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 43^rd 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.