Portuguese Association of Manitoba
| Founding Date: | March 3, 1966 |
| Address: | 659 Young St Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2T1 |
| Telephone: | (204) 783-5607 |
THE FIRST PORTUGUESE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN CENTRAL CANADA
Audio Version:
The following article was written with references from a document compiled by Agostinho Bairos, former board member of the Portuguese Association of Manitoba and former Community Consultant for the Multiculturalism Secretariat of Alberta, titled ”Datas Principais na História da Associação Portuguesa de Manitoba”. The use, for reference, of said document, was consented by the aforementioned author.
The Portuguese Association of Manitoba, established in the City of Winnipeg, is the oldest organization in the province and in Central Canada. It was founded on March 3, 1966, during a meeting held at 620 Elgin Street, in Winnipeg, and incorporated on April 19 of that same year. For nearly a decade, the association was the sole promoter of the Portuguese heritage in Manitoba, giving rise to many groups and to several events that have brought the community together.
The organization’s inaugural year was focused on solidifying its foundation. It started by leasing a space on 720 Langside Street to serve as its opening headquarters. Then, it welcomed Father Pedro Fernandes, the first priest officially dedicated to the local community, by offering him the status of Honorary Member, a distinction that was crucial not only in terms of recognition but also because it strengthened the relationship between the organization and the church. As the pattern goes across the country, the church has always played an important role in each of our Portuguese communities, but sometimes it lacks proximity to cultural and social organizations. In Winnipeg, the Portuguese Association not only recognized the concept but also continued to show solidarity and willingness to maintain the relationship.
A perfect example of this is the support the Association has given, over the years, to Banda Lira de Fátima, a marching band that was started at the church in 1973 and that has created a permanent tie to the Immaculate Conception Parish. In 1977, the Association offered its headquarters for Lira de Fátima to rehearse twice a week and, in 2013, extended the use of its hall, free of charge, for the band to organize its annual events. In 2010, the Association made a $2,500 donation to the band.
Soccer was the first group to be formed by the association, only two months after its official foundation. However, the team was only registered a year later, on May 31, 1967. For the next few years, the squad competed in local leagues with dignity and pride, but without a major trophy to show for. On October 28, 1972, the first dinner in support of the soccer team was organized with the sponsorship of Americo Supermarket and, a year later, Leonardo Pereira was named Sporting Director. This move helped the club become more competitive but, even then, it took the squad nearly another decade to conquer its first major title. In 1980, the Portuguese Association’s soccer team won the Premiere Division of Manitoba, a feat that it repeated in 1982. A decade later, the team took its first international trip after it was invited to participate in a tournament held in the Azores. Currently, the APM soccer team is one of the oldest in the city of Winnipeg and continues to represent the association with pride.
During the inaugural year, the founders also started a folk-dance group that was introduced to the membership on November 23, 1967, which took on the name of Alegre. A year later, on March 26, it performed for the first time in front of an audience. The Portuguese Association and its folk-dance group attained tremendous cultural importance in the city in a short period of time and, by 1972, it had been selected to represent Portugal in the prestigious Folklorama, an event promoted by the municipality that showcases its various ethnicities. It was later joined by Casa do Minho, in 1982, but in the History books the Portuguese Association will always remain as the first. One of the highlights of the folk-dance group occurred in 1987 when the Duke and the Duchess of York visited Winnipeg. In representation of the Rancho Folclórico Alegre, Celestino Alpestana and Carla Pereira danced the Corridinho Alma Algarvia.
Over the years, the folk-dance group performed in various locations across the Province of Manitoba, but also traveled to other Canadian cities, such as Toronto and Edmonton, and to the United States of America. The interest in the group was such that the organization eventually formed a youth section, which it called Rancho Juventude. Both ranchos continue to perform for the local community but have also traveled together to perform at various locations in North America.
It was at the association that the first Portuguese school was formed in the city, in 1967. In September of 1973, a local public school offered the organization three classrooms and, a month later, the Portuguese language program was launched. It took another four years for the school to be recognized and receive support from the Government of Portugal. That year – 1977 – the school boasted a registration record of 146 students. It reached its peak in the 1982-83 school year with over 300 students registered, plus another 250 learning the language at the Portuguese Association (source: A Profile of the Portuguese Community in Manitoba by Agostinho Bairos, 1991). Twenty years later, the organization hosted the visit of then Coordinator of the Portuguese Language Program in North America, Dr. Emilia Mendonça. For over half a century, the school has helped thousands of youth learn and perfect their Portuguese. It suffered a setback during the Covid-19 pandemic, although it continued to offer online classes. Currently, the school is housed at the Portuguese Association’s headquarters.
Portuguese School (image: organization’s Facebook page):
Following the formation of the soccer team and the folk-dance group, the Portuguese Association introduced theatre presentations to its repertoire in 1968 with the play Rosa do Adro. In 1973, it showcased O Pai Abandonado. For many years, Carlos Neta and Maria José Correia directed several drama and comedy productions that graced the association’s stage and marveled its members. In 2001, Maria José Correia wrote and directed the play O Redentor that was showcased at the Portuguese Cultural Centre.
Entertainment has, in fact, been a major focus of the various executive boards since the birth of the organization. It provide the membership with opportunities to cultivate the heritage and the trends of the motherland. One of the highlights of the early years is the visit of actor and producer, Tony de Matos, for the screening of the film O Destino Marca a Hora, a hit movie that has become a cultural staple. Other relevant performances include Tertúlia do Fado de Coimbra in 1990 and 1992, Roberto Leal and Dinis Cruz in 1991, Lenita Gentil and Trio Latino in 1996, Quim Barreiros in 2009, The Portuguese Kids in 2013 for two sold-out shows, and many other artists from Portugal and North America. In November 2022, the Portuguese Association is presenting a major comedy show with Fernando Rocha and João Seabra.
Another major cultural undertaking occurred on December 1, 1974, when the association inaugurated its library. Over the years, it grew in quantity and in quality with books that were either purchased or donated by members and supporters of the organization and by other entities. In 2011, Sérgia Carvalho donated a collection of sports books to the library in memory of her late husband.
The Portuguese Association was extremely diligent in its first few years of existence by making tremendous efforts to serve the membership with varied activities. One such was the introduction of Miss Portugal Winnipeg, in 1969. Maria Madalena Palmeiro (Vieira) became the first ever Miss. The event gained such popularity that it continued to grow year after year. The other winners include Maria Manuela Castanheira (1970) and Lucinda Reis (1972). In 1973, the association decided to attach the initiative to the Folklorama event – to which it had just been accepted – and crown the winners with the title Miss Portugal Folklorama. Milu Simões won the first edition and retained her crown the following year. Other winners of the early years include Fátima Fernandes (1975), Lourdes Simões (1976), Esmeralda Sousa (1978), Fernanda Ferreira (1979), Tina Camilo (1980), Helena Tavares (1981), Maria do Céu Gameiro (1982), Ana Paula Neves (1983), Isabel Matias (1984), Teresa Cordeiro (1985), Belita Jorge (1986), Laudalina Amaral (1987), Suzana Azevedo (1988 and 1990), and Cália Caetano (1989).
There are numerous cultural and social programs that the organization has promoted over the years, most of which are pioneering initiatives in the community. One such is the Portuguese Community Picnic, first organized in 1969 in Whitemouth. In 1994, a group of members convinced the association to purchase a property located in the municipality of Saint Laurent, near Lake Manitoba. The board agreed and completed the purchase of the Recreational Park of the Portuguese Association of Manitoba, commonly known as the Portuguese Park. The annual picnic has since been moved to this location. However, the park has also turned into a community gem. Here, Luso-Canadians purchase their own plot and gather throughout the summer to celebrate our heritage and commune with other friends and compatriots.
Another pioneering initiative is the Bingo, started in 1969 and played most Friday evenings. It suffered a few interruptions over the years, but for the better part of the first three decades, it always found a way back into the list of the organization’s activities. Also in 1969, the first recorded major New Year’s Eve party was sold out, with the performance of the musical group Os Solitários. The group returned to perform at the association’s fourth anniversary, on March 7, 1970. In 1971, the first Baile da Pinha was organized. The association was also the first to organize the celebration of Portugal Day, at times held at the Recreational Park.
Although men are often credited with some of the major initial milestones of most associations across the country, the role of women cannot be ignored. Currently, these roles are not as defined and not as accepted, but one cannot ignore the fact that certain responsibilities were often assigned to a specific gender. The Portuguese Association of Manitoba attempted to shorten the gap from early on through inclusion and the implementation of various initiatives, which include Miss Portugal. Even though the election of a Miss is now seen by some as objectifying and sexualizing women, in those early days it was seen as providing them with opportunities for empowerment. The association has been able to adapt over time to the new ideals and, as such, no longer elects a Miss Portugal. Other examples of the importance of the role of women in the organization are the appointment of Lena Simões as teacher of the Portuguese language, in 1969, the election of Zita Lopes to Vice-President and consequent appointment to Executive Director in 1992, the leadership of Maria José Correia with the theatre company and, more recently, the election of Fátima Carreiro as President of the organization.
The biggest movement toward the recognition of the role of women within the organization and the community occurred on June 10, 1993, when the Portuguese Women’s League was formed. In September of that same year, the League began operating the first ever childcare centre dedicated to the community. The Women’s League has become more independent from the Portuguese Association in recent times, but continues to use the organization’s hall for its annual events. Although it remains a group focused on empowering women, it currently aims at supporting various philanthropic initiatives through its fundraising efforts.
The Portuguese Association of Manitoba has always made real efforts to support various groups and entities in the community. It implemented the assistance program Community Contact in the early 1980s, often supports its senior members and friends with transportation to its various events and continues to raise funds for other community organizations. These include The Portuguese Veterans – formed at the association in 2003 – which uses a room at the organization’s headquarters for its regular meetings and has been offered free use of the hall for its annual events. The association has also raised funds toward various groups and causes, such as supporting Casa dos Açores’ Cultural Week with the purchase of tickets for its members in the value of thousands of dollars, Banda Lira de Fátima with a monetary donation, and also victims of natural disasters such as those of the Haiti earthquake in 2010.
A dynamic organization (images: organization’s Facebook page):
The Portuguese Association’s work and influence has surpassed the borders of Manitoba. Illustrious visitors include the former President of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Dr. João Bosco Mota Amaral, former Secretary of State, José Lelo, former President of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Alberto João Jardim, former Deputy for Emigration, Manuela Aguiar, and former President of Portugal, Jorge Sampaio. The organization has also been invited to participate in various events and conferences outside the Province of Manitoba, particularly in the 1980s after the organization had solidified its status as a leader in the province. In 1984, Mário Santos, then President of the General Assembly, participated in a conference in Ottawa and, later in that same year, António Tavares, then President of the Association, traveled to Portugal to attend a conference in Ovar. In 1987, directors Luis Gameiro and João Pedro participated in the LYNC conference in Toronto.
The history of the organization is undeniably connected to the space it occupied over the years. The Portuguese Association of Manitoba had its humble beginnings at a two-story home on Elgin Street, but it eventually planted itself in an imponent building at an ideal location in the city. However, this was a process that took time, patience, and effort. After it settled at 720 Langside Street, still in its inaugural year, discussions around purchasing a property began in 1967 and, on April 7, 1973, the opening of the new headquarters on 586 Ellice Avenue occurred. The one-story corner building that now houses the West End Cultural Centre provided the organization with a great space to organize its events, small and large. However, with the growing of the membership and the solidification of the association, a larger space soon became a priority. In 1982, a committee focused on constructing a new building and led by António Tavares, was formed and, on July 25, 1983, a property situated on the corner of Notre Dame Avenue and Young Street was purchased. On June 8, 1985, the ceremony for the laying of the first stone of the new Portuguese Cultural Centre took place and, a year later, official construction began. The project, designed by architect Gustavo da Roza and supervised by the New Headquarters Committee, was funded with donations from the community, loans, and government grants. In August of 1987, the Portuguese Association of Manitoba moved permanently to the new Portuguese Cultural Centre, located on 659 Young Street, although it was still under construction. The official inauguration of the new headquarters occurred on March 3, 1988, with the blessing of Monsigneur Pedro Fernandes, the first priest to exclusively serve the Portuguese community in Winnipeg. In that same year, Folklorama was held here for the first time. In 2002, all debts related to the construction of the new building were settled and, a year later, the organization purchased a property adjacent to the building to increase its parking capacity.
As is the case with all organizations across the country, the Portuguese Association also suffered various administrative challenges and setbacks over the years. Some of the initial challenges included the retaining of an executive director, as some remained in the role for a short period. It also experienced challenges at the board level, which include the difficulty to form an executive before the turn of the millennium, in 1999. Various efforts took place in that year by members of the association, which culminated with the election of Mário Santos as president, Mark Dias as vice-president, and Maria José Correia as secretary. However, it was always able to refocus and to maintain its relevance in the community.
Youth has also been a major focus of the association. Beyond creating Rancho Juventude, in 1983 it also formed the youth group New Generation of the Association. Two years later, the group organized, in conjunction with the Portuguese Parish, the initiative “Bridging the Gap” that witnessed over 100 young men and women travel to Lake of the Woods, in Ontario. In recent years, the group has continued to organize and participate in various initiatives, including a Youth Conference held in the archipelago of the Azores.
Although some pioneering organizations across the country are not able to maintain their relevance, this is not the case with the Portuguese Association of Manitoba. To date, it continues to be a leader in the Luso-Canadian community of Winnipeg and Manitoba.
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