Home can easily be defined as that one place where we feel that sense of belonging, where we can be with the people that share our traditions, language, and history. At the heart of every community is that longing to find our way back to the comforts of home. That is the very driving force that inspired the creation of the Quebec Goan Association (QGA) on a warm summer day in July 1977.
Over the last 45 years, the QGA has fostered community spirit among residents of Goan origin and encouraged the preservation of Goan culture all while enriching and contributing to Canadian society.
The first members of our organisation came to Canada, facing the daunting task of starting a new life in a foreign land and adapting to a different lifestyle. Frequently, this way of life was far removed from what they had been used to back home. Nevertheless, with the support and ideals of like-minded individuals, they developed ways to make this transition easier for families through activities that brought a little bit of Goa to the shores of North America.
Each event organised by the QGA had the goal of keeping our beautiful traditions alive in the hearts and minds of members in the community. We celebrated all the mothers and fathers at various picnics for being the cornerstones of our community. Through their love and stories, we were encouraged to learn about our Goan roots and speak phrases in our traditional Konkani language.
We organised food fests, highlighting the unique Goan dishes that warmed our souls and the sweet desserts that tempted us as children. We inspired the youth through sports, dancing, outdoor games, and dart tournaments.
These events reminded the young and the old to stay active and connect with others in their neighbourhood. We even participated in fundraising for various causes that instilled the concept of kindness, caring for future generations and the belief of giving back to our community.
As we approached the end of each year, the QGA honoured the patron saint of Goa, St Francis Xavier. With a Mass accompanied by numerous hymns performed in both English and Konkani, families came together to pray, sing, and celebrate the occasions of the current year and bless the start of the next. Each feast was a labour of love, with cultural shows, musical performances, dancing, and a meal to thaw the Canadian winter out of everyone’s bones.
In closing, the QGA has been preparing so many activities for our 45th anniversary and upcoming gala. We are excited for our community to be with us on this phenomenal journey, as we take those steps to find our way back to the traditions and comforts of our new home in Canada inspired by our Goan roots that lie deep within our hearts.
