ACAPO’S GALA DINNER – Recognizing Excellence and Empowering Youth
The Merit Award & Scholarship Gala Dinner, promoted by the Alliance of Portuguese Clubs and Associations of Ontario (ACAPO), is an annual event that recognizes excellence in volunteer work and awards young Luso Canadians with scholarships. This year’s event was organized at the Gerry Gallagher Hall, LiUNA 183 union’s banquet facility, in North York, with the presence of hundreds of guests that included the Mayor of Toronto, Olivia Chow, and the current Consul General of Portugal in Toronto, Ana Luisa Riquito.
The event began in 1988, one year after the foundation of ACAPO. Since then, selected youth have been awarded with scholarships in recognition of their involvement in the Portuguese community, and particularly in the clubs and associations that are members of the Alliance. Those present at this year’s event also witnessed the presentation of the 43rd recipient of ACAPO’s Merit Award, which recognizes excellence in volunteer work. Norberto Paiva, President of Rancho Províncias e Ilhas de Portugal, from Hamilton, was the person honoured with the distinction.
Although we do not have access to the complete list of the scholarship recipients throughout the years, we can confirm that the list now runs in the hundreds of youths who have benefited from the subsidy. Clubs and Associations are responsible for nominating their recipients. At the event, beneficiaries are awarded with two cheques: one from their respective club or association and the other from ACAPO. At the end of night, ACAPO announces one student in particular who receives an additional scholarship based on the pupil’s commitment to the Portuguese community and to academic work.
The Merit Award is presented to one or more volunteers who have made a significant difference in the community and who have dedicated their efforts to preserving and promoting the Portuguese heritage and values in Canada. A list of the all the recipients throughout the years follows:
1988 – Dale Brazão
1989 – Jacinto Almeida
1990 – Padre Lima Esteves
1991 – Dra. Teresa Costa
1992 – Dr. Tomás Ferreira
1993 – Martinho Silva
1994 – Gilberto Araújo
1995 – Horácio Domingos
1996 – José e Maria Gonçalves
1997 – Vítor Vieira
1998 – António Campos
1999 – Américo Ribeiro
2000 – António Dionísio
2001 – José Oliveira
2002 – José Maria Eustáquio
2003 – Celina de Melo
2004 – Jorge da Costa
2005 – Custódio Carrusca
2006 – José Tavares de Sousa
2007 – Stephanie Fidalgo
2008 – Armando Augusto Viegas, José Luis Lopes, Maria Rosa de Sousa
2009 – Dra. Maria João Dodman
2010 – Lina Pedrosa
2011 – Frank S. Alvarez
2012 – José Maria Eustáquio
2013 – Fernando Rio
2014 – Laurentino Esteves
2015 – Paulo Pereira
2016 – Maria Melo, Manuel da Costa
2017 – Manuel Félix Vaz de Carvalho, Joseph Mancinelli, Jack Oliveira, Carmen Principato, Tony do Vale
2018 – Linda Correia, Bernardino Nascimento
2019 – Manuel de Brito Fialho Joel Filipe
2020 – No award due to the pandemic
2021 – No award due to the pandemic
2022 – No award due to the pandemic
2023 – Jack Prazeres
2024 – Norberto de Paiva
José Maria Eustáquio, the president with the most mandates in the history of ACAPO, is the only person who has been presented the award twice, in 2002 and in 2012. Eustáquio was first elected President of the Executive Board in 1997. Since then, he has always taken on a leadership role within the organization, either as President of the Board or of the Council of Presidents. Since 1997, he has also been the Chair of the Portugal Week Committee which organizes the largest Portugal Day celebration in Canada and one of the biggest in the world outside Portugal.
Portuguese veteran singer and songwriter, José Cid, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the event. The award presentation was followed by an unforgettable performance from the one many call the Elton John of Portugal.
Currently, there are 35 clubs and associations members of the Alliance of Portuguese Clubs and Associations of Ontario.
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About The Author
Paulo Pereira
Paulo Pereira has worked in community media for over 20 years. He started as a reporter for Sol Portugues. Later, he became Editor of Team Desportivo, Director of Flash News, Director of Jornal da Aliança, Director of Luso-Ontario Magazine, and Editor at Correio da Manha Canada's newspaper. Paulo Pereira is also a co-founder of Associacao Migrante de Barcelos where he volunteered for many years as Secretary and Sporting Director. He also volunteered for Casa do Benfica de Toronto for close to a decade as member of the Board in roles such as Public Relations Director and Vice-President for Sports and Culture. Currently, he is the President of Project First Nations, a not-for-profit organization. In November of 2023, he was elected as a member of the Portuguese Community Council, representing the District of Toronto, which includes Ontario, Manitoba and Nunavut.