First Portuguese – Symbol of Resilience

In its early years, First Portuguese Canadian Cultural Centre played a crucial role in the lives of many newcomers who arrived in Toronto from Portugal. As the population grew, so did the number of community organizations in the region, many of which were formed within the walls of the association. This growth inevitably relegated First Portuguese to a lesser level of relevance. However, it continued to stand as the main promoter of our heritage in the city, although amidst an internal crisis that culminated with the sale of its iconic headquarters for an alleged nearly symbolic value. First Portuguese was forced to move homes and to gradually reinvent itself while dealing with its ghosts from the past. Currently, it boasts vitality and financial health. Above all, it has reconquered the trust of the community.

Carina Paradela and Aurianne Fazendeiro are two of the most prominent faces of the new and reinvented First Portuguese Canadian Cultural Centre. Their efforts have helped the organization establish itself as a main provider of services to community members of all ages while securing consistent sources of revenue that contribute to its sustenance and prosperity. However, not long ago, the situation was so dire that its Executive Board was seriously considering closing down. 

“When we became members of the Board of Directors, First was in a dire situation. It was so dire that, in 2019, around our anniversary, we had to announce that we were considering closing our doors because the organization was not financially sustainable. However, contrary to others, the pandemic ended up helping us”, Carina Paradela, current Manager of Operations and former Chair of the Board, began by telling us during a conversation held on a rainy Saturday morning in March of 2023. “Many people were upset when we made the announcement. We had to let them know because we didn’t want them to come back to us later complaining that we did not inform them. We had many people who had been working here for many years and were conscientious of that. If we had to close, we would make sure to pay our employees and our rent. We needed a lot of money to close because we had people who had been working here for a long time.””, Aurianne Fazendeiro complemented. “The pandemic saved us because we were closed for a long period of time”, Carina Paradela continued. “The government helped with rent, and we did not have payroll because there were no employees. During the pandemic, we were able to secure small grants and we never stopped. Our summer camp had 12 children, but we still ran it. Our daycare never closed”, she explained.

This recurrent versatility and adaptability resulted in the revival and enhancement of programs dedicated to members of the community, young and old. Currently, First Portuguese Canadian Cultural Centre is a service provider of excellence, filling a void that exists in the community. Amongst its variety of programs, the seniors’ day centre remains the main focus. At one point, it boasted nearly one hundred daily participants, a number that Carina Paradela believes can be reinstated in the near future. “Every day, from Monday to Friday, from nine in the morning to three in the afternoon, we host seniors who come here to participate in fitness, bingo, arts & crafts, and much more. We hold monthly parties to celebrate the birthdays of those who were born on that month. We choose a theme and invite a community artist to perform. They have breakfast and lunch, all included and all free of charge. The only condition is that they must be paying members of First Portuguese, which is $40 a year for seniors. We are able to offer the program with the support of Second Harvest, which is an organization that delivers groceries for us to cook. Currently, we have around 70 or 80 participants, but some days 15 show up and other days we have 40. It varies. Our objective is to have 100 seniors here every day. It won’t be easy, but I believe we can get it done”, Carina Paradela stated. The seniors’ centre includes both paid professionals and volunteers.

The daycare is another established program within the organization. Due to the reduced number of spots available, the waiting list is long. However, parents with children from the ages of 4 to 12 can utilize the services of First Portuguese during special days such as March Break, Christmas Break, Summer Camp and P.A. Days when the capacity is extended.    

The Portuguese school, the oldest in the Province of Ontario, continues to operate. Although in previous years it delivered classes in a few elementary schools, currently the program is solely implemented at the organization’s headquarters, every Saturday from 9 in the morning to noon, for youth who are between the ages of 4 and 13. “Currently, our classes are divided according to the students’ knowledge of the language. We have a pre-school class, another with students who have some knowledge of Portuguese, and another with children between the ages of 7 and 13 who do not have knowledge of Portuguese but whose parents want them to learn the language. It is our largest class”, Carina Paradela revealed to then announce that classes could return to elementary schools in the area: “We interrupted that program because of the pandemic. It doesn’t mean that we have dismissed the possibility of reviving it in other schools, but the demand is still not sufficient.” Aurianne Fazendeiro added that some people have been asking for adult Portuguese classes “which we had before the pandemic. Let’s see if we can revive this program.” All the teachers are paid professionals and possess accreditation from Portugal. The school is associated with Instituto Camões.

During the week, from 7 to 9:30 in the evening, there are ESL (English as a Second Language) classes for adults, a program that enjoyed a waiting list before the pandemic.

These programs fill a crucial gap in the community. They are necessary for the preservation of our language and our culture, the development of our youngest Luso-Canadians, and the protection of the dignity of our seniors. “We are a centre with open doors especially to our seniors, so they can have a place to spend their day, a second home. It’s like going back in time to pay them homage. This community movement began with First Portuguese, and they were the ones who started it. Now, it’s our turn to care for them”, Carina Paradela stated.

All participants in any of the of the programs delivered by the organization must be paying members. The annual fee is $70 ($40 for seniors). “We do not serve anyone who is not a member of the organization. It is a measure that has worked really well. We need members to elect a Board of Directors. This is a way we can continue to grow”, Aurianne Fazendeiro stated. Except for the seniors’ centre, the organization charges participants a fee to register in each of its programs.

“Our financial situation has improved exponentially”, Carina Paradela revealed. “We are not rich, but we feel safe knowing that if we do not make money for a whole year, we’ll be able to keep operating, something that was unthinkable not long ago. We have a bright future. We feel that we are doing well, although we would like to expand the Portuguese language program”, Paradela informed.

In addition to grants and registration fees, the organization also relies on revenue from OLG Charitable Gaming, a program that channels proceeds of bingo games to participating organizations such as First Portuguese. This support has become a crucial source of income for the association.

Although First Portuguese Canadian Cultural Centre was, decades ago, the victim of alleged incompetence by members of its Board of Directors, both Carina Paradela and Aurianne Fazendeiro are in no way part of that blemished past, as Carina emphasised during our conversation: “First’s importance in the community should be that of an association that is 67 years of age, that continues to serve the community the best way possible and that it has been able to adapt to the times.” Aurianne Fazendeiro interjected to add: “We are not the people from the past. There were situations that shattered First’s reputation, namely when the building on College was sold. We are not from that time. Many continue to say that they won’t contribute to First because of what happened, but that has nothing to do with us. We had a glorious past and part of it was not as glorious, but some people only remember that part.”

The second oldest community association in Canada continues to thrive due to the efforts and the commitment of dedicated volunteers and professionals, but also to the confidence of those community members who remain faithful to its mission. Here, young and old play a role in the preservation and promotion of crucial aspects of our heritage. First Portuguese Canadian Cultural Centre is a true symbol of maturity, resilience and reinvention.