The question is no longer whether the Portuguese economy is going to slow down. An economy reliant on tourism like ours, in the midst of a fuel crisis, is in trouble. Although no shortages in jet fuel supply are anticipated for now, in May, energy prices in Europe had already risen by 10.9%. Inflation will not stop at fuel, however, as I wrote as early as March 17th. The combination of the blockade in Hormuz with the impact of an unprecedented El Niño climate phenomenon will, with a high degree of probability, create a food crisis across much of the world.

We know what that means. Money will be lacking in the pockets of millions of people and businesses. Contrary to what economic theory predicts, people will not advance their consumption and investment decisions. Even though we are in a situation of full employment and a major supply shortage, there will be no capacity to review wages and contracts to fully offset the effects of inflation. We will therefore have a second dose of what we economists call “stagflation”—the combination of stagnation and inflation.

However, the scenario today is different from that of 2022. On one hand, the energy shock is smaller but more distributed across the globe, mitigating external demand. On the other hand, the world is not experiencing a post-pandemic boom and the corresponding adjustments in supply chains. In fact, the European Union grew by just 0.1% in the first quarter of this year, with Portugal recording zero quarter-over-quarter variation. Wage growth also recorded a sharp deceleration in the months preceding the American-Israeli offensive, both in Europe and in Portugal. Stagnation is not just a consequence of inflation—it was already here, and it just so happened that they coincided in time.

In Portugal’s case, the scenario is a bit more alarming. The first signs were worrying, as I had the opportunity to scrutinize here. Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Portugal is losing market share in its exports after a decade of recording gains—a trend that is here to stay, according to what Brussels anticipates. The country’s mediocre economic situation contrasts with our neighbor Spain, even with such an infamous socialist government and without budgets. With several construction projects transitioning from the RRP (Recovery and Resilience Plan) to national funding, storm recovery left undone, and furthermore, the inflationary crisis, it is regrettable that Miranda Sarmento has squandered the surplus he inherited on nothing visible. If it is to comply with the rules right at the time when spending was needed, it will be time to tighten our belts.

Who is going to feel it? First and foremost, families and businesses. In fact, they are already feeling it. In the last six months, consumer confidence has dropped by an impressive 10 points. The truth is that over recent years, we have witnessed a “buying of time” for the Portuguese economy, with rampant growth in non-financial private sector debt. But this stopgap is coming to an end. Interest rates are already rising. Banks across Europe are already tightening credit conditions. And the ECB has not decided anything yet.

Everything points to it doing so at its next meeting. The Governor of the Bank of Portugal has already declared his “hawkish” stance, wanting to raise interest rates “sooner rather than later.” This is irresponsible toward a country whose credit is highly exposed. Above all, it is a contradiction given the temporary nature of the shocks, their insensitivity to interest rate changes, and the lack of credible signs that medium-term inflation expectations have “unanchored.” Therefore, a restrictive monetary policy is not only unnecessary but also ineffective. With no real gain, it is merely a punishment for all of us to face. Everything is already more expensive, and these politicians-turned-monetary-economy-wizards have decided to make mortgages, car loans, and business loans even more expensive. On the part of the PS (Socialist Party), we have already called Álvaro Santos Pereira to Parliament to provide explanations.

The management of these crises therefore brings into focus a growing risk of recession. If in 2022, when there was some pressure on the demand side, this was already the wrong response, now it is even more so. But there are always alternatives—it is far from inevitable that the economy will give in. We need to mitigate the impacts of the crisis, and not just among the poorest and most vulnerable, and we need to support industrial transformation that allows prices to be contained by recovering supply through other means, rather than through demand containment. Inflation is fought by producing more, transporting better, and depending less.

There was a time when supply-side economics was a right-wing fetish. Today, it is a rhetorical embellishment in the speeches of so many, using expensive words like “strategic autonomy” but without real decisions or resources to make them happen. There was a time when support for the cost of living was never enough. Today, support is lower, but that is just a fact for whoever is in opposition.

However, behind the Excel spreadsheets and political arguments are people and their lives. There are companies and their growth projects. Housing, mobility, food, and energy are all more expensive, all at once. It is a suffocating situation for which we bear no blame, about which we can do nothing, but for which we will have to pay the bill. And it is always the same people paying. Just as there will always be a few who get away scot-free. If we do nothing, a recession will seem inevitable, but above all, it will have been chosen. And with consequences for our social contract that none of us want to imagine.

Miguel Matos/MS

The content on the Milénio Stadium website is automatically translated using Google Translate.

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most aggressive and difficult oncological diseases to treat. For decades, it was considered a tumor with one of the poorest prognoses, primarily because it develops silently and is frequently diagnosed in advanced stages.

However, the latest scientific breakthroughs are transforming the landscape of this disease. For the first time in many years, researchers and specialists are talking about a paradigm shift, thanks to the development of new targeted treatments and early diagnostic tools that promise to significantly increase patient survival rates.

Why is it so difficult to detect?

The pancreas is an organ located deep within the abdomen, behind the stomach. It performs essential functions in food digestion and in regulating blood sugar levels through the production of insulin.

One of the major problems with pancreatic cancer is that, in its early stages, it rarely causes specific symptoms. Mild abdominal pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, or weight loss can easily be mistaken for other less serious conditions.

By the time more obvious signs appear, such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), the disease is often already in an advanced stage. It is precisely this late diagnosis that largely explains the high mortality rate associated with this type of cancer.

Risk factors

Although it can affect anyone, there are factors that increase the risk of developing the disease:

• Smoking;
• Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle;
• Recent-onset diabetes;
• Chronic pancreatitis;
• Family history of pancreatic cancer;
• Inherited genetic alterations, including mutations in the BRCA genes.

A silent revolution in treatments

For many years, therapeutic options were limited. Surgery remains the only possibility for a cure, but only a minority of patients meet the criteria to be operated on at the time of diagnosis.

In more advanced cases, chemotherapy constituted the main therapeutic weapon for decades. However, the results obtained were often modest.

This reality may be starting to change. Recently, researchers presented results considered historic for a new drug targeted against genetic mutations present in the majority of pancreatic tumors. In international clinical trials, this treatment managed to practically double the survival rate of patients with metastatic disease when compared to conventional chemotherapy. International specialists consider this one of the most important breakthroughs ever achieved in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

While it does not yet represent a cure, this advancement demonstrates that it is possible to develop more effective therapies that are more targeted to the biological mechanisms fueling tumor growth.

The role of Artificial Intelligence

In tandem with therapeutic advances, technology is revolutionizing the ability to identify pancreatic lesions early.

In recent years, Artificial Intelligence has begun to be applied to imaging and endoscopy, allowing for the analysis of thousands of medical images with unprecedented precision.

Portugal has played a pioneering role in this field. The world’s first model capable of detecting and differentiating precursor lesions of pancreatic cancer was developed at the Precision Medicine Unit of the Gastroenterology Department of the Unidade Local de São João, in partnership with the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto.

Validated through a multicontinental study involving thousands of patients, this system demonstrated the capability to identify subtle changes that might go unnoticed under conventional observation. The work was honored with the award for Best Scientific Study presented at the annual congress of the American College of Gastroenterology in 2024.

The future: diagnosing sooner, treating better

The combination of precision medicine, artificial intelligence, and new targeted therapies is opening a new phase in the fight against pancreatic cancer.

The goal is no longer just to better treat existing tumors, but also to identify them before they become aggressive and potentially fatal. Several research groups are currently working on developing strategies capable of detecting precursor lesions and even preventing progression to invasive cancer.

A realistic hope

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most difficult diseases in contemporary medicine. However, for the first time in many years, scientific breakthroughs allow us to speak of a hope sustained by concrete results.

A universal cure does not yet exist. But new medications, precision therapies, immunotherapy, and artificial intelligence tools are changing the course of the disease and offering perspectives that, just a few years ago, seemed unachievable. What was once seen as one of the hardest tumors to fight is now beginning to enter a new era of possibilities.

What each person can do?

Despite scientific progress, prevention continues to play a fundamental role:

• Do not smoke;
• Maintain a healthy weight;
• Practice regular physical activity;
• Adopt a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fiber;
• Seek medical advice if there is a family history of the disease or relevant risk factors.

Research is advancing rapidly, but early detection and healthy lifestyles remain the most important allies in the fight against pancreatic cancer.

MS

Innovation is reaching new heights with Toronto Rail Yards, a new mixed-use community that is slated to be built above an active rail corridor between Bathurst Street and Spadina Avenue.

The massive 14-acre development is a LiUNA Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada project, built in partnership with Fengate Asset Management. Once complete, it will deliver nearly 4,000 new homes, more than two acres of urban park space, 85,000 square metres of office space, two child-care centres and approximately 4,700 square metres of retail space, states a release.

It will begin with a six-acre deck that is extended over the rail yard to maximize the public realm while connecting to GO Transit and the city’s broader transit network. International design firm Henning Larsen, alongside Toronto-based firms including Hines, PCL, WW+P Architects and RJC Engineers, are teaming up on the project.

In all, the development will be delivered in phases to minimize construction impacts. Site preparation is anticipated to begin in 2028, with construction on the deck to begin later in the year. The project reclaims underused air rights above the rail infrastructure and “represents a bold new chapter in transit-oriented city-building for Toronto,” the release notes.

“Great cities are built with ambition, and with a responsibility to leave something meaningful behind,” said Joseph Mancinelli, chair of LPFCEC, LiUNA international vice president and regional manager for Central and Eastern Canada, in statement.

“Toronto Rail Yards will create homes people need, jobs that sustain families, and a legacy for the city. The deck alone is expected to create more than 4,600 construction jobs and generate more than nine million union construction hours, making this not only a transformative investment in Toronto’s future, but a testament to what union labour can build for generations to come.”

The project will include a mix of housing types and sizes, including family-sized units, integrated with amenities for residents and the broader community.

“The design of Toronto Rail Yards is rooted in the neighbourhood — creating a new urban environment for daily community life, shaped around how people will arrive, gather and feel connected to the city and to one another,” added Michael Sørensen, global market director, Henning Larsen. “The scale, materiality and microclimate of its welcoming spaces will make Toronto Rail Yards a place with a genuine sense of belonging at its core.”

CC/MS

Things are shifting into gear as the City of Guelph has broken ground on a new transit and fleet services facility. Expected to be completed by 2030, the facility will serve as foundational infrastructure for storing, charging and maintaining the city’s electric buses and other fleet vehicles.

It is slated to be approximately 280,000 square feet, will meet or exceed current building standards and is striving towards Zero Carbon Building Design standards, a release reads. PCL Constructors is leading construction, with Stantec as the prime consultant and Strasman Architects as the architect.

The Public Transit Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program has committed $77 million in funding to help the city improve storage and charging capacity for its bus fleet, including $35 million from the Government of Ontario and $42 million from the Government of Canada.

CC/MS

The Ontario government is investing up to $178 million through the Building Ontario Fund (BOF) to support the construction of approximately 1,700 new rental homes in Scarborough. The project includes a target of 340 affordable units with below-market rents, the province notes.

Located on underused land near the Scarborough GO Station, the project will form part of the new Scarborough Junction, a transit-connected community expected to include 7,700 homes along with parks, public spaces and community amenities.

The equity investment in the project is being made through Building Ontario Fund (BOF) in a joint venture with Republic Developments and Harlo Capital. It is advancing a project that was previously stalled.

“Once the BOF’s investment has been repaid, it will reinvest into other projects that would not otherwise get built across six priority areas including affordable housing, energy, transportation, long-term care, municipal and community infrastructure, and critical minerals,” the release reads. Project construction is expected to begin in 2027, with first occupancies anticipated by 2030.

CC/MS

Mississauga’s Planning and Development Committee has approved the city’s plan to pre-zone lands in many Major Transit Station Areas (MTSA), which, over time, could support approximately 227,000 residents and 47,000 jobs through new developments.

Pre-zoning sets clear rules upfront for what can be built in each area including building heights and density, explains a release. It also streamlines development processes by:

• Providing certainty and removing planning hurdles with clear, predictable guidelines for development along transit corridors.
• Speeding up approvals, allowing projects to move forward more quickly when they meet zoning requirements.

The pre-zoning amendments align with Mississauga Official Plan 2051, which was recently approved by the Province of Ontario after extensive public consultation.

It also supports recommendations from the Mayor’s Housing Task Force, including simplifying zoning rules and allowing more flexibility for building height and density around transit, the release adds. An MTSA is a planning term established by the Province of Ontario to ensure cities like Mississauga are directing growth to these areas.

For Mississauga, an MTSA is the land within a 500 to 800 metre radius of a transit station or stop. In total, there are more than 50 MTSAs in the city where higher-density, mixed-use development is encouraged. “Through this project, the city is pre-zoning 35 MTSAs in locations that are expected to accommodate the most residential growth,” the release states. The online MTSA dashboard provides a map and more information. An implementing zoning bylaw will come to a future city council meeting for approval.

DCN/MS

For Joe Mancinelli, receiving the Order of Ontario is something he says he will carry with “immense gratitude and pride.”

The international vice-president and regional manager for Central and Eastern Canada at the Labourers’ International Union of North America was given the honour from Edith Dumont, lieutenant governor of Ontario, at a special ceremony recently.

Mancinelli was among 30 recipients of the Order of Ontario for 2025 and was bestowed the honour because he has “redefined Ontario’s labour landscape through bold innovation,” explains a release. “He pioneered inclusive apprenticeship programs that opened opportunities for youth, newcomers, women and Indigenous peoples. He drove community renewal through affordable housing, health care facilities and heritage restoration projects that balanced economic growth with cultural preservation.”

In general, the Order of Ontario recognizes those whose distinguished service and extraordinary achievements have helped build a stronger Ontario and Canada. Members of the Order come from all walks of life and represent many fields.

“I was deeply honoured and humbled to be invested into the Order of Ontario, our province’s highest civilian honour,” said Mancinelli in a LinkedIn post. “To stand alongside such an extraordinary group of individuals whose contributions have helped shape Ontario in so many ways is truly meaningful. This recognition is not mine alone. It belongs to the many people who have walked beside me throughout this journey, my family, friends, mentors, colleagues, and the thousands of members I so proudly represent, who have dedicated their lives to building stronger communities and a better province for future generations.

“As the son of immigrants, I have never forgotten where I came from or the values instilled in me from an early age: work hard, stand up for others, give back, and never lose sight of the dignity of working people.”

DCN/MS

Speaking of Portugal in the world and, in this case, its diaspora, necessarily implies mentioning our communities scattered across the various continents. One of the greatest legacies of these communities is, without a doubt, their strong associational movement, which has played a fundamental role in preserving Portuguese cultural identity.

It is widely recognized that the first official Portuguese emigration to Canada occurred on May 13, 1953, when the ship Saturnia arrived at the port of Halifax, in the province of Nova Scotia. This moment marked the beginning of a new stage in the history of the Portuguese presence in the country.

Interestingly, last year (2025), the councilors of the Portuguese communities in Canada met in that very same city. During that occasion, a visit was paid to Pier 21, located at the port of Halifax, which currently houses the Canadian Museum of Immigration—a symbolic space that preserves the memory of the various migratory waves that helped build Canada.

Many of those who arrived in Canada were people from rural backgrounds, from the so-called provinces. However, upon arriving in the country, they quickly sought new opportunities outside of farming and agriculture—the sector to which many were initially linked. Thus, many went to the railways, others to the mines, and, in the cities, they also began to seek opportunities in civil construction.

In several cases, they settled down and formed communities. Interestingly, just three years later, the first association emerged in Montreal: the Associação Portuguesa do Canadá, in January 1956. In the same year, in Toronto, the First Portuguese Cultural Centre was founded in September 1956.

Therefore, the strong spirit of unity, resilience, and the need for organization that the Portuguese have always demonstrated over time is clear and evident—characteristics that continue to deeply mark Luso-Canadian communities in Canada. Clubs and associations were created in their respective host countries, and thus our diaspora around the world is today a highly valuable heritage, often little respected or valued by Portugal!

With this work, I wanted and want to highlight the folklore (folclore) that was formed in some cases from those very associations, but we have many examples of folk-dance groups (ranchos folclóricos) that were born out of private initiative, or from a group of people from the same region… this is a very rich legacy ethnographically, traditionally, and culturally as well!

Today, in the Greater Toronto Area, the so-called GTHA (Greater Toronto Hamilton Area), we have close to two dozen folklore groups. It is estimated that in Canada there are about 40 to 45 folklore groups. We could be talking here about a universe of 4,000 to 4,500 people or more.

With this work, I intend to advocate for and defend our ranchos folclóricos and all these Portuguese and Luso-Canadians who dignify and promote our popular culture, our customs, and traditions, in many cases facing many difficulties and few incentives.

In the 90s, there was a fleeting interest from the F.F.P. (Federação do Folclore Português / Portuguese Folklore Federation), which promoted some efforts in Toronto and other communities, some workshops and training sessions that, in my modest opinion, started the house from the roof down—meaning, they appointed some regional technical councils and in the communities, but communication and interest quickly broke down.

In this sense, and after the Covid-19 pandemic, which wiped out some groups, let us hope that the pandemic of disinterest is not even more devastating…

I propose that the Government, through its competent bodies, turn its attention to these matters. I propose that the financial supports from the DGACCP (Direção Geral dos Assuntos Consulares e Comunidades Portuguesas / Directorate-General for Consular Affairs and Portuguese Communities) directed at the associational movement can also include folk-dance groups, which are often excluded from these supports.

In the same way, I appeal to the DGACCP so that, alongside the training sessions directed at association leaders, they can add training for new artistic directors (ensaiadores) and cultural directors, across the most varied fields, including directors of folklore groups!

Finally, I believe that through folklore and its activities, this is a massive unifying factor for Portuguese and Luso-descendants in Canada and around the world. I can state that folklore activity is one of the few that involves the whole family across different age groups; the children, adolescents, and youth involved in folklore groups inherently draw in (arrastam) their parents, grandparents, and other family members, making this a truly family-oriented activity!

I must add that in the Toronto area, the associations that have folklore are the ones that have the most youth. To watch a rehearsal over the weekend in some community clubs is often to see more than a hundred people involved, I repeat, with great enthusiasm, perpetuating our Portuguese traditions and customs.

In conclusion, it is time to end this stigma that folklore continues to be the poor relative of Portuguese culture! Long live folklore and long live Portugal!

I want to thank the Milénio newspaper for its interest in publishing this document/proposal, which I first presented orally to my fellow councilors of CRAN during our annual meeting that took place last April in the city of San Francisco, USA… It has now been presented at the annual meeting of my Thematic Committee of the Council of Communities, CEPECACS (Committee for Portuguese Education Abroad, Culture, and Mass Media), which took place on May 27th, 28th, and 29th at the MNE (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) in Lisbon.

We had several institutional meetings, including one with the new Director-General of the DGACCP, Ambassador Dr. António Moniz, to whom I exposed precisely my concerns regarding the associational movement and particularly about our Ranchos Folclóricos.

A commitment was made by the Director-General to amend the regulations so that Ranchos Folclóricos that are not integrated into any Association can apply for support from the DGACCP, provided they are credentialed with the Consulate of their jurisdictional area, thus placing them on equal footing with the rest!

I have written and said several times that councilors do not host parties or dances; our job is to advise, as the title itself indicates, and often to make proposals… My fellow councilors from Canada and I, each in our own area of intervention, keep doing this work, sometimes with little visibility or credit! Therefore, once again, my immense appreciation to the Milénio Newspaper for the interest shown in this important matter that directly impacts our community!

Laurentino Esteves – Councilor of the Portuguese Communities in Canada

The content on the Milénio Stadium website is automatically translated using Google Translate.

Do West   

Créditos: Rómulo Avila

Toronto once again celebrated the arrival of summer in style with another edition of Do West Fest, held from June 5 to 7, 2026, in Little Portugal. The event, which has become one of the city’s most iconic street festivals, transformed approximately 16 blocks of Dundas Street West — between Ossington Avenue and Lansdowne Avenue — into a pedestrian-friendly space dedicated to music, art, food, and community culture.

Presented by the Little Portugal Toronto BIA, the festival reached its 13th edition with a diverse, family-friendly program that reinforced its role as a gathering place for residents, visitors, and local artists. Throughout the three days, several stages brought the festival to life, including the Transmit Stage, the Lulaworld Stage, and the Community Stage, featuring live performances spanning a wide range of musical styles and cultural influences. At the same time, street performers and buskers entertained festivalgoers along the route, creating a continuous open-air spectacle.

The culinary offerings were another major highlight, with neighborhood restaurants, food trucks, and expanded patios serving dishes that reflected the area’s rich cultural diversity. The artistic component was equally prominent, with murals, exhibitions, workshops, and urban art installations reinforcing the community’s creative identity.

The event also featured numerous family-oriented activities, creating an inclusive environment where both children and adults could participate in interactive and cultural experiences.

With free admission, Do West Fest once again established itself as a celebration of urban life and local culture, promoting the strong community spirit that defines Little Portugal. Despite the large crowds, the festival took place in a festive and well-organized atmosphere, with road closures and public transit diversions implemented throughout the weekend.

This year’s attendance surpassed that of the 2025 edition, and organizers estimate that more than one million visitors attended over the course of the weekend, setting a new festival record. Reflecting on the 2026 edition, Anabela Taborda, Chair of the Little Portugal Toronto BIA, highlighted the strong engagement of the Portuguese community, the growing participation of local businesses, and the support shown to Toronto-based vendors.

“The festival continues to be an important opportunity to celebrate the neighborhood’s cultural heritage while supporting local businesses and bringing the broader community together,” she said.

Among the most memorable aspects of the 2026 edition was the expansion of programming for children through the creation of a dedicated family zone featuring performances and activities specifically designed for younger audiences. Another major highlight was the activation of a new stage near Ossington Avenue, which became a vibrant festival hub thanks to the support of the LiUNA Local 183 organization. Relocating one of the festival’s three main stages to this area created a more accessible and comfortable gathering space for visitors.

“By relocating one of our three main stages to this space, we were able to create a more accessible environment, with ample seating and room for visitors to gather comfortably,” Taborda explained.

Portuguese Culture in the Spotlight

The celebration of Portuguese culture remained one of Do West Fest’s central pillars. Throughout the weekend, thousands of visitors had the opportunity to enjoy parades and performances showcasing the richness of Portuguese traditions present in Toronto. Groups such as Luso Can Tuna, Os Bombos do Arsenal, and the Grupo de Folclore do Centro Comunitário da Associação Migrante de Barcelos brought cultural expressions to Dundas Street West that helped define the festival atmosphere.

At the same time, organizers sought to showcase a new generation of Portuguese artists based in Toronto, with performances by Sara Dantas, Marito Marques, and Jonatan Haller Pereira.

“We are proud to showcase some of the city’s exceptional Portuguese talent. These musicians are helping shape the next generation of Portuguese cultural expression in Toronto,” emphasized the BIA Chair.

Goals Achieved

According to organizers, the objectives established for this year’s edition were successfully met.

“Our primary goals were to support local businesses, celebrate the neighborhood’s culture and heritage, and create an inclusive community event, and we believe we achieved those goals,” said Anabela Taborda.

Nevertheless, the organization acknowledged that an event of this scale presents logistical and operational challenges and stated that lessons learned from this edition will be carefully reviewed to improve future festivals.

The Future: Building on Growth

While there are no plans to radically change the festival’s format, the Chair emphasized that the organization will continue seeking ways to strengthen safety measures, support local commerce, and celebrate the diverse cultures that characterize the neighborhood.

“We continue to recognize both the historical and present-day contributions of the Portuguese community, which plays a vital role in shaping this area,” she noted.

In a message to the community, the BIA expressed gratitude to residents, business owners, volunteers, artists, sponsors, and visitors.

“The festival exists because of this community, and we remain committed to ensuring it reflects the people, cultures, and local businesses that make Little Portugal such a special place,” said Anabela Taborda.

The organization also stated that it will continue listening closely to feedback from residents and participants to ensure that Do West Fest maintains the community spirit that has defined it since its inception.

“We are incredibly proud of the neighborhood’s Portuguese roots and of the many communities that now call this area home. Do West Fest is an opportunity to celebrate that shared history, support local businesses, showcase local talent, and bring people together,” she concluded.

More than just a festival, Do West Fest has become a living portrait of Toronto at the start of summer — a place where the streets become a stage and the community takes center stage.

Rómulo Avila/MS

The content on the Milénio Stadium website is automatically translated using Google Translate.

The calendar marks the month of June and, with it, comes the renewed opportunity to reflect on our identity abroad. In Canada, the official celebrations of the Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese Communities take on an even more significant dimension as they are fully integrated into Portuguese Heritage Month, a formal recognition from the Canadian government to our vibrant Luso-Canadian community.

More than a festive anniversary, June 10th is the mirror of a collective journey shaped by three fundamental pillars: resilience, integration, and the irrevocable success of our diaspora.

The resilience of the pioneers holds a unique place in our history, in the history of Portuguese people around the world. Looking at the present requires, as a moral imperative, honoring the past. Celebrating Portugal on Canadian soil is a profound act of gratitude toward the pioneers who, decades ago, landed in this country. Those courageous men and women faced the unknown, language barriers, and the harsh climate armed only with hope and an unbreakable work ethic. The resilience of those first generations was not just a tool for survival; it was the solid foundation upon which our current social, associational, and economic structure was built. And our diaspora has enjoyed enormous success in multicultural integration. Today, nearly half a million Canadians share Portuguese heritage.

We have, with great pride, ceased to be seen only as a community of construction workers or cleaners. Currently, Luso-descendants assert themselves as an indispensable and highly qualified force in all spheres of Canadian society: in the arts, politics, medicine, business, and science. Canada has transformed into a richer, fairer, and more multicultural nation because the Portuguese chose to make this vast country their home.

As Canada’s own Department of Identity and Culture makes a point of noting, our portugalidade is an integral part of the engine of success of this great nation. We integrate without diluting ourselves; we add to Canada without ever subtracting from Portugal. But ensuring that new generations continue to speak Portuguese is the great challenge of tomorrow.

Our civic analysis forces us to look ahead pragmatically. Our greatest challenge lies, without a doubt, in the future and in the effective transmission of this cultural legacy. It is up to associational leadership, families, and each one of us to ensure that our children and grandchildren keep the pride in their origins alive. Actively encouraging the teaching of the Portuguese language, supporting Luso-Canadian associations, folklore groups, and our local institutions is fundamental to ensuring that the flame of our culture is not extinguished.

To be Luso-Canadian is to have the privilege and responsibility of living with two hearts: one that beats to the rhythm of Canadian dynamism and another that pulses with the saudade [longing] and pride of Portugal. This June 10th, we reaffirm our commitment to continue dignifying our motherland. Wherever there is a Portuguese person or a Luso-descendant, our flag will be raised there, honoring the past and projecting our portugalidade.

Vítor Silva/MS

The content on the Milénio Stadium website is automatically translated using Google Translate.

The beaches belong to everyone. Why does it seem like the shade is only for a few?

My dear readers and friends of this newspaper. For years, thousands of Portuguese people arrived at the beach with the same conviction: that they could not set up their umbrella—and in many cases, even their towel—in front of the concession areas. Many heard this from staff, others saw directional signs, and most ended up accepting the situation without questioning, because they were polite people.

But after all, the question must be asked: who decided that a portion of the shade on the beach would be reserved only for those who can pay? We are still waiting for the answer.

Recently, the Portuguese Environment Agency (Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente) came forward to clarify what many suspected and few knew for certain: there is no law prohibiting a citizen from placing their beach umbrella in front of concessions, as long as it is outside the area licensed to the concessionaire.

This revelation raises an uncomfortable question. For years, how many Portuguese people were misled? How many families were pushed to areas further away from the water because they believed that space “did not belong to them”?

Portuguese beaches are a public good. They belong to the State, but above all, they belong to the citizens. Concessions exist to provide services, guarantee support for beachgoers, make equipment available, and contribute to beach safety. What does not exist is any right to transform a public space into a sort of private extension of a business.

No one questions the right of concessionaires to carry out their economic activity. In fact, many provide an important and indispensable service, which greatly helps local municipalities. The problem begins when an attempt is made to confuse a concession with the appropriation of public space.

We cannot forget one thing. The sun rises for everyone. The sea belongs to everyone. The sand belongs to everyone. And as such, the shade cannot be transformed into a privilege reserved for those who open their wallets. A lot of people were being fooled.

The most worrying part of this controversy is not just the attempt to limit the placement of beach umbrellas. It is the normalization of the idea that those who pay have more rights over a space that belongs to everyone. When a family is led to believe they cannot set up in a certain area of the beach just because they didn’t rent an umbrella, we are facing something that violates the principle of equal access to public goods.

So, let’s ask: is it discrimination? In a legal sense, probably not. But on a social and moral level, it creates a clear distinction between those who can pay for shade and those who bring their own shade from home—this is enough to make you wrinkle your nose, it leaves us all confused.

But fortunately, the clarification made recently by the authorities restores some justice and recalls a fundamental principle: concessions have limits. Public space remains public. Perhaps this controversy has served a positive purpose. It reminded us that citizens’ rights do not disappear just because no one questioned them for years.

This summer, when thousands of families lay out their towels and open their umbrellas in front of the sea, they will just be doing what they have always been allowed to do: enjoying a beach that belongs to everyone.

Because the sun rises for everyone. And on a public beach, the shade should be for everyone too.

Have a great weekend!

Augusto Bandeira/MS

The content on the Milénio Stadium website is automatically translated using Google Translate.

One of the most distinctive hallmarks of Portuguese communities scattered across the globe is their recognized entrepreneurial spirit. Over decades, countless compatriots have built successful paths, establishing solid businesses and assuming prominent positions across cultural, social, economic, political, and scientific spheres.

In an era where the world increasingly relies on a knowledge-based society, where technological innovation and scientific production are fundamental engines of development, the Portuguese scientific diaspora asserts itself as a strategic asset for Portugal’s international projection and for the consolidation of science without borders.

It is within this context that the journey of Portuguese researcher Alexandre Aires da Silva stands out. He is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) and the Coordinator of Scientific Research for the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).

Born in 1971 in Lourenço Marques — now Maputo —, in what was then the Portuguese overseas province of Mozambique, Alexandre Aires da Silva graduated in 1996 with a degree in Marine Biology and Fisheries from the University of the Algarve. He then began his career as a senior research technician at the University of the Azores, an institution that has played a significant role in the development of marine sciences in Portugal.

The experience gained within the Azorean context provided him with a solid foundation to deepen his skills in applied fisheries research. In 2000, he began his PhD as a Fulbright scholar at the prestigious School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle, USA. He completed his doctorate in 2008, earning the Academic Merit Award following advanced research into quantitative methods applied to fish stock assessments. His thesis focused on the population dynamics of the blue shark in the North Atlantic.

The academic and scientific prestige he achieved led him, in 2007, to join the team at the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), headquartered in La Jolla, within the San Diego metropolitan area in California. Among his responsibilities, the stock assessment of the bigeye tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean stood out.

It is worth recalling that San Diego, California’s second-largest city, was once known in the mid-20th century as the “tuna capital of the world.” The region’s historic Luso-American community was deeply connected to this prominent status, composed primarily of immigrants from the Azores and Madeira who played a decisive role in developing the canning and tuna fishing industries.

Since 2017, Alexandre Aires da Silva has served as the Coordinator of Scientific Research for the IATTC, a regional organization responsible for the conservation and sustainable management of tuna and other marine species in the Eastern Pacific Ocean—a vast maritime area stretching from Alaska to Chile.

In tandem, he serves on the Scientific Advisory Committee of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation, a leading international entity in promoting the sustainability of tuna fisheries and the conservation of marine ecosystems.

His Portuguese roots, combined with international scientific recognition and the existence of a small Portuguese tuna fishing fleet concentrated mostly in the Azores and Madeira, contributed decisively to Lisbon being chosen to host the 104th Annual Meeting of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission this year, from August 31st to September 4th.

The meeting, hosted by the European Union in Portugal, will bring together government delegations, scientists, and representatives from major stakeholders across the Americas, Europe, and Asia to debate the sustainable management of tuna fisheries in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. It will be a particularly significant moment, where science, policy, and international cooperation converge in Lisbon.

As part of the IATTC annual meeting, and in coordination with the Maritime Museum (Museu de Marinha), a tribute is also planned for the Portuguese fishermen who left their mark on the history of the San Diego tuna fleet. This initiative will count on the vital contribution of Alexandre Aires da Silva, as well as the dedication of the Honorary Consul of Portugal in San Diego, Idalmiro da Rosa—a prominent promoter of Portuguese heritage—and Kenny Alameda, a highly successful Portuguese-descendant businessman in California.

Alexandre Aires da Silva’s path thus stands as a prime example of the international success and recognition of the Portuguese scientific diaspora, demonstrating how talent, knowledge, and a connection to national roots continue to project Portugal onto the highest stages of contemporary global science.

Daniel Bastos/MS

The content on the Milénio Stadium website is automatically translated using Google Translate.

The return to barbarism is always possible.

No historical achievement is irreversible.

— Edgar Morin, philosopher

The month of June was officially declared, in Toronto and at the federal level across all of Canada, as Portuguese-Speaking Heritage Month. It is, therefore, the month in which the entire Portuguese and Luso-Canadian Community joins forces to celebrate its heritage through various events taking place all over, culminating in the traditional parade—the highlight of the celebrations—along one of the city’s major arteries.

Official Canadian authorities do not remain indifferent to the date, and this year, Federal Minister Marc Miller marked it with a message highlighting the historic and ongoing contribution of the Luso-Canadian community to the country’s development. He praised the courage, resilience, and dedication of Portuguese families who helped build Canada, emphasizing their impact in the fields of culture, education, science, entrepreneurship, sports, and community life. He did not stop at praise, however, and invited all Canadians to participate in the celebrations. This is a fine example of how a government official knows how to exalt the strength of a foreign community as an integral part of his country’s human fabric—the ultimate expression of a policy of inclusion.

In another geography, the President of the Portuguese Republic began the Day of Portugal celebrations in Luxembourg, an example of a European country that knew how to welcome the Portuguese, who today make up a third of the foreign population. As one of the most important and dynamic communities in our diaspora, it already constitutes an inseparable part of Luxembourg’s own identity, as was recognized by both sides in official speeches. According to statistical data, Portuguese is already the second most spoken language there.

Thus, when we speak of the word “heritage” or “legacy” in a diasporic context, we quickly conclude that it has little to do with material goods, as the greatest legacy we can leave is of an immaterial nature—made up of values, principles, and memories passed down from generation to generation that shape future generations.

By coincidence, this week I received Descendências Magazine, a reference publication for Portuguese and Lusophone Communities. Its editorial began: “June is the month in which Portugal looks at itself in the mirror.” It is a beautiful metaphor, but perhaps the image the mirror reflects back to us is not so beautiful, considering that it contradicts everything we have known how to do so well over centuries. In one of the most famous visions of the Lusitanian soul, Fernando Pessoa declared in 1923: “The Portuguese people are, essentially, cosmopolitan. A true Portuguese person was never just Portuguese: they were always everything.” Our history proves it, but if we want to be more objective and conduct a serious study of our genome, we will quickly conclude the enormous variety of genetic material containing all our hereditary information is not limited to a single identity. And that has always been our greatest wealth—making a whole out of variety that unites us in a universalist vocation.

In light of these examples—Canada and Luxembourg—and there would be many others, it is incomprehensible that in Portugal, at a property in Figueira da Foz, “The Summit of Hate” (as titled by Expresso) took place, where the participants, Portuguese and foreigners linked to far-right parties, gave speeches perfectly identified with Nazi ideals. Amid loud applause from those present, they had no qualms about propagating lies, sharing videos, and spreading false data about crimes and other acts allegedly perpetrated by certain immigrants, advocating for white supremacy.

Edgar Morin left us just a few days ago. He was 104 years old, but it was at 102, extremely lucid, that he came to Lisbon to deliver a lecture on the state of the world, and from him comes the epigraph: “The return to barbarism is always possible.” Despite being a militant optimist, I fear that the first steps on the road to barbarism are already being taken.

Aida Batista/MS

The content on the Milénio Stadium website is automatically translated using Google Translate.

Despite thousands of kilometres of distance, the Portuguese community in Canada continues to carry a silentbut persistent division between mainlanders, Azoreans, and Madeirans. What began as regional identity has, over decades of emigration, turned into invisible borders within the diaspora itself. At festivals, associations, and even in everyday social life, there are still those who feel that it is not enough to be Portuguese: you must be “from the right group”. Between the preservation of roots and the creation of internal walls, this reality raises an uncomfortable question are we truly united as a community, or are we simply living side by side, separated by origins that were never left behind?

Maria Silva, 62 years old (Azorean)
Why do you think there is still such a visible separation between mainland Portuguese and Azoreans (and, to a lesser extent, Madeirans) in the Portuguese-Canadian community?
Because that separation already existed before. People emigrated with very marked identities and there was never a true fusion between communities. Each group ended up creating its own spaces.

Have you ever felt or witnessed this division in everyday life? Can you give an example?
Yes, many times. At community festivals or cultural events, you immediately notice the division in conversations and even at the tables. I have heard comments distinguishing “those from the islands” and “those from the mainland” as if they were almost different communities.

In your opinion, does this division have cultural and historical roots brought from Portugal and the islands, or did it develop in Canada? Why?
It has both. It already existed in Portugal, but in Canada it became more visible because the communities grew separately and created their own associations.

To what extent does this separation help or harm the strength, representation, and recognition of the Portuguese community in Canada?
It harms it. Instead of a strong and united community, we are divided into small groups.

João Pereira, 45 years old (Mainland)
Why do you think there is still such a visible separation between mainland Portuguese and Azoreans (and, to a lesser extent, Madeirans) in the Portuguese-Canadian community?
Because there is still a lot of regional pride and little openness to overcoming those differences. Many people continue to see more what separates us than what unites us.

Have you ever felt or witnessed this division in everyday life? Can you give an example?
Yes. In some clubs and associations, it is noticeable that certain decisions are always dominated by the same regional groups. I have seen situations where people outside the “main group” end up not having the same voice.

In your opinion, does this division have cultural and historical roots brought from Portugal and the islands, or did it develop in Canada? Why?
It came from Portugal, but in Canada it became stronger because each community organized itself independently and in isolation.

To what extent does this separation help or harm the strength, representation, and recognition of the Portuguese community in Canada?
It harms it greatly. It weakens our collective representation.

Sofia Almeida, 27 years old (descendant of Madeirans)
Why do you think there is still such a visible separation between mainland Portuguese and Azoreans (and, to a lesser extent, Madeirans) in the Portuguese-Canadian community?
Because regional identity is still very strong, especially among older generations who kept those differences alive in Canada.

Have you ever felt or witnessed this division in everyday life? Can you give an example?
Yes. I have been in social contexts where distinctions are made between “islands” and “mainland” almost automatically. I have even been told directly that I am “not really from either side”, which is strange being Portuguese.

In your opinion, does this division have cultural and historical roots brought from Portugal and the islands, or did it develop in Canada? Why?
It comes from both, but in Canada it became more rigid because the communities grew separately and with little interaction between them.

To what extent does this separation help or harm the strength, representation, and recognition of the Portuguese community in Canada?
It harms it, but it also preserves traditions. The problem is when it becomes exclusion.

Tony Martins, 35 years old (born in Canada)
Why do you think there is still such a visible separation between mainland Portuguese and Azoreans (and, to a lesser extent, Madeirans) in the Portuguese-Canadian community?
Because it is easier for people to identify with small, familiar groups than to build a single Portuguese identity abroad.

Have you ever felt or witnessed this division in everyday life? Can you give an example?
Yes. At cultural or social events, you can notice that people group themselves by origin and there is very little real mixing between those groups.

In your opinion, does this division have cultural and historical roots brought from Portugal and the islands, or did it develop in Canada? Why?
I think it developed more in Canada. Here, distance and time made regional differences become more fixed than in Portugal.

To what extent does this separation help or harm the strength, representation, and recognition of the Portuguese community in Canada?
It harms the global representation of the community.

Ricardo Sousa, 50 years old (Mainland)
Why do you think there is still such a visible separation between mainland Portuguese and Azoreans (and, to a lesser extent, Madeirans) in the Portuguese-Canadian community?
Because there is an old mentality that was never overcome. There is a tendency for each group to see itself as “more authentic” than the other, and that never fully disappeared.

Have you ever felt or witnessed this division in everyday life? Can you give an example?
Yes, and I will be direct: I have seen people being ignored or excluded from associations simply for not belonging to the dominant regional group. This still happens, even if many people do not want to admit it.

In your opinion, does this division have cultural and historical roots brought from Portugal and the islands, or did it develop in Canada? Why?
It came from Portugal, but in Canada it was amplified. Here, instead of disappearing, it was organized into separate community structures that reinforced this division.

To what extent does this separation help or harm the strength, representation, and recognition of the Portuguese community in Canada?
It harms it greatly. And as long as we continue pretending this is just “cultural difference”, we will remain fragmented and without a strong voice.

Romulo Ávila/MS

The content on the Milénio Stadium website is automatically translated using Google Translate.