The History Of The Goan Overseas Association
By John Nazareth* (Published March 1995)
Goans have traditionally been a highly socialized community, forming
socio-cultural clubs wherever we go. Our roots are social, emanating
from our traditional village system of government (or "communidades")
in Goa that continued for over 1000 years - well after similar such
systems were destroyed in the rest of India. In Ontario, this penchant
for organized social lives has manifested itself in the Goan Overseas
Association (GOA), which is celebrating 25 years since its inception.
It is the vehicle through which Goans express their collective joys
and aspirations. Hence, its activities tend to be all-encompassing:
social, cultural, sporting and welfare (looking after the unique needs
of its troubled). The GOA is highly democratic association with an
elected Executive (through sometimes vigorous campaigns) and a strong
tradition of accountability to its members.
Twenty-five years in the life of an association is a matter of pride
and joy. Beginning as a defined body in 1970 with just a few members,
the Goan Overseas Association has now grown into a full-fledged
organization of more than 1100 members representing at least 4000
people - or over 40% of the Goan community in the Greater Toronto Area
(GTA). This is one of the highest participation rates among
non-religious cultural organizations in the country. And so it is hard
to imagine its humble beginnings.
GENESIS
When the first Goan arrived in Ontario is unknown, but certainly,
Goans began arriving in significant numbers in the early 1960s. The
migration from East Africa followed the growing Independence movements
that brought uncertainty for Goans - and speeded up with the Expulsion
of Asians by Idi Amin of Uganda; the flow from Pakistan was a reaction
to rising intolerance of Christians; from India, perhaps it was just
adventure - as it was with Goans from the beginning.
Life was not easy for those early pioneers in the 60s. They had left
places with well-established social scenes, for the adventure of a
vast Toronto where they had not yet made friends among the local
populace, and old familiar Goan faces were not close by, and not
everybody had a car. Some recall landing here with no set place to go
and ended up in a Hungarian boarding house at 1075 Yonge Street.
Canadians especially in Church were ever willing to be helpful, but
the way of life here was so different that there was an urge to find
familiar faces before adapting to the new environment. It seemed life
was lonely for most Goans in Toronto then! In order to cope socially,
the few struggling, relatively new immigrant Goan families would visit
each other at their homes, or meet for picnics in order to reminisce
and support one another. However, there was no large social functions
such as Christmas and New Year's Eve Dances, or support group in
place.
In 1967 Mr. Joe De Souza - our future first President - put an ad in
the Toronto Star and the now defunct Toronto Telegram calling on all
people of Goan origin to come together with the purpose of forming a
Goan community centre. His first respondents were officers of the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The RCMP wanted to check out the
antecedents of the advertiser, what "Goan" meant and the need and
purpose of setting up such a centre. They left reassured that this was
no revolutionary movement. The advertisement did not draw a favourable
response from the small Goan community of less than 100 families at
that time. The new immigrants were obviously devoting their time and
energies in organizing their own lives instead of pooling in their
efforts with those few set to work for the welfare of the community.
Later in 1967, when Canada was celebrating one hundred years as a
Dominion, some people of Indo-Pakistani origin - including Goans -
organized the Pioneers Club and held the first dance around Christmas
time. The scope of the Pioneers was limited to a single dance during
the Christmas Season and there were no formal elections. In 1968,
Alvito Fernandes, Leo Lopes and Savio Barros started organizing a few
dances for Goans to meet. Alvito also organized a "Bachelors versus
Marrieds" sports day in 1969 (which he would repeat under the auspices
of the GOA the following year). These occasions were primarily
attended by Goans from East Africa.
Perhaps the strongest force that brought many Goans together was the
desire to form a Goan hockey team. This may seem surprising to the
uninitiated, but Hockey had acquired cultural overtones among
diasporan Goans. It became the medium we chose to express ourselves,
as colonial and third-world pressures once made political expression
difficult. No wonder that we played it with such an intensity and
hence are represented in numbers way beyond our proportions in
countries like India, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda (at one time), Pakistan,
and now Canada. Back in Toronto in 1968, some like Leo Lopes would
organize practices among friends; many played for various existing
teams in the Toronto area. In 1969 it became obvious to Roque Barreto
that there were sufficient Goans in other teams to form a formidable
Goan team.
Roque (Rocky) Barreto came to Canada in 1968. Within a year and a half
of being here he had already became a member of the Parish Council of
the newly opened St Sebastian's Catholic Church at 20 Pauline Avenue,
Toronto, and was President of its St Vincent de Paul Society. (This
connection would serve the GOA well later.) He also became a regular
umpire with the Ontario Field Hockey Association (OFHA) and joined its
Executive. It is from this vantage point that Rocky was able to see
the breadth of talent and the opportunity it presented.
Rocky enlisted the help of his friends Aloysius (Al) Vaz and Wilfred
(Willy) Monteiro to see the need and organize an all Goan field hockey
team in Ontario and a Goan association to promote sports by generating
funds from social functions. Many known Goan hockey players that
played in the OFHA League emanating from various parts of the world
were contacted with the idea of forming a new all Goan field hockey
team for the 1970 summer season. Several meetings were held by the
trio in St. Sebastian's Church, but the turn-out was poor. A meeting
was held in December 1969 at St. Sebastian Church, but of all the
players that agreed to play, only seven attended, namely Roque
Barreto, Al Vaz, Willy Monteiro, Tony D'Souza, Tony Fernandes
(Brunswick), Alcino Rodrigues and Armando Rodrigues. Another meeting
was called on 8 February 1970, but this time only 5 attended. As time
was closing in on the 1970 hockey season, the five elected Roque
Barreto as Chairman, Al Vaz As Secretary/Treasurer and Willy Monteiro
as a Coordinator. The interim name "EAGLES" was suggested by Tony
D'Souza and adopted. Rocky vigorously promoted the Goan team
notwithstanding the absence of a full and proper squad, securing an
entry into the OFHA with a personal guarantee and entrance fee.
The lack of a critical mass for the several meetings so far and
inability of the new immigrant players to pay membership dues was
disheartening. Undaunted, Rocky, Al and Willy arranged the St.
Sebastian Hall for a meeting on the fateful date of 5 April 1970, this
time with an open invitations to all Goans in Ontario. For a myriad of
reasons, this meeting would be more successful, as we shall see.
Neves Menezes, who had come to Canada in 1964, had been also been
pondering about a Goan association, having played such a large part in
the Nairobi Goan community, and had been discussing the issue with
friends, though with no particular sense of urgency. However, he
recalls reading a disturbing story in the newspapers in February 1970
when Canada was going through a recession which convinced him that the
time had arrived. A young Goan immigrant to Toronto had found himself
without a job and with no money. Despondent and homesick., he decided
to stow away on a plane at Toronto International Airport bound for his
homeland, but only got as far as Dorval International Airport in
Montreal when he was discovered in the baggage compartment of the
plane by the ground crew. In the ensuing trial the judge upbraided the
young man, but noting his sad plight, dismissed his case with an
appeal to his people - the Goans - to try and help others in similar
situations within their community. This spurred Neves on to redouble
his efforts, and when he heard of Rocky's call he hit the telephone
lines to round up people.
Coincidentally the other trio of Al Fernandes, Savio Barros and Leo
Lopes had organized a dance at the Royal York Hotel on 4 April 1970.
Many of the attendees spread the word about the next day.
And word had also got around that the Eagles team had been registered
for the 1970 hockey season which added to the excitement.
At 3.00 pm on 5 April 1970, in the basement of St. Sebastian Church,
the meeting opened with Roque Barreto at the Chair, flanked by Al Vaz
and Willy Monteiro. The attendance was a heart-warming 24(1), namely:
Roque Barreto, Savio Barros, Arthur D'Costa, Rui & Sylvia D'Cunha, Dr.
A.J. D'Mello, Anthony D'Souza, Augustine D'Souza, Joe De Souza, Peter
& Henrietta D'Souza, Walter D'Souza, Romero Dias, Anthony Fernandes,
Orlando Fernandes, Michael Lobo, Leo Lopes, Placido Madeira, Neves
Menezes, Wilfred Monteiro, Alcino Rodrigues, Jules Sequeira, Melinda
Sequeira, and Aloysius Vaz(1).
Rocky opened the meeting and Willy led off by explaining how the
Eagles field hockey team came to be registered for the 1970 season. He
expressed the desire to form an association to promote sports, but
opened the floors for debate. In the ensuing discussion the scope was
broadened to encompass a general association addressing all of the
concerns of the Goan community. This expanded scope became the mandate
of the new-born association. A "Caretaker Committee" was then elected
to form a constitution for the association. Rocky was unanimously
nominated to be the first president, but he declined. The majority
present then elected Joe De Souza as first President of the
association. However, the mandate of this new Committee included
breathing immediate life into the Goan community and so the members
included a comprehensive set of portfolios. An association was born,
soon to be the most dynamic Goan Association in the world, the child
of the village communidades, the Catholic Gymkhana and kudds of
Bombay, the Goan Institutes of India and East Africa, the Goan
Association and Goan Union of Karachi, the St Francis Xavier
Associations around the world, and Canada.
THE NAME
At the 5 April Meeting, the name Goan Ontario Association was proposed
and accepted. However, at the meeting of 26 April, when the
Constitution was tabled for discussion, the name Goan Overseas
Association was proposed by Ladis DaSilva, seconded by Neves Menezes
and accepted by the majority after hard politicking by Rocky and
Lazarus Fernandes. At this latter meeting the steering committee's
Aims and Objectives and Rules and By-Laws were accepted and approved.
On 25 October 1970, at a General Body meeting of the GOA, Lazarus
Fernandes and Martin A.C. Rodrigues proposed that all those Goans
joining the association between 5 April 1970 and 31 October 1970 be
registered as Founder Members of the G.O.A. Ontario. The proposal was
carried unanimously.
THE EARLY YEARS
Rocky continued to be a guardian-angel to the GOA in those early years
when the financial status of the association and its members was
precarious. Through his close association with St Sebastian's Church,
he obtained at no charge for the next three years the use of the
Church Basement Hall or Parochial Hall for all General Body meetings,
constitutional committee meetings, all executive meetings, sports
meetings, St. Francis Xavier's Feast, Children's Xmas Tree etc..
Indeed, in gratitude to the Pastor of St Sebastian's, Rev Fr Peter
Borgi was made the first Honorary Member of the GOA.
The new association wasted no time in getting down to business. The
first social event organized was the Inaugural Sundowner Dance held on
Saturday, 6 June 1970 at the International Institute in Toronto, a
hall obtained through Ladis DaSilva. Romero Dias and his wife donated
the cost of the first bulletin and postage, Rui and Sylvia Da Cunha
donated the bar, Neves and Mabel Menezes donated the music, and the
dance was catered by Mabel Menezes, Anna Menezes, Flora Sequeira,
Melinda Sequeira, Loretta Sequeira, Joyce Barros and Henrietta De
Souza. The Inaugural Dance was followed by socials every two months:
the Sports Dance on 1 August 1970; the Thanksgiving Dance on 3
October; St. Francis Xavier's Feast on 5 December; the Children's
Christmas Tree Party on 12 December; the Christmas Dance on 19
December at the Lord Simcoe Hotel; the Carnival Dance on 27 February
1971, and the First Anniversary Dance on 17 April 1971 at St. Joseph's
Hall.
In the 1970 season the hockey team played under the previously
registered name of Eagles, but this was changed to GOA thereafter. The
introduction of the Gold Cup Hockey Tournament into the OFHA
Tournament Schedule in 1971 was a major coup of the young GOA. Again,
Rocky's position in the executive of the Umpires' Association was
instrumental (and as Sports Secretary of the GOA at the time, he
organized the inaugural tournament). The trophy was named the Norbert
Menezes Memorial Gold Cup after the father of the donor, Neves Menezes
- the then President of the GOA. The tournament was won by the
Tringos, with the GOA as runner-up. The Association's coat-of-arms was
selected on 28 May 1972 through a contest, the winning designed being
produced by Anita Lopes. The same day a letterhead designed by John
Fernandes was selected, and a flag proposed by Lazarus Fernandes. The
Blue/Yellow colours of the association had been chosen in 1970 as
follows - Blue by Rocky as Sports Secretary and Yellow by Al Vaz as
Hockey Captain. The Goan Overseas Association was officially
registered as a non-profit corporation in the Province of Ontario on
11 May 1972. The Charter was issued by the Hon. Eric A. Wrinkler,
Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations. The letters patent for
the Charter was issued to Neves Menezes, Roque Barreto, Eddie D'Souza,
Romero Dias, Norbert Lamas, Abilio De Souza, Alvito Fernandes, Pascal
Gomes, Hubert Pereira and Placido Madeira.
EXPANSION
Within two years of striking roots on Canadian soil, the GOA was put
to the test when the Canadian government accepted more than 7000
Asians, including 800 Goans, expelled from Uganda in 1972. The GOA
worked closely with federal agencies, sponsoring many families and
helping some families settle in Toronto. Alvaro (Al) Saldanha, who was
the then Treasurer of the GOA attended meetings of the government's
Toronto Uganda Committee regularly, made numerous calls to Neru
Rodrigues, President of the Kampala [Goan > Institute, to collect
names of people who were having difficulty getting visas, and arrange
letters of sponsorship through the Immigration Ministry. Many arriving
Goans will attest to the joy of being met by Al's friendly face at the
airport. This influx of Goans increased the numerical strength of GOA.
The influx of Goans from Uganda in 1972 turned out to be part of a
major movement of Goans in response to liberalization of Canadian
immigration policy in the 70s. Between 1970 and 1975 the total
population of Goans in the GTA increased from approximately 800 to
5000, with many Goans coming from Burma, India, Kenya, Malaysia,
Malawi, the Middle East, Mozambique, Pakistan, Tanzania, Uganda and
Zambia among others. Today the population in the GTA stands at around
10000.
PARADIGM SHIFT
At the very founding meeting of the association, there was a hint that
the Goans here wanted to move away from the sports-dominated
associations of their former countries. The 1976 financial statements
showed that over 50% of the funds raised by the GOA was being used to
promote sports and the proposed budgets by the sports members was
increasing exponentially with every year. The sports members felt that
this attested to the popularity of especially hockey and the publicity
that the hockey team was offering the Goans. However, others believed
that the GOA should emphasize diverse community issues. In 1976 a
heated debate began at the Annual General Meeting that in hindsight
signaled a paradigm shift in the thinking of Goans. The verbal duel
persisted at General Body Meetings through several years between those
for the status quo and those who wished to change direction, until in
1979 agreement was reached whereby the profits from the annual Gold
Cup Dance would become the maximum overall sports budget for the
following year. Concurrently, the individual sports teams had been
organizing private social fund-raisers under the GOA name, but not
informing the GOA. The feud over the issue was settled also in 1979 by
the direction that 1) if the funds raised were flowed through the GOA,
then the funds would be held in trust specifically for the use of the
specific teams, 2) the occasions must have the blessing of the Sports
Secretary to ensure no conflict with regular GOA fund-raising events.
The GOA had changed its priorities from sports to cultural and
welfare.
The shift was no accident. It probably reflected the many changes that
Goan society had undergone around the world. The ferment started as a
consequence of the liberation of Goa from the yoke of Portuguese
colonialism in 1961 (a liberation that was both physical and mental),
the liberation from British colonialism of host countries of the Goan
Diaspora - be it India, Pakistan, Burma, East Africa, and the
awakening of Catholics through Vatican II (Goans in Toronto are
predominantly Catholic). This ferment mirrored the period of
introspection that Canadians were going through - the same doubts,
fears, and the joys of discovery; we were captured by the new Canadian
spirit of Multiculturalism. This change was later reflected in the
improved intellectual quality of the GOA newsletter that has served as
a model for Goan organizations around the world.
The three years of debates resulted in a number of changes: 1) the
mandate of the GOA was expanded to include cultural activities and to
undertake programs for the welfare and betterment of not only its
members but of all Goans in Ontario. 2) the term "Goan" was broadened
to emphasize people with origins are in Goa. Thus, those people who
have at least one ancestor who was domiciled in Goa would be eligible
for voting membership. (This was resolved at the AGM of 1978 when Eric
De Souza proposed and John Nazareth seconded that if a person claims
to be of Goan origin in the Membership Application Form, that claim
would not be challenged by the Executive Committee.)
Constitutional changes in 1978 also introduced the Board of Trustees
whose main purpose was to safeguard the surplus funds to the GOA. The
passage on this change was slow until news reached us of a significant
misappropriation of funds by the Executive of a sister Goan
organization. Since then the Board has evolved to take on other
functions; for example, it became a convenient body for the Executive
Committee to seek advice. Also in 1988 it took on the role of running
the Goan Charitable Organization.
Yet another change that would have a major impact on the Association
was incorporated with other constitutional changes in 1981. Under the
Chairmanship of Neves Menezes the Rules & Revisions Subcommittee
proposed that the spouse and dependents over the age of 18 years of a
member be accorded full membership privileges. The prime purpose was
to seek a greater participation of women in the running of the
Association. The proposal was passed without any of the great debates
that had become customary with significant changes and this signaled
the growing maturity of the Goan community with respect to the
contemporary issues of equity. The change had the desired effect and
indeed benefited the GOA immensely in that it brought in the services
of talents that otherwise would have been excluded.
Most of these changes resulted in constitutional amendments after
heated debates over many contentious issues, sometimes continuing over
several General Body Meetings. The result was that a strong democratic
foundation came to be laid which has remained unshaken to this day and
one that appears to reflect our Canadian heritage.
CULTURAL AWAKENING
The Goa started with variety concerts in late 1971 organized by Olga
Madeira, Anita Lopes and Alvito Fernandes. But with the paradigm shift
came an explosion of cultural unfolding. The Goa staged its first
Konkani Tiatr in 1976, thanks to [the late > Richard Fernandes. Later,
members of the GOA spawned two Konkani performing arts groups: the
Goan Threatrical Group in 1978 and the Goan Konkani Troupe. The GOA
gave its wholehearted support to these two groups which proceeded to
establish an enviable record of Konkani Theatre and Goan dance. In May
1978 a one-day Goan Festival was held in at Toronto's Harbourfront. A
debt is owed to [the late > Ladis Da Silva, artist and writer, who
through his involvement with the Canadian arts community introduced
Goans to the facilities of Harbourfront - Toronto's cultural
playground. Ladis not only introduced the idea but steered the effort
as Cultural Secretary in the Neves Menezes Presidency. The event was a
major step in giving the GOA and Goans public exposure. This day-long
cultural fest not only met its desired objective but it also gave the
younger generation of Goans an opportunity to experience the Goan
heritage through dance, food, art and literature. The success of this
show gave further impetus for the GOA to launch a two-day festival at
the same venue in August 1982. This made a deeper impact on the
Canadian multicultural landscape. The Goan image was further enhanced
and GOA earned notice at the government, provincial and municipal
levels.
[Exposure does have its down side. At a special General Body Meeting
held in early 1977 the President, Norbert Lamas read a letter he had
received from the Nazi Party of Canada. The letter gave the GOA until
15 June 1977 to close the association, failing which the whole
committee and their families would be assassinated. The letter was
forward to the Police, who reassured the Executive they had seen
similar letters and that it was intended as a scare tactic. >
INTERNATIONAL GOAN CONVENTION
These two experiments in cultural festivals provided the springboard
for the International Goan Convention, the brainchild of then
President Zulema De Souza and Eugene Correia, held in Toronto in
August 1988. Spread over two weeks, the convention was an
organizational highpoint. The conference part covered academic and
business-related workshops, presentation of papers on Goan history,
literature and architecture.
On the performing-arts side, a show with some top Goan singers, both
local and foreign, well-known musicians Braz Gonsalves and a folk
troupe, the Gavana Group from Goa, was held at Toronto's prestigious
Roy Thompson Hall, with a concluding two-day cultural program at
Harbourfront. During the hectic fortnight, there was a gala dance and
other minor events. This extravaganza was the first of its kind in
Goan history. Favourable media coverage in Canada and elsewhere,
particularly Goa, put GOA (Ontario) on top of the Goan world.
Delegates and visitors were amazed at the way the event was planned
and successfully carried out. Herculan Dourado, an ex-member of Goa's
legislative assembly felt compelled to remark, "Perhaps Goa is where
Goans are."
METRO CARAVAN
The GOA became the cynosure of Canadian cultural agencies. The
organizers of the Caravan, a ten-day multicultural festival spread
around Metro Toronto, invited GOA to put up a pavilion. The GOA first
accepted the challenge during the John Noronha Presidency, and
spearheaded by the Vice-President, Alpoim (Al) Andrade, the Executive
galvanized whole strata of the Goan community to stage the maiden
appearance of the Panjim Pavilion" in 1990. Al led the repeat
performances in 1991 and 1994. Visitors were treated to a delightful
array of traditional dances such as the Dekhni, Mando, Phugdi, Kunbi
Dance, Fisherfolk Dance, Carnival, Lances, Portuguese Dances; Book
Exhibitions, bazaars, and good old Goan hospitality. The pavilion won
awards for hospitality and choreography in 1990, the Staging Award in
1991, and awards for food and hospitality in 1994. These awards were
no mean achievements as many pavilions have competed for 20 years
without winning a single award.
STRUCTURAL CHANGE
Although the GOA has expanded from a small membership to over 1000,
many felt that it was time to recognize that the GOA was primarily a
Toronto organization, and steps should be taken use our experience to
assist other Goans in Ontario form associations. This became apparent
in 1981 with the formation of the Hamilton Goan Association (HGA). In
1985 the new President, John Nazareth, initiated a process, with the
approval of the General Body, to change the GOA Constitution to permit
the formation of chapters in different parts of Ontario. He also
persuaded the HGA to buy into the process with a view to becoming a
chapter of the GOA. In 1986 the proposed Constitution was approved by
the HGA, but rejected by the GOA General Body because it introduced
the concept of allowing limited voting privileges for non-Goans.
Although, the General Body asked the following Committees to come up
with a revised Constitution, the process has died.
The International Goan Convention in 1988 had two sets of working
sections, one on National Networking, and another on International
Networking. This was made possible by the attendance of at least a
dozen representatives of Goan organizations from other parts of
Canadian and the world. After fruitful discussions the Canadian
associations gave a mandate to the GOA to draw up a format and a draft
constitution for a federation of Goan associations and circulate them
to each association for approval. However, after some sporadic
attempts the whole idea slipped away from the consciousness of all and
the Goan associations in Canada remain a loose confederation with no
joint course of action on national issues.
The International Networking had a somewhat better fate. The
associations likewise gave the GOA the mandate to formulate rules for
circulation to the attendant associations for an umbrella organization
that would reflect the collective will of the Goan associations around
the world. The International Goan Organization (IGO) was born. To date
the IGO has held an Academic Conference in Toronto in 1990, and a
Youth Convention in Goa in 1990. However, it has still to formulate an
acceptable constitution for approval by the world-wide Goan
associations and its status remains unclear.
UNITY
In the early days of the GOA Goans from outside East Africa did not
feel a complete sense of belonging; indeed, many truly believed that
GOA stood for "Goans of Africa". It was never clear how this
alienation took place, but some speculation associated it with the
sudden influx of Goans from Uganda. Each successive Executive
Committee tried to foster unity with varying degrees of success. In
the last decade the presidents made a conscious effort to ensure that
the Executive had representation from all regions: Kenya, Bombay,
Uganda, Karachi and Tanzania. (Today this is becoming harder to
maintain, because the longer we stay here, the more we are identified
as "Canadian" Goans, and perhaps therein lies the solution.) The push
met with significant success epitomized in the much closer working
relationship developed with the Canorient Christian Association (an
association of pre-dominantly Goans from Pakistan). Indeed, since 1986
the Goan youth of both associations have been organizing social
occasions jointly, and several debates have been organized jointly.
There exists a strong desire on the part of the membership of both
organizations that some unifying relationship be worked out. It is
truly gratifying to see the GOA arrive at its twenty-fifth anniversary
with all Goans more united than ever before.
THE NEWSLETTER
One of the most observable signs of progress of the GOA has been the
newsletter, which has evolved from a few typewritten sheets in the
early years to the newsmagazine we have today. At one time the
newsletter used to be published monthly, but as a result of the
quantum increase in postal rates in the early 1980s and the increase
in cost due to the improvements in the printing quality, the frequency
of the newsletter has been reduced to quarterly.
The editors who shepherded the biggest changes to the newsletter over
the years have been Armand Rodrigues and Eugene Correa. An honourable
mention is due to Michael Sequeira, whose printing quality in 1975 was
more than a decade ahead of its time. In 1984 Bonny Andrade recognized
that the transformation of the newsletter called for name; through a
contest he organized that year the name "The Pulse of the GOA" was
selected. The young team currently producing the Pulse headed by
Christine Gomes also deserve to be commended for their excellence. The
Pulse has become a model to emulate for Goan associations around the
globe.
SOCIAL FUNCTIONS
Goans fill their lives with ballroom dances, family days, picnics,
plays and special functions for their youth, young adults etc.. The
most popular functions for the general membership are the Carnival
Dance, Anniversary Dance, Sports Dance, Gold Cup Dance, St Francis
Xavier's Feast, Christmas Dance, and the New Year's Eve Ball. These
occasions are attended by the whole strata of Goan society and the
turnout is normally between 400 to 1000. The dances started out being
held at various locations around Toronto, but after the mid-1970s,
most of them came to be held at the Queensway Lions Club of Etobicoke.
The trust developed by our two organizations has significantly
alleviated the burden on the GOA Executives. The Lions Club management
has come to know us so well that indeed Bruce Chandler, the Manager,
and Sergio Viglione, the Chef, have become as important to the GOA as
members of the Executive.
The most popular dance in the Association is the New Year's Eve bash
and it growth over the years has presented a real challenge to the
various Executives. In the early 1980s tables had to be numbered to be
able to accommodate the maximum number of people in the main hall. But
in 1986 when the full contingent of 1000 tickets were sold out in a
week the GOA had to think yet again. (The Executive of the day recalls
receiving 200 telephone calls from enraged members.) The Executive
managed to persuade the Lions Club to rent us the adjoining "Bingo"
hall for the next year resulting in a record attendance of 1300 in
1987 - which was exceeded the following year with 1600. Due to the
recession the number has dropped to a still respectable 1200 in 1994.
Incredibly, the Goan attachment to the villages of their ancestors is
still strong several generations away from the motherland, and in
recent years the following village feasts were celebrated: Aldona,
Anjuna, AVC, Candolim, Cortalim, Mapusa, Moira, Navelim, Parra,
Saligao, Salcete, Siolim and Tivim. Although these occasions are not
organized by the GOA, they have been nurtured by our Association and
it is predominantly our members that manage them. Religion plays an
important part in Goan life and indeed, every "Village Feast" is
associated with a Catholic Saint. However, for regular worship, Goans
choose to join with the society at large and support their local
parishes with the same boundless energy.
POPE'S VISIT
Pope John-Paul's visit on 14 September 1984 was a highlight in the
life of the GOA. Under the Presidency of Savio Barros and spearheaded
by the Vice-President Danny Gomes, the GOA organized a group at a spot
along the Papal Motorcade. The eclectic group of a hundred singers and
musician (trumpets, saxophones and violins) enthralled the crowds and
led 600 or so pilgrims into the singing of hymns from morning to
evening - to the delight of the TV crews around. Hazel Fernandes, the
Cultural Secretary, was assigned the honour of being a member of the
Offertory Procession, on behalf of the Goan community, at the Papal
Mass held at the Downview airstrip. The Pope thrilled Goans around the
world with his words "... and I bless the people of Goa...".
YOUTH WING
In most of the countries that we had come from, the Goan community
were blessed with clubhouses that were used by our youth to interact
with each other. Furthermore, in the years before 1960 the
races/religions did not mix as freely as we do today. In either case,
our youth got a chance to meet each other and absorb our culture. In
Canada, this changed on both counts. Thus it was now important to find
ways to get our children to meet each other or else they would soon
meet all others but our own, that they would shed our Goan culture not
because of any bad aspects, but because of a lack of opportunity to
learn.
The inaugural "Teenagers Dance" was organized by Armand Rodrigues on
29 May 1975 during the Presidency of Martin J.C. Rodrigues. In 1978 a
youth wing was started, and in 1982 it was formalized under a Youth
Development Secretary. Within a short time of taking flight, the
youths showed remarkable progress - during the first two years the
average attendance for its social functions rose to 300. The success
of the youths set off another stream in 1986 - the Young Adults
committee. Both groups have grown from strength to strength.
In 1985, the youths organized a fashion show. The show was so
impressive that a wonder-struck Mayor Jackson of Vaughan remarked:
"How do you manage to get your youths to work together so well!". In
1987, they put up Tonight at Eight, an entertainment programme
featuring dances, music and a famous musical. In 1988 they presented
several features at the International Goan Convention. In 1989 Warren
Lobo spearheaded a performing arts group, under the wings of the GOA,
called Goans On Stage that has put on three successful shows at
Markham Theatre: "The King and I", "The Sound of Music", and the most
recent (1994) "Jesus Christ Superstar".
Senior's Group
The GOA has been holding the annual Ladainhas for the Seniors for
years. But the impact of the GOA is much deeper than is apparent at
first glance. The GOA nurtured the activities of the Seniors to the
extent that, together with the Canorient, it was responsible for the
formation of the East and West End Seniors. The strength of these
associations can be attested to by the seniors. However, the
achievement is a mixed blessing as it has resulted in the GOA's loss
of the services of some brilliant organizers; the names of Frank De
Souza and Theo Gomes in particular come to mind.
WELFARE
Expounding the activities of the GOA in this field is difficult as the
details have always remained discreet for obvious reasons. Suffice it
to say that the association started regularly providing help for the
needy and/or troubled in the Goan community (be they members of the
GOA or not) from the mid-1970s. The help has taken the form of
financial/personal support/mental. The program is particularly helpful
in cases where people fall between the cracks in the public system. In
one instance a widowed mother of two children approached the GOA for
help to assist her buy a typewriter to keep herself employed. The GOA
worked with her and she ended up seeing her children through
university. Today she is a strong supporter of the GOA. In another
instance when a couple was in trouble, several members of the
Executive and their spouses took turns cooking meals for the family
for weeks until all was well. Every Executive could give similar
examples.
In 1988 thanks to the efforts of the then Vice-President, Al Matthias,
the association finally managed to register a charitable foundation
with Revenue Canada called the Goan Charitable Organization (GCO).
Today the GCO is the main body for providing financial assistance to
the needy in the Goan community. The GCO is headed by the Board of
Trustees of the GOA.
GOAN CULTURAL CENTRE
Since the beginning of the GOA, members were keen on having their own
community centre. The first actual proposal for a Centre was made by
Dr Tony Lopes at the 1973 AGM and enthusiastically approved. A
Building Committee was formed and studies begun. In 1978 a detailed
study was produced by the Chairman, Percy De Souza. In 1983-84 a
pledge campaign was begun, and offers started being placed on
prospective properties. Finally in late a 9500 sq ft building was
purchased at Canmotor Avenue in Etobicoke. An extensive campaign was
launched to convert the pledges to cash; today about 64% of the
membership has contributed by the purchase of bonds or donations. The
building generated a lot of excitement, but zoning difficulties
resulted in the building being sold (at a profit) in 1987.
For the next two years the project became stalled again. Then in 1989
a 10-acre parcel of land with a 2000-sq ft house on it was purchased
at Kirby Side Road, a short distance away from the famous amusement
park, Canada's Wonderland. However, in 1992 the Provincial Government
exploded a bombshell by proposing a Dumpsite close to the location.
This, together with the severe recession since 1990, put a freeze on
the GOA's development plans. Under the circumstances the GOA has done
a valiant job in maintaining the financial strength of the association
in trying times. The dumpsite plans are expected to finalized in the
near future and this will allow the GOA to progress with the project.
The GOA is indebted to many who have served in the Building Committees
through trying times, and in particular Darrell Carvalho, Osmond
Remedios and Ralph De Souza.
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
It is a common misconception that the Executive Committee (EC)
consists of a ruling clique, and yet nothing could be further from the
truth. Indeed, over the last ten years, over 60% of each EC elected
had never served in the EC prior to election. This is a strength and a
weakness: a strength in that it has involved a large segment of the
community in the running of the Association, a weakness in that
inexperience results in more errors made. The large number of people
involved with the EC also attests to the desire on the part of the
Goan community to perform volunteer service, and the experience gained
has been used in Canadian society at large, whether it be in local
church parishes, at work, or in charitable organizations.
The GOA has encouraged the participation of the Youth in all parts of
the organization over the years. It has also encouraged the
involvement of women, no doubt influenced by the women's revolution in
Canada. These changes were embodied in the rule-change in 1981 whereby
dependants over 18 years and spouses of members were accorded equal
voting privileges. These changes had a exhilarating impact on the
make-up of the EC. For example, prior to 1981, the proportion of women
in the EC was on average less than 5%; in the last decade this
proportion has risen to 45%! Likewise the proportion of Youth in the
EC has risen from 10% to over 30% in the same period.
>From this large group of volunteers the membership, and indeed the
Goan community at large, has received an immeasurable benefit. A
special thanks is due to a number of individuals for their years of
service: [the late > Victor Abreu - Treasurer, Lydia Nazareth - Social
Secretary, Alvito Fernandes and Anthony Mascarenhas - several
portfolios. Thanks to Anthony the primary records of the GOA - the
minutes of the General Body Meetings - are in good order, and this was
invaluable in producing the history of the Association.
THE PRESIDENTS
When the GOA was first started, the Founder Members wanted to
emphasize that this was an association for all Goans. This was
reflected in the choice of the first five presidents: Joe De Souza
hailed from Pakistan, Neves Menezes - from Kenya, Martin A. Rodrigues
- from India, Romero Dias - from Tanzania, and Martin J. Rodrigues -
from Uganda. It is these first five Presidents that we thank for the
survival and growth of the Association.
Joe De Souza (1st & 2nd President): Joe came to Canada in 1966 and
soon established a Driving School that he runs to this day. He also
has been a disc-jockey and hence is known affectionately as "Jitterbug
Joe". His daring outlook (going into private business was extremely
rare for Goans in those days), is perhaps what those founder members
felt the nascent GOA needed.
Neves Menezes (3rd & 9th President): Neves had a major impact on the
general direction of the GOA in the first dozen years, being
instrumental in several changes to the Constitution. In his tenures
the emblems of the Association were chosen, the first cultural
festival at Harbourfront was held, and thanks to him, spouses and
dependent members have been able to take part in the Committees.
Martin A. Rodrigues (4th President): Martin's Executive was tested
with having to respond to the Uganda crisis. That the young
association was able to help many, a couple of whom immediately joined
his Sports Committee, is a testimony to the tenacity of his Executive.
Romero Dias (5th & 6th President): Romero was the guiding light in the
drafting of the first constitution of the GOA. He also established the
formats of the General Body Meetings and Executive Committee Meetings,
much of which have remained to this day.
Martin J. Rodrigues (7th President): In an unassuming way Martin's
tenure ushered in two important events: the staging of the first Youth
Dance, and the first Konkani Thiatr.
Norbert Lamas (8th President): Norbert was renowned as the Law and
Order president; in his presidency the affairs of the GOA were put in
good stead. He has been the only one to rent an office for the GOA,
and for a while it was easy to manage the affairs of the association.
This was an important achievement as the phenomenal growth in the GOA
(from 140 in 1970 to 700 in 1976) put strains on the administrative
abilities of the young organization.
Savio Barros (10th, 11th, 15th & 19th President): Savio has been
elected president more often than any other person in the first 25
years; whenever the GOA has been in dire need, Savio was always there
to offer his services. His Executive was the first to begin the pledge
campaign for the Building, and the first to start putting offers for
buildings (in 1984) after years of discussions at meetings.
Alcino Rodrigues (12th & 13th President): Alcino, a renowned athlete,
had been responsible for enhancing the stature of the Track & Field
competition in the GOA prior to his presidency. He represents the
first sports person of the Association to take the reins of running
the general affairs of the GOA; others have followed in his footsteps.
His Executive was responsible for enhancing the Scholarship and
Welfare Funds.
Zulema De Souza (14th & 17th President): Zulema, the first [and sole >
female president to date, has been the most dynamic president the GOA
has had in its first twenty-five years. It is through her energies
that the first International Goan Convention was held. In her tenure
youth activities were increased substantially. Her Executive was
responsible for registering the Goan Charitable Organization and
fostering the birth of the International Goan Organization.
John Nazareth (16th President): John encouraged the youth to get
involved . This encouragement was the beginning of a driving force
which saw our youth take an active interest in the Association. In his
tenure the GOA and Canorient started the tradition of hosting joint
Youth functions. His Executive was also instrumental in purchasing the
GOA's first building and starting the major drive of collecting funds
for the project.
John Noronha (18th President): John's Executive spearheaded the first
entry of the GOA into Caravan. In his tenure the current building at
Kirby Side Road was purchased and his Executive was responsible for
reviving the fund-raising drive. He has also been instrumental in
re-negotiating the Building mortgages on several occasions to lower
the carrying costs.
Errol Francis (19th President): Errol, the current president, is a
person with a flair and this has been reflected in all the occasions
arranged by his Executive. The major achievement of his tenure has
been raising sufficient funds to keep our building project afloat
during a severe recession.
SPORTS
As borne by the fact that the seed for the GOA was sown on the
playground of field hockey, sports continue to play an important role
in the social milieu of Goans. Every time we think that's it for
hockey. A new group of young players get interested. The GOA has
perhaps contributed more players to the Ontario provincial teams than
any other organization.
A special mention to a few people Leo Lopes for encouraging young
people to play, Charlie De Souza who has trained several teams to
produce national class players, Astrid De Souza and Philandro
Fernandes for years of time contributed to hockey, Donat De Souza and
Edwin Fernandes for remaining in the premier GOA team from 1970 to
today, Rocky Barretto (mentioned before), and David Nazareth for
enhancing the standing of the GOA through his refereeing.
Denis Pereira (then VP Sports) and Anthony Braganza (Sports Secretary)
are remembered with awe for producing the most memorable Gold Cup
Tournament ever in 1986. The excitement was generated by the presence
of two teams from Bombay (Tata Sports Club, and Catholic Gymkhana)
that included several India National Team players, and Mombasa
Institute, which was here on a Sports Visit. The tournament attracted
the largest number of spectators (over 2000 watched the finals) of any
field hockey tournament in Ontario to date and the associated Gold Cup
Dance was also attended by a record 1500 people.
THE FUTURE
In his novel Flight to Canada, the American writer Ishmael Reed
alludes to Canada as the Promised Land to many fleeing slaves in the
last century. As we reflect on the a quarter-century of the
association, we Goans can earnestly say that Canada has indeed been
the promised land to us. This is so because it provides the
opportunities and ideals that we as a community hold dear to
ourselves. On perusing the book The 49th Paradox - a book on the
Canadian psyche by Richard Gwyn - it becomes obvious that Canadians
and Goans share an uncanny number of strengths, weaknesses,
convictions and aspirations resulting from our respective historical
legacies. Consequently, it is not surprising that we have joined the
Canadian mainstream in most ways so quickly. We have in our numbers
doctors, lawyers, accountants, nurses, teachers, engineers, policemen
and proprietors of whom over 40% are in management or the professions
- a statistic above the national average. In 1985 the Executive
conferred Honorary Membership on Lata Mangueshkar who had just
performed a charity concert to raise funds for the United Way. The
award was in recognition of a great Goan(1) performing an important
charitable function for Ontario. All this, and we have been here for
just 25 years.
The GOA is shepherding the rise of a confident and aggressive
community, and the years ahead will see us participating more
vigorously in the last frontier - politics. The GOA has encouraged its
members to involve themselves in all levels of politics. We have among
our models Keith Vaz, MP in the UK Parliament, and Norberto D'Costa,
former Prime Minister of Portugal in the late 1970s, who have shown us
what Goans can accomplish in their adopted countries. The seeds of the
future tree are apparent when we see people like Milu Rodrigues - who
is Assistant Mayor in Amherst NS, Prof. Emile Carasco - who was the
NDP candidate in Windsor in the last Federal Election, Len Cardozo -
who is the President of the Federal Liberal Association in the riding
of Sergio Marchi, the Federal Minister, and some of our members have
joined with members of the Canorient to form the CAN-GO Liberals, an
association to assist various Liberal candidates on an organized
basis.
So what lies ahead for Goans and the GOA? Like Canadians at large, we
are trying to increase the awareness of our heritage, secure in the
knowledge that this will make us good Canadians. The GOA will continue
to grow as long as it continues to serve the needs of its community.
The current severe recession has hit our community and the GOA
Building Project hard. But, when we see the number of our youth draw
from the association the strength to serve the nation we know that we
have succeeded in our primary quest. In this light these struggles are
only a setback, and perhaps the harder the adversity, the sweeter will
be the fruits of success.
May God bless the GOA - and Canada for giving us a place to grow.
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