Canadians choose Top 25 Canadian Immigrants

TORONTO, May 25 /CNW/ - A human rights defender, a filmmaker and a scientist are among the winners of the first-ever Top 25 Canadian Immigrants awards. The national awards program, which is being presented by Canadian Immigrant magazine and sponsored by RBC, seeks to uncover and celebrate the untold stories and remarkable achievements of outstanding Canadian immigrants and inspire others. The winners were selected by more than 10,000 Canadians who voted online for their favourites. Winners will be honoured this week in Vancouver (May 25) or Toronto (May 28) at ceremonies hosted by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Synopsis of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2009:

• Girish Agrawal of Calgary, AB, is an award winning financial adviser and community leader.

• Birinder Singh Ahluwalia of Toronto, ON, is the president of BSA Diagnostic Ltd., one of the largest radiological diagnostic centres of its kind in Canada. He's a philanthropist who freely supports community projects as well as cultural and educational causes.

• Naseer Ahmad of Vaughan, ON, oversaw the construction of Canada's first Islamic residential subdivision with homes surrounding a mosque in the centre.

• Francis Amara of Winnipeg, MB, is an associate professor of biochemistry and medical genetics. This Sierra Leone native co-founded Sierra Leone Refugee Inc., and founded the Head Start Aboriginal Biomedical Youth Program.

• James Atebe of Mission, BC, is British Columbia's first African Canadian mayor. The Kenya native's platform is to grow the City of Mission and encourage a community where people can live, work and play.

• Elaine Chan of Calgary, AB, is the founder of the Chinese Academy accredited to the Alberta Education, offering Cantonese and Mandarin classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12 levels, along with a Chinese as a Second Language program.

• Chia-yi Chua of Toronto, ON, is a partner in national law firm Fraser Milner Casgrain's Tax Law Group in Toronto. He has contributed to several professional and community initiatives, including serving on his law firm's diversity committee and mentoring young lawyers.

• Adrienne Clarkson of Ottawa, ON, came to Canada as a child refugee with her family. She was appointed governor-general - the first modern-day immigrant, second female and first nonwhite person to become governor general of Canada. She now serves her country as co-chair of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship.

• Baltej Singh Dhillon of Surrey, BC, is the RCMP sergeant best known for being the first RCMP officer to be allowed to wear a turban. He's currently a member of the guild of speakers with Passages to Canada and director of 3HO Organization in Vancouver.

• Narinder Dhir of Burnaby, BC, is a retired businessman and former governor in counsel on the Multicultural Advisory Council that formed the multicultural policy for British Columbia. He also helped found the first Hindu temple in B.C.

• Ujjal Dosanjh of Vancouver, BC, is currently a member of Parliament and community activist. He is a former attorney general and premier of British Columbia, and a former federal minister of health.

• Mario Guilombo of Toronto, ON, came to Canada from Colombia and founded both Casa de las Americas and Collective Human Rights Defender to help fight human rights abuse.

• John Halani of Vancouver, BC, from Uganda founded the Ethno Business Council and owns two hotels often used as temporary accommodations for newcomers landing in Vancouver. The philanthropist is also consul general for Uganda.

• Michaelle Jean of Ottawa, ON, immigrated to Canada from Haiti. Before becoming Canada's 27th Governor General, she worked in a shelter for battered women and as a journalist and anchor at Radio-Canada and CBC Newsworld.

• Deepa Mehta of Toronto, ON, an internationally acclaimed filmmaker, was nominated for an Oscar in best foreign language film category, making it Canada's first non-French-language film to be selected.

• Rossbina Nathoo of Calgary, AB, from Uganda volunteers with many community organizations and founded F.O.C.U.S. on Seniors (Friendship, Opportunities, Community Involvement, Unity and Synergy).

• Body Ngoy of Ottawa, ON, is a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo. He founded a co-op named Cooperative Franco-Presence: its mission is to create real intercultural bridges between people and communities in Eastern Ontario.

• Martha Lucia Nino of Milton, ON, a former lawyer from Colombia, created Abanico Magazine, which is aimed at the Canadian Hispanic community.

• Lorelei and Rosalind Silverman of Toronto, ON, from Romania are sisters and scientists who have made many contributions to their Toronto community through their work in neuroscience and cell biology.

• Dr. Colin Saldanha of Mississauga, ON, is a medical doctor who presently works at the Peel Travel Clinic, which provides medical advice to travelers. He's also worked as an immigration medical officer, an aviation medical examiner with the Ministry of Transportation and a designated physician for the RCMP.

• Terry Sawh of Toronto, ON, is the founder and president of Topnotch Employment Services Inc., and champions the cause of supplier diversity among organizations.

• Hari Varshney of Vancouver, BC, is a venture capitalist and heads his own family-owned Varshney Capital Corporation. As a philanthropist, he has donated $1 million to his alma mater, University of British Columbia.

• Marcello Veiga of Vancouver, BC, is a UBC professor originally from Brazil who works actively in the continuing education of artisanal gold miners to promote safer methods to increase production, reduce water pollution and mercury intoxication of gold miners and their families - a problem that affects 100 million people.

• Anupama Vittal of Mississauga, ON, is the president of the Mississauga Art Society and also the CEO and founder of the Bean Bag Factory Inc. and Artescape Anua.

• Wendy Yuan of Vancouver, BC, is President and CEO of Bradley Pacific Enterprises and also a former candidate with the Liberal Party of Canada in British Columbia. She was appointed as Leader's Representative to the Liberal Party of Canada (B.C.) by then Prime Minister Paul Martin.

GOAN WELFARE SOCIETY - NAIROBI – KENYA

Newsletter May . 2009
Sat May 30 2009

For link click here

Club de Goa Brisbane
2009 Committee

Left to Right: Louis D'Souza, Joy De Souza, Elena Rodrigues, Violet Albuquerque, Everton Da Costa, Andrew Kingsley, Noel Almeida, Brenda Monteiro and Sylvester Vaz.

Click image to access Club de Goa  May 2009 Newsletter

Toronto Based GOA AMIGOS Enthralls Calgarians
(MAY BALL 2009, Calgary)

They came; they conquered the hearts of the 200 Goan Calgarians with their music and simplicity. The ‘Goa Amigos’ first trip to Calgary was a remarkable one to remember. They performed at the Mayball ‘09 organized by LYNX Soccer Team. They started of with some slow Goan songs to which people did not waste time and were on the floor. The older Goan folks from Pakistan and Africa were thrilled to hear Konkani songs for the first time live in Calgary. They were mesmerized with the music played by the Goa Amigos and were eagerly waiting to meet the band members. Some of the senior people were commenting ‘We might not be able to visit Goa again at this age, but Goa Amigos made us feel that we were in Goa’.

Goa Amigos catered to the music of all types of people, young and old. They proved to the Goan Calgarians how a Goan band can play. Some people in Calgary had the impression that Goa Amigos only play Konkani songs, coming to this conclusion with the band name, and its always true to never judge a book by it’s cover, Standing proud behind their true identity and name, Goa Amigos proved them wrong by playing all mixed numbers and in different languages as well. Everyone was in for a surprise the moment the band started to play, their fast paced numbers, even the youth were on the floor showing their moves and requesting for more.

The organizers were proud of themselves that they had made the right choice in bringing Goa Amigos to Calgary. Goa Amigos music will be lingering in the minds of all the Calgarians who attended the event. It was worth an evening and the attendees got exactly what they were looking for, good Goan music and Goan food. At the end each and everyone left with a smile on their face and wanted to know when Goa Amigos would be back in Calgary to sweep people once again off their feet. I am sure they will be back in Calgary soon.

More pictures of the event, please click here
Lynx Soccer Team Calgary

MY GOD OF SURPRISES
A 70+ Goan Grandmother pens her first book

It is not very often that a 70 year old woman decides to write her memoirs and then gets the book published two years later. That's exactly what Maria Estefania Fernandes managed to do after the untimely death of her son in 2005.

"My God of Surprises" begins in the mid-thirties and portrays the Goa of bygone days in bold, vivid picturesque hues. The Portuguese influence comes out very strongly, so does the culture and the Goan customs. It then takes on an odyssey of its own with the main protagonist moving from her native land to Kenya and to other regions of the world. While her voyage of discovery takes place in different geographical locations, so does her essential pilgrimage with God. Unpredictable and enjoyable in turns this book tells the story of an ordinary person who relies on her Faith in good times or bad.

"My God of Surprises" lifts up the reader to believe in the true importance of God. Uplifting, encouraging and endearing, this is a book with deep sense of family values and is a must read for any woman - mother or grandmother. Or even for fathers and grandfathers.

The book is available in Canada and costs only $9.00. To purchase a copy, please call Ph. No.416 221 1228.

A Little Bit Of Goa
http://www.ragatorock.com/reviewA.asp
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4566225,prtpage-1.cms
23 May 2009, 0000 hrs IST, | NICOLE SUARES , TNN

Taking Goan music at a whole new level is Mumbai based singer Allan Vaz.

With his debut album, he reinvented the typical Goan style by fusing traditional beats with modern tunes giving it a universal appeal. “Though understanding the lyrics in Konkani might be a barrier, the music touches everyone. It’s upbeat and still doesn’t lose out on its originality. It is not restricted to Goan audiences,” he shares excitedly.

Giving a mix of everything, from pop, jazz, rock, reggae, Allan wants to target young listeners with his album. “At present, the youth are not much interested in Goan music. If you add a modern touch to it, you can make it more appealing to them. There are talented musicians here, but they need to be marketed right. ”

One reason he feels that Goan music has not been able to cater to a wider audience is because the lyrics revolve around a story and not life in general. “Hence it doesn’t talk to all audiences. Composers and lyricists need to reinvent their style if Goan music needs to be taken to an international platform.”

Lyricist Jose Menezes has penned the songs of Allan’s latest album. “There’s one song called Oixim Vorsanche that speaks about life at 80. It’s an upbeat song where an 80 year old man talks about enjoying life. Another song is about the mother. It’s that close special bond we all share with her.”

For Allan, cutting his first solo album was a dream come true. His only regret is that his father JP Vaz isn’t around to see it. “Growing up to Goan tunes and acting in his stage productions, it was this upbringing that grounded me in this music. He was a much better singer than I am. He was a great inspiritation.” Allan might have been brought up as a Mumbaikar, but this Goenkar is firmly rooted in his cultural background. This he says has enabled him to come up with this album. “I could sit with the arranger and tell him what I wanted because I understood the music. I wanted to keep the original but change it.” He adds, “Many people were surprised that I sang in Konkani. This I credit to my father who always insisted we speak the language.”

Proud of his roots, Allan’s association with his home doesn’t only come through only his music. An often visitor, he smiles, “I love the feel of this place. It’s so chilled out and I come here to unwind.”

Music, according to Allan should speak of the artist’s creativity and originality. “Take Lorna for instance. Why is it that her music still has mass appeal cutting across generations? It’s her originality as an artist and her ability to reach out to everyone that makes it so. Now-a-days you find musicians trying to copy her style. But this doesn’t come help. We need originality in style and music.”

Presently Allan is happy with the feedback he has received. He hopes to bring in fresh talent in his next release.