Nairobi (Goan) Institute Up For Sale
Reports from visitors returning from Nairobi report that the renowned Nairobi Institute, founded in 1905 as the Goan Institute, is up for sale. Declining membership, high running costs, and the security situation have made the facility too expensive to sustain. The nearby Sikh Community Hospital is touted as a possible buyer. No firm decision has been taken for the future of the membership.

Canadian Goan Centre in Greater Toronto Area ?
An initiative for setting up a Canadian Goan Centre in the Mississauga Area is being actively investigated by a small focus group. This stems from constant search for premises to hold social events & meetings for all age groups. A seniors group in Mississauga currently holds monthly events at the Malta Band Club. The Maltese club consist of two storefronts properties joined into a 10,000 sq. ft social club which covers all the needs of their 800 paid-up members. Other cultural groups such as the Irish, and the CanOrient Community, have also taken the industrial property route and thrived.

When an adjacent 6600 sq. ft property in the same complex was for sale, a group of Goans asked "Why Not Us ?"
A "Town Hall" meeting to discuss the issue is planned for October 1 See Notice in Announcements Section below.

10th Dr. Ribeiro Goan School Reunion in Toronto 
As one would expect, the 10th Dr. Ribeiro Goan School reunion, which is held every three years and has become one of the most anticipated gatherings on the social calendar in Toronto, was another rousing success.

The five-day event kicked off with a trip to Niagara Falls on Sept. 13, followed by a pub night and a golf tournament that culminated with the grand ball at the Sagan Banquet Hall in Mississauga on Sept. 16 which was attended by 437 ex-students. The curtain came down on the festivities on Sunday Sept. 17 with a picnic that was attended by some 125.

The grand ball was the second largest gathering since the event was first held in 1980, only bettered by the 75th anniversary celebrations held in 2003 when 500 converged on Canada’s largest city.

The visitors this time came from as far away as New Zealand, Australia, Kenya, Spain, the U.K., Germany, the United States. And, for the very first time, the reunion saw a couple of ex-students from Trinidad and Tobago and one from Qatar.

As has been the norm of late, the United Kingdom led the foreign invasion with a contingent of 45. For many it was a time to renew acquaintances with classmates they had not seen since leaving school and in some cases that was after some 40 years ago.

The trip to Niagara included a stop at one of the natural wonders of the world and several took the opportunity to spend and make a few bucks at the casino. The group also had the opportunity to taste some of the award-winning wines in an area that is home to 20 of world’s top wineries.

The following night we had the pub night and ex-student Raymond De Mello and his Le Ombre band put on an impressive show. The Pic-A-Deli Restaurant in Oakville bar did a roaring trade.
On Friday a field of 28 competed in the golf tournament at Castlemore in Brampton and although Remy Diniz was given a run for his money, he retained his title as the best ex-student by shooting an 85. Lewis and Antonette de Souza from Nairobi provided shirts for all of the golfers.

The ball was grand in every respect. The hall’s ambience, excellent food and music by Naked Flame earned rave reviews. Each table was provided with a bottle of red and white wine and mementos with the school’s logo were presented to each couple along with the brochure.
The grace before meals was said by popular teacher Yvonne Da Costa (Coty), a resident of Toronto.

Delphine Da Costa, the president of the 10th reunion, praised her small committee and said without their experience and expertise it would have been impossible to run a function of this magnitude.

Her committee included Xavier Carvalho (Social Secretary and organizer of the golf tournament and the picnic); Ida Gomes ( Assistant Social Secretary and organizer of the trip to Niagara Falls, which was by the way the first of its kind organized by the ex-students committee); Eugene Pereira, the hard-working treasurer and his assistant treasurer Maurice dos Remedios, who were kept extremely busy by last-minute ticket requests; Claire Fonseca, the energetic secretary, and her assistant Norman Da Costa who put together the brochure.

Delphine also thanked their spouses for their work behind the scenes.

She also informed the gathering that Zahir Malik, one of the directors of the school who travelled from Nairobi for the function, had informed her that there was a move to rename the school Dr. Ribeiro Parklands School in the new year and this announcement was met with a long round of applause.

She also acknowledged Mrs. Angela Ribeiro, daughter of Dr. Ribeiro, who turned 90 this month. Mrs. Ribeiro was unable to attend following the recent death of her son Dr. Gerry Ribeiro in England.

Delphine also thanked all those who donated prizes and those who advertised in the brochure.

The winner of the top prize of the raffle, a four-day safari in Kenya kindly donated by ex-student Tom Fernandes, president and owner of Wildlife Safari Kenya Limited, was Toronto’s Pascoal de Souza.

Finally, Delphine paid tribute to Merwin de Souza for his support in promoting the function on his widely read website and presented him with a giraffe carving all the way from Nairobi.

The night ended with Silu Fernandes, a three-time Olympian, being acclaimed the incoming president.

Silu will be in charge of the 11th reunion in Toronto in September 2009.

Please start making your arrangements for the trip now as Silu promises another fun-filled occasion.

Canada's population
As of July 1, 2006
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060927/d060927a.htm

Net international migration continues to be the main engine of population growth in Canada, accounting for about two-thirds of the annual increase in 2005/2006.
Between July 1, 2005 and July 1, 2006, Canada's population increased by 324,000 to an estimated 32,623,500.

During this period, the nation took in 254,400 immigrants, 9,800 more than in the previous year. It was the highest level since 2001/2002 when 256,300 international migrants arrived in Canada.

International migration's role in Canada's population growth far exceeds its impact in the United States. In 2004/2005, net international migration accounted for two-thirds of Canada's population growth, compared to 38% south of the border. For its population gains, the United States counts on a fertility which is higher than in Canada.

Again, Alberta had the strongest growth rate among the provinces and territories, almost three times higher than the national average. This was due to its booming economy and its highest ever level of migration from other parts of Canada.

Alberta's powerful attraction inevitably had an impact on the demography of other provinces and territories. However, net international migration reduced the effects of the Alberta draw in several areas in the country.

Canada's rate of natural increase (the excess of births over deaths) estimated at 3.3 per 1,000 in 2005/2006, is similar to the previous year. Natural increase has been in a long-term decline since the beginning of the 1990s, although it has stabilized since 2000.

On the other hand, international migration gained in importance and has accounted for more than 60% of Canada's population growth since 2001. Comparatively, it represented 46.2% of the country's demographic growth from 1990 to 1995.

According to medium-growth scenarios of Statistics Canada's most recent demographic projections the number of deaths would exceed the number of births by around 2030. At that point, net international migration would become the only factor in Canada's population growth.