The president of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, encouraged this Saturday in Brampton, Canada, the young descendants of Portuguese of Azorean origin to “rediscover the archipelago”.
“To the young people who do not forget the origin of their parents and grandparents so that they can rediscover the Azores, which is not only a land of tourist destination for them, but also a land of opportunities to develop their talent or business, both in the Azores and in Portugal”, said the head of the regional government, in statements to the Lusa agency.
José Manuel Boleiro, visiting Canada since Friday, participated in the 39th Luso-Canadian Entrepreneurs and Professionals Gala on Saturday night, where 40 scholarships were awarded to students of Portuguese descent and five Awards for Excellence were awarded to members of the community.
For the Social Democrat, young people of Portuguese descent “can be very successful in Canada” but “without forgetting the origins of their parents and grandparents”.
“I want to promote with the University of the Azores the possibility of experimenting with Portuguese in the Azores, discovering opportunities for master’s degrees and doctorates. Likewise, with your talent, discovering opportunities to live in the Azores, since more and more, with the digital transition we are experiencing, it does not matter where we are developing our professional competence”, he added.
The head of the Azorean Government also stressed that taxation in the Azores is “much lower than in Canada” and the quality of life is “very calm”, which he considers “good appetizers to discover the opportunity to live in the country”. . archipelago”.
If they do not have the opportunity to move permanently to the Azores, they should do so to “establish businesses on the islands”, he appealed.
Kalista Kyle, 21, the daughter of an emigrant from São Miguel (Azores), was one of the scholarship students.
Studying the last year of a biology and mental health course at the University of Toronto, the descendant of Portuguese has already visited the Azores, in at least 13 situations, a “very important” place, where her mother was born and hopes to change one day. . definitely.
“In the future, after finishing my studies, I hope to move. This year I intend to enter the Faculty of Medicine, after finishing it, I intend to move to Europe, I will probably go to the Azores”, he highlighted.
Kyle speaks Portuguese with a South American accent and explained that this is because he learned the Portuguese language “on his own” and not at home.
“I learned Portuguese by myself. I lived with my grandparents, since they didn’t speak much English, I decided it was better to learn to write Portuguese and speak it better. I found an online course with Brazilian Portuguese and then I got this accent,” she explained.
Inês Costa Valente, in Canada since she was 9 years old, daughter of immigrants from São Miguel and Terceira Island (Azores), was happy with the granting of the scholarships.
“This scholarship that I received is very important, since it will help my parents financially, thus paying for my education,” he stressed.
The Portuguese-Canadian intends to join the University of Toronto to attend a Life Sciences course.
“I don’t know yet, but maybe one day I will return to the Azores, but at the moment I don’t know, but it is very possible,” he stressed.
The Gala of the Federation of Luso-Canadian Entrepreneurs and Professionals had as its main speaker Louis de Melo, CEO of the Sinai Health Foundation.
Businessman Fernando Branco, vice president of the Pearson Convention Center, was recognized with the Business Excellence Award, while the Professional Excellence Award was given to lawyer Kim Ferreira.
Musician and singer Shawn Desman, winner of a Canadian Music Award (Juno Award) in 2006, was honored with the New Generation award.
The businesswoman and philanthropist Ema Dantas, who climbed Everest on May 13, in a solidarity action for mental health, was recognized with the Humanitarian Award.
Professor Celina de Melo, linked to the teaching of Portuguese at the First Canadian-Portuguese Cultural Center, was distinguished with the Civic Commitment Award.
José Manuel Bolieiro promotes this Sunday a collective meeting with representatives of the Portuguese associative movement in Ontario and will also visit the Portuguese Pavilion at the Carassauga Multicultural Festival, in Mississauga.
The regional director of Communities, José Andrade, is also present on this visit to Canada.
It is estimated that in North America there are more than a million descendants of Portuguese and Portuguese of Azorean origin of various generations.
Source: Observadora
