The long weekend holiday of July 4th allowed me to visit family and friends in Toronto. I did not get an opportunity to meet the East Toronto Senior Goans. I did meet many young Goans and read the weekend newspaper in this multi-cultural city. The trip was enlightening. I interviewed a group of Goans age 20-25 who were in college or professionals. All were born in Canada. I selected this age because this group of smart Goans had an education or could educate themselves if the school or their parents left them with any gaps in their knowledge. Their knowledge of Goa was interesting. 1. What would you call your ethnicity? Ans: Few called themselves Goan. Most said the parents were Goan but they were Canadians even though Toronto calls and prides itself as a multi-ethnic / cultural society. 2. Why would you call yourself a Goan? Ans: Because of my religion, my relatives are Goan, mom fixes Goan food. 3. What do you know about Goa? Ans: Very little. Independent country. Got its independence in 1947. 4. What happened to Goa in 1961? Ans: Don't know. 5. What is Goa's language? Ans: Those who visited Goa knew it was Konkani. Those who did not visit it were not sure the name of the language. 6. Would you like to know about your ethnic heritage. Ans: Most definitely. In the Toronto Star was a 'Letter to the Editor' signed by one calling himself Rodrigues who stated he was originally from Bombay. He was angry about the new Indian immigrants to Toronto living in their own little communities in Toronto and wanted government efforts to dissuade this practice. >From my once a year weekend visit, Toronto is a city full of ethnic >neighborhoods - Jews in North York, Italians and other Europeans in their own >neighborhoods etc. Each group has its own street or churches and festival. >Rodrigues perhaps did not know this. But my own feeling is that Rodrigues uncertain of his own identity was trying to deny other Indians (and other ethnic groups) to maintain their identity. IMHO it is the usual articulate Goan guys showing off their English while highlighting their lack of / shallow ethnic roots.
Other than the above, I had a great time in this great city! This included the international cultural festival (each group showing off their culture in food and dance) going on at the Harbor Front. Kind Regards, GL
