Volume 1 / Issue 3 goavancouver.com MESSAGE FROM YOUR EXECUTIVE You probably have heard already or were there in person to enjoy, that the November 4 Gala dinner and Dance with Goa/ Bombay legendary club performer, Lorna, was a fantastic success that everyone is still talking about! Often referred to as Goa s Nightingale Lorna showed she hasn t lost any of her amazing vocal range in a rocking multi set performance that spanned a 3 hours performance. Those who grew up listening to the legend s music were treated to a fabulous trip down memory lane, with Music Director Norman Cardozo accompanying her on the keyboard. Those hearing her for the first time were blown away to see this dynamic diva live and in person for the first time. Rocking intermissions by our local DJ Paul Pereira and awesome opening INSIDE THIS EDITION Message from the Executive Lorna Dinner and Dance highlights! Community Service Award winner! Scholarship Winners! President s speech Names in the News Don t miss - St FX Feast celebration and children s Christmas party Lorna Dance pictures! performances by Fr Nixon D Silva, Denise Pereira and Doris Amaral made for a complete blast of music, song, and dance. To top it all off the sumptuous dinner provided by the Grand Ballroom staff, was supplemented by delicious sorpotel made by Debbie D Souza Yummy!!! Filming for our 40th Anniversary legacy video also continued at this event! Enjoy reading and seeing the pictures in this newsletter and on our website. We
have included the President s speech so that all who helped with this amazing event can be properly thanked as well as all the 400 who attended. entertainment and scrumptious meal of snacks/food/desserts for $ 10. Children under the age of 5 are free. The bar will serve beer & wine at $ 3. Upcoming Events! A special mass is being held at IC Delta church on December 3rd 2017 at 2 p.m. Please make a special effort to attend the Mass at 2. We are also including a Christmas tree party with Santa & Goodies. We are looking for people and children to showcase their talents. For tickets or further information please contact Judith Braganza atjudithbrngz@gmail.com. If you would like to sell Christmas Sweets/ goan snacks, please contact Judith Braganza. Thereafter a reception at the IC Delta hall to celebrate the patron Saint of Goa. There will be plenty of Music, dancing and Carol D Sa, President on behalf of fellow committee members Debbie DeMello, Jennifer D Sa, Lynette Pereira A big religious event of the Goan year is the feast of St. Francis Xavier.
President s speech at Lorna Dance On the 41st year of GOA Vancouver and the year of Canada s 150th birthday, the GOA Executive team, 40th Anniversary team and Team Lorna, welcomes each and every one present for the gala tonight. After 41 years in existence, we are thankful to our founding members of this organization. We have one present here tonight, Cleto Dos Remedios. I have been fortunate to have him as my mentor and coach. His message has always been to stay focused on our mission of being a caring community. Thank you Cleto for sharing your wisdom and passion with us and for this platform that has kept the community together for over 40 years. As Goans, Mangaloreans, East Indians and Anglo Indians, we are very proud of our culture, our food and our music. And today we have the privilege to have LORNA the legend as our guest artist along with her music Director Norman Cardozo. Over the last couple of days that we have spent together I am touched by their humility. The other day when I was chatting with Norman he said to me, he feels he won the lottery to have the opportunity to come to Vancouver. Actually, we feel we have won the lottery to have the privilege of you all coming to Vancouver. Many of us here have been
looking forward to this day for many, many years. They say it takes a village to raise a child. To us here in Vancouver our village is our community. Behind every successful event there is a strong team of volunteers who donate their time and our sponsors and donors and supporters that attend our events. Quite a few of our donors have consistently supported us every year. We are very thankful. Our volunteer base has grown tremendously in the last year and for that we are very grateful. None of this can ever be possible without our hardworking and devoted spouses. We are thankful to our youth, who donate their time in various sub-committees. We congratulate our children and grandchildren who will be awarded scholarships tonight. We are so proud of you. I would especially like to thank Team Lorna for putting this night together. A special thank you to Villa Pinto for capturing the last 40 years under the Legacy Project. I would like to end with a quote from Michelle Obama Success isn t about the money you make but about the difference you make in people s lives To everyone present this evening We thank you immensely for your support and encouragement. Cheers and have a wonderful evening
Community Service Award Winner Doris Amaral On behalf of the Goan Overseas Association Vancouver, we are proud to present to Doris Amaral the Community Service Award for 2017. This is awarded to a member who gives back to the community, and hence enhance the spirit of Goa. Over the last decade Doris has spent long hours, time, effort and practice for a perfect performance, bringing the music of your fan LORNA the Legend to us by sharing her talent with us and keeping the goan spirit alive in all of us. Her willingness to always serve, for what she is passionate about i.e. GOA, is an example for all of us to follow. She has also served on the Board and is always willing to give a helping hand. On behalf of the GOA, we thank Doris for her service and thank you for keeping the spirit of goa alive in all of us. We wish you success and all the best in your future endeavours. Scholarship Winners - 2017 The GOA Vancouver and generous donors offered the following scholarships for the academic year 2017-2018 and invited members and their dependent children to apply G.O.A. Vancouver Scholarship - 2 awards of $250.00 Graham Fonseca and Giselle Fonseca Carnival Cultural Club Scholarship - 1 award of $250.00 Denise Pereira Realtor Glen Scholarship - 1 award of $300.00 Cole Rodricks Baylon and Alice Caldeira Canada 150 Scholarship 1 award of $250 - Jaydon Crasto Rudy and Lydia D Souza Scholarship $500 goes to Shawn Fernandes We thank all those who applied for the Scholarships and to those who were not awarded, we thank you for applying and please do try again. The awards were presented at the Gala Dance on Nov 4, 2017. Congratulations to the winners! More info and eligibility criteria http://www.goavancouver.com/ Scholarships
40th Anniversary Legacy Project continued filming at November 4 Gala Dance Work on creating a documentary and archival record of the BC history of Goans, Mangaloreans, East Indians and Anglo Indians and the various groups that hold these communities together began last year as part of the GOA s 40th Anniversary legacy project. A short video and a special keepsake brochure were produced and featured at the 40th Anniversary Gala Celebration. A longer video is now being produced and includes filming and interviews at the GOA s Canada 150 picnic on August 20 and the recent Nov 4th Gala Dance. More info: Villa Pinto - villap@shaw.ca. GOA COMMITTE CONTACT INFO Caroline D Sa President@GoaVancouver.com Debbie DeMello VicePresident@GoaVancouver.com Lynette Pereira Treasurer@GoaVancouver.com Jennifer D Sa Secretary@GoaVancouver.com GOA Vancouver Fall Event Calendar Date/Time Event name and descrition Location December 3, 2017 2.00-3.00 3.00-6.00 December 31, 2017 St Francis Xavier Feast and Christmas Party Mass All are encouraged to attend this beautiful Mass. Feast Celebrations and Christmas party See more details in this newsletter and/ or to register for the party: Judith Braganza at judithbrngz@gmail.com New Year s Dance As you know, it took some time to get a Committee formed this year. We decided to put our energies into arranging a smaller number of high quality events such as the very enjoyable Canada 150 picnic and the awesome Lorna show just comepleted. GOA Vancouver will not be hosting a New Years Dance this year but there are dances being hosted by community members and we encourage you to support them. IC Delta Church IC Delta Hall 8842 119th Street Delta, BC Various