Centro Comunitário Português Amigos Unidos
| Founding Date: | December 15, 1975 |
| Address: | 42 Rue Front Gatineau, Quebec J9H 2Y4 |
| Telephone: | 819-770-7872 |
| Hall Capacity | 350 |
AN ORGANIZATION BORN OUT OF UNITY AND COMMITMENT
This article is based on a piece written by Paulo Pereira for Luso-Ontario Magazine, in 2008
Audio Version:
Although Gatineau is situated in Quebec, it is also very much an Ontario city because it acts as an extension of Ottawa. In this case, it also acts as an extension of the Portuguese community established in the nation’s capital. Located on the northern margin of the Ottawa River, Gatineau houses approximately three thousand Portuguese and Luso descendants that are served by the versatile Centro Comunitário Português Amigos Unidos.
We spoke with long-time director and former president João Arruda, who gave us a deeper insight into the organization’s history. “I’ve been in this community since 1973. At that time, we had a lot of Portuguese here. (The construction of the hall) started with the intention to build a church because before we attended a French church and had to hurry out to allow them their turn. We needed a place to gather because we didn’t have a Portuguese café. We often met at Supermercado Pombalense,” he began by telling us.
The idea for the construction of a church and a community hall came from Father António Araújo. However, it was due to the community’s commitment that the project was able to come to fruition. “The construction of this building was great for the Portuguese. There were ten or twelve people who took on the responsibility. We bought the land and then we built. Six or seven of these people remortgaged their homes. That is why we chose [to name the organization] Amigos Unidos (United Friends) because friendship was the reason this was built,” João Arruda said.
As in other communities, soccer was the prelude to the association. The team joined Amigos Unidos after it was founded and continued to compete in Ottawa’s Premier Division now under the name of Futebol Clube Unidos. The filarmónica that is now part of the organization also preceded it, proving once again the level of cooperation from the Portuguese community of Gatineau.
The imposing building is divided into two distinct parts: the church and the community centre on the main floor, the hall and the bar in the basement. The church does not belong to the Diocese but to the centre and its maintenance and governance is the sole responsibility of the Board of Directors and many other volunteers. The community centre, beyond offering services to the community, also boasts a modest library.
Amigos Unidos has been a major social and religious component of the Portuguese community of Gatineau, but it has also left an indelible cultural mark. Beyond the marching band, the association also created a folk-dance group, formed mainly by children and youth, and that included dances and music from various regions of Portugal. However, the biggest cultural accomplishment was the formation of the musical group Voz da Saudade (Voice of Longing) which is composed of more than 30 singers and instrumentalists. Its repertoire is solely made of original songs, written and composed by Antonio Silva, that appeal to the sentiment of the immigrant. Singers are accompanied by guitar and keyboard players. Formed in 1994, it performed in various locations around the world, including the Azores and the United States of America. The group’s popularity is such that it has also recorded a handful of albums.
Theatre is also an important cultural component of Amigos Unidos. Although it does not have a permanent theatre group, it often puts together plays for the community with the help of its members and supporters. Similarly, television is also something that the centre has produced, running a program for 28 straight years. “We had to end it because the cable company began to make too many demands, that we had to speak half in French and half in Portuguese. We tackled issues about the community, Portugal and sports. I was part of the sports. It was a weekly show that was repeated twice. It was very interesting, but it sadly ended”, João Arruda lamented.
Giving back is a trait that the community of Gatineau has not lost. Through the centre, it has helped numerous causes, including the floods in the Azores and others. “When it comes to helping, there is no community like ours”, Arruda boasted.
The youth are very much involved. The marching band is composed of many young Luso-Canadians who continue to speak the language. They have also organized Miss Unidos, a beauty pageant that once became a much-anticipated annual event. The Portuguese school, which is no longer active, also attracted a large number of youth and children who, along the way, got involved in other activities within the organization.
The community centre, adjacent to the church, has become an essential medium for people who require assistance with various issues, including filling out forms and acquiring information. “We act as a community centre and as the Consulate”, Arruda proudly stated.
Gatineau has a dynamic and resilient Portuguese community that has proven, through action, that remarkable feats are possible when people unite around a cause. Centro Comunitário Amigos Unidos is such an example of this. It has not only contributed to the betterment of those who hail from Portugal and their descendants, but also to the general community of the region. In honour of this contribution, Gatineau has named a park, located near the centre, “Jardim Portugal”.
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