Portuguese Montrealers celebrate their heritage and culture with a festival
Posted May 27, 2023 12:05 am.
“You have to expect this Portuguese warmth and happiness of being together and partying together,” said fado singer and host for the Festival Portugal International de Montreal, Marta Raposo.
Montreal’s Portugal festival celebrates its 10th edition — and the 70th anniversary of the start of Portuguese immigration to Canada with a three-day festival featuring live musical performances, food, dancing and more.
Spectators listen to speeches ahead of the Portugal festival live performances on Friday.
“The festival has evolved and it’s a cultural event for the Portuguese community here – we’re going to celebrate,” said painter Maria João Sousa.
The festival will feature artists from the Portuguese diaspora, a singing competition and a soccer game, and will highlight luso writers and painters.
“My parents were part of the first immigration practically that came in 1958. They paved the way for us and I just needed to give back to the people that saw me grow up. I was born in this neighborhood. So it’s a pleasure. I had this dream a long time ago. It finally happened. Not alone because some first, second, third generation joined forces with me. And here we are celebrating our 10th anniversary. And it’s wonderful,” said president of the festival Joe Puga.
Fado singer Jordelina Benfeito kicks off the live performances at the Portugal festival on Friday night.
“We’re people with character. So we can’t use our constructed people. We’re builders. I never lose ego. We plant new roots so this is a way of seeing what the new generation is doing because I mean, in the 70 years, right? The people doing right here are all over here, most of them. But the kids and grandkids are continuing the traditions, and it’s beautiful to see,” said member of the organizing committee Herman Alves.
“We’re only 60,000 Portuguese in Montreal, but we’re very active community. We give back, you know, we have we’ve integrated here again. A lot of Portuguese Canadians live here for many, many years. We’ve integrate into society. And I think I think it’s just a wonderful event that we do not only for the community, but for all Montrealers to come and celebrate with us,” said Puga.
“We absolutely have to keep on their evangelizing our culture and who we are and if we don’t do it, people assimilate and eventually we’ll lose our culture, our language,” said Alves.
