Olivia Chow Recognizes the Portuguese-Canadian Community: Establishing a Canada-Portugal Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2009
OTTAWA – NDP MP Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina) introduced today a private member’s bill that would establish June 10th as Canada-Portugal Day.
Every year on June the 10th, persons of Portuguese origins remember their cultural roots by celebrating the life of Luis de Camões, the author of Os Lusiadas, the epic poem about the history of Portugal prior to the 16th century.
Portuguese Canadians have a long history in Canada. In the sixteenth century, and possibly even earlier, on the south and east coasts of Newfoundland and the Straits of Belle Isle, Portuguese fishermen caught cod and dried them ashore. Names of Portuguese origin are found all along the Atlantic coast of Canada.
“Almost half a million people of Portuguese descent call Canada home. With the declaration of June 10th as Canada-Portugal Day, Parliament will recognize and express gratitude for the contribution of the Portuguese-Canadian community to Canada”, said Olivia Chow.
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For more information, please contact:
Office of Olivia Chow, 613-995-1594
