Associação Migrante de Barcelos Community Centre
| Founding Date: | October 28, 1998 |
| Address: | 2079 Dufferin Street Toronto, Ontario M6E 3R3 |
| Telephone: | 416-652-6354 |
THE YOUNGEST MINHO ORGANIZATION IN TORONTO
Related articles: International Festival of Folklore “Galo” Inaugurated in 2003
Audio Version:
A group of Barcelenses, proud of their roots and with the desire to promote the municipality with the largest number of parishes in Portugal, convened in 1998 to discuss the formation of an association. The record shows October 28, 1998 as the official founding date. Carlos Miranda, previously involved in other community organizations, was the main driver of the project.
Like many other Portuguese associations in Ontario, soccer was the initial activity promoted by AM Barcelos, as the association is affectionately called. A men’s team was formed and, in 1999, it entered an indoor soccer championship. Despite not achieving the sporting success that it expected, it served to unite the residents of Toronto who hail from Barcelos.
On December 5th, 1999, AM Barcelos’ growing membership elected, at Casa da Madeira, a temporary Administrative Committee headed by Carlos Miranda. The overwhelming interest propelled the Committee to rent, in March of 2000, Dovercourt House as its first ever headquarters. It was here that the association took major steps toward a future full of successes in the social, cultural, and sporting areas.
At Dovercourt House, the association grew in all aspects of the word and bold new projects were launched. The Folklore group was created here although its foundations had already been discussed at the Administrative Commission’s initial meeting. It was also here that the first General Assembly was held to elect the first Board of Directors. Carlos Miranda became the first ever President.
After this important step, AM Barcelos’ membership agreed to purchase its own headquarters, a transaction that was facilitated by then Board member and Real Estate Agent, Maria Vieira. Major renovations were necessary, but the work was completed in record time with the help of members and supporters of the organization.
This initiative led to a tremendous growth, one that was noted and celebrated by the Portuguese community in Toronto. It was with certain skepticism that some welcomed a new association into the fold at a time in which others were struggling to survive. However, barcelenses and their friends were able to create a tremendous movement of support that turned AM Barcelos into a financially and socially strong organization.
As a result of this vitality, activities were revamped and new projects were launched. The folklore group became a member of the Portuguese Folklore Federation and, to date, is only one of three in the whole of North America. A children’s folklore group was also formed, a choir of traditional songs was created and it even recorded its own CD. A school of traditional instruments was also created, along with a Portuguese School and martial arts instruction.
During this time, AM Barcelos was recognized by the City Council of Barcelos as its official representative in Toronto and Gil Vicente FC granted the association with the distinction of its No. 1 affiliate in the world.
If the first decade became a story to be told for generations, the association eventually fell into some difficulties. Membership became less interested and it seemed that AM Barcelos was destined to suffer the unfortunate fate of many other associations that have succumbed to the declining interest from its members. For some time, it was governed by an Administrative Committee until Paula Barbosa was elected President. During her mandate, she was able to repair any financial issues that the association had and, when Vitor Santos became President, AM Barcelos showed a positive balance sheet.
Vitor Santos continued the work of his predecessors but was also able to instill new life into the association. The folklore group, although always active throughout the years, began to gain a new life and the membership returned in droves. Events became popular again and the organization had regained its position as one of the most dynamic in the community.
Recently, Moto Galos, a branch of AM Barcelos that helps motorbike enthusiasts gather to raise funds for various causes while riding the streets of Ontario, is another initiative that has witnessed tremendous success.
Gil Vicente FC of Toronto is the blemish in a near perfect record of this association. A disagreement between the Director of Sports and the Board led the soccer team to separate from the association. It is now a separate entity called Academia do Gil Vicente de Toronto. However, even though Gil Vicente FC of Portugal has recognized the new organization as its official affiliate in Toronto, AM Barcelos still possesses documentation granting it the original status.
Vitor Santos, the current President, seems to have instilled new life into the association. As a result, its dynamism and vitality have been reinstated and the future of the organization seems to be in good hands.
| With files from Luso-Ontario Magazine, 2008 |
| If you notice errors or misrepresentations in the article, please e-mail contact@lusocanada.com |
| Help us write History. Contribute your story, memory or experience related to this organization by sending an email to contact@lusocanada.com. |
================================
International Festival of Folklore “Galo” Inaugurated in 2003
For the occasion of the second anniversary of its rancho folclórico, Associação Migrante de Barcelos Community Centre organized, in 2003, the first international folklore festival in the Portuguese community, fittingly named “Galo” (rooster), the symbol of Barcelos. The event, which included groups from Canada and the United States of America, took place on March 29 at Lithuanian Hall. Although only one non-Portuguese folk-dance group participated in this inaugural event, there were several ethnicities represented in subsequent editions.
A.M. Barcelos’ folk-dance group was founded in 2001, three years the formation of its umbrella organization. It immediately gathered major support from entities such as the Portuguese Folklore Federation, Barcelos City Hall and Grupo Folclórico de Barcelinhos (Barcelos, Portugal). Within its first year of operation, Rancho Folclórico da Associação Migrante de Barcelos became a member of the Portuguese Folklore Federation, affording it great honour but also added responsibilities as one of the very few member groups operating in Canada.
Led by a dedicated and versatile committee, the group quickly became a reference in the Portuguese community of the Greater Toronto Area. Thus, the launch of the international folclore festival, although innovative, was not a surprise to anyone. Carlos Miranda, then Vice-President of Culture and the folk-dance group’s instructor, was the coordinator of the initiative. He formed a committee that included Graça Pereira, Remigio Pereira, Martinho Rodrigues, Lucy de Oliveira, António Pinheiro, Rosa Pinheiro, Artur Moreira, Abilio Pereira, Nancy de Oliveira, Manuel Oliveira, and Adérito Fernandes.
The event began with the introduction of the participating folk-dance groups, which paraded on stage. They were: Rancho Folclórico da Associação Migrante de Barcelos, Rancho Folclórico da Nazaré (the oldest in Canada), Rancho Etnográfico da Casa do Alentejo, Rancho Foclórico da Associação Cultural do Minho, Rancho Folclórico da Casa da Madeira, Rancho Folclórico Os Amigos de Peniche, Rancho Folclórico A Eira (United States of America), and a Ukranian group, which came from Ottawa, called Poltava Ukrainian Dance Company.
The host opened the show with Malhão de Entrada and then performed Valentim, Lima de Goios, Malhão de Roda, and Vira da Despedida. It was followed by its guests, which were all unique and different from each other not only in relation to the attire but also to the dances.
Various personalities were present at the event. They included future Mayor Barbara Hall, José Eustáquio and Rosa de Sousa from the Alliance of Portuguese Clubs and Associations of Ontario, future City Councilor Ana Bailão, Member of Parliament Mario Silva, António Pereira from the Portuguese Folklore Federation, then School Trustee Nellie Pedro, João Dias from Local 183, Ontario Minister of Citizenship Carl de Faria, and Licinio Silva, President of Associação Migrante de Barcelos.
At the conclusion of the event, each group was presented with a ribbon to signal their participation in the festival, and with replicas of the traditional Galo de Barcelos (rooster of Barcelos).
The initiative was such a success that, by 2005, the event was held at LiUNA Local 183’s Gerry Gallagher Hall, which has capacity for more than one thousand guests. This specific edition was particularly special because it included groups from various regions of the globe. They included Axe-Girls from Angola, Folklore Inca Peruvian Folk Dance Group from Peru, and Candra Kirana Indonesian Folk Dance Group from Indonesia. Os Tradicionais from the Portuguese Club of London and Rancho Folclórico da Escola Portuguesa do Clube Transmontano, in Toronto, also participated along with the hosting group.
Associção Migrante de Barcelos experienced a few years of unrest at the Board level, which led to the eventual interruption of the festival. Now that the organization has regained stability, there is hope that the “Galo” may one day be resurrected.
Note: Article written in 2023
| If you notice errors or misrepresentations in the article, please e-mail contact@lusocanada.com |
| Help us write History. Contribute your story, memory or experience related to this organization by sending an email to contact@lusocanada.com. |