherwise. The visitors appear to be much less in number than they once used to be at this festive time of the year in Goa.

Come December and several Goan NRIs return for a holiday to the land of their forefathers. You find them all over the place these days…visiting relatives, friends and acquaintances, sampling the "natalamcho kunsvar" (Christmas sweets), purchasing "cheurisam" at the Mapusa Friday Market…and being virtually at all odd places. One wonders, however, how many of them will find some time and would be inclined to attend the Convention organised by the NRI Felicitation Centre on November 29.

Well, we haven't done with celebrations yet. At Goacom, we were involved in a grand occasion of our very own with Marlon Menezes, director of Goacom Insys, taking as his life-partner lovely Aldila Lobo. The nuptials took place at the Bambolim Cross at 5.30 pm on December 27, with Fr Athaide, Fr Ronnie D'Souza and Fr Archie Fernandes being the celebrants at the Mass.

"God's relationship with mankind is depicted, in the Old Testament, in matrimonial language," intoned the suave priest in his brief homily, which lauded Marlon and Aldila for the crucial step they have taken. Later, at the green and profusely decorated lawns of Cidade de Goa, many gathered enthusiastically to shower the happy newly weds with red rose petals and confetti…the youngsters blew bubbles gloriously, while the sea clapped consistently, rhythmically on the sands that lace the Cidade lawns.

Mrs Dias, the toast mistress, sang some virtues of Marlon and Aldila and their parents too, before going on to caution the special man and his wife: "If somebody tells you that there is a perfect marriage, don't believe them; it's a myth." She added, "A marriage has to be nurtured and sustained in love and understanding," and felt that the intelligent and well-qualified couple possessed it in plenty. Mrs Dias quoted Aldila, "Marlon is the rugged type of hiking and biking man and I am a city girl. Ever since we have known each other, we have found great joy in doing the things that each other likes."

Not really given much to formality, Marlon miked…sorry, joked: "I had a fancy speech prepared and I left it at the church," and thanked one and all for making the wedding day such an august occasion. Aldila also had her own say: "Where would we be without friends, who were instrumental in bringing us together, and have great pains, some crossing oceans and others just with the efforts they put in, to be here today?" Aldila mentioned in a special way Ariosto and Vivian Coelho, who she said were "very instrumental" to bring Marlon and her together.

Alfie, the favourite announcer of FM listeners in Goa, conducted the function in his usually, very engaging manner. Archies, with Santa Claus caps, provided melodious music, fitting the occasion.

Shall we say…Till then, and wish that the NEW YEAR 2003 ushers in a heavy load of happiness, peace and prosperity to each one of us in humankind…!

Editor: Joel D'Souza

In the Goan Voice UK [Selected excerpts from GoaNet-UK]
See the Goan Voice UK

Marilyn Abreu, our Goan Voice rep in Goa has been working hammer and tongs to get the website ready in time for the launch which took place on Liberation Day, Thursday, 19 Dec. Check it out www.goanvoice.org.uk. A classified ads section will be added soon. The list of UK Goan Associations needs to be more comprehensive - please send in errors and omissions and include e-mail addresses and websites where possible. Events are listed a full year ahead. The What's New section on the Home page will be used to publicise any urgent news item. Please send your comments to eddie@fernandes.u-net.com

GoanVoice-UK@goanvoice.org.uk: 16 Dec. Maclean's (Canada). Immigrants how many is too many? Extract: A week after he arrived in Halifax by himself with a single suitcase and $50, Jerry Braganza had a job with a local travel agency. Nearly 30 years later, he owns his own agency, employs five people and generates $3million in annual sales. He was a Ugandan refugee of Indian descent in a British camp when Canadian officials interviewed him. And although Braganza was lonely at first, he and his wife Rita now have a lively circle of friends. "It was difficult but I had to get used to it," he says. "I had no other place to go." Photographs of Braganza with staff at his Aero World Travels agency in Halifax, and in 1970. http://www.macleans.ca/xta-doc2/2002/12/16/Cover/76915.shtml

GoanVoice-UK@goanvoice.org.uk: The Stage 12 Dec. Salman Rushdie's novel Midnight's Children has been adapted by the Royal Shakespeare Company and runs at the Barbican Theatre from Jan. 18-Feb. 23. After that, the production tours to Aberdeen, Nottingham, Birmingham, Bath, Leeds, Milton Keynes, Norwich and Salford. The cast includes Tania Rodrigues and Neil D'Souza.

The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge presented a concert directed by Dr Richard Marlow at the Church of Assisi at Old Goa. Among the several compositions they presented, the hymn in Konkani which received huge applause from the audience. Times of India 17 Dec. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/comp/articleshow?artid=31509079

Israel has expressed concern to India about the possibility of a terror attack in Goa during the New Year's Eve celebrations in which thousands of Israelis are expected to participate, official sources said. Indian Express 17 Dec. http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=17742#compstory

From Goan Voice UK (formerly Goanet-UK)
Editor: Eddie Fernandes

In the Goan Voice USA

World-renowned & San Franscisco based Goan soprano Deirdre Lobo-D'Cunha will conduct the choir and sing Christmas eve from 11pm onwards, prior to Christmas Midnight Mass, December 24, 2002. Place: St. Matthew's Church, 910 So. El Camino Real, San Mateo, California, 94402. All invited, no charge. RSVP not required.

From Frederick Dsouza: I am looking for a job in New York city. Can anyone help me? Email frederickdsouza@aol.com

From Goa Sudharop (http://www.goasudharop.org/dance.pdf). Thanks to all who have responded to the San Franscisco Bay Area New Years Eve dance invitation. Net proceeds from the dance to benefit Goan charities.

Goan Voice-USA is a volunteer, non-profit news service, serving the US Goan community. To subscribe or unsubscribe or change email addresses, write to goanvoiceusa@yahoo.com

Events

VALENTINES DAY - GALA DINNER AND DANCE
Brought to you by: The Playmates
Date: February 15th 2003 - 6.30 pm onwards
Venue: Brampton Banquets
Band: Blind Fold Test
Tickets: Adults $35 - Children 5-12: $15 Under 5 free.
Contacts: Hilary D'Souza 905 565 8236 - Tony Rodrigues 905 458 8602
Godfrey Mathias 905 814 6138 - Kenneth D'Souza 416 446 1325

VALENTINE DANCE
Knights of Columbus - Christ The King Council
Saturday, Feb 8, 2003 6.30 PM - 1.00 am
At Christ The King Church Hall,
3495 Confederation Pkwy, Mississauga
Tickes $25/person
Band: New Illusion DJ: Glen & Malcolm
Contacts: Cruz Fernandes 905 712 3378 - Roy Almeida 905 273 3868

TANZANITE PICNIC/DANCE 2003

A re-union in Toronto, Canada for Tanzanians all over the world.
Tanzanite Picnic to be held in July 2003 (date to be announced later)
Tanzanite Dance to be held on October 11th, 2003. (anticipating about 800 Tanzanians in attendance).

Details to follow -
Book your vacations around those dates so that you will be able to attend.

Contact name and information below for any inquiries
Doris Demello
1331 Chedboro Crescent
Oakville, Ontario. L6J7A2
Tel: 905-829-8642
Email: dor-osc@cogeco.ca

People Places and Things

NAMES TO WATCH

This year end issue of Goan Voice Canada recognizes the younger members (<40ish !) of our world-wide community for achievements in their professions, or service to the community at large.

The list has been compiled from news sources in print and from the Internet. It is not comprehensive but a start has to be made some time.

Cyberspace:

Goa

Godfrey J. I. Gonsalves, citizens' issues campaigner Active with South Goa citizens issues. He has been one of Goa's active letter-to-the-editor writers, and a consistent campaigner against wrongdoing that affect Goan life.

Frederick Menezes, (Pune) writer and community builder One of the few Goans who has moved successfully into the field of technical writing, and has played an active role in building technical writers across India.

Mayabhushan Nagvenkar, journalist. Bold and young (24) Goan journalist. Has written fearlessly to expose police wrongdoing and on a number of issues. Planning to shift to Delhi/US for higher studies.

Tom Fernandes, German-Goan volunteer with the GSCP One of the few expat Goans to put his energies where his mouth is. Often in Goa and spends time volunteering on the Goa Schools Computers Project. He has played a crucial role in supporting computer hardware in schools.

Albertina Almeida, women's rights campaigner and lawyer in Goa. Has been active on rights issues and is an activist of Bailancho Saad - a women's collective, besides being with Adhar, a socio-legal forum, and Sandharsh, a research and training initiative.

Harvey D'Souza / Neil Alvares, Southern Birdwing.For work in building an enhanced awareness among Goa's young about wildlife issues in the state.

Blinston B2, Free Software advocate. A young engineer, who has been a key supporter of the Free Software concept -- sharing his skills with those needing it.

Nirmal Kulkarni, wildlife activist, Green Cross. see: http://goacom.com/goanow/2002/oct/GreenCross.htm

Sharmad Naik, Hiren Lodhiya and Gaurav Priyolkar. The three young Goan engineers who wrote a widely appreciated 'library' software, and then put it out in Free Software, for anyone to use

Wendell Rodricks, Haute Couture and Design see http://goacom.com/news/news2002/jul/msg00012.html

Canada

Robin D'Abreo - Field Hockey Canada- Men's National Team
Wayne Fernandes - Field Hockey Canada- Men's National Team
Kenneth Pereira - Field Hockey Canada- Men's National Team (see: http://www.fieldhockey.ca/teams/3ntms2003a.html)

Annabel Barreto - Toronto - Lawyer (Family Law)
Patricia D'Souza - Iqaluit - Journalist
Chrystal Gomes - Toronto - Stand-Up Comedian

MEMBERS OF G.O.A. TORONTO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2001-2002

Oscar Furtado
Chris Fernandes
Gavin Francis
Merlyn Fernandes
Paschal D'Souza
Dana D'Cunha
Natalie Dias
Kevin D'Costa
Jeannine Pereira
Seira Furtado
Natasha Andrade
Clayton Fernandes
Faye Aguiar
Noella DeSouza
Melissa Dias
Helen Vaz
Brian Pinto
Desirée Gomes
Pamela Borges

(See http://www.goatoronto.com/comm.htm)

KGA SQEEZE INTO FINAL
Our Sports Reporter - 4 December 2002
From Cric Info on the DAWN

Karachi Goan Association (KGA) Gymkhana squeezed into the final of the Seventh Danish Trophy Ramazan tournament beating Saddar Town by seven runs on Tuesday.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, KGA were restricted to 141 for seven in 20 overs, due to some tight bowling backed up by splendid fielding by Saddar Town.

Hilary Rodrigues top scored for the home team with a polished 42. Sunil Shanker unbeaten
with 22 and Nadeem Tariq (20), also made useful contributions.

Francis D’Costa - A Profile
BORN TO WIN
Pamela Vasandani

Born under a special star, loaded with blessings, Francis D’Costa who hails from the teeming Metropolis of Bombay, India came to Canada in 1990, after a successful decade in the Middle East. Winning comes naturally to this man of Goan heritage, who streaked past his peers in every walk of life, whether in the academic field or the Sports Arena. Not only did he play Hockey for Bombay’s elite Income Tax team, he was also selected for Rest of India Team. He excelled in Soccer, Rugby (played for the Indian team against Sri Lanka in 1975) and was a State player in Carrom. In Bahrain, Francis displayed his skill in Scrabble, walking away with Awards galore. He also continued playing Soccer and Hockey for the various Sports Clubs, whose Talent Scouts were always on the look out for rare players of his ilk.

Coming to Canada did not deter his Winning Streak. Starting his career graph from scratch in the World of Insurance and Financial Services, Francis is President of D’Costa Financial Group having won the Million Dollar Round Table Award many times over, not to mention Court of the Table.

It would have been easy for the man to rest on his laurels and enjoy the fruits of his labours, but Francis has a reservoir of strength and endurance that never seems to stand still and his work for the Goan community and the Indian community at large is never ending. In fact, his involvement with the Indian community won him an award from the Prime Minister, Jean Chretien himself. He is a stalwart supporter of the Goan Soccer League and sponsors budding young teenage sportsmen under that banner. Francis D’Costa is always in the middle of sponsoring some cultural event or other – the most recent of them being the "Feast of St.Francis Xavier" - the Patron Saint of Goa.

See details at http://www.goanvoice.ca/2002/issue5/sfxfeast2002.htm

The proceeds of the Feast Day are to go towards the Church building of The Church of St.Francis Xavier. In fact, most everything that Francis D’Costa does ends up as a charitable venture. The good news is that this event is destined to become an annual event under the banner of "Friends of St.Francis Xavier" of which Francis D’Costa is the President today and has been nominated for an on going tenure, spanning the next three years.

For further information on participating in this event, whether as an entertainer or to set up your business stall, please call 416- 335-5314, fax us at 416-335-5315 or email dfg@dcostafinancial.com.

EVOLVING WORLD CULTURES: A Framework With A Canadian Interpretation
Author: Henry D’Souza

Summary From Back Cover: This informative and multi-disciplinary study presents a model for viewing globcultures. It provides a new definition of "culture" and a tri-polar paradigm for conceptualising cultural similarities and differences, while stressing the dominance of little-known international culture over national and ethnic cultures. The study of cultural development from the time of recorded history reveals more consistency with the "Out of Asia" theory than with " Out of of Africa" one. Economic disparities between North and South can be explained partly by cultural prejudices and partly by racial subjugation through education and finance. The book argues that if traditional policies of encirclement continue a racial war is inevitable despite the fact that the world is moving towards an integrated civilisation.

For a copy contact:
EWOCU Ltd. Suite 601, 3700 Kaneff Crescent,
Mississauga, Ontario L5A 4B8, Canada

By mail order only.
Tranactions by Cheque, bankers draft or certified cheque only.

http://www.goanvoice.ca/2002/issue5/cov.htm

G.O.A. - Blast from the Past ~ `50s - `60s theme Party!"

The G.O.A. Toronto organized a very successful dance on November 16, 2002.

Called a "Blast from the Past ~ `50s - `60s theme Party!", it attracted a capacity crowd to the Premium Banquet Hall at 2360 Lucknow Drive.

Many attendees dressed in the fashion reminiscent of that era - bobby socks and gym shoes, jeans, rolled up t-shirts and many women donned polka dotted flared skirts.

The bands that played music from that era further enhanced the event. Leading the show was the "Fabulous `50s and Sizzling `60s by Les Ombres". The lively, enthusiastic dancing on the floor reflected the popularity of this band. They were followed by "Shade" who played music of The Shadows.

This was a very successful event.

Kudos to the G.O.A. Toronto organizing committee.

Some pictures of the event can be seen at http://ca.photos.yahoo.com/bc/timdemello2 and click on '50s.