The Board Members of the Goan Overseas Association (G.O.A.) in Vancouver were re-elected for another term at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association in the Queensborough Community Centre, Port Royal Room in New Westminster, in British Columbia, Canada.
The re-elected 2023 board members are John Braganza (President), Darryl Fernandes (Vice President), Crystal-Ann Fernandes (Treasurer), Beatrice Pereira (Communications Director) and Sharon Sequeira (Auditor).
G.O.A. Vancouver President John Braganza along with his board members presented the key highlights of 2022. He reiterated how proud he was to see the Association grow strength to strength to well over 500+ members and the range of events touching the lives of senior citizens, youth and adults.
“Giving back to our community is the heart of everything we do! As our membership grows, so does our legacy and we leave many footprints wherever we go…I am ever so grateful for the devotion of my committee, members, volunteers, and supporters,” acknowledged Braganza.
Joe Pinto, a valued legacy member of the association moderated the AGM with the necessary voting protocols and provided a summation of the meeting discussions with clarity.
Palmira Braganza, the wife of John Braganza, was the scribe for the meeting and partnered with Pinto to keep the agenda going. They were appreciated for their valuable contribution.
Keeping up with tradition, the Winner of the Community Award for 2023 was presented to Bina D’Souza, a long-serving member who was recognised and thanked for her unconditional service and deep dedication to the association.
The meeting concluded on an upbeat note, as members talked about the next event, the Senior’s Spring Fling on May 20 at the Brella Community Centre at the whimsical White Rock, BC.
The Goan community in Vancouver has been celebrating Goan culture and identity for nearly five decades, ever since The Goan Overseas Association Vancouver (G.O.A. Vancouver) was set up in 1976.
Goans have arrived from not only Goa but from various other parts of the world like East Africa, the UK, the Middle East, India, Pakistan, etc. Together, they have brought Goan culture and traditions and efforts are made to keep them alive in the community.
The Goan community organises many cultural, sports and religious events to promote Goan culture, while values are passed on to the next generation.
It is through this community involvement that Goans keep their identity alive and they continue to develop new initiatives and programmes to better serve the community in Vancouver.
The G.O.A. Vancouver President John Braganza and his team have been working tirelessly to organise events for the Goan community in Vancouver. Over the years, the Goan community has organised a number of events and has also planned various initiatives.
