Grupo Folclórico Transmontano

Founding Date:1981
Address:2381 Old Pheasant Road
Mississauga, Ontario
L5G 3G3
Telephone:905-279-2257

Brief History

Audio Version:

Grupo Folclórico Transmontano was founded in 1981 to represent the former Province of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. The costumes depicted the people of the mountain, the worker, the market retailer, the pilgrim, the wealthy, and the famous pauliteiros de Miranda. 

In Toronto, the group has performed at the Ontario Place, the CNE, Fort York, City Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Queen’s Park, Rogers Centre, Universities of Toronto and York, parades, picnics and numerous other events over the years. 

In 1983, the group was invited by former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau to perform at the Parliament in Ottawa. During that trip, the group also performed across the river in Hull, Quebec. 

In 1988, the group organized a tour in Northern Portugal. While in Portugal, it acquired costumes from all Provinces and Archipelagos of Portugal to use in their performance during the grand opening of the Skydome, the home of the Toronto Blue Jays.

At the Portugual Day Parade, in Toronto

Grupo Folclórico Transmontano was a member of the Metropolitan Folk Arts Council for 20 years. This membership offered it opportunities to perform at events such as Carassauga in Mississauga, Carabram in Brampton, numerous events in Toronto, and the official celebrations of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and Canada Day. It also participated in various folklore contests, including the one organized by Queen’s University, in Kingston. 

The group has a brilliant past representing Portugal in various events. These include the visits of Prince Andrew and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, Dr. Carlos Cesar and Dr. Duarte Mendes of the Regional Government of the Azores, President of Portugal Dr. Jorge Sampaio, and former Prime Minister of Portugal Dr. Cavaco Silva, among others. 

Grupo Folclórico Transmontano’s godfather is Mano Belmonte. 

With files from Luso-Ontario Magazine, 2008
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