October 2011 Contact - Canorient Christian...
Transcript of October 2011 Contact - Canorient Christian...
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My dear members, I am extremely pleased to be writing this message as the President of the Executive committee for the 5th consecutive year. I am humbled and touched by the tremendous support and encouragement that you have shown me since I was first elected. My job would have been so much more daunting if it was not for the wonderful executive committee that I as so lucky to have working with me. They are a fine group of people who love what they do and from all the comments I get back I can see that you appreciate them as well. This year is going to be a busy one for all our members and I do hope you make it a
point to attend at least some of the events if not. There is nothing we like more than to see all our mem‐bers participate. A great example of that was the All Parishes Picnic held for the first time this year. We had over a thousand people in attendance with so many of them being members of the Canorient. We have such a vibrant and growing community that we need to come together more and I am happy to see that the picnic was such a phenomenal success the first time. I hope it will grow in the years to come and we have many more people in attendance. The new executive committee has been busy organizing various events since the Annual General Meeting in March. We had a very successful poker night which helped raise some significant funds with another poker night planned for October 15, 2011. In addition our Whist Drive was very well attended as was the Car Rally. I am pleased to inform all of you that every event we host it is always a full house which is quite incredible.
The Contact as you have not noticed was not published in July and the printings have been reduced to twice annually. It has become increasingly difficult to find people to contribute articles of interest to our members and also the growing dependence on the web and social media together with the cost of publishing it was decided to publish only twice a year. We hope that our members will also follow us on facebook or visit our website to get the latest information so that you are aware of the many events being organized. We also send out regular emails so if you do no get regular emails from us please do send us your email address and you will be added to the mailing list.
Once again thank you for your support and I look forward to seeing you at a Canorient event in the very near future.
God Bless.
Angela Menezes President
President's Message
WHAT CAN I DO TO RAISE THE BAR IF WE HAVE TO SUCCEED AS AN ORGANIZATION I would like to take this statement and dissect it to a pulp. It is my goal and my mission once again to stir up the cauldron till it emits fumes and fiery sparks that will force a reaction from every one involved. While the cauldron weaves its thin spiral emissions, I am hoping, that a magical start to collective participation will emerge and with this involvement, “sparks” ‘splats” “tics” “booms” “splutters” will all bubble up to the surface for those who are eager to procure from the arti‐
cles, interesting tid‐bits, recipes, some spiritual commentary, current affairs, life as a student, anecdotes of the old days, some interesting political rhetoric, reminiscing down memory lane ‐ an array of experiences that will root itself in novel ideas and will likely end up raising the bar and making the publication we call “The Contact” a house‐hold name. The Can‐Orient Contact acts as a medium whereby events, tales, reminders, advertisements communications enlighten its members that the social club is alive and well. I would there fore like to take this opportunity to rouse contributions from our members that will not only open the lines of communication between the interested few but spread its tentacles to include every facet of the community, be they kids, young adults and our illustrious seniors who will have made it their mission to be productive and contribute their zest for life to other members. The nurturing and mentoring that could be derived from their experience is an area I would very much like to embark on and create vibrancy in our Community that will spring it to life. I know in the past I have made appeals and I am hoping someone there will help me revive that old spirit of “togetherness”. I am determined to push harder and in particular impress upon our younger members to embrace the importance of exploiting your talents. Many of us may have the ability to put pen to paper but the general malaise that exists within us borders selfishness an attitude of “oh let someone else do it”. Others may claim lack of time however, whatever the reason, I would like to appeal to your sense of community spirit. As a part of the Christian Community hailing from the sub continent, we were provided with an opportunity to enjoy greener pastures. Let us use this opportunity, in particular, the platform of the Club as a springboard to achieve bigger and better things for ourselves and our community. I would ask parents to encourage their children to experience the joy of expression, the ability to communicate with words that will eternalize their thoughts. I had the good fortune of reading an article sent by my good friend and mentor Michael Dias on the Power of Words. I must say as I read through it I embraced each sentence as if it were an essence to my last breadth. I took so much for granted in the past, that it has made me realize the importance of words. One sentence resounded in my mind, shook the very core of my being and rattled me – “Successful people take control of their words rather than letting their words control them”. So, take control of your thoughts and put them down in words – words that will culminate in ideas and viewpoints that will incite a reader and start a debate that will likely soar in readership. Start small, 150 words to express anything special. You can elaborate that thought to write an epistle – who knows you may surprise your self. So there it is my pitch to you to make a contribution to the magazine – help me get this production going and to proclaim what an inspired community we are. A brand new idea was thrown into the think tank – why not bring The Thousand Islands rendezvous to the City of Toronto – and what a unique way of bringing together Parishes of the old stomping ground and plant them in our midst watching them grow in our new homeland ‐ Canada.
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Editorial The dynamic, enthusiastic people that one time thronged the Churches of Pakistan all gathered together in a single spot – Milne Park in Markham – with one intention to meet, greet and enjoy their long lost friends, relatives, neighbors and any other word that will describe the fascinating eclectic culture of the Christian community that existed in Pakistan. St. Patrick’s, Our Lady of Fatima, Christ the King, St. Jude’s, St. Lawrence’s St. Anthony and the Sacred Heart’s Parish to name a few, were some of the stalwart Parishes that thrived in the City of Karachi. So, your executive team is to be complimented for another unique performance. This venture was colored with success by throngs making their appearance to the park grounds and helped start a new trend. This idea of a “Think Tank” might bring the pages of the Contact to life and by subscribing to it may transform the magazine and take it to heights that will expand its circulation. It is hoped to allure new membership and provide for extensive participation. Let me know what you would like to see by way of reading material. Articles that would be of interest to you or literary commentary that would be of interest to you. I would like to see academic efforts that would appeal to the readers, a contest directed at story writing, a literary venture that might entice and motivate young people to tell their compelling stories. Variety is the spice of life. So go ahead, use imagina‐tion, weave your magic with interesting suggestions and focus your ideas to culminate in anything from history to art, literature to philosophic commentary, religious spirituality, culinary, you name the idea, it will find a spot in the magazine and it is hoped that the idea of variety will interest readers and opening the floodgates to both member‐ship and readership like. Finally after my rant above, it has been decided to publicize The Contact twice a year. It makes it that much more important to ensure our efforts are geared towards enticing our readers to throw in material that extends beyond positive fulfillment, emotional richness and cultural harmony. I hope to get large volumes of input/feedback from budding writers, seasoned crafters of the art of writing and make it an appeal to challenge our seniors to provide us with the benefit of their veteran experience particularly some of who were early pioneers to Canada. Cheers! DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: JANUARY 31st, 2012 ~ Carole Saldanha ~ [email protected]
ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS By: Alicia Pereira On Saturday June 07, over 280 people of all ages met on the shores of Lake Ontario to successfully set the Guinness World Record for the most number of people carrying water jugs on their heads. Friends of World Vision, a dedicated group of volunteers, organized the attempt to set the Guinness World Record. 282 Canadians showed up to set the new record. They did this to draw attention to the fact that thousands of women and girls in many countries must walk miles each day to fetch water. Frequently this water is contaminated, causing waterborne disease. The World Vision child sponsorship program provides help to children and communities faced with issues such as these. The volunteers, many of whom sponsor children through World Vision, encourage others to become more aware of the issues, and to sponsor a child.
A special thanks to the Canorient for helping Friends of World Vision get the word out and having such a successful event. FACTS What: Guinness World Record set for most number of people car‐rying water jugs on their head, new world record is 282 people Where: Woodbine Beach Park, Toronto When: New record was confirmed at 11:20a.m., Saturday May 07, 2011
World Vision is a leading Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by our Christian values, we are dedicated to working with the world's most vulnerable people. We serve all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.
CANORIENT FUNDRAISER FOR TROY DESOUZA By: Rosemarie Menezes
On February 13, the Canorient Christian Association held a fundraiser, along with the GOA and the IGO, for the first Goan candidate to run for a seat in the House of Commons, Conservative Candidate for Esquimalt Juan De Fuca, Troy DeSouza. The event was hosted by Angela and John Menezes who graciously consented to have it in their home.
As with other events the Canorient has held, this event went off very well. A number of Conservative‐minded people attended the event, as well as community stalwarts who felt they needed to support the first member of the community to run for the House of Commons. We should thank our hosts and all the volunteers and donors who made this event a success.
Troy is a fine man and an excellent candidate who can only do the community proud. Troy is a prosecutor and litigator, specializing in by‐law enforcement, in Victoria, B.C. He also creates and teaches courses in prosecution
for local B.C. governments. In fact, he was named the Top Lawyer Under 40 on Vancouver Island, only a few years ago. But Troy is more than just another lawyer. He has proved a commitment to his community and his country, serving on student government at University, being active in professional organizations, rising to Captain in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves, and currently active in community organizations, like Operation Track Shoes and the YMCA in Victoria.
I, for one, had hoped Troy would be successful, so that we could have someone in the Government, who understands the difficulties faced by the Christian community of the Indian sub‐continent. We need someone to advocate on our behalf in the corridors of power. Unfortunately, Troy was not successful on May 2. His B.C. riding went to the NDP in an Orange Tide that swept the nation. Still, his party won a majority and formed the Government, and we certainly hope he and others in his Party, will remember our cause in the years to follow. Indeed, the Minister of Immigration, the Honorable Jason Kenney attended the event and was very encouraging, as he acknowledged the troubles the Christian community of Pakistan faces every day, and how his Government had spoken to their Pakistani counterparts about the troubles the Christians face there.
I’d like to thank the Conservatives and the pragmatists in our community for taking up the cause that more liberal‐minded community members have had to put down because their party is not in power. We certainly hope that they can form a good working relationship with the Centre Right Conservative Canadian Government to work on the kinds of policies that our Canorient Christian community supports, both in Canada and abroad. We live in a difficult world and the path ahead needs leaders of strength and vision. We as a community must muster all our resources and contacts in all types of organizations and political parties to ensure our voices are heard and the needs of the community are met.
MAN FOR ALL SEASONS ‐ MR. WALTER MENDES By: Carole Saldanha
When I ponder on this caption, I am reminded of Sir Thomas Moore, a great man, the English Statesman at the Court of Henry the VIII, the man later canonized saint in the fifteenth century. A man who stuck to his beliefs and principles, a man who lost his life, and, a man whose loyalty to his family and pledge to his religion singled him out in history as a maverick of his time. His epitaph “The King’s good servant but God’s first” rings true of his unbridled passion to duty and his steadfast belief in his God and his sincere friendship to his countrymen. A literate scholar a just and fair man and finally a saint and martyr to his religion. Such was the Man For All Seasons. When I ponder over his strengths, courage, faithful companionship, humble in thought and yet high and mighty in word and deed, I am reminded of another man – The Man of the Year 2010 – Sir Walter Mendes. Walter since I have known him reminded me of one who longed for obscurity but that looming height of a man unequivocally made his presence known. His quiet countenance undoubtedly spells strength of character, his shy disposition‐humility and, his hard work, dedication and moral fibre, deserves recognition. His loyalty to commitment surpasses all. His determination to see an event through has persistently contributed to success of his endeavors. His devoted sense of achievement drives him to a point that knows no bounds and finally his ability to transform and adapt to time and place makes for a stand‐up guy. His kindness transcends above normal civility and makes the recipient feel indebted to him eternally. His sense of compassion and his rare ability to curb his frustration is one of the most endearing qualities the man is blessed with. Accolades came pouring in from one and all, each in his/her own way recognizing the enormity of singling out this very benevolent man ‐ Walter the Man of the Year. The pride which this man’s chest swelled was obvious when the Executive Committee in its wisdom pronounced Walter as the individual comparable to none other than a Sir Thomas Moore of our time. Indeed, it speaks for and commends his efforts, rewards his loyalty credits his disposition to heights that surpass conciliatory gentleness, emotional richness and immortalizes this man as a genuine – one of a kind. A presentation in recognition of this ceremonial title was a beautiful glass tankard with an emblem set in sliver highlighting this honorable distinctive friend and confidant ‐ the Man of the Year – Walter Mendes I would like to take the liberty of recording some of the complimentary messages from members. Here is what they have to say about this shy, gentle, brilliant conversationalist, humble and sincere man. Angela Menezes: Walter is a remarkable person who has been heavily involved with the Canorient since its inception. He has shown true dedication and love for the Association over the years. His contributions have included being the life time membership director. That means keeping those membership lists up to date and collecting and tracking membership dues. He was the key guy behind publishing the Contact for many years and then took a rest but the Contact kept calling out his name and now for the last couple of years has re‐assumed the role. He has volunteered on multiple committees and sub‐committees and is always ready to help. Walter does this all without wanting recognition and insists on it. His actions are a practice in both humility and modesty. Paul & Sylvia Menezes: Walter is the glue that keeps the Canorient together!! Congratulations and Best Wishes on this honour. The blog “FCCHS Lives” must be tweeting “Walter Mendes Zindabad”. Dominic & Tessy D’Souza: Wow!! Congratulations my friend! Well deserved award “PERSON OF THE YEAR" for a great guy. In your gentle and quiet ways for years that I have known you have given a 110% for the success of the Association. Thanks for your untiring dedication to the Canorient. Joe Menezes: An excellent choice. I cannot think of a more deserving person for this award. Walter exemplifies patience, a positive attitude and professionalism in every endeavor. Bottom line ‐ a classy guy indeed.
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MAN FOR ALL SEASONS ‐ MR. WALTER MENDES
Valley & Sandy: Congratulations Walter on being nominated for Person of the Year in 2010. Without a doubt, your long hours of dedication and commitment that you meticulously put into everything that you do and continue to do for the Canorient has paid off for the benefit of the Canorient and everyone involved. You have the requisite skills and attributes necessary to lead the Canorient in all aspects of the multiple tasks you have taken on over the years, not forgetting, from behind the scenes. Walter your ability to manage everything that you do is a remarkable feat and for this, your friends have a sincere respect and admiration for all your Accomplishments and need to be commended this is no better an opportunity to take a few minutes to acknowledge and say a "special" thank you. Hilary Fialho: Congratulations on this amazing achievement! I cannot think of anyone more deserving and I am glad you are being recognized for all your hard work for the Canorient Association. I have a new award for you ‐ it's called the "Lifetime Achievement Award"! Congratulations to the "Person of the Year". My heartfelt wishes are very sincere. Walter, you deserve this recognition and fame. Without YOU, Canorient would not be the same!!
Linda LaPorte: An excellent choice by the Association! I have been involved with the Seniors Committee as Secretary/Membership dues, collection for the past year and a half and in this role have got to know Walter. I have found him to be dedicated and knowledgeable, and so very helpful, kind and humble in all our dealings. Thank you Walter for all your advice and help ‐ keep well and keep up the good work. Congratulations.
Joe D'Cruz ‐ President Seniors Club of Toronto: Walter is undoubtedly in my opinion deserving of this honour. A good choice! Congratulations Walter! and Congratulations to the membership for choosing Walter.
Gordon Alias: Congratulations! 2010 is the Year of Walter. It is an award long, long over due. People do not know of the time and difficulty it takes to do things for the Club. Here is where you excel. In your own quite style there is an assurance all is well, simply because you handle each task with a missionary zeal. Thank you for the long and time consuming efforts put in to ensure all is well with the collection of subscriptions and the various tasks you undertake for the Club. Pearl Mendonca:Walter has been a great encouraging voice for youth in the Canorient, and through the Contact and other committees, has encouraged the youth perspective to be shared and heard. I personally have benefited from his support ‐ his en‐couragement of my contributions had helped me to write a few pieces for the Contact in the past year! I know all of us are very busy people, but for someone to take that much time and effort to give back to his community, especially younger members ‐ Walter is a great example for all of us. Thanks Walter for your support!
ECLECTIC PARISHES CALL IT A DAY TO REMEMBER – AUGUST 13, 2011 It started out with meteorological uneasiness. Environmental Canada called for on and of showers, and the day was unpredictable. Nevertheless, the members of those well attended Parishes felt the need to brace themselves for whatever the weather offered and make an appearance to show support to their fellow parishioners. Well, if support was the identifiable word, it proved to be wholeheartedly encapsulated in the phrase “instant success”. What a turnout of people, what an amazing mass of revelers what a way to show your pride to be a member of your Parish. St. Patrick’s, St. Lawrence, Our Lady of Fatima, St. Anthony, Sacred Heart, St Jude’s and Christ The King. Of course Our Lady of Fatima represented by its young vibrant committee were kind enough to share their efforts with the Can Orient Executive Committee’s suggestion that an All Parish Picnic be held combining and extending the planning of this large scale picnic to include a multitude of Parishes that operated in the City of Karachi. With gracious-ness, the Fatima group made a singular effort to combine its time with the efforts of a sub-committee and of course Angela Menezes, Angelo Rosario, Godfrey Cunningham, Anta and Ivan Rosario, Charlie Magalhaes, Ludy Clements, Christina Lobo and Tony Soares synchronized this agreement and devoted many hours to the planning this spectacular event, and, deserve our heartfelt thanks for its resounding success. People from far and wide, made an appearance and stretched participation from the Canadian borders to those of inter-national proportions. A throng of visitors made an appearance from the U.S.A, Australia, Montreal, Alberta, some suburban Ontarian habitats with a predominant number from Ontarian cities of Burlington, Scarborough, Mississauga, Brampton, Etobicoke, Toronto, Markham, Pickering and Ajax to name a few. I sensed people from all over the world familiar with the community’s past convergence on the Thousand Islands Picnic felt an urgency to congregate on Milne Park, an absolutely beautiful green belt of the Town of Markham. Supporters brought their families, their friends, their dogs, their canopies, their chairs, their pots and pans and their wonderful meals, and an amazing collection of aromas wafted through the park and trees heightening the effects of togetherness for the picnickers whose efforts in the food arena knew no bounds. If I have the list the meals that were prepared for the event, I am going to run out of space. All I can say, “Goan” with a mix of Portuguese, Pakistani and a variety of finger foods made for the events success. Competitive games for the kids, soccer diehards running through the field kicking that ball, including Sack Races and other games to amuse children were planned with precision by the committee. It was an event that made hellos and greetings and screams of excitement exchanged among those seeing each other for the first time in years, that made it an event culminating in togetherness, reunions, meetings and greetings of past, present and new immigrants all with one thing in common, namely hailing from the same homeland and finding a common bond on new soil, old camaraderie will never be forgotten. The never-ending food tasting is beyond commentary. The “come on over” and taste this that and the other never stopped. The laughter and merriment, exchanged among groups, of old friends meeting new ones, truly made one feel that the warmth and community spirit of the days gone by, was alive and well. The innate togetherness that has always been a noteworthy strength, and, the freely giving of attitude, of the people at the picnic, said one thing of our community, the sharing and graciousness was never lost notwithstanding the new country Canada, and, this was truly inspiring and gave one the feeling of “Welcome”. This togetherness, this close proximity with one and all has always been prevalent in our community through the years, and has stayed with us through the exodus from the homeland. It is remarkable to think that not much has changed in the way of how we feel towards each other and how much we want to maintain the culture that was ingrained in us. Thanks to our parents, seniors and the older generation who continue to mentor us in this culture. Here I need to mention the group activity – “Tambola” which was conducted with civility maintained through the number calling and was so commendable that I raise my hand to salute those who were instrumental in keeping the attention of the masses focused. Free of mayhem and controlled to the point that most felt it was important to assist each other in the overall effort of silence through the game was, overwhelming. It was cute to see the kids and young adults all seri-ously participating in the game, eyes down pens in hand all set to win that card. Here to, the incessant effort of the com-mittee gave way to another successful piece of entertainment. Finally to end a blissful day, community singing, gave vent to the effort of some stalwart musicians, their incomparable singing, of nostalgic songs of the old stomping ground made for a perfect end to a perfect day. Thank you to each of the Executive Committee of the Can Orient Association, the diligent sub-committee and the mass of volunteers who brought a new venture to life, turned it around and created a day to be remembered most importantly offered the opportunity to our fellow Karachites to bond together, leave all the mundane behind and show each other what an exotic, invigorating feeling of togetherness we can achieve as a community. Nature provided a perfect day, for a perfect event with a generous meeting of minds, hearts and faith. I hope this super communion of our community will continue to forge forward making new and innovative inroads together.
Carole Saldanha
WHIST TOURNAMENT
On Saturday, May 7th 2011, eighty eager whist loving players gathered at the club for an evening of fun. The emcee and main organizer, Zach Pinto, had everyone seated at their tables and after carefully explaining the rules and reiterating several times that this was a fun evening and not to be taken seriously, the games began. Pompie called the trumps and every time “no trumps” were called the audible groans were evident. Seasoned players, many of whom are strong bridge players and first‐timers all got into the spirit of the game and happily moved from table to table or rotated around the same table if they were not fortunate to move. The spirit of congeniality and tolerance prevailed throughout the evening.
At the half way point, delicious snacks prepared by Winnie Gomes were served to each participant. These included corned beef sandwiches, fish tart and a mince patty. Once fortified, the games resumed with even more enthusiasm and zest. It seemed that time passed very quickly and twenty games were completed in record time. Dinner consisting of mince, a fish cutlet, salad and chapattis were then served. Again, this was catered by Winnie Gomes and thoroughly enjoyed by all present.
The drum roll…….and prizes were announced. The following were the winners: First place (lady) $100 : Techla Danton First place (gent) $100 : Fernando Silvera Second place (lady) $60 : Bernie D’souza Second place (gent) $60 : Charlie Farrell Third place (lady) $40 : Rosemary Soares Third place (gent) $40 : Ratan Kirol Consolation prize (lady) $25 : Sandra Pereira Consolation prize (gent) $25 : Reggie Farrell
A table of délectable desserts consisting of chana ka dost, china grass pudding and almond cake (ala inimitable Maryanne style) was provided by Maryanne Pinto and these were quickly devoured by all.
By popular demand, Pompie organized a quick round of Bingo as no one appeared anxious to leave.
A very special thank you to Zach Pinto for spearheading this event. Thanks also to Tony Soares, Pompie, Anta & Ivan Rosario, Angela Menezes, Donald Ferro and Walter Mendes for helping at the event. Everyone had a wonderful time and many participants expressed an interest to have these tournaments more often!!!!!
LET THE WORLD HEAR MY SONG
They’ve told me to let my personality Be everything the world should see But then they say “strive for the best No matter whom you must be” I know that life isn’t a fairytale And you discover things the hard way And that the words that leave mouths Aren’t entirely what people should say Although it seems like the ones you trust Are the ones that let you down But I am no hopeless friend No way am I going to just sit around I feel as if I know this road I’ve seen it before Like I’m a pebble that continues To get washed up by the shore I’m not sure about this life That I’m slowly heading into But one thing’s for certain I know exactly what I’m going to do
Hold my head up high Choose right from wrong Put myself out there Let the world hear my song This world isn’t perfect And frankly, neither am i But the last thing i will do Is let life pass me by I’ve learned from my mistakes And learned who to trust There’s no way I’m going to fall into This world filled with lust In the end what matters most Are the people in your lives Who make you feel good From the outside to the inside So laugh at the happy moments And learn from the cause of your pain Be at ease and content Live your life with no strain This road will only lead me To bigger and better things Take on new experiences
And all that life brings Believe, hope and dream Inspire others to do better Do your heart justice Smile in the stormy weather Create a world of your own Where you feel proud to be you Don’t live in the shadow Don’t be anybody’s fool People will walk all over you Do yourself just Respect the world around you So you won’t be left in the dust Imagine a world Perfect for your own Look back at your past And see how much you’ve grown Reality can be your best dream As long as you live and love Do your best in everything Give it all the above
BY: Nikita Patrick
LEST WE FORGET ‐ BERNARD (BONNIE) MASCERHNAS
Eulogy given by Sven Mascarenhas, Bernard’s son, at the Memorial Service for Bernard on October 11, 2001 at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Toronto, Canada.
On behalf of my mother and sister, I would like to thank all of you for attending this service. From family to co-workers to friends, we appreciate all of you making the time to come here from around the world. I’d like to think that dad would have been happy to know that he touched so many people in a positive way. Our thanks to all our family and friends who have been here for us. I would also like to thank all at Marsh Canada who have done everything possible to ease our pain and provide tremendous support to us.
Today marks a month to the day of my father’s death in the World Trade Center disaster. It has been the most painful and frustrating month of my life; a sentiment that I’m sure extends to a great many people in this church today. Your presence here is a reminder to me that, rather than dwelling on dad’s death, we
must instead celebrate the full and joyous life that he lived. We must celebrate a life filled with compassion, humility and especially love. Love for my mother, his wife of 23 years; love for my sister and myself. He treasured his family above all other things in his life, a fact that he reminded me of several times. He took special joy in watching Jaclyn grow up; not having him there at her graduation was the first time I was faced with the full magnitude of losing him.
Although he told me to always value my formal education, it will be the things he taught me that I’ll hold most dear. He taught me the meaning of humility, taught me to never rub my successes in the faces of others. He lived his life by that credo, to the point that many of his closest friends had no idea just how successful he was in his professional life. That applied to me, as well.” Dad could barely bring himself to say anything even when forced – he once told a Pearson customs officer that he worked in systems and didn’t feel as if it was necessary to say anything else. It was only as I grew older and got a better idea of his work that I really understood what he had accom-plished in such a short time, and my respect for him grew further.
While many here knew Bernard on that professional level, I dare say that he was more effective as husband and father. He gave us all we could ever want, and we’d finally arrived at the type of life that he must have dreamed of upon immigrating to Canada in 1978. At the very least, he provided my sister and I with constant amusement, although very little of it was intentional on his part. The best – and, sadly, last – example spans a great deal of the last decade. As most of those closest to him know, during the past few years dad devel-oped what, quite frankly, my sister and I considered to be an unhealthy fascination with the game of Bridge. He usually spent quite a bit of his rare free time either reading a new book on Bridge or reading the Bridge column in the Star. He never actually played a game, mind you – just studied it. At some point over the past summer, while watching him play yet another game against his three invisible friends, Jaclyn suggested that he try finding a game on the Internet. His response could have been taken straight out of a Kevin Smith script: “you can play cards over the Internet?” Not exactly what you’d expect from a managing director who did his work in “systems.”
After much fumbling – how anyone got any work done in Marsh with dad continually asking them questions always amazed me, because it was a skill I never mastered – I managed to get him set up with an account on Yahoo, and he set to work. We barely saw him for the next 24 hours, so engrossed was he with playing Bridge online. I didn’t really talk to him until the next day, when he came into my room with a strange combination of happiness and sadness on his face. When I asked him what had caused him to stop playing bridge, he informed me that it wasn’t his idea, but that no one would play with him any more! It seems that all the years of studying the game had paid off, as he was simply better than anyone on Yahoo and was now scaring them off. The expression on his face when he said that is something that I find myself remembering more and more now, because while he may have been upset, the knowledge that all those years of study had worked out brought so much joy to his face. That’s how I think I’ll remember him, and that’s the story I’ll tell my chil-dren and grandchildren when they ask what my father was like.
There’s so many other things I could say about dad – his love of sports, both those of his homeland and those he picked up on when he moved to Canada. His continual pushing of me to do better, as he knew and believed in his heart that I could be. His sense of justice, of always making sure that people less fortunate than he was were taken care of. He may have lived in Canada, but he never forgot nor let us neglect our roots. His active role in our community, always trying to help someone out when they fell on hard times. His bravery after losing his own father in 1997, and the way he took care of his mother in the difficult months afterwards – all behaviours I hope I can emulate in some form.
Husband, father, brother, son, friend, colleague. All are words that can be justifiably be used to describe Bernard Mascarenhas; I cannot begin to determine which one should be held above the others. All I know for sure is this: I will miss him every second of my life.
~ DEATH LEAVES A HEARTACHE NO ONE CAN HEAL, LOVE LEAVES A MEMORY NO ONE CAN STEAL. BONNIE, YOU WILL BE ALWAYS REMEMBERED FONDLY BY YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES - REST IN PEACE Our dear friend Bonnie served as Vice President of the Canorient Christian Association and was a strong supporter and silent benefactor of the Association for many years.
IN LOVING MEMORY—LESLIE FRANK D’SILVA (July 23, 1919 – March 16, 2011) Leslie was the eldest of three children born to Virginia and Frederick D’Silva in Karachi. He attended school in Simla, India. In 1948, he married Teresa Pereira, and together they raised six children. He was an accountant at Forbes, Forbes Campbell in Karachi, and at age 62, Leslie and Teresa embarked on a new life in Canada. He continued working as a security guard until the age of 72! Our Dad was blessed with a rich, long life and he lived it to the fullest, with deter‐mination, independence and a strong work ethic. He (along with Mom) taught us the meaning of self‐sacrifice by working tirelessly to provide for the family. In spite of his very hectic life, Dad was a devoted son to his parents. He had a kind word, a good joke and a wave of the hand for one and all. He was generous of heart, and very humble. By his actions, he taught us that it is not the big things in life that matter, but it is the culmination of all the little things that we do every single day that matters. He had the ability to make each person he met feel spe‐cial. He was often known to give his family, friends and acquaintances small gifts, such as a box of chocolates, candies, cookies or just a small gift to say he was thinking of you. He would accompany his small gift with some kind and thoughtful words. His love of travel took him to many corners of the world on the “Canorient seniors trips”, and being a devout Catholic, he also went on numerous pilgrimages. He loved his “3‐Bs” ‐ bingo, brandy and bridge, and of course, “Hockey Night in Canada”. “Twinkle Toes”, as he was christened by his sister, Dad loved to waltz and he could not sit down once the music began. Dad’s health deteriorated in his last year, and he passed away peacefully on March 16, 2011. His was the story of a good man, son, husband, dad, grandfather and friend, and will be written in the hearts and minds of those who love and remember him.
*****
Leslie is fondly remembered by his wife, Teresa, children Derek (Anna), Donald (Marie Therese), Maryanne (Zach), Jennifer (Michael), Keith (Mavis, deceased), Kevin (Stacy) and grandchildren Karen, Christopher, Ryan (deceased), Warren, Melissa, Mark, Diane, Lauren, Nicole, Ella, Benjamin and Erica.
Leslie and Teresa D’Silva with the family on the occasion of their Diamond Anniversary –
Toronto, August 28, 2008
CAROLE FALCAO’S “RETIREMENT PARTY By: Austin Pinto
After 25years teaching for the Peel District Catholic School Board, Carole was calling it quits! And so on April the 16th., surrounded by family, friends and teachers whom she had worked with, a joyous celebration was held. She chose the elegant Bombay Palace Banquet Hall to mark the occasion. Delicious appetizers with red and white wines flowed, while the many guests circulated, chatted and caught up with all the news. Julia and Naomi, aged 10 or so, recited two poems, one in English and one in French, paying tribute to Grandma Carole, which they themselves had authored. A speech from Uncle Austin was followed by cousin Noel Pinto's rendition of "She did it her way" a.k.a. Frank Sinatra's "My Way". Grace said by Maureen Maroley from Montreal was followed by a delightful, delicious and delectable meal. Her birthday, which conveniently coincided with this date), cake was cut and was followed by a speech from Carole, and her son Carlo, a song from the St. Anthony of Padua Choir , of which Carole was a member, a couple of nostalgic songs from her brother David strumming his guitar and a few more from the Von‐ Trapped Pinto family.
Photograph from Left: Carole's sons Christopher, Carlo and
Roberto....the Glamorous Retiree in the Centre
60TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS: MARY & BURVY PINTO By: Austin Pinto
On April 10, 2011 Mary and Burvy Pinto celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at a delightful venue on Yonge Street in North York with a number of relatives and a few old friends, some of whom they knew back in Bahrain in the sixties. Brian, their eldest son resides in Victoria BC and was not able to attend because of other commitments.
While delicious hors‐d'oevres and wines were served, the guests circulated and paid the obligatory homage to the hosts. Toasts with a touch of humour and nostalgia were raised by their son Eric and their daughter Pearl and brother Austin. Daughter Audrey rendered a heartfelt Grace before meals. The menu was varied and absolutely delicious with eclectic plate presentations.... the table service was superb.
Further tributes to the honoured couple were done in song. Nephew Noel Pinto did a rather clever interpretation of the "Show Boat" classic "Ole Man River" to highlight Burvy and Mary's relationship over the 60 years. Anne Tauro, who sings ever so sweetly, and Austin, who doesn't, did their rendition of "May You Always" much to the delight of all. These displays of talent were not to be outdone by Burvy, who, with a little coaxing was able to belt out "The End of a Perfect Day" perfectly and then as the guests were preparing to leave, in a rather inebriated state, sang "Show me the way to Go Home".
From Left: Elmer & Audrey, Paige and Camille Pinto, Pearl and Alyse Richard, Burvy (seated), Mary, Eric and Ingrid
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Rebecca, daughter or Derek & Celia Lobo of Burlington, ON, married, Garnett Genuis of Sherwood Park, AB on Saturday, May 7, 2011. Friends and family gathered at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Burlington for the Ceremony, which was officiated by Fr. Simon Lobo, and concelebrated by Fr. Joe Selvanayagam and Fr. Kenneth LeBlanc, with music provided by members of "All 4 Him". Rebecca graduated from the Michael DeGroot School of Medicine at McMaster University on May 20, 2011 and will be doing her residency at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Garnett graduated with a Master's degree in Philosophy and Public Policy from the London School of Economics, England. The couple took a 12 day cruise to the Mediterranean and the Holy Land, and then went back to London for Garnett to write his final exams. It has been an extremely busy time for the newlyweds who have moved between Alberta, Ontario and London in the last 45 days. Solo Deo Gloria
Gavin Alias & Jennifer Lisi received the sacrament of Matrimony on May 21 2011 at the Prince of Peace Church in Scarborough. Even the weather Gods smiled on Gavin and Jennifer, the days prior to the wedding had plenty of rain, but for their day the sun was shining The Wedding Mass was very well attended. Family, Relatives and Friends wit‐nessed the couple take their sacred vows. Lle‐wellyn Davids and Diane D’ Silva added a special touch to the ceremony.
A tastefully decorated hall, excellent food backed by good service at the Presidente Banquet Hall and fun loving guests made the evening very enjoyable. DJ Ezio Crimi from DJ Emporium had the crowd dancing the night away. In the Bridal party were Neil Alias, Nicholas Lupo, Tamar Ghatas, Christopher Pinto, Matthews Dodds, Aiden McFadyen, Andrew Breininger, Danielle Lisi, Lisa Belli, Meighan Szigeti, Ashley Zarb, Mellissa Thomas, Francesca Paes and Monika Versa.
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On a beautiful Canada Day long weekend, Elaine Kempster, daughter of Reuben and Ruth Kempster, and Jaime Gangadin, son of Jean Gangadin and the late Vijai Gangadin tied the knot. The two day celebration started on Friday, July 1st, 2011 with an intimate Hindu wedding ceremony at Celebration Banquet Hall. On Saturday, July 2nd, 2011 the couple celebrated with a Catholic wedding ceremony at Prince of Peace Roman Catholic Church followed by a reception at Le Parc Banquet Hall with family and friends. Elaine and Jaime would like to thank all of their friends and family who helped to make this the most memorable event of their lives.
By: Helen Patrick SABBY PATRICK’S BIG 5‐0! Most of you know Sabby from the Black Jacks. And for those who do not know Sabby, his full name is Sebastian Patrick. Sabby is the proud son of late Johanna Patrick and late Joseph Patrick. Sabby is very lucky to have had such wonderful parents who did everything possible to give their children nothing but the best. Sabby comes from a family of nine brother and sisters and lived in Saddar most of his childhood years. He had a very good life growing up with family and friends, all very closely knit. We have 3 wonderful children Nikita(18), Kyle (14) and Jaden (5) who are all very proud of their dad.
Joining the band very early in life gave Sabby an exposure to the outside world and life in the fast lane. Playing at weddings, Christmas and New Year dances and also contributing his time to charitable parties was and is nothing but pure joy to Sabby. Some musicians give up after a few years but Sabby’s love for music keeps him going.
Apart from his music Sabby loves goofing around. Loves playing pranks on his friends and family. He maybe 50 but CERTAINLY DOESN’T ACT IT. My mum can vouch for that. My God, she still believes he can speak Konkani and he only speaks just one word, woi, woi. He loves impersonation; he gets a kick out of it. I literally have to tell him sometimes “ Sabby, everything is not funny” but for Sabby, it is. According to him, life is too short not to enjoy. Everyone we know can certainly agree with me that it is certainly fun and entertain‐ing to be around him.
So, Sabby, Thank you for all the years of love, fun, laughter and music you brought to our lives. Thank you for being a wonderful husband and father. May God bless you with many more years of happiness, good health, peace and love .
Sabby with his family
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TWO RARE DIAMONDS SHARE SIXTY YEARS OF HAPPINESS By: Carole Saldanha
The date – May 22nd 2011, the day – Sunday– time 5.00 p.m. This special day selected to honor two delightful people Vivian and Robert Chen. Their children and grandchildren decided to do something special for these two precious people. Their compatibility and warmth needs no introduction to their giant and generous hearts. Nature was fussing a little that day, with a few clouds and intermittent showers through the morning but the heavens cleared to a pristine evening when the sun shone and the blue skies hailed the arrival of this resplendent couple. They greeted their guests at the entrance of the Oakville Convention Centre, a venue that added style and grace to the event. Huge diamond memorabilia set with decorative center pieces adorned each table and guests were reminded of this timeless twosome – their Diamond Anniversary – sixty years together raising their chil‐dren, experiencing the rigors of life, beating the odds and emerging victorious as they shared this victory with family and friends. I give you Mrs. & Mrs. Robert and Vivian Chen!
The event commenced as guests were treated to a grand Antipasto table, with a lavish assortment of finger foods, delicious veggies, cheese, cold meats and some fascinating bread, and the guests circled the table did justice to the appetizers that were spread at the festive table.
The evening opened with M.C. Jeff Chen’s hilarious anecdotes traipsing through time and, re‐living all those humorous episodes that brought delightful cheers from the guests and, exhibited the love his parents shared for their children through their lives . Continued on the next page.
Their daughter Yvonne in her usual organized fashion ensured the evening went like clockwork and with the help of Jeanette, her sister‐in‐law the pair were absorbed in a united effort to give their parents and guests a sensational evening ‐ a night to remember – their sixtieth Wedding Anniversary.
As toasts were raised and recognitions acknowledged, Mr. Chen decided to add his flair of the art and sing for his supper – Not in English, not in Urdu, not even in Chinese, and certainly not in French but in the language of love – Italian, he performed “O solo mio” with such confidence and gusto, taking each note in his stride and the guests cheered him on. That is not all, he decided to have his first dance with his lady love to “Please Release Me” by the none other than the indomitable Englebert Humperdinck – imagine that – a plea to let him go – but did he mean it ‐ not on your life! He swayed through the motions of a clipped fox trot with Mrs. Chen in his arms gliding on that floor they decided to show the world he was in the right place spending this remarkable day with the right lady in the presence of family and friends at the right time.
The DJ spiced the evening with music hailing all to the floor and with liquid beverages including shots galore at the disposal of all, the guests danced the night away. The meal took its course and the guests were pampered with chicken, fish wonderfully colored summer vegetable, salad and of course a giant sweet table of sumptuous confectionary delights. Shaun, Tiffany and Bryan their three grandchildren, the light of their grandparents’ eyes all present to provide that extra boost to the evening. All pitched in to show their love and support for two gracious and wonderful people. The out of town guests made the trek for the couple too which, added a touch of support to the event.
I raise a glass to cheer this couple and wish them lasting love, through the years and a joy that will stay with them through time as they venture to triumph through the next decade of their life together. Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Chen – To your Happiness Always!
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CONGRATULATIONS SHIRLEY BEATTIE
Joe and Cynthia Castelino and family would like to congratulate their daughter Shirley Beattie on this commendation reported by the Canadian Air Force. On January 17, 2011. Captain Shirley Beattie, a Logistic Officer employed as the Deputy Wing Administration Officer at 16 Wing Borden, was presented the 2 Canadian Air Division / Air Force Doctrine and Training Division, Commander’s Commendation by Lieutenant‐Colonel Terry Wood, 16 Wing Commander. The text of the Commendation, which recognized her earlier work
at the Air Command Academy, reads as follows: "Captain Beattie has consistently provided exceptional leadership and support to the Air Command Academy (ACA). She was instrumental in the development of the Canadian Forces Enhanced Primary Leadership Qualification pilot course and its subsequent implementation. Additionally, she provided outstanding counsel during the groundbreaking transition to the Chief Warrant Officer Commandant. A highly respected member of the ACA and 16 Wing who is re‐nowned for her devotion to duty and integrity, Captain Beattie is the embodiment of the Air Force core values of Excel‐lence, Professionalism and Teamwork."
CONGRATULATIONS AARON PEREIRA On June 17th, 2011, Aaron Pereira, son of Maryann and Errol Pereira, graduated from the prestigious Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College as a Doctor of Chiropractic. His entire family is very proud of his accomplishment; something he has diligently been working towards since grade 11! Aaron credits his family for being his motivation and strength and is glad that he is the first, but hopefully not the last, doctor in the family.
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By: Dr. Aaron Pereira THE IMPORTANCE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN THE SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY There is a cynical remark that says‐ ‘In life 2 things are guaranteed, taxes and death.’ For the South East Asian population there are trends fast developing that could soon be added to that list: Heart disease and diabetes. Research performed on cultural and population health statistics have shown in more than a few instances that these 2 health conditions have steadily been on the rise for the past 10 years for those of South Asian descent (particularly those living in North America). What makes this even worse is that, after smoking, they are 2 of the most easily preventable, and often reversible, health conditions with diet modifications and exercise.
Having grown up in a Goan household, it is not hard to see where much of these problems can potentially stem from. Many of our traditional or commonly eaten foods rely heavily on being cooked and/or fried using oils composed of saturated and trans fats; are high in salt and/or sodium content; have high levels of cholesterol; and often contain higher amounts of red meats. Not to be excluded are the sugary delights served after the main course which would probably make a registered dietician cringe. It indeed is a hefty price to pay for such tasty and fulfilling food. Now, add in the fact that obesity levels in Canadian society as a whole have skyrocketed to a point where, as of last year, 52.3% of the population over the age of 18 reported being overweight or obese, and you’ve got a potentially dangerous situation brewing.
I am being a little facetious but I think you understand the point I am trying to illustrate. So besides modifying/moderating our diets, what can we do to help ourselves out? The answer: Physical activity. Now I know there are always the reasons why many of us can’t find time to meet the minimum requirement of 30 mins/day 5 days/week of moderate to vigorous exercise, but if you bear with me I’ll do my best to convince you why it is critically important for us to start making time in our schedules. Please note that ‘moderate‐intensity exercise’ is a level at which a person can still talk but no longer sing, and at ‘vigorous‐intensity’ talking is no longer possible. Physical activity helps prevent the development of many chronic diseases and is a useful complement to drug treatment in many diseases. A single session of physical activity (at 50‐80% of your maximum heart rate*) results in the lowering of fatty acids and bad (LDL) cholesterol levels in the bloodstream, as well as an increase in good (HDL) cholesterol levels. At the same intensity it has also been shown to decrease blood pressure and lower blood sugar levels. Regular physical activity has been shown to reduce the rates of heart disease, and the chance of death due to coronary heart disease as well as adult onset (type II) diabetes. Studies have shown that people living with type II diabetes who exercise are able to control their blood sugar levels easier and without the need for medication by regular bouts of exercise versus people with diabetes that do not exercise daily. Some of the other researched benefits of physical activity include improved physical function and independent living in the elderly, as well as improved levels of brain function. Individuals with higher levels of physical activity are less likely to develop depressive illness than those with lower levels, and in many cases is one of the treatment strategies employed by psychologists for such conditions. Convinced yet? I hope so.
So the big question I’ve been asked by patients is what can we do to increase or improve our physical activity levels? The answer is not as complicated as people often feel. First, keep it simple! You don’t have to go out and get the deluxe membership package at the gym or buy a state of the art elliptical or treadmill in order to increase your activity levels. If you’re going from no activity at all, start by going for brisk walks or a light jog. If you have joint issues then consider walking/jogging on the grass instead of the sidewalks. Other joint friendly cardiovascular activities include swimming and bicycle riding. Second, perform the activity at a level which challenges you. There are many ways to increase the difficulty of any exercise and if the activity you’re doing isn’t giving you challenge, then you are more likely to get bored and stop doing it. Third, make it a routine! If we were to give physical activity the same devotion that we do with watching reality shows, we could easily find time each day to accomplish the needed minimum requirement of 30 mins. Finally: have fun. Find activities that you enjoy and people to do them with‐ exercising in groups is always a great way keep each other motivated; turn the experience into a social activity, and make exercising more enjoyable and less monotonous.
I can see what you are all thinking right now, “You’re right Aaron and we’re going to start increasing our levels of activity today!” No? Well I’m sure we all want to have the best quality of life we can and the best way to ensure that we do is to make sure our bodies are physically as healthy possible. Perhaps it’s just an old cliché but we should liken our bodies to that of a fine wine and ensure that we only get better with age.
If you have any questions, concerns, comments, or for a list of my references please feel free to contact me at [email protected]
*Training heart rate= (220‐ your age) X .50 for lower limit and (220‐ your age) X .80 for upper limit
By: Gordon Alias DONALD D’ SILVA RETAINS TITLE
Donald D’Silva is still No 1 according to his performances in the last two tournaments of the Canorient Christian Association Scrabble Tournament held on February 26 2011 at the Club premises. Donald’s agenda was pretty and straight forward. Play a simple low key game and later explode. From the pre quarter finals to the finals Donald bullied up a score of 1335 points at an average of 333 points per game. Patricia tallied up a score of 1201 points for an average 300 points. In the Finals Donald scored 340 points to overcome Patricia at 305 points.
Many talked about players, failed to make the final grade. Patricia D’ Souza, a first time participant, did surprise a lot of players with her strong play. Talked about players like Angelo Rosario, who plays in the Ontario circuit, Shelia Noronha, losing finalists in 2009, Marian Skelton and Teesa Hogerwaard moved aside in the wake of the play of Donald and Patricia.
The fact is the parity in the Scrabble tournament of 2011had a situation in which several players were within a shot of making the top spots whether it was the round of 16, quarter‐finals, semi finals or the finals.
On the run of play the 32 players were placed in the eight groups, three matches per player, playing in a round robin format, with the top players qualifying for the knock out rounds of 16 players. They were Marian Skelton, Sheila Noronha, Kenneth Conception, Angelo Rosario, Patricia D’ Souza, Angela Menezes, Janet Jackson, Celine Mendes, Tessa Hogerwaard, Louisa D’ Costa, Jean Pinto, Joy Fialho, Vivian Meik, Donald D’ Silva, Diana Cordeiro. It was good play, the points scored was 3952 points at an average of 247 points.
Sometimes, in fact more often than we care to admit or notice, things fall into place without a set up or design. This scrabble tournament was sharp and short. Players did pull surprises by the command of word usages. Challenges were fast and furious. Not being allowed words from the Scrabble dictionary may have created a slight disadvantage for the die hard scrabble players. For future tournaments, the suggestion to allow the words from a scrabble dictionary maybe something to be considered.
For the Youth Group, it was a failure. There was not a single participant. In the first tournament, there were 10 participants. There are several ideas, why the youth did not play, but to be blatant with the reasons or excuses offered would seem embarrassing to write about. Who can find an answer ?
Results First ‐ Donald D’Silva Second ‐ Patricia D’ Souza Third – Marion Skelton Fourth Tessa Hogerwaard Special Prizes Highest Tally in the Round Robin play ‐ Marion Skelton 992 points. Promising Player – Cecilia Couthino Sporting Player – Godfrey Cunningham Angela Menezes, President of the Club, presented the trophies to Winners.
COMPROMISE AT POKER FINALS Moving through the calendar of events, the first fight of the UFC in Ontario, created a rivalry against the Canorient. The Poker tournament for April 30 2011 ran head on into some stiff competition. Several regulars opted to put the UFC at their number one attraction.
In the Finals Andrew Degannes and Jamie Gangadin compromised. This was done simply because the lure of the UFC fight was something more alluring. So Andrew bagged $900 instead of $1,000, and Jamie was happy to get $700 and a chance to watch the final round of the UFC.
Generally speaking it is not easy to pick how players will fare. Past winners like Tony Soares, Colin D’ Souza, Hafeez and Brian Lobo could not make into the final lot of 10 players. Moving into this group were Dil Chandi with $137,000, Nigel Menezes $135,000, Jamie Gangadin & Andrew Degannes with $130,000 each. The others were Clemente Gonsalves $125,000, Dale Barretto $75,000, Kenneth Conception $55,000, Adrianne D’Souza $40,000, Tino Pinto $30,000 and Max Fernandes $25, 000. From this lot, Adrianne and Tino qualified to a similar spot as last year.
Nigel Menezes’ aggressive approach seemed to stun all. Going all in Nigel looked impressive winning big. Gradually the tempo dictated play. Kenneth Conception, Max Fernandes and Clemente Gonsalves were forced to fold quite early. For a while fortunes moved back and forth. It had signs of being a long night, but a sudden change of luck and some daring calls left Andrew and Jamie facing each other for the final prize.
A few rounds into the game a compromise was reached. It was a disappointment to end the game, but such are the breaks allowed.
The Organizing Committee headed by Zachary Pinto, Angelo Joseph, Calvin Rodgers, Errol Pereira, Angela Menezes, Ruth Kempster, Kenneth Conception and Gordon Alias took bold steps to improve the run of play and most importantly increased the total prize money to $2,650.
CANORIENT CAR RALLY—JUNE 11, 2011
After the outstanding success of the Car Rally in 2010, the Committee decided to host another one this year. The day was absolutely glorious – bright sunshine, a fitting omen to a well‐organized and fun‐filled event. Participants started to trickle into the Community Centre, the starting point, as early as 1:30 p.m., even though the official take‐off time was 4:00 p.m. This was to ensure that their teams would get the bonus points for arriving on time. At the registration desk, each participant was provided with a “green” bag, which contained among other useful items, a Classic T‐shirt designed by our very talented Ms. Margaret D’Souza. The T‐shirt was aptly captioned “Car Rally 2011 ‐Canorient Christian Association”. Several participants very quickly shed their shirts, some publicly I might add, to proudly don these.
A sumptuous snack plate consisting of a chutney sandwich, pan roll, mince patty and fish tart was provided as soon as you arrived to get the energy levels charged up. Pompie prepared a very refreshing fruit punch, which was enjoyed by all – so much so that once the first bowl was quickly emptied he willingly made another. Once everyone was assembled, Zach Pinto, our emcee and one among several organizers of the event, went on to explain the rules in detail. This was accompanied by a “state‐of‐the‐art” computer projection so that everyone could follow through on Zach’s instructions. Once this was completed, the teams started to leave in batches. What was different this time around was that there were several different starting points and each team had to strategize in advance the most direct and shortest route to achieve their objective without having to back track.
And away the cars rolled off with professional dispatch services provided by Eric and Gordon coupled with memorable photography of the teams captured by Hilary and Walter…..the journey took us to some quaint village in Vaughan, parking lots of community centres, several parks, a graveyard, a funeral home, Pompie’s street, just to name a few well‐chosen spots where we tried to unravel the very clever and intricate clues devised by Jean and Eric Pinto. My all‐time favourite was the bakery, not too far from the Club, aptly named “Irresistible Cakes”. If one identified the cake in the store that cost $945, the owner gave us a delicious treat (now you know why it was my favourite!!!!). Thanks to Gordon Alias for finding this location and convincing the owner to provide the delicious treat. Having successfully, or so we thought, solved the clues, we headed back to the club where the Accounting Firm of Jean Pinto and Walter Mendes painstakingly and with the aid of electronic assistance tallied the results. Prior to announcing the results the participants were shown a power point presentation with the correct answers which were meticulously backed up with detail pictures to avoid any doubts. Thanks to Walter Mendes for his fantastic efforts of excellent photography and putting the presentation together.
In first place was the team of Sharon & Trevor Fernandes and Rhonda and Robin Godin with an impressive 84 points in total. Their prize was $50 each…..not bad for a couple of hours full of fun and adventure. The second prize went to Marie & Henry Saldanha and Rena & Reg Dias. Each member received $25. The third prize was the team of Joachim Menezes, Claudine Noronha and the dynamic siblings – Maryanne Pinto and Donald D’Silva. Prizes were also awarded to Eva Pakyam‐Martis, the only female driver in the entire Rally and the youngest participants Ryan & Gavin Rodrigues (handsome sons of Naomi and Ashley).
That was not the end of the prizes. Due to the generosity of our sponsors there was a table full of prizes and Zach randomly called out names pulled from the trophy and made many people very happy that night. The grand prize donated by Mike Talevski of Bertrand Auto & Tire Centre was four brand new radial Pirelli tires and these were won by Sandra Alfonso. Our thanks also go out to Angela Menezes and Patsy and Agen Fernandez for their generous contributions to the prize table.
Hilary, thanks so much for your ongoing generosity to the association and for sponsoring the event
Dinner was as scrumptious as the snacks and both were tastefully prepared by Bonnie Coutinho. Apparently he is opening a store in Markham so be sure to try and sample some of his excellent food. Thanks to Martha Menezes for taking charge and managing the dinner arrangements.
Gordon Alias entertained us to some excellent music but most people had had a long day so the dancing did not continue for too long.
It would be remiss if certain people were not acknowledged. Zack Pinto and the excellent team of Angela Menezes, Anta Rosario, Eric Pinto, Gordon Alias, Hilary Fialho, Jean Pinto, Martha Menezes and Walter Mendes did an amazing job putting this all together. Jean and Eric developed the clues and made numerous trips including one on the morning of the Rally to ensure that nothing had changed.. It could not have been done without the excellent coordination of the fantastic team and all the others that provided a helping hand. More importantly the participants were a vital part of this fun filled event.
Many thanks also to Maryanne Pinto, Claudine Alias, Donald Ferro, Ivan Rosario and Celine Mendes for always being available to help.
Ladies and gentlemen REV your engines for the next Rally as it can only get better!!!!!!
THE EMERALD TOMBS A NEW NOVEL
BY JOHN R. HAWLEY
An action/ adventure / romance thriller! Jon Halsten, working for a struggling mining company, unexpectedly inherits a fortune and buys a mansion located next to a large municipal cemetery. He accidentally discovers a huge manmade cavern beneath the cemetery that is used by an ancient society as a depository for illicit wealth. With the help of a mysterious and exquisitely beautiful woman, he plunders these riches and sets up an all‐woman interna‐tional trading company that specializes in smuggling precious metals and gemstones. Despite the vicious actions of his opponents, he learns of, and pursues, the secret location of the largest deposit of emeralds and gold that the world has ever seen. The story is set in Toronto and Hamilton, Canada, Bermuda, Florida, the Caribbean, Panama, Brazil and the Orient.
Cost: $22 per book, including all taxes. Payment by cash or cheque only (cheque payable to John R. Hawley). To order: Contact: Rosemary D’Silva, Etobicoke ‐ Tel. # 416‐746‐5037 John and Theresa Hawley
(nee Tessie D’Costa), Burlington ‐ Tel.# 905‐335‐9920 Walter Mendes, Markham ‐ Tel. # 905‐ 294‐7045
THE MONASTERY OF THE ANGELS, KARACHI
In April 1959, fifty two years ago, Mother Mary Gabriel, O.P., and Sister Mary Imelda, O.P. arrived in Karachi, Pakistan, on an exploratory visit. They came, they saw, and they were excited. On the 20 December that same year they returned to Karachi, to start the Monastery of the Angels with a founding community of twelve nuns. Initially this foundation was an outreach from the Monastery of the Angels in Hollywood, Los Angeles. It subsequently became independent, fully responsible for its own management and governance.
The very warm welcome extended to the nuns by Archbishop Joseph Cordeiro spilled over to the entire Catholic community, religious and lay, who went out of their way to make the nuns feel at home in their new surroundings. It was indeed a new experience for the Archdiocese. For it was the first time that they had in their midst a community of cloistered contemplative Dominican nuns. The notion of cloister and contemplative were new spiritual realities that were not easy to understand and needed explanation. Only time would help this process.
The cloistered contemplative Dominican nun is dedi‐cated to a life of prayer, sacrifice, and work within the confines of the cloister, and in keeping with the vision of St. Dominic. Prayer is the spiritual powerhouse of the Church. This is expressed in our Community through perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The nuns take turns as assigned.
In mid 1968, the Monastery of the Angels relocated to a farm in Landhi. Here we run a retreat house, used for retreats and seminars by various groups of the Archdiocese and the neighbouring Dioceses. We also have a bakery, which at one time supplied bread and cakes to various establishments in Karachi. Over the years, our baking activity has had to be seriously downsized, due to the lack of vocations and the high rate of Taxes. We also supply a good number of the Churches in Pakistan with Altar Breads and Altar Wine. During the non rush season we try to make a few Vestments for the poor parishes.
Today, our Community consists of nine solemnly professed nuns. Of the initial founding community of ten American nuns in 1959,nine have been called to their eternal reward. Of the present community of nine nuns, seven are Pakistani, one is Sri Lankan, and one is American. The Monastery of the Angels has been for some time now a fully Pakistani congregation totally independent and consequently having to manage on its own.
We are grateful for the support of the Catholic Community of the Archdiocese of Karachi, and of our many friends and benefactors formerly from Karachi, now re‐located around the globe. We thank everyone for their continued support and, in turn, assure all of the support of our prayer and sacrifice.
BY: Mother Mary Martin, O.P. Prioress (Superior)
A SMASHING SUCCESS By: Linton Soares
Another great Volleyball tournament found its way to Centennial Park on July 9th, 20101 The participants came from various areas, all willing and ready to battle for the Britto Cup hosted by the Canorient. This was the largest showing yet, as 9 teams prepared themselves to deal with the sweltering conditions but to lay it all on the line for this coveted trophy. The day began with a grueling round robin, which included 8 games. There were many spectacular plays as teams prepared themselves for the play‐offs. Teams worked on their serving, hitting and communication all in hopes of being at their peak in time for the play‐offs. The round robin ended with many teams longing for a break. However, being true competitors, teams pushed forward into the play‐offs. The play‐offs proved to be very exciting as teams came prepared to play and had worked out any glitches that they encountered in the round robin. There was some great net play with teams attacking with deafening spikes. To combat this on‐slaught, many teams put on a defensive attack by going hard to the net and providing double and even triple blocks to throw a wrench in the offensive attacks; if you thought fireworks on Canada Day were explosive, this was beyond!!
Starting with nine teams battling for the Jack Britto Trophy, it came down to four: East‐Enders [captained by Ravinder Mahendran], A‐Team [captained by Tia Lau], Sponge Blockers [captained by Will Lim] and Last Minute [captained by Richelle Soares]. Each team showed tenacity and spirit as they battled to the last point. With sweat dripping and feet burning, only two teams remained standing. Both East‐Enders and A‐Team dealt with many challenges and tough games throughout the tournament but their resiliency and passion to win proved to be the difference. In a display of sheer brilliance, both teams came out swinging. There were rallies that lasted 2 minutes and hard hitting spikes that crashed down on both teams. Not only
was the sun making it really warm, but also the play on the court brought the temperature to a point of no return, a real scorcher! Both teams wanted to win so badly, but in the end East‐Enders proved to stand‐alone in the winners circle. Once again the Canorient Volleyball Tourna‐ment was a smashing success (literally). Teams enjoyed the competition, and although lengthy at times, loved every moment of action. If you missed it this year, and want to be “hot” next year, make sure you come out and play! Remember, being “hot” is better then being “cool” especially on the beach at the Canorient Volleyball Tournament!
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Tax Tips For Investors By: Ivan Vellozo
Knowing how tax rules affect your investments is essential to maximize your after‐tax return. Keeping up to date on changes to the tax rules is also important because they may open up new opportunities that could affect the way financial affairs are structured for Canadian‐resident individuals.
Reduce Tax With Income Splitting Under our tax system, the more you earn, the more you pay in income taxes on incremental dollars earned. With this in mind, it makes sense to spread income among family members who are taxed at lower marginal rates in order to lower your family’s overall tax burden, subject to the income attribution rules. Some of the more common income‐splitting strategies you may want to discuss with your tax advisor include: • An interest‐bearing loan at the prescribed interest rates to family members in a lower tax bracket. This
strategy is particularly attractive because rates are currently at historically low levels. • Pension income splitting between spouses (or common law partners). • Gifts to adult children or other adult family members. • Gifts to a minor child – directly or through a trust structure – to acquire investments that generate only capital
gains.
Donate Appreciated Securities A donation of qualifying publicly‐traded securities may be preferred over a cash donation of equal value, particularly in cases where you have already decided to dispose of the securities during the year. The fair market value of securities donated to charity will reduce your taxes through a charitable donation tax credit. On donations over $200 this can result in a tax savings of approximately 46 per cent of the value of the donation (depending on your province of r residence). A donation of securities is considered a disposition for tax purposes. However, because of a recently upgraded tax incentive, on a donation of appreciated qualified securities to charity the capital gain inclusion rate is nil instead of the normal 50 per cent that would otherwise apply.
Use Borrowed Funds to Invest Generally, interest expenses are deductibles for tax purposes if the funds are borrowed for the purpose of earning income from a business or an investment vehicle. Therefore, consider paying down non‐deductible personal debts (such as RRSP loans, mortgages on home purchases and credit card balances) before paying down deductible investment related debt and speak with your tax advisor about structuring your borrowing to achieve tax deductibility.
Reduce Tax For Your Estate Your estate plan can accommodate a number of tax‐saving strategies to reduce or defer the amount of tax payable by our estate and maximize the amount available to your heirs. Some of the most common planning strategies include using a trust created in your Will to split investment income, naming a beneficiary for your RRSP/RRIF, making charitable bequests in your Will and bequesting appreciated assets to your spouse (or a qualifying spousal trust) to defer tax on the accrued capital gains.
Consider U.S. Estate Tax Implications If You Own U.S. Investments U.S. estate tax can apply to Canadian residents on the value of U.S. assets owned at death, even if they are not U.S. citizens or Green Card holders. In particular, if the value of your U.S. assets is worth more than US$60,000, then U.S. estate tax should be considered as part of your estate planning. For 2011 and 2012, a Canadian may have a U.S. estate tax liability if the values of their U.S. assets exceed US$60,000 and the value of their worldwide estate assets exceed US$5million (indexed to inflation in 2012) at their time of death. The U.S. estate tax rates range from 18%to 35%for 2011 and 2012.
Ivan Vellozo is an Associate Investment Advisor with the Tick Investment Group. We can be reached at 416‐590‐7638 or [email protected]
Opinions are those of the author and may not reflect those of BMO Nesbitt Burns. The information and opinions contained herein have been compiled from sources believed reliable but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to their accuracy or completeness. BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. is an indirect wholly‐owned subsidiary of Bank of Montreal. Member‐Canadian Investor Protection Fund. If you are already a client of BMO Nesbitt Burns, please contact your Investment Advisor for more information.
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The Canorient Christian Association of Metropolitan Toronto 2010-2011 Committee
President: Angela Menezes [email protected] (905) 271-1737 Vice- President Christina Lobo [email protected] (905) 239-9041 Secretary Antionette Rosario [email protected] (647) 340-1134 Treasurer Celine Mendes [email protected] (905) 294-7045
Directors: Angelo Rosario [email protected] (905)792-0303 Cecilia Coutinho [email protected] (416) 298-0094 Donald Ferro [email protected] (416) 742-0417 Errol Pereira [email protected] (905) 471-5034 Godfrey Cunningham [email protected] 905) 209-9775 Ivan Rosario [email protected] (416) 312-2053 John (Pompie) Gois [email protected] (905) 850-5529 Tony Soares [email protected] (905) 472-1678 Vivian Meik [email protected] (905) 796-6805 Zach Pinto [email protected] (905) 956-6262 Walter Mendes [email protected] (905) 294-7045
Club Manager Ivan Rosario [email protected] (647) 868-8084
This issue was compiled and produced by: Carole Saldanha Email: [email protected] Antionette Rosario Cover designed by: Margaret D’Souza Member announcements on births, deaths, marriages, achievements are ‘NO CHARGE’.
Letters Patent:
The Contact is a publication of the Canorient Christian Association of Metropolitan Toronto. It is produced by volunteer members of the Association to keep the membership informed and engaged. No warranty is given nor implied with regards to the content published in the Contact. The views expressed in the publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Editorial team or that of the Canorient Christian Association. The Canorient Contact— September 2011 Edition
The Canorient Community Centre 40 Hanlan Road, Units 40/41
(main intersection) Steeles / Pine Valley) Woodbridge ON L4L 3P6
Telephone: (647) 868-8084
Special rate for Funeral Wakes—Members’ $200 Members in good standing for a year to qualify for this
rate. - All breakages, loss or damage must be either paid for or
replaced. - The stereo sound system on the premises is not available
for rent. You must arrange your own sound equipment. Call early to ensure a booking on the date of your choice. Your reservations are confirmed on a receipt of a $200
Quarter Page $40 $35
Half $80 $70
Full Page $160 $140
Inside Cover $250 $225
Back Cover $300 $250
Advertising: Regular Rates
per Ad Per Issue Discounted Rates for multiple
publications of 3 issues or more
Perfect Setting for small intimate events at affordable price!
Capacity for up to 149 persons Kitchen & Bar Facilities
Your favorite caterer is welcome and may use our kitchen at no extra charge. The kitchen facilities include a stove/ oven, two refrigerators and microwave.
To book / view the Community Centre call: Ivan Rosario @ 647-868-8084
www.canorienttoronto.org
Baptisms Funeral Wakes
Anniversaries, Birthday Parties Graduations & Proms
Seminars, Conferences & AGM’s
Rental Rates Monday - Thursday
Friday / Week-end / Holidays
Hourly
Members $300 $350 $60
Non-Members
$400 $600 $100
Your Subscriptions are due February 1st each year
Members of CanOrient and their Families
Receive a Special Discount
Service Fees & Casket
Call Isaac FernandesFuneral Counsellor
Call Isaac directly:
416-997-2578or call 24/7 Phone: 905-305-8508
Close to Hwys 404 & 407 & most major cemeteries
8911 Woodbine Ave., Markham, ON(4 blocks north of Hwy 7)
Family owned by Eric & Susanne Tappenden
905-305-8508www.chapelridgefh.com
on funeral or prepaid arrangementsThis means hundreds or thousands of dollars in savings
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