Canada: A Nation Of Bigots?
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2007/11/c2580.html?view=print

Our national tolerance is breaking down. In this week's issue, Maclean's asks, "Is our cherished multicultural tapestry fraying?"

TORONTO, Oct. 11 /CNW/ - Recently overheard at one of Quebec's hearings on "reasonable accommodation": "We receive them here, we feed them, we house them, we give them an education, and they don't integrate at all." The response? Many in the audience winced. But many others clapped. "The hearings have demonstrated how utterly conflicted Quebecers are on the question of how accommodating they should be to newcomers, and to cultural and religious minorities," writes Maclean's assistant editor Martin Patriquin. And Quebecers aren't the only ones. The past few months have seen a number of high profile incidents echoing the sorts of sentiments heard in Quebec.

In Vancouver, uber-manager Bruce Allen, co-producer of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympics, declared on his popular radio show, that Canada has "rules". "If you're immigrating to this country," he announced, "and you don't like the rules that are in place (...) We don't need you here. You have another place to go. It's called home. See ya." In the town of Georgina, Ont., police have been investigating incidents of "nipper tipping," the ugly term for assaults on Asians in the quiet cottage-country area around Lake Simcoe.

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Unemployment Rate Dips in Canada
Stats Can Report

The unemployment rate dipped 0.1 percentage points to 5.9% in September, the first time since November 1974 that the rate has been below 6.0%. The decline in the rate occurred as employment rose by an estimated 51,000, with gains concentrated in full-time employment.

So far in 2007, employment has grown by 1.7% (+283,000), a rate of growth higher than that observed over the first nine months of 2006 (+1.3%).

Ontario's overall employment picture improved in September. Employment in the province increased by an estimated 30,000, the first significant gain this year, pushing the unemployment rate down 0.2 percentage points to 6.2%. This brings total growth for the province so far in the year to 1.2% (+77,000).

In September, the largest increases in employment in Ontario were in educational services as well as in information, culture and recreation. There were also gains in public administration, mostly at the local, municipal and provincial levels. Some of this gain was likely the result of the hiring of additional workers for the provincial election. Manufacturing, however, continued to slump, with 44,000 fewer workers over the first nine months of this year.

Ten sectors where Canada can lead the way
Canadian Business magazine takes an in-depth look at the country's future and how we can best prepare to face a daunting list of challenges

TORONTO, Oct. 5 /CNW/ - "Future proofing" is the tricky process of trying to anticipate long-term developments to maximize opportunities and minimize disaster. The Canadian way is betting a little on every single sector, including proven losers, in the name of regional development and to reduce political fallout. But that just will not cut it in the globalized 21st-century economy as Canadian Business magazine reveals in its Competitiveness Issue. It's time Canada made a stand in key industries vital to its future success. Some, such as energy and biotechnology, are obvious; others, including health care and manufacturing, might seem to go against the grain. Canadian Business magazine reveals where Canada can lead, why and how, as well as how Canada stacks up against the world in a variety of socio-economic categories.

Where Canada can lead, why and how:
- Clean Technology: With oil prices topping US$80 a barrel and carbon costs on the way, renewable fuels are no longer just a tree-hugging alternative. Canada has the talent and technologies to lead innovation in areas such as carbon sequestration, biofuels and geothermal energy.
- Video Game Development: About 20% of the top selling games in North America are developed in Canada and some of the best studios in the world exist in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto. The global industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.1% between now and 2011, making gaming a growing entertainment force, and a clear export opportunity.
- Quantum Computing: Canada has one of the world's largest critical masses of researchers in many of the key theoretical aspects of quantum information processing. With our resources, Canada has the chance to be at the forefront of the next major computing paradigm.

Kenyans In Britain Active In Economy
By Paul Redfern
NATION Correspondent, London
10/5/2007

Kenyans are among the most economically active and successful of all the immigrant communities in the UK, says a new report. The Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) says that it estimates 123,600 people who were born in Kenya currently live and work in the UK.

The Kenyan expatriate community is the 13th largest in Britain, ahead of Australians, Italians, Canadians and even, surprisingly, the French. But the community, said to be a mixture of African business people, white Kenyans, Kenyan Asians and asylum seekers, is one of the most productive of all immigrant communities to the UK.

Kenyans in the UK earn on average £24,500 (Sh3.3 million) a year, behind seven other countries including Americans, Canadians, Australians, South Africans, the French and Ugandans who have an average per capita income of £27,400 (Sh3.7 million).

But Kenyans are also the second biggest home owning immigrants in the UK, behind India, with 82 per cent of the community owning a house. They are also among the least likely of all the communities to be claiming benefit from Britain's social welfare system with only one per cent doing so.

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A Conspiracy Against Interiority
2007-09-02

http://www.ronrolheiser.com/columnarchive/archive_display.php?rec_id=372
Excerpts from article in Catholic Register by Fr. Ron Rolheiser

Western pop culture, for good and for bad, is the most powerful narcotic that has ever been perpetrated on this planet! Nobody holds out against it."

Our culture is a powerful narcotic, for good and for bad.

It is important that we first underline that, partly, there's a good side to this. A narcotic soothes and protects against brute, raw pain. Our culture has within it every kind of thing (from medicine to entertainment) to shield us from pain. That can be good, providing it isn't a false crutch.

But a narcotic can also be bad, especially when it becomes a way of escaping from reality. Where our culture is particularly dangerous, I feel, is in the way it can perpetually shield us from having to face the deeper issues of life - faith, forgiveness, morality, and mortality. It can, as Jan Walgrave famously said, constitute a virtual conspiracy against the interior life. How?

By keeping us so entertained, so busy, so preoccupied, and so distracted that we lose all focus on the deeper things. We live now in a world of instant and constant communication, of mobile phones and email, of ipods that contain whole libraries of music, of television packages that contain hundreds of channels, of malls and stores that are open 24 hours a day, of restaurants and clubs that stay open all the time, of sounds that never die and lights that never go out. We can be amused, distracted, and catered to for 24 hours a day.

While that has made our lives wonderfully efficient it has also conspired against depth. The danger, as one commentator puts it, is that we are all developing permanent attention deficient disorder. We are attentive to so many things that, ultimately, we aren't attentive to anything, particularly to what is deepest inside of us.

This isn't an abstract thing! Typically our day is so full of things (work, noise, pressure, rush) that when we do finally get home at night and have some time when we could shut down all the stimulation, we are so tired and fatigued that what soothes us is precisely something that functions as a narcotic - a sporting event, a game show on television, a mindless sitcom, or anything that can soothe our tensions and relax us enough to sleep. It's not bad if we do this on a given night, but it is bad when we do it every night.

What happens then is that we never find the space in our lives to touch what's deepest inside of us and inside of others. Given the power of our culture, we can go along like this for years until something cracks in our lives, a loved one dies, someone breaks our heart, the doctor tells us we have a terminal disease, or some other crisis is powerful enough to suddenly render all the stimulation and entertainment in the world empty. Then we are forced to look into our own depth and that can be a frightening abyss, if we have spend years and years avoiding looking into it.

The poet, Rumi, once wrote: "I have lived too long where I can be reached!" That's true, I suspect, for most of us. And so we end up as good people, but as people who are not very deep - not bad, just busy; not immoral, just distracted; not lacking in soul, just preoccupied; not disdaining depth, just lacking in practice.

Our culture is a powerful narcotic, for good and for bad. It has the power to shield us from pain, to soothe us in healthy ways. That can be good. Sometimes we need a narcotic. But our culture can also be over-intoxicating, too-absorbing It can swallow us whole. And so we have to know when it is time to unplug the television, turn off the phone, shut down the computer, silence the ipod, lay away the sports page, and resist going out for coffee with a friend, so that, for one moment at least, we are not avoiding making friends with that one part of us that will accompany us into the sunset.

Arambol Beach - Goa
Dated 2007-10-07

One of the unique features of Arambol beach situated in this small Indian state of Goa is that it is secluded and manages to look quite untouched and primitive, though it is a tourist’s dream beach and quite frequented. Arambol beach in India’s Goa can be a sheer delight if a person is looking for just the sea, himself and tranquillity.

The villagers at this Goan beach are friendly and go out of their way to make you feel at home. Here, you can get the feel of the Goan culture from close quarters. After the other crowded beaches in Goa which chug out commercial air, Arambol comes as a welcome change. There are miles and miles of long uninterrupted beaches with well-made track running around. The second beach is even more secluded and little used. There are sulphur pits and freshwater lakes that tourists can use for swimming during their vacations in Goa. . . . . MORE

Artistes Impress Upon Need To Promote Mando Dance Form NT News Desk http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=09285 Panaji, Sept 27: The traditional mando dance is a unique dance form, evolved as a blend of Indian melody and Western tune and every Goan has to ensure the promotion and preservation of this art form, said Mr Tomazinho Cardozo, a member of the general council of the Kala Academy while inaugurating the day-long workshop on Goan mando dance organised by Kala Academy at the Black Box on September 23. The workshop was attended by around 80 participants wherein different lectures-cum-demonstrations and practical sessions were staged by experts of mando dance. Dr Francisco Colaco made a special presentation on the theoretical part of the said art form and also the costumes as well as the dancing patterns of the dance form. Dr Colaco extended his compliments to Kala Academy for organising the workshop which is of prime importance for preservation of traditional mando. Mr Lawrence Fernandes demonstrated how the rhythmic patterns could be provided with the traditional percussion instrument viz Ghumat. Mr Fernandes emphasised on the preservation of ethnic musical patterns and suggested to the Kala Academy to organise the follow-up sessions of the present workshop. Read More ...

Goans will be strangers in their own land: Nandkumar NT News Service Margao, Sept 27: Warning that coastal areas from Salcete taluka would be submerged under water after 20 years from now, Dr Nandkumar Kamat, a scientist and renowned social worker, said that unless Goans wake up and protect their land they will be strangers in their own land. He was speaking at a largely attended meeting which was organised by Cansaulim, Velcao, and Arrosim Peoples’ Front near St Thomas Church, Cansaulim this evening. Earlier, the rally of the villagers which started at 3 p.m. passed through the village and culminated into a huge public meeting. The rally, on World Tourism Day, was organised to protest against tourism promoted without attempting to protect the land and its people, the organisers disclosed to ‘The Navhind Times.’ Young and old, including students carried with them placards and banners with slogans such as ‘Do not privatise beaches,’ ‘We want heritage tourism,’ ‘Our coasts are not for sale,’ ‘Don’t exploit children’ etc. Reminding the Cansaulim villagers of the great Goan leader Dr Tristao Braganza Cunha, who was born in Cansaulim village and who worked with stalwarts like Mahatma Gandhi, Motilal Nehru and Pandit Jawaharla Nehru, about his struggle for freedom and protecting the Goan identity, Dr Kamat said that Goa must be protected at any cost for the future generation. Read More ...

New body to fight for power to panchayats PANJIM: Aiming to streamline power to panchayats as envisaged under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment, which, in turn, supported by the Panchayat Minister Mani Shanker Aiyer, a nascent movement has taken birth in the state. Calling itself the 'Goa Democratic Decentralisation Movement" it aims at creating an awareness on the effects of decentralisation in the state and enhancing the political and social potential of local bodies in governance. The movement has chalked out various activities such as conducting awareness meetings, rallies, padayataras, ensuring accountability in governance, documentation, advocacy and lobbying. The office bearers of this group are: Dr Nandkumar Kamat (Convenor), Lalan Kerkar (jt convenor), Dr Aureliano Fernandes (Vice chairperson), Soter D'Souza (secretary), Miguel Braganza (joint secretary), Anabel Gama (treasurer). The advisory committee comprises of Fr Maverick Fernandes, who is the joint secretary of the Council for Social Justice and Peace, and Kumar Kalanand Mani. [GT]

Goan artists at "Divergent Horizons" NEW DELHI, Oct 9: The works of acclaimed Goan artists Sonia Rodrigues Sabharwal, Nirupa Naik and Rajashree Thakker will be featured in "Divergent Horizons", an exhibition organised by Mahua Gallery. Also included will be paintings by varied artists coming from other regional zones including Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. This exhibition to be held at Academy of Fine Arts and Literature, 4/6, Siri Fort Institutional Area, New Delhi, from 11 to 14 October, thus becomes unique with distinctive stylizations and techniques indulging in varied images. The artists have innovated and created contemporary images with ideas taken from the new age environment, folk motifs, elements from ancient miniature style paintings and tantric symbols. [GoaNewsClips]

Rain above normal in Goa PANJIM, Oct 9:P Goa has received highest rainfall this season compared to the last seven years with 141 inches of rainfall being noted until now. Normally, Goa receives about 110 to 115 inches but for the last three years it has been good in terms of the average, said Goa Meteorological Observatory in-charge KV Singh. In 2006, Goa received 116.9 inches while in 2005 it was 131.4 inches. The record highest was in 1961 when Goa had crossed 169 inches. [H]

First of 800 charter flights to arrive on Oct 11 VASCO, Oct 7: The Dabolim airport director, Mr D Paul Manickam, today informed that around 800 charter flights carrying tourists from different countries are expected to arrive this year, out of which 717 have already confirmed their arrival. Last year, 776 charter flights had arrived. The Condor flight from Frankfurt coming via Dubai will touch down the airport early on Thursday morning. Last year, about 22 lakh air passengers flew to Goa through the Dabolim airport including 4 lakh charter tourists. [NT]

Konkani adages "Vozram" is a just-released book by Isidore Dantas, and illustrated by GT cartoonist Alexyz R Fernandes, which describes itself as "a treasure trove of Konkani adages with English interpretations". Mumbai/Pune-based Dantas has, since some time now, been very helpful in volunteering to translate English texts into Konkani, and to build that language's presence in cyberspace. This book (154 pp, Queeny Productions and Publications, Velsao-Pale, Rs.100) is a good compilation of Konkani sayings. While Dantas has done a great job in collating the sayings, the English rendering gives the impression of falling in-between a literal translation and one which gives adequate understanding of the context. Nonetheless, this is a useful book. Dantas is one more of those expats thinking of their Goa, even while sitting far from home. [Frederick Noronha, GT] • EDITS TODAY 09 OCT 2007 # So finally the government of Goa is waking up and realising that thee is a need to act tough against people violating the laws of the land? The decision by the government to clamp down on foreigners overstaying their visa may come as a surprise to many but if one looks at in clear perspective, the law of the land is the law of the land. [Herald] Read More ...

+BRAGANZA, Peter

Excerpt from Toronto Star

BRAGANZA, Peter A-June 29, 1915 - September 29, 2007 On September 29, 2007, Peter passed away. Peter is survived by his loving wife of 63 years Dolly, children Glynis (Richard) Harbour, Denzil Braganza, Christabel (George) Gannon, grandchildren Sarita and Fiona Harbour and Kasia (Richard) Chichón and great-grandchildren Russell and Blake Culver and Kayla and Rebecca Chichón.. A Funeral Mass held Wednesday October 3, 2007 in Sts. Martha and Mary Church (1870 Burnhamthorpe Rd. East, Mississauga). Burial took place at Mount Peace Cemetery.

Launch Of New Version Of Dr. Ribeiro Goan School Ex-Students’ Website



The Goan School ex-students website underwent a significant upgrade on Oct 5, 2007. This website was initially created to help keep ex-students worldwide informed of their activities, which have seen a dramatic increase in recent years.

“As we age, there is a natural tendency to want to reconnect with our roots”, stated website founder, Merwin D’Souza, based in Lake Mary, Florida, U.S.A. “There has been a surge in Class reunion activities as well as an increased interest to have frequent School reunions in all parts of the world.”, he added. “The eleven years of our lives that we spent together in school are some of the longest relationships we’ve forged, apart from our own spouses; so there is an inherent need to once again re-establish and rekindle those old relationships and to make an effort to preserve and share memorabilia of what were happy times for many”.

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CLR SOCIAL 2007

( Click to view large )

This year’s social was held at the Claireport Place on September 30 and was a great success. The President this year was Manuel Araujo (son of Loutulim). The CLR rotates the Presidents based on the three villages it represents.

The 2007 Committee made up of the President and his wife, Noemia, as well as Effie and Derrick Coelho, Lynette and Francis Carvalho, Teresa and Olavo Valadares, Catherine and Edgar Faleiro, Violet and Antonio Monteiro and Sharon and Kenneth Monteiro (representing the youth).

The Holy Mass was celebrated by Fr. Edwin Gonsalves. The choir (made up entirely of our youth) was outstanding and trained by our talented Suzy and Darryl Timmins. CLR celebrates the combined feasts of the villages of Curtorim, Loutulim and Raia. It was heartwarming that the guests included a big majority of our youth as well as guests from Goa, Mumbai, Germany, United States and Montreal.

This year saw an even greater participation of our youth who it is hoped will maintain and promote our culture in the future. It is commendable to see that our youth, while accepting Canada as their homeland, are also anxious to recognize and preserve their roots.The young adults performed for us a very well appreciated dance that received an overwhelming applause. This dance integrating our culture with western dances and was directed by one of the village youth, Crystal Coelho, with the guidance of her mother, Effie Coelho.

The entertainment this year included the well known CLR traditional Mando group, led by our talented Emano Moniz ( Presdient 2008 & son of Raia ). Guests at our social always look forward to our traditional singing and this event has now become a trademark with our feast. The music was provided by D.J. Fatz and our guests enjoyed the dancing to his melodies.

CLR looks forward to the next feast in 2008 and they hope to see all their esteemed guests at the function.

Cunard to build a 92,000 tonne liner which will be called the Queen Elizabeth.

VALENCIA, Calif., Oct. 10 /CNW/ - Cunard Line announces that it has ordered a new 92,000-ton liner, to be named "Queen Elizabeth," scheduled to enter service in the autumn of 2010. Cunard, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK) signed an agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of the new 2092-passenger ocean liner, which will be built at Fincantieri's Monfalcone yard at an all-in cost of approximately $700 million. The vessel will be the second largest Cunarder the company has ever built.

"Cunard already owns and operates the two most famous ocean liners in the world, Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Mary 2, and a third -- Queen Victoria -- is due to be named by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales, in December of this year," said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. "The decision to order another ship for Cunard Line has been  taken as a result of the strong booking response to the new Queen Victoria, and we are extremely pleased that Cunard will once again become a three-ship fleet so soon after the departure of the much-celebrated Queen Elizabeth 2 in November next year. Furthermore, we are delighted that Her Majesty The Queen has given her blessing to our calling this new Cunarder 'Queen Elizabeth', after our first vessel of that name."

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Ondaatje, Vassanji Among Those On Short List For Scotiabank Giller Prize
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g9R52RlI5S_apNYaJPZmdSVKB37A

TORONTO - Five novels with historical themes have made the short list for the prestigious Scotiabank Giller Prize, including works from literary heavyweights and former Giller winners Michael Ondaatje and M.G. Vassanji.

"I certainly would by no stretch call every one of these novels historical fiction, but I think history plays a role in every one of them, even if it's exploring a location or a place that has a historical memory," novelist Camilla Gibb, one of three Giller jury members, said Tuesday after the short list was announced.

Gibb and her fellow judges - former Giller winner David Bergen and author, poet and artist Lorna Goodison - read a record 108 books submitted by 46 publishers before narrowing it down to a final five.

"That's a formidable job, and this morning when I spoke to them they were a little pie-eyed. They're now not reading any more novels - they're reading poetry and watching documentaries," said Giller founder Jack Rabinovitch, who started up the award in 1994 in honour of his late wife, literary journalist Doris Giller.

This time around, Ondaatje, who has won the lucrative prize once before, is in the running for "Divisadero" (McClelland & Stewart), which takes the reader from California Gold Rush country in the 1970s, to Nevada casinos and south central France.

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2007 CALANGUTE SOCIAL IN CANADA
By: Kevin D'Costa

The Villagers of Calangute joined together on September 15th, 2007 to celebrate their 16th Anniversary Social and the Feast Of Patron St. Alex. The Social was held at St. John's Hall, Mississauga, Ontario and was attended by well over 600 villagers and guests.

Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Darren Dias, O.P. a Goan Priest with ties to the Calangute community and was promptly followed by lively music provided by Naked Flames and DJ Carlito. They got the crowd on their feet and on the dance floor all night long. A sumptuous dinner buffet included authentic Goan/Italian/Canadian cuisine and everyone enjoyed the delicious food.

The floor shows included: Corridinho Goan Folk Dance by 8 young Goan children under the direction of Dr. Lucina Pinto and a Special Goan Michael Jackson show performed by young Goan boy Orville Maciel. Both shows were fantastic and were well received by all.

The President of the Calangute Association, Canada, Antonio Mascarenhas, raised the toast and was proclaimed President unanimously of the Calangute Association, Canada for the seventh year, another 2 year’s term (2008/2009).

Congratulations to the President, Antonio Mascarenhas and his Committee for doing an outstanding job. We all had a wonderful time and look forward to another successful event next year!

For more information regarding next year’s Social please visit the Calangute Association website at http://www3.telus.net/calangute/

World Alliance of Goan Overseas Associations

Antonio Mascarenhas Invited
Rene Barreto, World Goa Day Overall coordinator, has invited Antonio Mascarenhas, President, Goan Village Association of Calangute - Canada, to lead the proposed formation of the Alliance of Goan Overseas Village Associations of Canada. Mascarenhas has been active in the Goan Community (Kampala Institute) in Kampala,and G.O.A, Toronto, (Recipient of Volunteer Service Awards for 10 and 15 years from the Ontario Government, Canada) and also the Calangute Village Goan Association of Canada as President for the last 6 years. Almost all the Indian Overseas Associations have a representative that speaks for them in India and abroad too.

The Secretary of the World Alliance of Goan Overseas Associations is Tony Colaco,President of the GOA Sydney, Australia and the Chairman is Oscar Furtado, President of the G.O.A. Toronto. Website of the Goan Alliance :http://www.our-goa-nsw.org/alliance.html

Health & Wellness Fair – Jointly hosted by the Goan Overseas Association and 55 Plus Goan Association in Etobicoke – Toronto West.

HEALTH & WELLNESS FAIR – Oct 21: 2-6 PM (Risk Assessment from 1 PM)
St Clement Church Hall, 409 Markland Drive
(S/E Corner of Markland & Bloor - East of Mill Road)

H & W Fair Agenda

2:00 – 2:05 PM: Housekeeping items
2:05 - 2:15 PM: Opening remarks - Session 1
Oscar Furtado, President, G.O.A

2:15 – 3:45 PM: Clinical Program - Session 1:
- Cardiovascular Session: Total Time 1 hr 30 mins
1. Metabolic Syndrome (High Blood Pressure and Diabetes): Dr Colin Saldanha 20 mins
2. Lifestyle adjustments for the S. Asian: Dietician Sharon Rodrigues 20 mins
3. Heart Disease and Stroke: Dr Luis Noronha 20 mins
4. Q&A (Panel Discussion - above speakers plus Dr Amish Parikh) 30 mins.

3:45 – 3:50 PM: Close Session 1
Vivien Fernandes - 55 Plus Goan Association

3:50 – 4:20 PM: Health-Wise Refreshment Break
Session 2: 4:20 – 5:55 PM
4:20 - 4:30 PM: Opening remarks - Session 2
Tony Fernandes, President, 55 Plus Goan Association

4:30 – 5:50 PM: Clinical Program - Session 2
General Session: Total Time 1 hr 20 mins
1. Osteoporosis: Dr Lorna D'Silva 20 mins.
2. Geriatrics - Seniors’ Issues: Dr Chik Devaraj 20 mins
3. Case Study: Dr Amish Parikh 10 mins.
4. Q & A (Panel Discussion – above speakers) 30 mins.

5:50 - 5:55 PM: Closing - Session 2
Hema Pereira – G.O.A

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
- Free Assessment of your personal Risk of Heart Disease starts from 1:00 PM
- This is a valuable document on your current health status
- Due to fire regulations there is limited seating capacity in the hall
- Entrance only $3:00 (includes light refreshments)
- No tickets will be sold at the door
- Come prepared to be actively involved & ask questions

G.O.A. Vision Survey - deadline Oct 31st
http://www.goatoronto.com/vision.html

We understand that the face of the Goan community has evolved and that the way in which you need an Association like the G.O.A. in your lives has also changed. You are invited to share your ideas for what you want to see the G.O.A. provide for you and the community. What do you think about our current events and services? How do you think we should change?

Please complete the vision survey today at www.goatoronto.com/vision.html.  It will only take a few minutes.

Following is a detailed update on the Vision Project which I hope will answer your questions.

Best Regards,
Michelle Pereira
G.O.A. Chair, Vision Committee

Vision Update
The G.O.A. is conducting as assessment to better understand the needs of the Goan community and the community’s perception of how this Association has provided social, cultural, physical, educational and economic activities for the welfare of its members. We understand that the face of this community has changed over the years and thus the way in which you need an Association like the G.O.A. in your lives has also changed. The results of this assessment will help inform a new vision and strategic plan for the future.

Read More ...

Global Goan Seniors Directory

The Directory will be released in the Fall of 2008 and is part of the ”Save Goa” * initiative.
By listing their names in the Directory, Goan Seniors will be making a statement:
- They are here and are part of the local and worldwide seniors community.
- They value their Goan heritage .
- They are concerned for the well being of Goa and can be counted on for support to keep Goa – Goan.


The new directory is a not-for-profit venture and will be a sequel to Goan Directories published in 2001+ 1997, & 1988 by Celaz Print Shop of Toronto.

These have served the community well, with new version in the works.

Click to download form for free listing.

Email information form to seniorsdirectory@goanseniors.net 
For more information and business advertising Contact Address:

Celaz Print Shop
2 Green Spring Drive, Toronto, Ontario M1V 2B1
call (416) 292 1653 – Fax: (416) 292-0776
or email :lazaruspereira@rogers.com

Saturday, 13th October-2007 at 3.00 PM

GOAN KONKANI TROUPE’S

Tiatr
“ADEUS”
(GOODBYE)
A Powerful drama of Love and Sacrifice
 

Michael Power School Auditorium, 105 Eringate Drive ( at Renforth Dr.) Etobicoke

Click for Flyer

Saturday, November 17th, 2007

32nd Navelim Fest

Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary

Claireport Place Banquet & Convention Centre
65 Claireport Cres., Etobicoke (Hwy 27/Albion Rd.)

Sunday November 18th 2007

Divarkars of Greater Toronto

Sangam Banquet Hall
6991 Millcrek Drive, Mississauga
Ontario L5N 6B9 Tel: (905) 821-9688

Date

Event

Details

2 PM St. Clement’s Church hall, Etobicoke
 

Christmas Bazaar (Open To All)
 

Christmas Gala At The Oasis Banquet Hall.

To avoid disappointment form your tables of 8 or 10 and send the cheques to 55PGA , 100 City Centre Drive, Mississauga, on, L5B 3C6

Yuletide Get-Together

To ensure a spot for this event please send in your cheque.

All events must be paid for in advance to ensure reservations. See above for details of cheque payments.

TEGSA INVITES YOU TO
ATLANTIC CITY 3DAYS/2NIGHTS

"CANCELLED"

"MEXICAN FIESTA"
Click for Coloured Flyer

Mass for the Deceased Members and their Families.

on November 2nd, 2007 - 6:30 pm sharp at
Commander Park Hall, Scarborough

Click for Flyer

"SOLD OUT"

Whist Drive
A Snack plate will be served
Cost: $6.00 (Members)
$8.00 (Guests)
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

To register, please call:
Vicki D’Souza: (416) 497-5111
Charles Fernandes: (416) 286-8970
Joan Menezes: (416) 927-0895
Gerry DaSilva: (416) 297-7218

Click for Flyer

NIAGARA CASINO & CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TOUR

Departure: 10:00 am – Agincourt Mall (parking behind Wal-Mart) Winery Tour 11:00 – 11:30 am - Visit to Magnotta Winery – wine tasting

Lunch: 12:00 noon – 1:15 pm @ Betty’s Restaurant. Main course, Choice of Roast Beef, Roast Chicken or Fish and Chips.
Casino: 1:30 pm – 6:45 pm. Buffet dinner coupon included.
Sightseeing: 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm. Tour of the Christmas Lights.
Return: Arrival in Toronto approx. 9:00 pm

"SOLD OUT"

Yuletide Festivities – Choral Group in Attendance
Live Music – X’mas Bazaar
Authentic Goan Food and Sweets
Cost: $10.00 (Members)
$12.00 (Guests)
Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.

Your Executive invites you to do yet another good deed for the less fortunate. Please donate at least one food can of your choice, which will collectively be donated to the FOOD BANK, during the festive season.

Christmas Dance
St. Clement of Ohrid Banquet Hall
76 Overlea Boulevard
Cost: $40.00 (Members)
$45.00 (Guests)
Cocktails and Appertizers at 6:30 p.m.
Sit-down dinner at 7:30 p.m.

To register, please call:
Vicki D’Souza: (416) 497-5111
Charles Fernandes: (416) 286-8970
Joan Menezes: (416) 927-0895
Gerry DaSilva: (416) 297-7218

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 International Survey Shows People Over Forty Ignore Risk of Blindness
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2007/02/c7212.html?view=print
- Global Advocacy Groups Launch Joint Effort to Preserve Eyesight of Millions At-Risk for Glaucoma

LONDON, Oct. 2 /CNW/ - Results of a new international survey reveal that eye exams are being ignored by many aged over 40. Only two fifths of respondents had visited an eye specialist in the last year to have their eyes checked, even though twice as many people feared going blind compared to heart disease or early death.

The survey showed that awareness of glaucoma was extremely low. A total of 40 percent of people surveyed were unaware that glaucoma is linked to blindness, even though it is the second leading cause of blindness. World wide, approximately 6.7 million people are blind from glaucoma, with almost 70 million affected by the disease(1),(2).

The survey was launched today as part of the All Eyes on Glaucoma(TM) campaign, a global initiative sponsored by Pfizer Ophthalmics and supported by the World Glaucoma Association (WGA) and the World Glaucoma Patient Association (WGPA) to educate people over age 40 on how to preserve their vision and recognize their risk of developing glaucoma. There are a number of types of glaucoma, the majority of which have high eye pressure and cause vision loss. They cause irreversible damage to the optic nerve and the eye damage develops over many years. Lowering eye pressure can prevent or slow the progression of glaucoma. Treatments are available to decrease eye pressure.

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Stressful Jobs Linked to Repeat Heart Attacks
High Tension at Work Can Bring About Second, Third Heart Attacks
http://www.abcnews.go.com/print?id=3708946
By CARLA WILLIAMS
ABC News Medical Unit
Oct. 10, 2007 —

Recently had a heart attack? If so, getting back behind the desk at your high-stress job could be a killer.

For those who have already suffered a heart attack, too much stress at work may increase the chances of experiencing a second or third such episode, Canadian researchers found.

Men and women who survive one heart attack and return to their stressful jobs, are more than two times as likely to have a second attack, heart-disease-related death or severe chest pains.
Past research has shown that chronic stress can increase the risk of having a first heart attack, but this study, published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, is the first to show that it can also increase the risk of a second attack.

"By showing that when they assessed job strain two years after the heart attack and found that patients with chronic elevations of job strain had higher mortality and recurrent events, they have made a strong case that job strain is a factor that affects prognosis following heart attack," says Dr. Redford Williams, head of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University.

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