Remarks by
The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M.
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
50TH ANNIVERSARY, CASA DO MINHO PORTUGUESE CENTRE
Casa do Minho, 1080 Wall Street, Winnipeg
Saturday, May 4, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
(please check against delivery)
Founders, members and friends of Casa do Minho Portuguese Centre – thank you for the opportunity share in this milestone celebration.
As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I take pride in celebrating the many cultures and peoples that share our province. And I acknowledge that we are gathered today on Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis.
In this province, the present-day and ancestral home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples, we are committed to health, equity, justice and opportunities for all.
One of Canada’s – and especially Manitoba’s – greatest gifts to the world at large was the development and growth of the idea of multiculturalism.
In the last century, and especially here in Manitoba, we came to realize that embracing a wide range of ideas and cultural expressions could strengthen a society as well as enhancing the quality of life of all its members.
And so, as a province and a country, we have celebrated the music and dance, food and costumes, art and traditions of the many cultures in our midst.
That would not have been possible without the commitment of men and women in many communities who founded cultural organizations and arts groups – groups like Casa do Minho.
These cultural pioneers found places to rehearse and perform. They led dance groups, practiced on musical instruments brought from far away, found ways of acquiring ingredients for delicious dishes that were not available on most supermarket shelves. They worked together and brought elements of cultures from around the world to their fellow Manitobans.
I am pleased to hear that a number of founding members of Casa do Minho and its performing groups are here today for the 50th anniversary of the creation of this organization – as are volunteers who have worked to sustain this community centre.
To all who have contributed to Casa do Minho over the last half century, your dedication to culture has touched the lives of generations of Manitobans. You’ve enriched this province and our understanding through your volunteer work and your talents.
Congratulations on this 50th anniversary and thank you for bringing the flavour of bacalhau braga to the land of walleye and pike.
Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom
