Goan Voice, Canada : Newsletter. Issue 2006-22 . October 28, 2006

Newsline Canada

Downturn in Canada's Economy Predicted
In a speech to the Ontario Economic Leadership Summit in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Bank of Canada Governor Dodge reviewed the Bank's projections contained in the Monetary Policy Report, published last week. Global economic growth is expected to be a little higher than previously anticipated, but a weaker near-term outlook for the U.S. economy has curbed the near-term prospects for Canadian exports and growth, the Governor said. The Bank's base-case projection now calls for average annual GDP growth of 2.8 per cent in 2006, 2.5 per cent in 2007, and a return to 2.8 per cent in 2008.

Capitalizing on Canada's diversity is key to nation's future prosperity
RBC report says $174 billion in higher personal incomes at stake

http://www.rbc.com/newsroom/20051020diversity.html

Excerpts….

TORONTO, October 20, 2005 — Eliminating age, gender and cultural barriers could add 1.6 million Canadians to the work force and increase personal incomes by $174 billion according to a new report from RBC Economics, entitled "The Diversity Advantage: A Case for Canada's 21st Century Economy."

The report outlines a hard-hitting case for a national productivity agenda, containing 22 recommendations ranging from tax and policy reform, greater infrastructure funding, sweeping reforms applied to municipal finances, increased levels of immigration and ways the country should capitalize on cultural, gender and age diversity.

"With an aging population, fertility rates well below the 2.1 rate that is necessary to sustain population levels, and one in five manufacturers unable to find skilled labour, Canada needs to have an effective long-range economic strategy to ensure a successful 21st century economy and society," said Derek Holt, assistant chief economist, RBC.

Read More...

"The Story of Jesus in Asia: A Celebration of Faith and Life."
Contemporary Asian Cultures Highlight Jesus At Asian Mission Congress

http://www.theindiancatholic.com/newsread.asp?nid=4091

October 24,2006

CHIANG MAI, Thailand (UCAN) -- The last full day of the Asian Mission Congress (AMC) focused on placing the story of Jesus within Asia's richly varied cultures.

The participants spent Oct. 21 focused on "The Story of Jesus in the Cultures of Asia," a specific dimension of the overall AMC theme, "The Story of Jesus in Asia: A Celebration of Faith and Life."

All but about 50 of the 1,000 or so people who attended the Oct. 18-22 congress in Chiang Mai, about 700 kilometers north of Bangkok, were from Asia.

Read More...

World Goa Day Celebrated in Karachi

Deborah Santamaria has uploaded photographs of the World Goa Day 2006 Celebrations in KARACHI , Pakistan.You can view them at :
http://community.webshots.com/user/DebbieSantamaria

Message from Rene Barreto.

(Click on thumbnails for larger view)

G.O.A. Property at Kirby Road – End of the Saga ?
Edited Excerpts from PULSE –Oct 2006

At the GOA Building Special General Body Meeting held on April 30, 2006, the following motions were approved:

“That the G.O.A. executives be given approval with selling of the property and that the general body will accept a minimum offer of $1.4 million”

“That the Building Sub-Committee continue the actions of doing whatever is necessary to enhance the value of the land……..”

Click to enlarge

Based on the above the Sub-Committee conducted an Environmental assessment and determined that 2 acres (of the 10 acres) could be potentially developed for a Community Centre or put to similar use, subject to re-zoning.

In June of 2006 an unsolicited offer was received which was not acceptable to the Sub-Committee, who in turn proposed a counter offer of $1.5 million with no take-back mortgage. If accepted the Completion date for the sale is December, 15, 2006.

Commentary

ONTARIO GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IN SCHOOLS
New Initiative Will Help Students Achieve Potential, Become Involved Citizens

http://www.premier.gov.on.ca/news/ProductPrint.asp?ProductID=802

TORONTO — Ontario is introducing a new initiative that will support character building in schools and inspire students to become caring and contributing citizens, announced Premier Dalton McGuinty.
"Education is about more than reading, writing and creating good workers," said Premier McGuinty. "At its heart, it's about developing well-rounded citizens who will help build a strong, caring and compassionate society."
The Premier made his comments today at a provincial symposium that brought together 700 students, teachers, educators, trustees and community leaders to exchange ideas on how to better engage young people in schools.
At the conference, Premier McGuinty announced that the government is investing $2 million in a new Character Development Initiative — a program that makes character building an integral part of learning.
Over the next year, teams of experts will be mobilized in communities across the province. These teams will work with parents, students and educators to identify the best ways to build character in schools. This information will be shared with school boards across Ontario. New or enhanced character development programs are expected to be in place for the 2007-08 school year.
Part of a school's character education program could include promoting more teamwork and cooperation among students or encouraging students to get involved in the democratic process. Programs will also empower schools to reinforce shared community values such as respect, fairness, honesty and responsibility.
"Studies show that character development goes hand-in-hand with a strong academic program," said Education Minister Kathleen Wynne. "By treating students as citizens who can make a difference, we can create a school environment where civic responsibility and academic achievement thrive."
"Students have so many influences in their lives that can steer them in different directions," said Dr. Avis Glaze, Ontario's Chief Student Achievement Officer and CEO of the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat. "The publicly funded education system must show leadership by standing tall and promoting the universal attributes that Ontarians share."
Inspiring students to become well-rounded citizens is just the latest example of how the McGuinty government is working on the side of Ontario families who want the best education for their kids. Other initiatives include:
• Funding 3,600 more teachers so our youngest students get more individual attention
• Providing funding for one million new textbooks and library resources
• Creating better places to learn by repairing, upgrading or replacing schools throughout the province.
"Together, we're going to make developing the character of our young people a priority in Ontario," said Premier McGuinty. "And by helping them to become caring, contributing and involved citizens, we're building a better province, a stronger society and a brighter future for all of us."

News Clips from Goa

India’s Videocon-Led Group Buys Daewoo
Tuesday October 24, 2006

http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/10/24/business/15808095&sec=business

SEOUL: Videocon Industries Ltd of India and its bidding partner agreed to buy South Korea’s Daewoo Electronics Corp for 700bil won (US$731mil), creditor Woori Bank said.
Videocon and an affiliate of Ripplewood Holdings LLC signed a preliminary agreement with creditors of Daewoo Electronics on Oct 20, Seoul-based Woori Bank spokesman Jung Hee Kyung said yesterday. The offer is all cash, he said.
The bid is about 20bil won higher than what Videocon chairman Venugopal Dhoot said the bidding group offered last month, when it won exclusive negotiating rights to buy Daewoo Electronics.
The acquisition may help Aurangabad-based Videocon, which has bought Thomson SA’s television-tube business and Electrolux AB’s Indian appliance unit since 2005, expand its product line to include washing machines and televisions produced by South Korea’s third-largest electronics maker.
The final price may change after a month of due diligence, Jung said, without giving details of how much the offer may be adjusted by.
Seoul-based Daewoo Electronics, a former unit of the Daewoo Group that collapsed in 1999, posted a 94 billion won loss last year, compared with a 30bil won profit in 2004, after sales declined 6.4% to 2.2tril won. Daewoo’s book value, or assets minus liabilities, was 375bil won at the end of last year, according to its latest regulatory filing. – Bloomberg

Govt offers to maintain heritage houses of NRGs
PANAJI, Oct 26: The state government is planning to acquire the heritage houses around Goa owned by the non-resident Goans and maintain them, if the owners of the houses are interested in disposing the same. The Chief Minister, Mr Pratapsing Rane, lamenting that the beautiful heritage houses in the state especially those belonging to the NRGs are being destroyed due to lack of maintenance, today said that the government could step in to look after these edifices. The government can pay the cost of the houses to the desiring owners, look after them and rent them out to the tourists, he added. Mr Rane, who earlier inaugurated the website portal of the commissionerate for NRI Affairs,www.globalgoans.org.in, under the name Global Goans at the Secretariat, said that preparation of an inventory of such houses is also under consideration. [NT]

NRI Convention from Jan 3
PANJIM: The Global Goans Convention will be convened in Panjim from January 3 to January 5, 2007. It will be inaugurated by CM Rane. Among those who will address the convention will be ambassadors accredited to countries with a substantial number of Goan emigrants as well as ambassadors in India of such countries. [GT]

IFFI 2006: Goa govt takes serious note of terror threats
PANAJI, Oct 26: The state government has taken serious view of the alert from the central intelligence agencies of terror threats during the upcoming International Film Festival of India 2006 and made elaborate arrangements to prevent any untoward incident. The state administration has decided to upgrade the security system and implement the foolproof security plan so as to foil any bid to disrupt the international event in the state in November-December, this year. [NT]

Harm stalks old GMC's charm
PANJIM: If all goes as per the government's plans, you may soon be buying items ranging from electronic goods to undergarments from the once-hallowed precincts of the old Goa Medical College at Panjim. The old GMC building - once the oldest medical college in Asia - may soon be turned into a shopping centre with retail outlets if the government has its way, as neither the Goa State Archaeology nor the Archaeological Survey of India has notified one of Goa's prized possessions as a heritage monument. [Andrew Pereira, GT]

Authentication of education certificates
PANJIM: Following decentralisation of powers regarding authentication of educational certificates of persons going abroad for employment or higher studies, hitherto authenticated by the Ministry of Human Resource Development and countersigned by the Ministry of External Affairs, new Delhi, the Government of Goa has appointed the Director of Higher Education,t he Director of Technical Education,t he Director of Education and the state Director (Craftsman Training), Government of Goa, as the competent authorities to authenticate the educational certificates of the course of study of the educational institutions coming within the purview or sphere of work of the respective directorates, of the persons going abroad for employment or higher studies. [GT]

Obituaries

Excerpt from Toronto Star- 2006-10-26

RODRIGUES, Patricia _ It is with great sadness and sorrow the family announces the tragic death of Patricia on October 24, 2006. Loving mother of three beautiful children, Sarah, Melissa and Christian and beloved wife of Les. Dear daughter of Tony and Ida Fernandes and sister of Jennifer, Lynette, Keith, Carl, their spouses and families. Sister-in-law to Mark, Lucy, Lucas, John, their spouses and families. Funeral Mass held at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 14 Highgate Dr. (Steeles and Birchmount), Markham on Saturday, October 28, 2006.

From Goan Voice UK

21 Oct: Heston, Middlesex, UK. RAUL BLAISE COSTABIR (Ex Nairobi). Husband of Eulet. Father of Melissa. Brother of James, Agnelo, Hazel, Peter, Irenio and John. Condolences to ecostabir@aol.com

15 Oct: Cardiff, Wales. NELU RODRIGUES (ex Nairobi; passed away after a long illness). Husband of Diana, Father of the (late) Heather, Clover, Wayne and Craig. Brother of the (late) Mani, (late) Mary, Louis, Maggie and Marti. Brother-in-law of Annette, (late) Francis, Flory, (late) George, Graham, Norma and Esau. A Memorial Mass will be held in South London in November. Details to follow. Condolences to
dianarodrigues@btinternet.com

Events

Goan Events in Canada - 2006
Date	Organization	Event
Tuesday, November 07, 2006 @ 7:00 p.m.	55PGA	Memorial Mass for 55PGA members at St. Francis Xaviers Church Mavis Road	Click for Flier
Sunday Nov 12th. 2006 from 2.00pm to 4.00pm	International Goan Organization (IGO) Toronto, in partnership with The Forum of Overseas Goans/Indians of Goa (FOGI),	Follow up Sept 10 meeting to identify and discuss critical issues and problems in Goa, faced by non-resident Goans (NRGs).	Venue: Eatonville Library Meeting Room, 430 Burnhamthorpe Rd, Etobicoke. (Burnhamthorpe/East Mall) Click to download minutes of meeting
November 17, 2006	TEGSA	Comedy Night- All you can laugh at Commander Park Arena	Click for Flier
November 18, 2006	Navelim Association of Toronto	Navelim Social At Claireport Place 65 Claireport Crescent, Etobicoke (Hwy 27 & Albion Rd)	Click for Flier For information email- jjfrebello@yahoo.ca
November 21, 2006	55PGA - General Body Meeting at Malta Band Club	Tentative Agenda: - Update on Constitution - Name our Association - AOB	Click for Flier
Saturday November 25th, 2006 5pm to 1 am	Hamilton Goan Association	25th Anniversary Christmas Dinner Dance	Click for flier
December 1, 2006	TEGSA	Carol Singing at Commander Park Arena	Click for Flier
December 3rd 2005 To December 3rd 2006.	St Francis Xavier Jubilee Year Celebrations	Greater Toronto Area Events	GVC
December 12, 2006	55PGA - Monthly meet at Malta Band Club	Whist – Line Dancing – Tambola & Games	Click for Flier
Friday December 15, 2006	55PGA	Mark your Calendar for Grand Christmas Dance	Click for Flier
Saturday December 16, 2006	TEGSA	Grand Christmas Dance	Click for Flier
February 10th, 2007	Goa Amigos (www.goaamigos.com)	Goa Amigos Presents the Red & Black Carnaval Xtravaganza The time of the year to treat your Valentine to a Carnival blast of Fun and Entertainment at Sagan Convention Centre and Banquel Halls, Mississauga.	Click for Details
Sunday, June 3rd, 2007	Aldona Association Toronto	The Feast of St. Thomas - 32nd Annual Aldona Social Location: Payal Banquet Hall, 3410 Semenyk Court, Mississauga	Details to Follow Watch www.goanvoice.ca
Saturday, September 15th, 2007	Calangute Association, Canada	Annual Calangute Social. Holy Mass at 5:00 pm followed by Social	Click for Flier

Announcements

Toronto East Goan Seniors Association (TEGSA) has a busy program of events and activities for 2006
Click to View Our Summer Events
Come join us – become a member.
Click to Download Membership form

55 Plus Goan Association - West GTA 2006 Fall Events & Trips
Click to View Our Fall Events & Trips
Click to join the many trips being organized this fall
Grand Xmas Dance, Friday December 15, 2006 - click to view flier
Come join us - become a member
Click to Download Membership Form

SHIFTING OF
Consulate General of India, Toronto
TO NEW PREMISES
The Consulate General of India, Toronto will soon relocate its offices from the existing premises to 365, Bloor Street East (7th floor), Toronto, Ontario M4W 3L4 [major intersection: Mt. Pleasant and Bloor], with effect from November 1, 2006. The new location will have better facilities and amenities and is easily accessible by sub-way and highway. The nearest subway station is Sherbourne.

Check our website on 27th October, 2006 for exact date of shifting

Go to http://www.cgitoronto.ca/ for General Visa Information

Flat for Rent in Goa
Furnished flat for rent in Bardez, close to Baga & Calangute Beaches.
Click for details.

People Places and Things

"Earth's Treasure Chest"
Goan Artist in Edmonton, Alta: Maria Buehl (nee Victor)
Excerpts of email from: "Paul &Ursula Victor" p1800@primus.ca

Paradise in Blue by Maria Buel

Check www.muralmosaic.com for mural entitled "Earth's Treasure Chest" .
Artist: Maria Buehl of Edmonton has three tiles in this mosaic
Maria's tile numbers are: #125 Paradise in Blue, (17th tile on the 7th row)
- or click http://www.muralmosaic.com/CPAWS/panels/125.html

#131 Untouched - (5th tile on the 8th row)

#172 Pacific Walrus - (10th tile on the 10th row)

The proceeds are going to CPAWS, (Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society)
check out www.cpaws.org to learn more.

Maria is the daughter of Paul & Ursula Victor, ex-Nairobi.

Norman Da Costa Celebrates 25 Years At The Toronto Star
Well known Toronto sports reporter and sportsman from Nairobi, was presented with a diamond pin by publisher of the paper on completing 25 years with The Star on October 21st.

Reproduced below is a photo and an article on Norman from the Toronto Star

Norman Da Costa

By Doug Ibbotson
Toronto Star
Ask Norman Da Costa, "What’s your golf handicap?"
He’s got a one-word answer: "Myself."
The 61-year-old sports reporter is a modest man with a self-deprecating sense of humour, but he’s got some impressive athletic as well as journalistic credentials in his resume.

Maybe not necessarily in golf, which he admits he "plays a lot’’ for recreation these days, and has broken 100 just a few times.

Up until the last few years, he was a "very good" squash player, "but my knees just couldn’t take it any more. My knees would balloon up after every game, and I decided I just didn’t want the pain any more."

Read more...

The USA in Flight

Photo of an Air Force training squadron flying in a never-done-before "USA" formation over the control tower "Taj Mahal" (HQ building) of Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

(Click on thumbnails for larger view)

The Splendour Of Goan Houses
ETW Staff – Goa

http://www.expresstravelworld.com/200610/gogoa36503.shtml

Besides sun and sand, Goa boasts of having the most elegant and prominent houses, many of them built in the 18th and the 19th century. The Goans have used locally available leaterite and seasoned wood, which has helped them build spacious houses with arched windows and intricate railings. In most of the houses they have a 'balcao', which is like an open space in front, where visitors were made to seat and converse.

(Click on thumbnails for larger view)

Goa-based tour operator Rene Mendes, says, "Besides enjoying the Goan atmosphere, a visit to the colonial Goan architecture house would add to the splendour of the visit."

Goan houses also normally contain a large reception hall, bedrooms, a large kitchen and a well-ventilated storeroom. In certain families till today, earthenware pots are used for cooking and the critics say that it gives better flavour to the Goan dishes. Garden potted plants surround many of the prominent Goan mansions. These houses are normally white-washed after the monsoon and ready for the on-coming festival season.

Lord Paul felicitated by British House of Commons
The House of Commons has congratulated NRI industrialist Lord Swaraj Paul on his appointment as the first Chancellor of the prestigious University of Westminster.

In a Motion moved by Labour MP and former Minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Office Keith Vaz and three others, the House also applauded Lord Paul for becoming the first person to be Chancellor of two Universities simultaneously - Westminster and Wolverhampton.

The Westminster University has some 24,000 students from 150 countries including India.
http://www.nri-worldwide.com/cgi-local/ts.pl?action=fetch&area=nricrime

Health & Wellness

Work shouldn't hurt
TORONTO, Oct. 17 /CNW/ - In Canada alone, there were 928 workplace fatalities and more than 340,000 workplace lost-time injuries in 2004. Reports of stress in the workplace are appearing in the news on an increasingly frequent basis; statistics indicating that 20% of Canadian workers experience a stress-related illness each year. Workplace stress alone being linked to accidents and injuries, heart disease, anxiety, depression, alcohol abuse, infectious disease, back pain, and musculoskeletal disorders.

Read More...

Increased Number Of Traffic Related Deaths Often Seen After Time Change
VANCOUVER, Oct. 23 /CNW/ - At 2 a.m. on Sunday, October 29, Daylight Saving Time comes to an end. Setting time back one hour will result in many commuters finding themselves making their way home in the dark. Various studies indicate that the lack of daylight during the evening commute home often sees an increased number of traffic related deaths and serious injuries.

Darkness at the end of a long workday often causes drowsiness, which dulls concentration and slows reaction time. A driver's reaction depends on vision. In the dark, depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision are compromised resulting in a slower and less accurate response.

The BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation (TSF) is reminding drivers and pedestrians to practice caution during their commute home at the end of the day and offers a few tips to help prevent crashes and injuries.

Read More...

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