Portuguese Cultural Centre
| Founding Date: | May 31, 1997 |
| Address: | 12964 52 Street NW Edmonton, Alberta T5A 0B8 |
| Telephone: | 780-473-2194 |
REVIVAL AND FORESIGHT OF A DYNAMIC ORGANIZATION
Audio Version:
The Portuguese community of Edmonton has witnessed various stages of structural growth and decline throughout its nearly seven decades here. Over the years, several organizations were formed but many others have fallen into the realms of History. There is one, however, that is currently intent on establishing itself as the main proponent of the Portuguese heritage in the area: the Portuguese Cultural Centre.
Officially founded on May 31, 1997, the organization predates this event. It all started in the early 1990s at the Portugal Canadian Multicultural Society when the members of the folk-dance group who originated from Minho decided to form their own rancho. This caused some friction between the two factions, which naturally led to a separation. The new group took on the name of Centro Cultural Português – Rio Lima, but the Executive Board is currently working on removing the “Rio Lima” reference to reflect the inclusiveness of the organization.
The Portuguese Cultural Centre quickly became a major social and cultural hub in Edmonton, amassing as many as 500 paying members at one point. The initial fulgor eventually waned and, with it, so did the membership. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, the Centre was in dire need of intervention and under the threat of shutting down. However, a team of men and women intent on resurrecting the organization recently took over and has since done a tremendous job of reviving it.
Among this group is the current vice-president, Virgilio Gonçalves Lopes, a man who has taken on several roles of responsibility within the Centre. Born in the municipality of Covilhã, he arrived in British Columbia in 1977 to work at an aunt’s farm but, four months later, he relocated permanently to Edmonton where he has left an impact on the local Portuguese community. Once the vice-president at the Portuguese Canadian Multicultural Society, Virgilio Lopes is using his accumulated volunteer experience to help revive the Cultural Centre.
In a conversation held in May of 2022, he recounted the appalling state in which he found the organization and the work that has been done since by the new executive. “Three years ago, when I got involved, there was nothing left. We only had 26 [paying] members. [The Centre] was about to be passed on to the Government or to another association. In two months, we brought back the children’s folk-dance group which performed on Portugal Day, the biggest one so far. We had around 750 to 800 people. We also have the Grupo de Bombos. We purchased the drums in Portugal and offered them to the club, several bass drums and toms. They have performed several times. We celebrated our 25th Anniversary on May 28 [2022]. We also celebrated April 25th, Portugal Day, Saint John, and we have various activities planned for September and November, such as the feast of Saint Martin. We’re thinking of organizing a New Year’s Party, which hasn’t been done in years. We are working hard for the club and people have responded well,” Virgilio Gonçalves Lopes proudly stated.
The folk-dance group that led to the creation of the Centre ceased to exist for several years, which partly caused the decline of the organization. Originally an adult’s group, it has now been revived with a children’s version. However, there are plans to revamp the existing group and to bring back the older dancers, as Lopes informed: “We always had recorded music, but we are trying to find a group to play and sing with the rancho. We have plans to form the adult’s group. We already have a few ladies who committed to help.”
The fabulous performance of the Board is reflected on the creation of the children’s folk-dance group and the prospect of the return of the adult’s group, the founding of Grupo de Bombos, and the many initiatives that it has promoted recently. However, it will also soon be reflected on new projects that include the hosting of renowned artist such as the Portuguese Kids and the Luso-Canadian comedian Mike Rita, as well as others from North America and Portugal which will grace the association’s stage… but there is more! “We are trying to form a soccer team and we already have someone willing to help,” Virgilio Gonçalves Lopes announced. This will be the organization’s first ever soccer squad.
Although the original folk-dance group precedes the official founding date of the Centro Cultural, there is a reason behind the occurrence. “[The folk-dance group] rehearsed in rented halls for a few years, but then moved to the current location on the date the club was officially founded, on May 31, 1997. We purchased the property [in 1996], six months before we officially formed the organization. We did everything ourselves. We bought the land and constructed the building. The community helped and the government also contributed. The building and the property are paid off,” Virgilio Gonçalves Lopes proudly informed.
The property is equipped with space and infrastructure that allows the association to organize all its events here, be they outdoors or indoors, large or small. “It’s not just a building. We have plenty of parking space and a plot of land that is worth around a million dollars,” Lopes said. The building is composed of two floors, each equipped with rehearsal space for the organization’s various groups. On the main floor, there is also a kitchen, a bar, and a hall with a capacity for around 400 people. The bar is open daily.
The executive board has worked diligently to rebuild the organization, but it also worries about its future sustainability. That is why it has created a group composed of youth that has a voice and supports the board in its decisions. These youth will ascertain that the Portuguese Cultural Centre does not suffer again from the disinterest it has witnessed in recent years.
Sustainability is, in fact, one of the major challenges of all the Portuguese organizations across Canada. Furthermore, this has also become a community concern, as the maintenance of our heritage is under threat in various parts of the country. Edmonton is no stranger to this. Over the years, it has witnessed the formation and the decline of various organizations. To realistically face this challenge, Virgilio Lopes and his team have been working on a plan that intends to unite all the associations in the city under one roof. “I always had a great relationship with the PCMS (Portuguese Canadian Multicultural Society). Those in charge are from my hometown and I know all of them. Together, we will overcome this. We want to unite because we are very few, whether we are together or not. Only united are we capable of forming a strong folk-dance group. We would like to work together, here. We have plans. We need to be united,” Lopes advised.
The Portuguese Cultural Centre of Edmonton is a true model of reinvention and foresight. Its executive board has been able to revive the organization through hard work and commitment, but its efforts are not enough without the support of the community. So far, the response has been overwhelming, but history does tell us that awareness and adaptation are key to a sustainable organization. The Cultural Centre seems to have the right people in the right places, ready to adjust to the needs of the community.
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