People Places and Things
 

TEGSA’s BLAST FROM THE PAST                                       (Click on Thumbnails for larger view) This fabulous, exciting and entertaining evening presented by TEGSA featured a musical revue of hit songs from legendary divas of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. A brief synopsis of the likes of Connie Francis , Elvis Presley, The Platters and Jim Reeves – to name a few – was presented to the gathering in trivia form by MC, Warren Lobo. Warren with his subtle humour and vigorous enthusiasm, kept the audience on their toes. This was followed by a sample hit, sung in full glory by a member of the audience in the style of the original entertainer. Thus the audience were treated to a trip down memory lane, by the talents of Juliette Matkar, Dorothy Fernandes, Doug Fernandes, Noreen Lobo and  Victor D’Souza. Lita Menezes’ powerful gospel version of ‘Amazing Grace’ and Lorna D’Silva and Sauzina Gonsalves’ hit songs from their previous starring roles in ‘The King and I’ and ‘The Sound of Music’, evoked memories of yesteryears. Saozinha also wowed the audience with her rendition of a Portuguese love song. The evening continued with much spirited dancing to the wonderful music of a 9 piece band led by Francis D’Souza, and included legendary icons like Cooty, Santan, Luis, Auggie, Andrew and other talented musicians from East Africa, India and the Middle East. The Social committee headed by Vicky D’Souza has to be congratulated on another incredible success. A fantastic time was had by all – truly keeping with the theme -

Seeking S. Asian Heritage For Posterity http://www.southasianfocus.com/printArticle/23636 Tuesday May 8 2007 NOUMAN KHALIL, Staff Reporter Preserving history for posterity is something we bequeath to future generations, so they can learn about our lives and times and gain a better understanding of their own roots. But future South Asian generations in Brampton are in danger of growing up rootless. The Peel Heritage Complex in Brampton, which has an extensive collection of documentary material related to the history of Peel from various communities, including European, British and American, has virtually nothing on the South Asian heritage. "At this point we are very much interested in South Asian heritage and appeal to community member to come forward in donating and preserving their heritage," Brian Gilchrist, reference archivist at the complex, told South Asian Focus. Conserving unique documents and other important material is not only a noble cause but also a great service to the community. In Brampton, the Peel Heritage Complex has for decades been playing a key role in collecting and preserving documents and artifacts relating to cultural and artistic heritage, and making all such reference material available for future generations. The official records of the municipal cities of Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon and the former County of Peel, as well as land records, census records and a myriad of other unique documents are reserved and available in the complex. Interestingly, most of the artifacts at the complex have been donated by Peel residents, and it has taken the complex decades to collect this wealth of information. But conspicuous by its absence is data relating to South Asians in the region. Many objects have a tale to relate. "If you look, everybody has lots of precious material for the next generation. These materials can be old passports, travel tickets and photographs with family, friends, in school, sports clubs or during any special event," said Gilchrist. "It could be letters written to or received from dear ones, it could be history and stories on how they came to Canada from India, Pakistan or any other South Asian country. We also welcome all kinds of records belonging to religious places like mosques, temples, churches and mandirs, and we guarantee to preserve the records with all religious respect." Every little scrap of information can be useful and adds up to form the composite picture, indicated Josie Premzell, Development Officer: "We also need information such as who prepared food in their religious places, or the names of persons responsible for cleaning these places every day." Peel Heritage has a committee of experts drawn from various heritage backgrounds to evaluate and approve the materials and analyse whether the collection is appropriate to be preserved. The officials recommend that those offering submissions bring a translated copy along with the material. On requested, a digital scanned copy will be returned to the bearer. The collections are housed in secure storage areas in the complex. These areas have limited access and have highly controlled lighting and humidity standards to help preserve these objects. The staff takes extra measures to help ensure the safety and longevity of the collections. Fragile documents are micro-filmed to prevent wear on the originals, while artifacts are stored in acid-free boxes and storage cases. The staff is strict about using gloves while handling any item. For further details on the kinds of donations accepted and allied information, call 905-791-4055.