More than one in four Ontario students report having been a victim of cyberbullying in the past year. This statistic places schools at the center of a debate that extends beyond the classroom and enters the campaign for the October 26 school board elections.

Jonathan Santos is running for trustee in Ward 9 of the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB). School board trustees represent families on the board and participate in decisions regarding budgets, priorities, and policies that affect thousands of students.

In an interview with Milénio Stadium, the candidate advocates for a two-pronged response. On one hand, he wants to understand what drives bullies to act. On the other, he wants to strengthen support for victims through more workshops for parents, students, and teachers, additional child and youth workers, and clear consequences, including suspensions. Regarding cellphones in classrooms, he describes himself as “old school”: he calls for a return to pen, paper, and handwriting, viewing technology as a supplement rather than a “crutch.”

He also draws attention to immigrant families who do not speak fluent English and consequently face greater difficulties in keeping up with their children—both in their academic progress and in their ventures through an online world that is as fascinating as it is dark and dangerous.

Milénio Stadium: More than one in four Ontario students report having been a victim of cyberbullying in the past year. What concrete measures do you advocate for to prevent and respond to these cases in schools?

Jonathan Santos: It’s a very terrible problem that we’re dealing with right now. As community advocates—because that’s what school board trustees are—what we need to be doing is organizing more workshops for parents, students, and teachers so we can see how we can work together to solve this problem from two standpoints.

First, regarding those who commit these acts: let’s try to understand why they are doing this. Why do they feel the need to harm others? Sometimes words are worse than physical violence; mental abuse can be more devastating than an actual physical assault. So we need to work on two fronts: understanding why people do this and how we can stop and prevent them from doing it; and on the other hand, supporting those affected. What kind of programs do we need?

Everybody knows there are so many cuts to education right now. There are even cuts planned for my position as a prospective trustee. But while my hands are tied in certain respects, what I would like to see happen first and foremost is ensuring this doesn’t happen at all and that proper repercussions are in place.

The other problem lies with the Ministry of Education. They don’t like to penalize children or talk about expulsions or suspensions. But I think that needs to happen, because if you don’t do that, how are students going to learn that this is unacceptable behavior? We definitely need to educate people on this and hold more community workshops, especially from an educational standpoint, to address the root of the problem. We need proper repercussions in place and to be truly there to support those who are suffering—the victims.

MS: Is the cellphone ban in classrooms working? Should it be expanded, maintained, or revised?

JS: I’ve been hearing mixed responses from the parents I speak to at different schools. Some say it’s working: some teachers set aside a phone-free time, students put them in a box, and they can’t use them. Other teachers simply don’t enforce it, and they see kids getting distracted.

My opinion is that we can’t avoid technology; it’s everywhere. However, it shouldn’t be used as the primary method of instruction—especially phones. There should be clear criteria: if we’re working on a topic for the next hour, no phones. If there’s an emergency, there are always other ways to get in touch, whether with a parent or through the school, which has all records up to date.

Additionally, we have to consider that while one student is trying to learn, another might be on their phone—and besides not paying attention, they are distracting their classmates. That’s not what we want. So I think during certain hours and in certain classes, phone use should be banned. If they have a 5- or 10-minute break, then sure, allow it.

Even though I’m young, I’m very “old school” in this regard. I see the benefits of technology, but I don’t think it should be the primary resource; it should be supplemental. I advocate for a return to basic reading, handwriting, and penmanship. You see some of these younger children who don’t know how to write properly. We need to go back to the basics and the fundamentals. Absolutely.

MS: What role should digital literacy and online safety play in the curriculum, and starting at what age?

JS: As I mentioned, regarding technology, online environments, and access, I believe there need to be limits for the child’s own safety. Today, everything is digital and you can find out everything about someone with just the click of a mouse. Because of this, we need much stronger reinforcement and discipline.

Technology shouldn’t be used as a “crutch,” which is how it’s currently being used in the education system. It shouldn’t be the only resource we use; it should be viewed as a supplement. We have to get back to the fundamentals of pen and paper.

On the other hand, I think parents should be a little more involved. Speaking with some parents, I know many don’t fully understand the system because they are recent immigrants and haven’t mastered the English language. When their child comes home and says, “This is what we’re doing, this is what the teacher said,” they accept it and don’t question it. I think we also need to do more to advocate for and empower these parents whose first language isn’t English so they can understand the process. That’s why I believe these workshops are so beneficial for families.

MS: Are school guidance counselors and mental health services sufficient to support students affected by cyberbullying? If elected, what will you do about this issue?

JS: I don’t think they’re doing enough, and that comes back to the budget cuts from the Ministry of Education. There isn’t enough support for students or parents. Workshops are one tool, but we need more child and youth workers, as well as more guidance counselors.

If we don’t solve this problem in childhood, it can drag on into adulthood. When you reach adulthood without overcoming this bullying, the consequences in your personal and professional life can be severe. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to have more programs and more support for students.

If elected, that will be one of my priorities. Although my power as a trustee is limited, our role is to relentlessly advocate for these causes. Mental health is, unfortunately, a very prevalent issue today. If young people don’t get the support they need at an early age, it will haunt them for the rest of their lives. In today’s society, where social media and cyberbullying are just a click away, we 100% must support our youth. Absolutely.

Madalena Balça/MS

Her son is 16 years old, plays soccer and basketball with his friends, and spends many hours on his phone and playing video games. He is a teenager like so many others. His mother confesses that she lives with constant anxiety, fueled above all by her son’s silence. “My fear is that, because he is very reserved, he might be suffering from some form of humiliation and not telling me. That he might be a victim of bullying or under some pressure, because I think there is a lot of competitiveness among teenagers.”

The fear does not come out of nowhere. The teenager was bullied in the past, and that experience left marks on how his mother views every sign of sadness. “I feel that, at times, he is very downcast. And I think: could something be happening on his phone? Is someone hurting him? And is he not telling me?”

For years, she had access to her son’s phone. Today, she no longer does. “He tells me that I have no business looking at his phone, that he is a grown boy now.” The mother tries to engage in dialogue, but the answers are scarce. “I push him, but he gives me the bare minimum. He gives me almost no information about what is going on with him. And I immediately start imagining the worst.”

She assures that she talks to her son about the dangers of the internet. His response, however, is always the same: “Don’t worry, I have everything under control. You don’t have to be afraid of anything because I’m big now.” It is precisely this confidence that worries her. “He always thinks he is not a target, that it only happens to others, that nothing will happen to him. That scares me.”

Even so, she refuses the temptation to protect him by locking him up at home. She even admits to feeling relieved when he goes out to play sports with his friends and leaves screens behind. “The world out there scares me, but I am aware that I cannot keep him trapped inside the house—though the truth is that I only rest easy when he walks through the door.”

The app that tallys intimacy

Recently, the moment that struck her most did not come from her son, but from a 15-year-old friend of his who talks to her frequently. It was this teenager who told her about an application where teenagers record episodes of their intimate lives. “For example: if my son kisses a girl, he goes to the app and says he kissed a girl that day. And it stays registered there that Boy X has already kissed six girls.”

The record, the teenager explained, does not stop at kisses: it also includes counting sexual relationships, with details that left this mother speechless—after all, this is an app whose content is entered by youth aged 13, 14, 15, 16… “I was looking at her and didn’t even know what to say. I just said: ‘I’m shocked.'” When she asked what the goal was, she simply heard that it served “so we know how many people we’ve kissed.” And, as a response to her reservations, the “accusation” arrived quickly: she was an “old school” mother, someone “from the 90s” who “doesn’t understand anything.”

That day, she remembers calling her own mother to vent. “In my time, I didn’t even want anyone to know if I had kissed someone. To me, this is a completely different world.” More than the exposure itself, the naïveté disturbs her. “They don’t even realize that people could join that app pretending to be young when they aren’t. They have no fears. They think they live in La La Land.”

When her sister, a mother of two young children, complains about being tired, her response comes with a bitter smile: “You are in the best phase; you have no idea what awaits you.” For this mother, the hardest part of adolescence is not the rebellion, nor the typical isolation of that age. “It is more the fear of the world, of the way things are.”

In the face of all this, she holds on to one certainty: keeping the door open is the solution. “For me, the important thing is to always keep some channel of dialogue open. He says I’m annoying, but I don’t care. He can say whatever he wants—one day he will thank me.”

Note: For reasons that seem obvious to us (safeguarding the privacy of the family and particularly the young people involved), we have kept all participants completely anonymous.

Madalena Balça/MS

Grooming, financial sextortion, and organized predatory networks represent the primary digital threats facing youth today. The Toronto Police Service explains how offenders operate, what families should do within the first few hours, and where to seek help.

A single smartphone, a messaging app, or an online game is all it takes for danger to enter the home unannounced. This is the reality. In fact, in responses provided to our newspaper, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) paints a troubling picture of the crimes targeting children and adolescents in the digital realm.

Cindy Chung, media relations officer for the TPS, leaves no room for doubt regarding the primary threat. “The most prevalent digital threats facing children and teenagers currently involve Internet Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE), which encompasses child luring, exploitation material, and financial sexual extortion,” she explains.

Added to these crimes is a more recent phenomenon that has prompted warnings from law enforcement. “Police have warned of emerging predatory networks, such as ‘The Com,’ that actively target youth online to coerce them into severe real-world harms,” the spokesperson notes.

The method used by offenders follows a repeated pattern. According to police, “offenders frequently operate across popular messaging apps and gaming networks.” These are precisely the digital spaces where young people spend much of their free time.

The first step is gaining the victim’s trust. “Predators often use fake profiles to pose as teenagers to build rapid trust,” describes Cindy Chung. From there, situation can escalate very quickly: the offender “coerces the minor into sending explicit images or videos and immediately pivots to blackmail.” This is the core mechanism of “sextortion.” The obtained images are weaponized to extort money or additional explicit content from the victim under the threat of exposure to family, friends, or schoolmates.

One of the most striking findings is the profile of the preferred targets for this type of crime. “Financial sextortion groups heavily target young males,” states the police representative. Explaining why, she notes that these groups “exploit the fear and reluctance these boys have to speak out about what is happening to them.” Shame and silence thus become the perpetrators’ greatest allies. A teenager who feels humiliated and fears parental reaction tends to hide the problem, giving blackmailers more time and leverage over the victim.

Nevertheless, police emphasize that the risk is not confined to boys. “It is important to note that both boys and girls can be victims,” Chung cautions.

What, then, should a parent do if they discover their child is being blackmailed or harassed online? The police response is clear and begins with severing communication: the first step is to “stop all communication with the offender immediately.”

Next, preserving evidence that could help identify the offender is essential. Police advise parents to “safely save all evidence by copying the text URL, account handles, and platform names.”

Finally, Cindy Chung stresses that emotional support from parents is just as crucial as practical measures. Parents should “reassure your child that they are the victim,” and “seek immediate support from the police or a trusted resource.” Youth often feel guilty and ashamed, and hearing from their parents that they did nothing wrong can make all the difference.

Chung also highlights critical mistakes to avoid at all costs. The first is giving in to threats, with clear guidance provided: “Do not reply to the threats and do not pay the extortionists,” the police insist. The reason is that “paying rarely stops the blackmail and often leads to higher demands.”

The second error, often made in the heat of the moment, is attempting to literally delete the problem. Cindy Chung issues a clear warning: “Police ask families to avoid deleting the account or the chat history, as doing so destroys vital digital evidence needed for a police investigation.”

How should parents proceed when they suspect something is wrong? Whether suspecting or confirming an issue with a child or adolescent, several official channels are available for reporting. In severe cases, the direction is unequivocal: “Always dial 9-1-1 immediately if a child is in imminent danger.”

In non-emergency situations, families can “call the Toronto Police non-emergency line at 416-808-2222, or submit a report through the TPS Online Reporting Tool” for eligible offenses.

For cases involving sexual exploitation, a specialized route is available. Police recommend “reporting child sexual exploitation directly to Canada’s national tip line at Cybertip.ca.”

What happens next? When a cyberbullying or exploitation case reaches authorities, police deploy specialized internal resources. “The TPS leverages specialized units like the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) alongside School Liaison Officers who can intervene or offer guidance in extreme cases,” explains Cindy Chung.

However, the response extends beyond criminal investigation. Police also direct families to a network of partner resources outlined on their bullying prevention page. Among these are the Canadian Centre for Child Protection and Kids Help Phone, which offers “professional, confidential support” via 1-800-668-6868.

For parents, the TPS provides a social media safety tips portal offering “comprehensive guidance” to “help families establish healthy digital boundaries.”

Police also focus on proactive prevention, bringing the message directly to those who need it most. “The Toronto Police Service delivers proactive education directly to youth and parents through interactive community safety workshops and school presentations hosted by community constables,” notes the spokesperson.

These sessions address practical, everyday topics relevant to youth. According to police, “these initiatives focus on the risks of sharing personal details or photos, auditing privacy settings, and understanding the hidden dangers built into modern multiplayer gaming environments.”

Online gaming, often viewed by parents as a harmless pastime, emerges as one of the venues where predators seek victims. For families seeking continued guidance, police recommend reviewing the TPS Social Media Safety Guide.

From Cindy Chung’s responses, a central theme emerges: offenders feed on fear and isolation. The longer a young person keeps the problem to themselves, the greater the blackmailer’s power becomes.

Therefore, the message to families is both practical and reassuring: keep dialogue open, act quickly, preserve evidence, and above all, reassure children that if something happens, they are never to blame. In a world where danger is just a click away, trust between parents and children remains the strongest protection.

Madalena Balça/MS

 

More than 16,900. That was the number of cases involving the sexual exploitation of children and youth online recorded by Canadian police services in 2024, according to Statistics Canada. The rate is more than four times higher than in 2014. In that same year, child luring offenses reached the highest number on record, with 2,903 reported incidents.

Data from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P) also highlight the rapid escalation of another phenomenon: sextortion. In 2020, the organization recorded 458 cases. In 2025, that figure rose to 2,827, more than a sixfold increase. In total, C3P received more than 14,000 cases over just six years. Many others are never reported.

Cybertip.ca was created precisely in response to this reality. Launched in 2002 as a pilot project in Manitoba, it serves today as Canada’s national tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of minors. It receives tips from across the country, analyzes them, and forwards relevant leads to law enforcement agencies and child welfare services.

To understand what has shifted in recent years, who predators are targeting, and how schools and families can take action, our newspaper spoke with Lindsay Lobb, C3P’s director of support services, and David Rabsch, director of Cybertip.ca. Their responses reveal that no app featuring private messaging is neutral ground. They also make clear that the earliest warning signs that something is wrong often surface in subtle daily changes: a frequent headache, restless nights, or a sudden loss of interest in a favorite hobby. Staying attentive to these small, yet significant, signs is vital so parents can step in time to protect their children from cowardly and deeply terrifying attacks.

Milénio Stadium: For those who may not know it, what is Cybertip.ca and what kind of work do you do?

Cybertip.ca is Canada’s national tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children.

Operated by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P), the tipline launched September 26, 2002 as a pilot project in Manitoba. In May 2004, Cybertip.ca was adopted under the Government of Canada’s National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation on the Internet.

We receive and process tips from the public about potentially illegal material, as well as activities regarding the online sexual exploitation of children, and refer any relevant leads to the appropriate law enforcement agency and/or child welfare agency.

MS: What types of crimes are children and teenagers most exposed to online today, and what trends have you noticed in recent years?

While reports of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material (CSAEM) continue to be the most common type of report received by Cybertip.ca, we have seen a dramatic and continued increase in Luring, specifically Sextortion reports since 2021.  There are typically 2 types of Sextortion reported to the tipline: Financial Sextortion where the victim is pressured to send money or gift cards under the threat of having intimate images of the victim shared online, and non-financial where the demand is for additional sexual content, usually of escalating severity.  Generally, boys are the primary target for financial sextortion while girls are the most common victims of non-financial sextortion.  Snapchat and Instagram (and increasingly TikTok over the past 18 months) are the most common social media platforms involved in these incidents, but any platform that features direct messaging is of possible use by those targeting children for exploitation.

 

MS: What warning signs should concern a parent or teacher, and what should they do when a child admits that something has happened?

1. 1.Monitor your teen’s behaviour to watch for changes that may trigger cause for concern. It’s important to pay attention to changes in your teen’s typical behaviour patterns, as well as changes in the intensity of their behaviour. Some signs that may indicate the need for increased involvement and communication with your teen include:
   • They seem more withdrawn, sad, anxious, defensive, angry, or secretive.
   • They have significantly increased or decreased the amount of time they spend online.
   • They do not respond to limits placed on how often and how long they spend online.
   • They have lost interest in activities that they’ve normally enjoyed.
   • They are complaining of stomach aches or headaches.
   • They develop problems with sleeping patterns, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep at night, or sleeping all the time and avoiding interaction.

2. 2.Supporting a child who has been sexually victimized

1. • Be supportive: love and support during this difficult time, will help your child heal and move forward
   • Build a sense of safety: reassure your child that they are not alone, and you will get through this together
   • Reach out of help where needed: Cybertip.ca and NeedHelpNow.ca are here to help

MS: What role should schools play in prevention, and what resources does Cybertip.ca offer to educators and families?

Schools play a critical role in prevention and in supporting students’ safety. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection’s Kids in the Know Program equips teachers with ready-to-use, age-appropriate lessons that help children build personal safety skills—both online and offline. We recently released our Youth Non-Consensual Distribution of Intimate Images (NCDII): A Guide for Schools which is designed to support school personnel in respond to incidents of youth NCDII in ways that prioritize safety, dignity, and well-being of youth. Parents can also visit protectkidsonline.ca for prevention and educational resources.

MS: If you could leave three pieces of advice for the parents, what would they be?

• Encourage open conversations: Talk to your teen about what they see online. Creating an open line of communication may encourage them to go to you or another safe adult if they encounter content that makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
• Enable parental controls: Setting parental controls, content filters, and establishing clear boundaries on device use — such as screen time limits, or turning off the Wi-Fi at night — can help reduce the risk of your teen being potentially exposed to harmful content online.
• Report the content: Flagging harmful content may help platforms and algorithms better identify material that shouldn’t be viewed by young users and could help remove, reduce, or restrict the likelihood that similar harmful content will continue to appear in their feeds.
• Share resources: Let youth know help is available if they, or someone they know, gets targeted. They can always reach out to:
  • Cybertip.ca
  • NeedHelpNow.ca
  • Law enforcement

Madalena Balça/MS

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There is no single way to live through retirement. There are those who view it as a well-deserved homecoming, and those who simply refuse to stop. These two stories, told in the first person, show both sides of the coin.

José Silva worked for 34 years without missing a single day. When the time came, he walked away without looking back and made his home and his wife the center of his life. Deafness distanced him from music and socializing, but he insists he never let it get him down: surrounded by books, crossword puzzles, and walks in the backyard, he says he is happy to finally be home.

Maria Melo, on the other hand, never truly felt retired. She took care of her grandchildren, danced in the folklore group, helped build the Associação Cultural do Minho, where she remains on the board of directors and today spends her days doing handicrafts and painting at Abrigo. “Staying at home, for me, is an illness,” she summarizes.

Two different paths, one shared lesson: retirement is best experienced when it is chosen, fulfilled, and shared with those we love most.

Retirement lived at home

Milénio Stadium: When you thought about retiring, what plan did you have for this new phase of your life?

José Silva: I worked for 34 years: 12 at one company and 22 at another. I never missed a day of work. But at the last place, there were people I didn’t like, so when they told me I could retire and receive the company pension, I didn’t hesitate. When I left, it felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted off my shoulders. After that, I never wanted to go back. They invited me to return at Christmas and on other occasions, but I didn’t want to see those people who only caused problems.

When I made plans to retire, it was to be with my wife. So wherever she goes, I go too. When she goes out, I always go with her; I don’t like her going anywhere alone.

And I help out a lot around the house. I don’t know how to cook, but when she makes soup, I chop the cabbage, peel the potatoes… I help with everything.

I spent a lot of time away, and now I want to be with her. And I love it when our children and grandchildren come over to the house. I enjoy all of that, being right here like this.

MS: What about meeting up with friends to chat?

JS: Not that, because I don’t hear well. I have a hearing aid, but even so, I still struggle to hear. I don’t like going to anyone’s house because sometimes they’re talking and I can’t understand what they’re saying.

MS: Your life was very full, not only at the companies where you worked, but also through your connection to music: rehearsals, performances, busy weekends. Did your hearing loss affect you deeply?

JS: I used to play music; now I can’t even listen to music anymore. Sometimes I go to see my son play, and I think it’s wonderful to see him working on the guitar, but I don’t know what he’s playing. Because of that, I don’t really like going to certain places.

MS: What about practicing sports or doing some form of physical activity?

JS: We have a large yard around the house with plenty of grass and trees, and I go for walks out there. Sometimes I go for a walk by myself just to boost my mood.

MS: How do you fill the rest of your time?

JS: I like to read. I have Portuguese books, and my wife sometimes buys different books that I also enjoy reading. I do crossword puzzles and things like that to keep myself entertained. And I like watching television; if the TV has any issues, I get upset!

MS: Did you ever feel depressed about stopping work after so many years?

JS: No, no, I was never like that. I’m happy because I’m home. I like being at home, and that’s all there is to it.

MS: In other words, you didn’t let retirement get you down?

JS: No, no. I’m good, and I’m happy.

Stop? I can’t stop!

Milénio Stadium: You have been retired for several years. What changed in your life when you stopped working?

Maria Melo: I retired at the right age, but I was never truly retired. After I stopped working, I took care of my young grandchildren. It wasn’t for money; it was to help the family. And that was already a job in itself, perhaps even harder than going out to work: taking them to school, picking them up, taking them to the park, feeding them.

Even back then, on weekends I would go to the Associação Cultural do Minho, where I was part of the folklore dance group (rancho). I even brought my granddaughters along. The eldest, Jéssica, stayed with the group until she was almost 19.

MS: Did you ever think about just staying home?

MM: I never thought about it. I can’t stop. Sometimes, when I feel tired, I say to myself: “I’ll only rest when I die.” I like having my house organized, every little thing in its place. But staying home, for me, is an illness. It’s not good for your health.

Right at the beginning, I went to learn how to make Arraiolos rugs and handicrafts with some women who were teaching it. I was always busy, socializing and learning new things.

MS: What about your husband?

MM: He always used to go to the association with me. Now he’s unwell, but he comes with me to Abrigo, and I go more days now because it does him good too. He’s more distracted there, does crossword puzzles, and has peers his own age to talk to. At home, he’s always talking to me about the same things. It’s not like going out and seeing different people.

MS: And how do you spend your time there?

MM: I also have my quiet moments to rest my mind. But at Abrigo, we’re rarely idle. We do handicrafts, decorate the room, and stay constantly entertained. And I love painting, I love colors and creating different things.

MS: Are you still involved with the Associação Cultural do Minho?

MM: I’m on the board of directors. There were very few years when I wasn’t. I danced in the rancho, and I participate in the rusga (traditional folklore group). I like helping, and I like seeing things move forward. We bought our building when I was already on the board; we paid it off, and today we have handicrafts, traditional drums (bombos), accordions (concertinas), everything. It wasn’t easy. Before we had our own building, we used to move around rented halls, and sometimes it would be four or five in the morning and we’d be carrying large cooking pots on our backs. But, thank God, we made it.

My husband helped a lot too. At the company where he worked, where he eventually became a manager, he raised a lot of money among his colleagues for the association and paid for Christmas toys for the children.

MS: What advice would you give to someone who is entering retirement right now?

MM: I always advise people to leave the house and go to the centers: Abrigo or others within our Portuguese community, or even in other communities, like the Spanish one. It’s good to socialize with different people. It does wonders for the mind. Some people dance, some play bingo, some play cards. And you go back home feeling completely happy.

Madalena Balça/MS

They arrive alone or “by the hand” of someone else. Some come because they spend their days at home while their children are at work and want to fight off loneliness; others because they feel the need to move their bodies and lift their spirits. They may even arrive showing signs of depression, but the truth is that after a few weeks, they can no longer do without the group and the camaraderie it provides. This is the reality described by two leaders of day centers for seniors in Toronto’s Portuguese community: Carina Paradela, Operations Director at First Portuguese, and Alice Nunes, Senior Program Coordinator at the Abrigo Centre.

So who arrives, and why? At First Portuguese, loneliness is the most common reason. “The vast majority of people seek out our center because they are retired and spend a lot of time alone at home while their family members work, feeling the need to socialize,” explains Carina Paradela. “We also receive people who feel down or depressed due to social isolation or life circumstances that have left them more vulnerable.”

There is, however, a new trend. “Lately, we have registered a significant increase in families of individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease seeking our services, both to provide social interaction for their loved ones and to have a safe haven where they can drop them off and enjoy a short break.”

At the Abrigo Centre, Alice Nunes distinguishes between those who are already regular members and those arriving for the first time. “Those who are already part of the group always arrive very happy. We rarely see any signs of depression among participants who attend three days a week,” she says. With newcomers, “it is a different story.” “I have indeed seen several cases of people who arrive with that exact feeling of being depressed or complaining heavily about being isolated, some even experiencing difficulty speaking, cognitive decline, and deep sadness.”

The transformation, she assures, becomes visible over time. She offers an example from the very day she spoke to Milénio Stadium, during a lunch at Casa do Alentejo: “One of those people was there, which would have been unthinkable a while back. At first, she did nothing but cry and wouldn’t speak a word; then step by step she began to breathe easier, start conversations, and join in games with others. Now she even tells jokes.” The improvements, she adds, are physical as well: “People who arrive after a stroke, for instance, improve significantly over time with exercise and everything we do.”

When asked about the activities that contribute most to the well-being of participants, both leaders point in the same direction: social interaction.

“Social activities have the biggest impact, from the gentlemen who love playing cards to the ladies who enjoy chatting and sharing stories,” says Carina Paradela. “Physical exercise classes also contribute greatly to well-being. Outings, on the other hand—which are increasingly scarce due to high costs, undoubtedly have the greatest psychological impact.”

Alice Nunes agrees. “If I had to single out one specific activity, I would say exercise has the biggest impact. But what truly makes the greatest difference in their lives is socialization. Being part of a group, doing whatever it may be, as long as they are talking and spending time together.”

Men remain the hardest to bring in. At Abrigo, they are far fewer than women, and many only show up accompanied. “They are reluctant to join in certain activities, such as physical exercise or dancing. Some participate in theater, some sing,” describes Alice Nunes. The strategy, she notes, does not rely on the center itself: “We don’t really do persuasion work ourselves. I think the wives are the ones who do that. They come along to accompany their wives and end up benefiting immensely. Having someone bring them along is the best way to convince them.”

At First Portuguese, they take a different approach. “Some members are reluctant to participate, but with patience and a large dose of affection, we almost always manage to motivate them to join in,” says Carina Paradela.

The advice for those spending their days at home is the same from both leaders: seek out company. Carina Paradela recommends “a social day center, a safe space where they can socialize with others, stay connected to their language, gastronomy, and traditions, and combat the isolation that often comes with spending too much time alone at home.” She acknowledges that getting started is hard: “Sometimes the hardest part is taking that first step, but once they experience the environment and the people, they begin to enjoy it so much that they start coming of their own free will.”

Alice Nunes points out that the group does not have to be formal. She knows a retiree who “wakes up, goes to have coffee with a group at a Portuguese bakery,” returns home for lunch, and then goes out “for a walk to meet another group of friends.” And a group of ladies who gather every Friday morning at Dufferin Mall, with coffee and cake, just to chat. The conclusion is simple: “The advice is not to stay at home. It is to have a place, whatever place that may be, to do an activity like swimming or to join a group like ours.”

Regarding the needs of these community support centers, both directors highlight funding, but also awareness. “Financial support is undoubtedly one of our greatest needs,” states Carina Paradela. “However, there is also a lack of awareness about the existence of these centers and the benefits they bring, both physically and emotionally. It is important to demystify the idea that these spaces are only for those who are ‘old,’ as many people do not realize the opportunity they are missing to socialize, build bonds, and improve their quality of life.”

At Abrigo, the most pressing issue is capacity. “I have 70 people attending the group and a waiting list of about 20 to 30,” reveals Alice Nunes, who has been referring people to other day centers. Participants have already asked to open a fourth day beyond the current three, an option the center is reconsidering “even as a way to help those on the waiting list.” There is also a shortage of specialized responses for “people experiencing the early signs of cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s, or dementia from other causes.”

On the transportation front, Alice Nunes offers a positive assessment: Wheel-Trans “has been doing an excellent job” and “really helps those who can no longer take public transit on their own.” Financial backing, she emphasizes, keeps coming thanks to the community, local businesses, United Way, and benefactors like Manuel DaCosta.

More spots, more support, and more people aware that these spaces exist: this is the path both leaders outline so that retirement in the Portuguese community is lived in good company rather than closed off within four walls. For many retirees, the front door of the community’s day centers is the exit door from isolation. It is essential not to let this vital social support fade, and to raise awareness about the need to help those who help, making it possible for more people to take that first step toward a happier life.

Madalena Balça/MS

 

Retirement can be one of the most rewarding stages of life, offering greater freedom, opportunities to spend time with family and friends, and the chance to pursue interests that were difficult to fit into a busy working life. Yet retirement also brings changes that can influence physical, mental and social well-being. The important message is that retirement itself does not cause accelerated aging. Rather, it is how we prepare and adapt to the loss of work-related routines, physical activity, mental challenges and social relationships that can make a difference.

The good news is that many of these changes are preventable, and it is never too late to adopt habits that support healthy aging.

1 Retirement and sudden aging

We often hear about people who “age suddenly” after retirement. Is this a myth, or is there actually a medical explanation for why leaving the workforce accelerates aging?

There is some truth behind this observation, but it is important to recognize that retirement itself does not cause people to age more quickly. In fact, retirement can improve health by reducing workplace stress, physical demands and exhaustion. However, for some people, retirement brings changes in daily activities and routines that can contribute to a decline in physical and mental well-being.

During our working years, much of our daily life has a built-in structure. We get up at a particular time, move around, solve problems, interact with others and have responsibilities that provide a sense of purpose. Retirement can suddenly remove many of these activities.

If they are replaced by prolonged sitting, reduced social contact and fewer mental challenges, physical fitness and muscle strength can begin to decline. People may also experience changes in mood, motivation and confidence.

There is good medical evidence that prolonged inactivity contributes to loss of muscle strength, reduced cardiovascular fitness and declining physical function. Research also suggests that some people experience changes in memory and thinking following retirement, although the findings are mixed and retirement has not been proven to directly cause dementia.

Another important factor is whether retirement represents a positive new stage of life or a loss of identity, relationships and purpose.

My message would be that we do not necessarily age faster because we stop working; we may age less well if we stop being physically active, mentally engaged and socially connected.

The objective should not be to remain employed indefinitely, but to find new activities and responsibilities that give life structure, enjoyment and meaning.

2 Changes in the body and brain

What happens in the body and brain when we transition from an active life—with schedules, challenges, and daily interaction with others—to a more sedentary routine? What physical signs should serve as warning signals for both the individual and their family?

One of the most important changes associated with inactivity is the loss of muscle strength and physical conditioning. As we grow older, we naturally become more vulnerable to losing muscle mass and strength, particularly when we are inactive. This process can accelerate when someone moves from an active working life to spending much of the day sitting.

Over time, everyday activities such as climbing stairs, carrying groceries, rising from a chair or walking longer distances may become more difficult. Reduced activity can also affect balance, increasing the risk of falls.

The cardiovascular system is similarly affected. Regular movement helps maintain heart and lung fitness, blood pressure control and healthy blood sugar levels. When activity decreases, endurance can decline, weight may increase and the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease can rise.

The brain also benefits from stimulation. Work often involves planning, decision-making, problem-solving and regular interaction with others. When these activities disappear without being replaced, some people experience reduced mental stimulation, boredom or changes in mood.

Families should watch for changes such as increasing difficulty getting out of a chair, slower walking, reduced participation in previously enjoyed activities, increasing fatigue, unexplained weight loss, repeated falls, persistent low mood or noticeable changes in memory and everyday decision-making.

An especially important warning sign is when someone begins avoiding activities because they have become physically or mentally more difficult. This can create a vicious cycle: reduced activity leads to declining fitness and confidence, which in turn encourages further inactivity.

However, these changes should never simply be dismissed as normal aging. They may reflect treatable conditions, including depression, medication side effects, heart disease, nutritional problems or other illnesses.

A sudden change in memory, alertness or physical ability requires prompt medical assessment.

The encouraging message is that much of the decline associated with inactivity can be prevented or improved through regular movement, strengthening exercises, social participation and appropriate medical care.

3 Isolation loneliness and health

Isolation and loneliness are often highlighted as being as harmful to health as smoking or a sedentary lifestyle. What impact do they have on the body of a retiree, particularly regarding the heart, memory, and the risk of dementia?

Social connection is increasingly recognized as an essential component of good health, comparable in importance to physical activity, nutrition and sleep.

It is useful to distinguish between social isolation and loneliness. Social isolation means having relatively few social contacts, while loneliness is the distressing feeling that one’s relationships do not provide the connection or companionship one needs. A person can live alone without feeling lonely, or feel lonely despite being surrounded by people.

Research has consistently associated loneliness and social isolation with poorer physical and mental health. For example, large studies have found that people with poor social connections have approximately a 29% higher relative risk of heart disease and a 32% higher relative risk of stroke. Social isolation has also been associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

These figures represent associations across populations, rather than proof that loneliness directly causes these conditions in an individual.

Several mechanisms may contribute. Persistent loneliness can increase psychological stress, interfere with sleep and contribute to changes in blood pressure and the body’s stress responses. Socially isolated individuals may also become less physically active, eat less well or have fewer opportunities to recognize and address emerging health problems.

Social interaction is also an important source of mental stimulation. Conversations, shared activities, problem-solving and relationships help keep the brain engaged.

The underlying message is clear: prolonged social disconnection is a significant health concern. For retirees, maintaining meaningful relationships should therefore be considered an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

Regular contact with family and friends, community organizations, volunteering, faith communities, cultural activities and intergenerational programs can all help.

For many Portuguese-Canadian older adults, family gatherings, cultural traditions, community celebrations and local associations can provide particularly meaningful opportunities for connection and belonging.

It is not the number of social contacts that matters most, but the quality of relationships and the feeling of being included, supported and valued.

4 Retirement after physically demanding work

Many Portuguese people in Canada spent decades in physically demanding jobs, such as construction or cleaning. When they stop working, does the body “take its toll” for those years of hard labour? What special precautions should these individuals take during their transition into retirement?

This is a particularly important question for many people who immigrated to Canada and spent decades working in physically demanding occupations to support their families. Construction, cleaning, factory work and other manual occupations can place considerable demands on the body. Years of repetitive movements, heavy lifting, bending and prolonged standing may contribute to chronic back pain, joint problems, tendon injuries and other musculoskeletal conditions.

Sometimes these problems become more noticeable after retirement, when a person has more time to recognize longstanding symptoms or when changes in activity lead to loss of the muscle conditioning that previously helped them cope with physical demands.

However, it would be misleading to suggest that retirement suddenly causes the body to pay a price for years of hard work. Much of what people experience reflects the combined effects of previous occupational demands, age-related changes and their current health and activity levels.

There is also an important distinction between being physically active at work and exercising for health. Physically demanding work often involves repetitive movements, awkward positions and prolonged exertion with limited opportunities for recovery. By contrast, recreational exercise can be adjusted to improve cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility and balance without unnecessarily overloading the body.

For someone retiring from a physically demanding occupation, my recommendations would be to begin with a review of their overall health and physical function, particularly if they have chronic pain, cardiovascular disease or significant mobility limitations.

They should avoid the temptation to replace years of demanding work with complete inactivity. Instead, they should gradually develop a sustainable routine that includes walking, muscle strengthening, balance exercises and activities they enjoy. Swimming, cycling, gardening, walking and appropriately supervised exercise programs can all be beneficial, depending on individual abilities.

Physiotherapy may be particularly helpful for people with persistent joint or back problems, both to manage symptoms and to identify safe ways to remain active. Another important consideration is that retirement should provide an opportunity to enjoy activities that may previously have been difficult because of long working hours.

For retirees, this may include spending more time with grandchildren, gardening, participating in cultural and community activities, volunteering, travelling or enjoying recreational activities with friends.

The objective is not to continue working the body as hard as before, but to move from physically demanding work to physical activity that supports health, independence and enjoyment.

5 Habits for a healthy retirement

From a medical standpoint, what actually defines a healthy retirement? What habits concerning movement, nutrition, sleep, mental stimulation, and social life would you recommend to someone who wants to experience this stage of life with quality, and not just with more years?

From a geriatrician’s perspective, a healthy retirement is not defined simply by the absence of disease or by how many years someone lives after leaving work. It is better defined by the ability to continue doing the things that matter to them, maintain meaningful relationships, remain as independent as possible and enjoy a sense of purpose and belonging.

There are several important habits that can help achieve this.

Keep moving every day. The World Health Organization recommends that older adults aim for 150–300 minutes of moderate physical activity each week, such as brisk walking, along with muscle-strengthening activities at least twice weekly and regular balance exercises. For someone who has been inactive, even a 10-minute daily walk is a good starting point. The important thing is to begin safely and build gradually.

Pay attention to muscle strength. Maintaining strength is essential for independence. Simple exercises such as rising repeatedly from a chair, climbing stairs, using resistance bands or lifting light weights can help preserve the ability to manage daily activities. Exercises should be adapted to individual abilities and health conditions.

Eat well. A balanced diet should include vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans, nuts, fish and other sources of protein. Adequate protein is particularly important for maintaining muscle. Traditional Portuguese foods such as vegetable soups, beans, fish, olive oil and fresh produce can fit very well within a healthy eating pattern. People should also maintain adequate hydration and avoid excessive alcohol consumption.

Maintain regular sleep habits. Most older adults benefit from approximately seven to nine hours of sleep, although individual needs vary. Keeping regular sleeping and waking times, being physically active during the day and limiting caffeine late in the day can help. Persistent insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness or suspected sleep apnea should be assessed rather than accepted as unavoidable consequences of aging.

Keep the brain engaged. Reading, learning new skills, taking courses, playing music, participating in discussions and learning to use new technologies can provide valuable mental stimulation. Activities that are enjoyable, challenging and involve other people may be especially rewarding. No single puzzle or brain-training exercise has been proven to prevent dementia, so variety and continued engagement are important.

Stay socially connected and maintain a sense of purpose. Retirement should not mean withdrawing from community life. Volunteering, mentoring, helping others, participating in cultural or faith communities and spending time with family and friends can support emotional well-being and provide a continuing sense of contribution.

Continue preventive health care. Managing blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol, avoiding smoking, addressing hearing and vision difficulties, reviewing medications and keeping up with recommended vaccinations and screening are also important for healthy aging, including brain health.

Finally, I encourage people approaching retirement to think about more than their finances. They should also develop a plan for their health, daily activities, relationships and interests.

Retirement is a major life transition. Like other important transitions, it benefits from preparation.

I would summarize healthy retirement around three simple principles: keep moving, keep thinking and keep connected.

The aim is not merely to add more years to life, but to add more life, meaning and enjoyment to those years.

Final message

Retirement should be viewed as an opportunity rather than an inevitable period of decline.

For many people, it offers the freedom to pursue interests, strengthen family and community relationships, and adopt healthier routines than were possible during busy working years.

The greatest risk is not retirement itself, but allowing inactivity, isolation and loss of purpose to gradually narrow one’s world.

The most successful retirement is not necessarily the one with the most rest. It is the one that provides the right balance of activity, recovery, relationships and purpose.

Madalena Balça/MS

 

We spend our whole lives answering the question “what do you do?” with the name of a profession. One day, that answer ceases to exist. For many, the long-sought retirement arrives accompanied by an unexpected feeling of emptiness, anxiety, or disorientation.

For Elizabeth Russell, Associate Professor of Psychology at Trent University in Peterborough, this crisis often stems from a lack of preparation for a life with fewer responsibilities and changing capacities. In this interview with Milénio Stadium, she discusses identity loss, the differences between men and women, the warning signs that rest is turning into inertia, and the shifts that retirement brings to couple dynamics as well as relationships with children and grandchildren.

The message is clear: accept the stage of life we are in, diversify interests, take care of our health, and stay active and connected to community and family. Because it is never too late to start anew.

Milénio Stadium: Many people spend years dreaming about retirement, and yet when it arrives, they feel lost, anxious, or even depressed. Why can something so deeply desired turn into a crisis?

Elizabeth Russell: This may happen because they did not really plan on the reality that they were unprepared for having far fewer responsibilities, and perhaps changing capacities. It is critical to accept ourselves where we are at, when we are there, and go from there.

MS: For decades, work defines who we are: it gives us status, routine, purpose, and a place in the world. When it disappears, how does one handle the question “who am I now”? Do men and women experience this loss differently?

ER: Yes, women in general have more well-rounded lives. To avoid this challenge, one has to diversify their interests in advance of their senior years. Building or enhancing connections in one’s community is critical.

MS: There are those who view retirement as a “well-deserved rest” and end up falling into a kind of inertia, which we call the “laziness trap.” Where is the line between resting and giving up? What are the warning signs that someone is falling into this trap?

ER: In short, too much TV time is not recommended. This can be a very simple measure of inactivity, leading to mental and general health decline. Keeping active, within one’s interests and capabilities, is critically important.

MS: Retirement also changes family relationships: couples suddenly spend all day together, children have moved out, and some grandparents become full-time caregivers for their grandchildren. How can these shifts be managed without losing one’s own personal space or creating conflicts?

ER: Couples face either a happy time sharing things they like to do together, allowing each other space to be themselves, and grow in a different way. Or, they may grumble their way through unhappy years filled with half-truths and compromises they do not enjoy. With children, honesty is so important. For example, being clear that “I can do this but can’t do that…”. As one ages, strength declines and it’s easier if all involved are aware of that.

MS: What advice would you give to someone on the verge of retirement, and to someone who has already retired and feels they have lost their way? Is it possible to psychologically prepare for this transition, and is it ever too late to find a new purpose?

ER: If a person is perhaps open to considering additional perspectives, we would suggest that one re-focus on enjoying a new life. Work on keeping a healthy lifestyle, engaging with old friends and the community in general, while enjoying children and grandchildren, can be really important.

Madalena Balça/MS

Hello there, good morning, how have you been?

Another milestone of the season: Thanksgiving opening the doors to Halloween, followed right after by “Santa Claus” and the relentless race between the Sun and the Moon, the imminent time change, shorter days, and less sunlight.

This week’s topic on the table deals with what to do or not do after retiring. There is a lifelong anticipation for that day, even as governments across various countries have extended retirement ages, which for a long time was set at 65.

Well, if you are looking to retire just to collect your monthly check and sit in front of the television after leading an active and stress-filled life, I am not sure if that is the ideal choice. However, if you manage to balance your newfound time while keeping your mind and body active, you just might find the “perfect formula” to combat a sedentary lifestyle.

Here are a few tips—and I will be jotting them down for myself as well.

To enjoy a healthy retirement, the secret lies in preparing for the transition with a balanced focus on three main pillars: body, mind, and social life. In Portugal, with the retirement age set at 66 years and 9 months, planning should begin well in advance to ensure longevity with quality of life. Key strategies can be divided into essential areas:

Diet and Nutrition

• Daily balance: Prioritize the Mediterranean diet. Ensure an adequate intake of protein to prevent muscle loss, alongside healthy fats and complex carbohydrates.
• Avoid excesses: Drastically reduce the consumption of processed foods, salt, and refined sugar to keep blood pressure and blood glucose under control.

Physical Activity and the Body

• Strength training: From age 50 onward, the body naturally loses muscle mass. Engage in strength exercises (such as weight training or Pilates) 2 to 3 times a week.
• Cardiovascular exercise: Get at least 30 minutes of daily active walking, swimming, or cycling.

Active Mind and Social Life

• Cognitive stimulation: Challenge your brain through reading, strategy games, handicrafts, or learning a new language.
• Socializing: Avoid social isolation by participating in community activities, volunteering, or traveling.

Preventive Health

• Routine checkups: Keep up with preventive exams (cancer screenings, cardiovascular monitoring, and regular blood work) to catch any issues early.

There are the tips, but the main engine is your mind. Active mind, healthy mind. But remember, the most important thing is never to let your soul grow old.

It is what it is, and it will always be worth what it’s worth.

Be well, and see you soon,

Cristina DaCosta/MS

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They rarely make headlines, but they happen every single day. While difficult news reaches us non-stop, there are scientists, doctors, teachers, and volunteers working quietly to make the world a slightly better place. And when we pay attention to that work, we realize there is far more to be grateful for than we imagine.

We can thank science, which today protects against HIV with just two injections a year and reaches, for the first time, rich and poor countries simultaneously. We can thank technology, which restores voice and gestures to those who lost them, and artificial intelligence, which detects heart disease in just a few seconds. And we can be grateful, right here in Canada, for a simple measure that ensures thousands of children do not learn on an empty stomach.

None of this is a miracle. It is the result of years of effort, persistence, and cooperation among people who refused to give up. These are advancements that remind us that progress is possible and that humanity remains capable of the very best.

In the following pages, we have brought together a few of these stories. Not to forget what is still wrong, but to remember that, even in uncertain times, there is always a light shining.

 

Kidney donated from mother to daughter reaches 111 years old, breaking a world record

A kidney donated from a mother to her daughter in Brazil in 1969 is still functioning and has reached a biological age of 111 years. It has now entered the history books as the oldest in the world.

Guiomar, who was 54 at the time, “had no hesitation whatsoever” in donating her kidney to her daughter, Maria Célia, who was suffering from kidney failure. At the time, the procedure was a novelty in Brazil—the first had taken place just five years earlier, and only about 50 were performed per year.

In the prime of her youth, Maria Célia underwent three hemodialysis sessions before the kidney transplant. But in 1969, they decided to move forward with the surgery, which took about five hours and carried several associated risks, as ultrasounds, CT scans, or MRIs were not available. “I never experienced rejection, I never had complications, I was never hospitalized,” the recipient told the Brazilian portal G1, adding that her mother also led a healthy life: “She never got sick, never had anything wrong. She died at age 97, without any complications.”

Speaking to the publication, nephrologist Dr. José Medina Pestana revealed that the situation is exceptional, given that transplanted organs last, on average, 20 to 30 years. The fact that they were mother and daughter, however, may have been the key to its success.

“I spent nine months inside my mother, and today she is here inside me. Alive. Much longer inside me. And she will stay,” Maria Célia highlights.

Currently, Brazil performs about 27,000 transplants per year, of which roughly 6,000 are kidney transplants. The surgeries are carried out under the Unified Health System (SUS), which provides anti-rejection medications free of charge. Estimates indicate that over 140,000 people have undergone kidney transplants in the country.

 

 

 

 

A twice-a-year injection against HIV

For decades, major innovations in the fight against HIV took years to reach poorer countries. With lenacapavir, the story is unfolding differently. This injectable medication, which protects against the virus in nearly 100% of cases, needs to be administered only twice a year. It is a massive advantage over daily pills, which many people struggle to adhere to.

For the first time, an innovation in HIV prevention has arrived almost simultaneously in rich and low-income countries. The initial doses arrived in Eswatini and Zambia in November 2025 and began being administered in December. According to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, 49,000 people had been protected by the end of June. By mid-August, that number was close to 100,000 across nine African countries. By the end of 2026, the drug is expected to be available in 24 countries.

The good news doesn’t end there. Cheaper generic versions are expected to hit the market at the end of this year, which will expand access further in 2027. Researchers estimate that lenacapavir could prevent nearly a third of new infections in parts of eastern and southern Africa and accelerate control of the epidemic by up to 14 years.

Restoring voice and gestures to those who lost them

Imagine losing the ability to speak and move, but continuing to think with complete clarity. This is the reality for many people who have suffered a severe stroke or live with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). For them, new hope has now arrived from the University of California, San Francisco.

A team led by bioengineer Samantha Brosler and neurosurgeon Edward Chang has developed a brain implant that allows paralyzed individuals to speak and gesture through a digital avatar using only their thoughts. The device, about the size of a cell phone, contains 253 electrodes and is placed over the region of the brain that controls movements. It reads brain signals and simultaneously translates them into words and gestures such as waving or clapping.

The system was tested on two patients. The patient paralyzed after a stroke achieved 100% accuracy in test conversations. The patient with ALS achieved 85% accuracy in gestures and 75% in speech. For now, the participants trained on ten simple phrases, such as “hello” and “nice to meet you,” and ten gestures, across a hundred combinations.

“Gestures play an important role in communication,” explains Samantha Brosler. The same word can carry different meanings depending on the gesture that accompanies it. The study was published on September 14 in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

Artificial intelligence detects heart conditions in seconds

The electrocardiogram is one of the simplest and cheapest medical exams: it takes just a few seconds and is available in almost every health center. Until now, it served primarily as an initial screening tool. Thanks to artificial intelligence, it may soon reveal far more.

Researchers at Imperial College London, led by physician Arunashis Sau, have developed a software program that analyzes an electrocardiogram in under two seconds and identifies signs of heart disease that doctors cannot see with the naked eye. The system learned from millions of tests in Brazil and the United States and was then tested on 67,000 patients. It correctly identified 81% of heart failure cases and 90% of heart valve diseases.

Today, many patients wait months for an echocardiogram—the test that confirms these conditions. With this tool, it will be possible to quickly identify who needs it most urgently. The goal is not to replace cardiologists, but to help them reach those in need much faster.

“A 10-second electrocardiogram, which was once a low-precision screening tool, could soon become one of the most informative tests in medicine,” said Professor Fu Siong Ng, one of the study’s leads. The results were presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress. Before reaching hospitals, the tool still requires approval from health authorities.

No child should learn on an empty stomach

It’s hard to pay attention in math class when you’re hungry. Recognizing this, Canada took a major step forward: the National School Food Program became law on March 26, 2026, making it permanent and protecting it from future political shifts.

This school year, more than 10,000 schools are offering food programs to students—representing about 80% of the country’s public schools. The program will reach an additional 400,000 children annually. Approaches vary by region: free breakfasts, “pay-what-you-can” lunches, grab-and-go snacks, school gardens, and community meals featuring traditional foods.

Federal funding to provinces and territories doubled to $140 million per year. Starting in 2029–30, the government guarantees $216.6 million annually to maintain the program. Families are feeling the difference too. According to the government, a family with two school-aged children can save around $800 a year on groceries.

“When children have access to healthy food at school, they can learn, grow, and reach their full potential,” stated Parliamentary Secretary Anna Gainey. In a time when the cost of living weighs heavily on so many families’ budgets, this is a measure well worth giving thanks for.

US approves new Parkinson’s drug that acts differently in the brain

Hope for patients: a new drug for Parkinson’s disease has just been approved in the United States. The FDA, the country’s drug regulatory agency, authorized the use of tavapadon for adults living with the disease. The medication, which will be sold under the brand name Juvmo, is manufactured by AbbVie and is expected to hit American pharmacies this October.

The novelty lies in how the drug acts within the brain. Tavapadon is the first approved agonist that selectively targets D1 and D5 dopamine receptors, whereas similar medications currently in use mainly target D2 and D3 receptors.

The pill is taken once daily and can be used on its own or alongside levodopa, one of the primary medications for Parkinson’s.

Improvement in movement

The new medication is not proven to cure or stop the progression of Parkinson’s. The benefit demonstrated so far is the management of motor symptoms.

Another data point caught the researchers’ attention. After 85 weeks of follow-up, 93% of participants using tavapadon alongside levodopa did not need to increase their levodopa dosage.

Among patients in the early stages of the disease who were not yet taking levodopa, 94% remained off levodopa during that same period.

McDonald’s employee covers meal for customer who forgot wallet and receives surprise for his generosity

Look at what generosity can do! A young McDonald’s employee paid out of his own pocket for a meal for a customer he didn’t know, who had forgotten his wallet and couldn’t complete the payment using his phone. The gesture touched the customer so deeply that he reached out to a television station to share the young man’s act so he could be recognized. And that kindness came back to the young man in the form of gifts!

Matthew works at a McDonald’s location in Rexburg, Idaho, in the United States, and had no idea that paying for that burger and a milkshake would cause such a stir. The incident happened in July and was recently published by the portal Sunny Skyz.

The crew from the Feel Good Friday show, which regularly surprises community members who perform good deeds, sought out young Matthew and handed him several gift cards and presents in recognition of his attitude.

Pizzeria owner sees elderly woman eating from trash and starts chain of kindness against hunger

A pizzeria owner was heartbroken to see an elderly woman eating pizza out of the trash. Daniel Romano, owner of D’Romano’s Pizza, brought the woman inside, threw away what she had found, and served her a fresh, hot slice. The woman began to cry upon receiving the food.

Daniel told her: “Don’t cry, eat!” After that encounter, he made the decision to offer pizza to anyone in a similar situation who came to his shop. “I don’t want anyone eating from the trash,” said the shopkeeper from the Bronx, New York, in the United States.

The story, shared on social media in July, gained millions of views and gained traction again in late August when Fox 5 New York showed that the gesture had expanded beyond the pizzeria, sparking a massive chain of kindness.

Still deeply impacted by the hungry elderly woman’s story, Daniel grabbed a marker and wrote a note on the shop’s window: “To the people eating out of my trash: I have more love for you than you realize,” the message begins.

In the rest of the note, he asks that anyone in that situation step inside and simply say they are hungry, promising to offer a slice of pizza and fresh water free of charge. No explanations needed—just ask.

“I think there’s too much hate, too much anger, too much negativity. Why not put a smile on someone’s face?” said the business owner.

Daniel recalls that his mother, Carmella Romano, used to repeat an old Italian saying: “A desperate person always makes a better decision on a full stomach than an empty one,” he shared. And he never forgot it.

Chain of kindness reached other states

Daniel’s initiative inspired many people and set off a chain of goodwill. Today, strangers call from various states to pay in advance for new slices for people in need who arrive hungry. “I have people from Texas, Arkansas, Alaska, everywhere calling me,” Daniel said, laughing at the volume of calls he started receiving.

Madalena Balça/MS

 

We wake up to news of wars, fall asleep to reports of crises, and in between, we scroll through a screen that rarely gives us a reason to smile. In this scenario, talking about gratitude might seem like a luxury, or even naive. But is it really?

For psychotherapist Angela Masuzzo, the answer is clear: looking for reasons to hope is not naive; it is necessary. “Without hope, we often cannot move forward,” she states. In this conversation ahead of Thanksgiving, the psychotherapist helps us understand what happens within us when we choose to give thanks and why that choice is far from being just a pleasant feeling.

The specialist explains that our brains have a natural tendency to give more weight to what goes wrong than to what goes well. This is the so-called negativity bias, which social media and constant news consumption make even more intense. To counter this effect, she proposes something she calls “self-preservation”: knowing one’s own limits and knowing when to disconnect, without ceasing to care about the world.

Throughout the interview, Angela Masuzzo also distinguishes healthy optimism from so-called “toxic positivity”—the kind that forces us to say everything is fine when, inside, we are exhausted, anxious, or sad. For the psychotherapist, being optimistic requires courage: the courage to be honest about how we feel and, even so, to believe that there are viable paths forward.

Her simplest advice is also the hardest to follow nowadays: pause. Pause to see, hear, and notice the small things—like a conversation, a gesture of affection, or a shared meal—that we so often take for granted.

As the daughter of immigrants who left for Brazil after World War II, Angela Masuzzo knows firsthand the value of fresh starts. Because of this, she looks with special fondness upon the experience of immigrant communities, such as the Portuguese in Canada, who have learned to value every achievement because they know all too well the price paid for it.

This is a conversation that reminds us that, even on the hardest days, there is still so much to be thankful for.

Milénio Stadium: From a psychological standpoint, what happens within us when we practice gratitude? Is it merely a pleasant feeling, or does it have tangible effects on our well-being and mental health?

Angela Masuzzo: Gratitude is something that we should all cultivate in our daily lives. Practicing gratitude is often simply shifting the focus away from what we think we lack and learning to value and appreciate what we have in the present, as well as what we have already experienced in the past.

Being grateful is being able to look at life from a more positive perspective, recognizing the good things even when we are going through difficult times. Maintaining this focus can contribute to a more balanced mental health and help us live in a more optimistic, humble, and conscious way.

Gratitude also helps us accept that we won’t always have everything we desire at the exact moment we want it. Sometimes, what didn’t happen, what we don’t yet have, or even something we lost might be part of a larger process that we cannot yet comprehend.

Cultivating gratitude does not mean ignoring life’s hardships, pain, or challenges. It means learning to recognize that, even in the midst of them, there are still reasons to give thanks. It is a simple practice, but one that can transform the way we see ourselves, the people around us, and our own lives.

MS: Wars, economic crises, polarization, non-stop bad news… With so much negativity around us, is it naive to look for reasons to hope? What can help us find reasons to keep the light of hope in humanity burning?

AM: It is by no means naive to look for reasons to hope. Without hope, we often cannot move forward.

There is a lot happening in the world today. For people who are more sensitive to all these news items and events, practicing “self-preservation” can be very important.

And what does that mean? It doesn’t mean becoming indifferent individuals who don’t care about the world or what is happening. It means having the ability to assess our own limits and recognize how much we can absorb emotionally before that information begins to affect us negatively.

Limiting our constant exposure to news—whether on television, social media, artificial intelligence, or any other media outlet—can help relieve that emotional overload. We don’t need to be plugged in all the time to everything that is happening to remain conscious and engaged with the world.

Sometimes, preserving our emotional health means knowing when to stop. It means stepping away for a few hours or a few days and directing our attention toward the positive things that also exist around us.

Caring for ourselves in this way is neither selfishness nor a lack of awareness. It is a way to protect our ability to continue feeling empathy, to keep the light of hope burning, and to believe that, despite so many difficulties, there are still many good things happening in the world.

MS: We seem to have a natural tendency to focus more on what goes wrong than on what goes well. Why does this happen? And in what ways do social media and constant news consumption fuel this pessimistic view of the world?

AM: Yes, that tendency is real, and the reason why it happens is a good question. It is due to the so-called negativity bias. What does that mean? Simply that our brain has a natural inclination to give more importance to negative things than to positive ones. Our attention ends up being more directed toward a potential danger, a threat, a loss, or a conflict.

Social media and constant news consumption cause this effect to become even more intense. We are surrounded by news about the world, our country, and people that isn’t always positive, and that can reinforce a more pessimistic view of the world and even of humanity.

Often, it is human beings themselves who are involved in conflicts, wars, violence, crises, and other problems that end up being precisely the news we hear, read, and consume daily. When we are repeatedly exposed to this type of content, we can begin to get the impression that everything is worse than it actually is.

Therefore, it is important to remember that what receives the most attention in the news does not always represent reality as a whole. There are also many good things happening, people helping other people, and positive changes, but those don’t always receive the same spotlight.

MS: Can a more positive outlook truly help us live better? What is the distinction between healthy optimism and “toxic positivity,” which forces us to pretend that everything is fine?

AM: Yes, but that is a conscious and intentional decision we have to make to protect ourselves, including protecting our physical and mental health.

Practicing healthy optimism requires courage: the courage to be truthful and honest with ourselves and with what we are experiencing. When we enter the cycle of “pretending” that everything is fine, we often don’t get to experience optimism in a light and genuine way. On the contrary, we can end up in a constant state of alert, in that well-known “fight or flight response.” We are always trying to run, avoid, or protect ourselves from what we feel might hit us.

Being present and practicing honesty in a careful manner is not easy in today’s world. Many people aren’t truly interested in a real answer. The question “How are you doing?” is often already accompanied by an almost automatic response: “I’m good, thanks.” And it stops there.

But how many people are screaming inside, hidden behind that “everything’s fine”? How many are merely functioning, smiling, fulfilling their obligations, while inside they are exhausted, anxious, sad, or overwhelmed?

Perhaps that is precisely where courage comes in: the courage to be a little more honest. That doesn’t mean exposing everything to everyone, nor living life only talking about hardships. It means acknowledging what we are truly feeling, respecting our own boundaries, and allowing space for both pain and hope to exist.

Healthy optimism isn’t pretending that nothing is wrong. It is looking at reality as it is, recognizing what is difficult, and yet choosing to believe that there are possibilities, resources, people, and paths that can help us move forward. Perhaps, with a bit more honesty and less need to pretend, we can live in a lighter and more authentic way.

MS: What small daily habits or gestures can help us cultivate gratitude and a more positive mindset, both within ourselves and our families? And what advice would you give to someone going through a difficult time who feels they have nothing to be grateful for?

AM: There are people who have immense difficulty seeing the small positive things around them, and sometimes even quite significant ones.

Gratitude is a state of mind. When it doesn’t arise naturally, we can cultivate it at different moments in our lives. It is about developing the awareness that, no matter the size of the problem, difficulty, or obstacle we are facing, there is almost always an important lesson in that process. And that lesson, in itself, already deserves gratitude.

Human beings, in a way, have grown accustomed to never being completely satisfied. We are always looking for something more, something bigger, something better. And that “something more” can often be related precisely to the difficulty of recognizing and valuing what we already have in our lives.

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t want to grow, change, achieve, or seek better things. The problem begins when we are so focused on what we don’t yet have that we stop seeing what is already present. And, often, important things pass right before our eyes without us realizing it.

My first suggestion would be: pause. Simply pause. Stop and begin to see, feel, hear, and pay attention. Pay attention to words, gestures, people, events, and small moments that pass us by unnoticed because we are always searching for “something” bigger, better, or different.

Sometimes, it’s a conversation. A gesture of affection. Someone remembering us. A text message. A moment of peace on a hard day. A meal. The opportunity to be with someone we love. Even small things that, because they are always present, we end up taking for granted.

And perhaps that is precisely where gratitude lives: not just in grand achievements, but in the ability to notice what is already happening while we are living it.

Because what happens when we don’t do that? We go on autopilot. We wake up, work, solve problems, handle our responsibilities, chase the next goal, think about what is missing, what we still want to achieve… and the day ends.

Then another day begins, and another. And, without realizing it, we can become people who simply exist, but aren’t truly living.

Cultivating gratitude is also cultivating presence. It is being able to step out, if only for a few moments, from this constant search for what is missing and look at what already exists. Because, often, the life we are waiting to live in the future is already happening right now. We just need to be able to notice it.

MS: For many immigrants, such as the Portuguese in Canada, life was built on sacrifices and fresh starts. Do you think this experience teaches people to appreciate the small things more and hold on to hope?

AM: Most certainly. I am the daughter of immigrants who went to Brazil after World War II, and I witnessed firsthand how they valued everything they achieved. I saw up close the sacrifices that were made, the effort to restart life in an unfamiliar place, far from what they knew, often out of necessity rather than mere choice.

There is something very profound in that experience. Starting over requires far more than willingness. It requires courage, perseverance, and the ability to believe that there is something better on the other side.

Everyone who prepares to immigrate needs, in some way, to cling to something stronger than themselves to keep going. It could be family, faith, a dream, an opportunity, the hope of providing a different life for their children, or simply the need to survive and build a new beginning.

Hope goes hand in hand with that perseverance and courage. Without hope, it becomes very difficult to envision a different future. And, in the end, that is precisely what every immigrant seeks: a different future.

Not necessarily a perfect future, but a future with more possibilities, more security, more dignity, or more opportunities than those left behind.

And perhaps that is why many immigrant families learn to value small victories so deeply. Because they know the price paid for them. They know that many things that seem simple or guaranteed to some were the result of immense effort, sacrifice, and courage.

Hope, in this sense, is not just waiting for something to get better. It is continuing to walk even without having all the guarantees, believing that today’s effort can make room for a different reality tomorrow.

Madalena Balça/MS

Hello, good morning, how are you? Another month… and what really matters is that we keep moving forward in good health, stumbling here and there, but following our path without harming anything or anyone. And, let’s face it, that isn’t bad at all.

We are celebrating Thanksgiving weekend, but shouldn’t we be thankful every day?

Not only for the food we put on our tables for our families day after day, but have you ever stopped to think that this very food is indeed a blessing, and that sometimes those who produce it and get it to us from its source might not even have enough to eat?

And don’t you think that those who provide us with work, which secures that food for us, should also be in our thoughts when we reflect on what we should be grateful for? We are—and I say we are because I am a sinner just like all mortals—we are, as I was saying, “ungrateful.” We complain about trivial things. For example, I find myself looking at my husband when he prepares a wonderful breakfast for me, which he does whenever he can, and then sets out the wrong cutlery—oh dear, I just can’t convince him that we have smaller forks and knives; it is what it is. But then I think to myself: well, there are also those who have no forks, no cutlery at all, nor any food, and so that fleeting moment of “ingratitude” washes away with the ocean wave that had brought it in.

I am grateful for my health, despite a few hurdles. I am grateful for my daughters, for my husband, and for 4 or 5 true FRIENDS, already including Ross, who never fails me in anything.

I am grateful to belong to two countries that, for now, still live in peace, for the roof that protects me and my loved ones, and for everything I have, whether much or little. I am grateful that I don’t care for ostentation or vanity, for being humble and knowing how to appreciate those who lend a hand when we falter or lend us an umbrella on a rainy day. I am also grateful for being humble—something that, along with gratitude, is slowly being lost these days.

I wish you all a Thanksgiving weekend filled with peace, abundance, love, and good health. Do not forget, however, a neighbor or family member who might not have anything to put on the table. Remember, Kindness begets Kindness.

It is what it is, and it’s always worth what it’s worth.

See you soon,

Cristina DaCosta/MS

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In 2019, the First Portuguese Canadian Cultural Centre, the oldest Portuguese club in Ontario, came close to closing its doors. The math simply didn’t add up, and the board had the courage to state it publicly: without help, the First would not survive. Leading that difficult decision were Aurianne Fazendeiro and Carina Paradela, who had joined the board shortly before. What followed was a pandemic, painful cuts, and a long process of financial reorganization. Seven years later, the First celebrates 70 years in a stable financial position, with a Senior Daycare Centre at the heart of its mission, the Portuguese school still open, and a clear dream: owning their own home. Today, Aurianne serves as General Director and Carina as Director of Operations at the First, and both truly champion the future of this institution, which they consider their second home. In this conversation with Milénio, they look back at the storm, speak about the present, and appeal to the community so that, together, they can build the next 70 years.

Milénio Stadium: A few years ago, the First Portuguese was close to closing its doors. How did you realize the gravity of the situation, and what led you to say “we are not going to let this happen”?

Aurianne Fazendeiro: When we joined the board in October 2018, we were new to managing an organization of the First’s scale, and initially, we believed the financial situation was more stable than it actually was. Shortly after, we began to realize that expenses outweighed revenues and that there were insufficient funds to continue operating in that manner. In 2019, after seriously analyzing the situation, we reached the point of announcing to the community that without immediate help, the First would have to close. It was a very difficult decision, but we didn’t want to hide reality. We had to tell people clearly: this is the situation, and we need help to keep going.

Carina Paradela: And it’s important to clarify that we aren’t talking about a lack of hard work or dedication from previous boards. For many years, the First was managed essentially by volunteers—people who gave their time and did the best they could to keep this institution alive. We have immense respect for that. What we realized was that an organization of this size required more permanent, structured financial and operational management. At the time we announced we might have to close, a financial solution to resolve the issue didn’t emerge. However, a community organization offered to store the First’s assets while we decided what to do, and we are deeply grateful for that. And, curiously, about six months later, the pandemic hit.

MS: What were the hardest moments of that period? Was there ever a time you thought it wouldn’t be possible to save the club?

AF: Without a doubt. When we announced that we might close, we were genuinely preparing for that possibility. It wasn’t a threat; it was a financial reality. Then the pandemic arrived, and initially, everything became even more uncertain. We had to shut down activities and significantly reduce services and staff. But in a way, the pandemic ultimately gave us time to reorganize house. We gradually resumed activities and were able to benefit from some government support programs, particularly rent-related subsidies.

CP: And that was when we began making a huge turnaround. It wasn’t something that happened overnight. It was a process of reorganization, cutting back where necessary, gaining better control over expenses, and understanding exactly what we could sustain.

AF: Financial management became an absolute priority.

MS: Which decisions were decisive in turning things around? And who stood by your side: members, volunteers, the community, sponsors?

CP: The most important change was undoubtedly the way we began managing the organization’s finances. Aurianne played a fundamental role in that financial reorganization. We started tracking revenues and expenses much more rigorously and making decisions based on what the institution could truly afford.

AF: We also learned to work with what we have, rather than taking on commitments we couldn’t sustain. After the pandemic, we managed to secure support streams that are vital to the First’s survival today, notably through OLG Charitable Gaming and Second Harvest, which allows us to significantly reduce food costs for our Senior Daycare Centre. But we want to be honest: when we were on the brink of closure, there wasn’t a grand community campaign that saved us; the recovery was primarily the result of our internal reorganization and the opportunities that arose during and after the pandemic.

MS: How is the First Portuguese doing today? What has changed in how the club is managed and in its relationship with members and the community?

AF: Today, the First is in a much more stable financial position. We have a small team, but we have a wonderful executive board that gave us the opportunity to remain connected to the institution in a different capacity. Today, we are employees of the First, which allows us to dedicate our daily work to the organization, maintenance, and operation of the house.

CP: The division of responsibilities is also much clearer. Day-to-day management is on us; major decisions and governance rest with the board. This allows us to do what we do best: be here every day, oversee the programs, resolve issues, talk to members, and ensure everything runs smoothly.

MS: Which activities are bringing the most people to the club today? Are the Portuguese school, senior care, and summer camps still the heart of the house?

CP: Today, our main focus is the Senior Daycare Centre. As a registered charitable organization, we want the social care aspect to be truly at the core of what we do. We have many Portuguese seniors who need companionship, activities, and often simply a place where they can speak Portuguese and be around others. The centre is a vital part of the mission we want to keep building.

AF: The Portuguese school is another source of great pride for us. It’s a tradition dating back virtually to the First’s earliest years that we are delighted to preserve. It’s a direct link to our history and to passing down the language and culture to new generations. And the Summer Camp plays a very important role as well: besides serving community families and children, it generates revenue that allows us to continue funding the First’s overall mission.

MS: Aurianne and Carina, you lead an institution with 70 years of history. Does the responsibility of being at the helm of Ontario’s oldest Portuguese club weigh on your day-to-day lives?

AF: The history weighs on us. And it weighs quite heavily. Not just because it’s 70 years of history, but because we are talking about an institution that helped build the Portuguese community in Canada and spans several generations.

CP: And there is another aspect of that responsibility that, unfortunately, we feel too. The name and history of an institution this old come with things that happened before we were part of the First—some even before I was born. And at times, we feel that this influences the support or responses we receive when seeking help. We cannot change the past. We can only do our work, every single day, and build what we want the future of the First to be.

AF: But despite that weight, the First has been a true blessing for us. It’s a home that entered our lives and brought us friendships, people, experiences, and an even stronger connection to our Portuguese heritage.

CP: It is our second home. And we are eternally grateful for that.

MS: How would you like to see the First Portuguese 10 years from now?

CP: We want to see the First with a home of its own. That is our ultimate goal. And that is what we work for every single day. We already have some money set aside specifically for that purpose, and little by little, we continue to grow that fund.

AF: Our dream is to achieve it in less than ten years. Maybe in five. But that will also depend on the community. If there are people and businesses willing to help, we can get there much faster. We want a place of our own, where we can secure the future of the Senior Centre and offer our seniors a better, more stable home tailored to their needs.

MS: On this milestone anniversary, what message do you leave for the community and for those who helped keep the club standing?

CP: Our message is, above all, one of gratitude to everyone who continues to believe in the First and support us. But it is also an appeal. Please help us build a home where our seniors can continue to have a dignified place to be, where our children can learn Portuguese, and where future generations can maintain a connection to our culture.

AF: We are deeply grateful to those who support us, who believe in us, and who keep walking through this door. And our door is open to everyone who wants the best for the First. We cannot change the past. But we can decide what we want to build for the next 70 years. And that is what we want to do: look forward.

Madalena Balça/MS

 

When the Saturnia docked in Halifax in 1953, it brought aboard the first Portuguese immigrants to arrive legally in Canada. They were mostly men, alone, with contracts to work in agriculture and on the railways. Three years later, in 1956, some of those pioneers founded the First Portuguese Canadian Club in Toronto, the city’s first Portuguese club. For decades, it was there that newcomers found friends, jobs, housing, and a piece of Portugal where their language was spoken.

Seventy years later, the community has transformed. It has grown, moved to other areas of the city or even other municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area or Ontario, and now has children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren born in Canada. Throughout its 70 years of existence, the First went through periods of glory, crises, and moved locations more than once. But its doors remain open.

To understand the role the club played in building the Portuguese community, promoting its culture, and teaching the language, and to ponder what the future holds for it, we spoke with Prof. José Carlos Teixeira, a researcher who has spent decades studying the Portuguese presence in Canada and knows the Greater Toronto Area community like few others. It is a conversation about memory, identity, and the transformations of Luso-Canadians who formed what sociologists call an «institutionally complete» community.

Milénio Stadium: The First Portuguese Canadian Club was born in 1956, just three years after the arrival of the Saturnia in Halifax with the first legal Portuguese immigrants. What led those pioneers, newly arrived and still with so little, to feel the need to create a club so early on? What role did the First play during those initial years of adaptation to a new country?

José Carlos Teixeira: To understand the First, one must place it in its historical context. We, the Portuguese community, are a relatively young group in Canada. In the 1950s, only a few thousand Portuguese arrived (around 17,000), mostly men with employment contracts for agriculture and railway construction, and the majority settled in Ontario. In 1956, the First Portuguese was born in Toronto. That same year, the Portuguese Association of Canada was established in Montreal. Throughout the 1950s, these were the only two Portuguese associations in the entire country, and we are fortunate to still have them with us.

In Toronto, the first Portuguese people settled in the Kensington Market and Alexandra Park area—a working-class neighborhood that had previously been home to Jewish, Italian, Polish, and Ukrainian immigrants. It was close to jobs in the downtown core and had that market, which was then known as the Jewish market. In the 1950s, the men rented rooms; in the 1960s, families began to arrive and rent entire houses. That was the embryo of the Portuguese community. It is no coincidence that the first Portuguese business was a restaurant on Nassau Street, owned by Mr. Sousa, a pioneer who arrived in 1953, whom I had the good fortune to interview more than once and whose conversations I still religiously keep on old cassette tapes. People talk a lot about Augusta, but it was on Nassau Street that the Portuguese community’s very first commercial establishment actually appeared. And it was in that same context, in a Toronto that was already multicultural, that the first headquarters of the First Portuguese Canadian Club also appeared on Nassau Street (Nassau and Lippincott).

What was its role? Beyond being a gathering place, it was a spot where people felt at home. Portuguese was spoken, it smelled of Portuguese culture and our food, and there were cultural activities, sports, and language instruction. People went there because their friends and relatives were there. And we often forget another component: it was at the First that people obtained references to rent a house or an apartment, and it was there that they found work. How many people met someone at the First and, through Portuguese bosses, secured a job! With its multiple activities and services, the First helped many of our people, especially from the first generation, integrate into the host society without having to abandon their roots.

MS: Over these seven decades, how has the First Portuguese contributed to organizing and bringing cohesion to the Portuguese community in Toronto? And how did the club follow the community’s own evolving geography—from the Kensington area and Little Portugal to the relocation of so many families to the suburbs?

JCT: In the 1950s, 60s, 70s, and into the early 80s, the First was the anchor of the community. I would even say, in good English, that «the First was the heart and soul of the Portuguese community». For a long time, there were very few Portuguese clubs besides the First. Let’s look at the timeline: in the 1960s, Casa da Madeira (1963) and Casa do Benfica (1968) emerged; in the 1970s, only a few more were founded, such as Amor da Pátria (1971), Asas do Atlântico (1973), the Portuguese Cultural Centre of Mississauga (1974), and Associação Cultural do Minho (1977). Therefore, between the 1950s and the late 1970s, there were only 7 clubs and associations. It was only from the 1980s onward that we witnessed significant growth in the community organizational movement, with the creation of 10 more clubs/associations. In other words, over the years, we built what sociologists call an «institutionally complete» community. In downtown Toronto, in our Little Portugal, we built an ethnic neighborhood and an economic enclave with a strong, highly visible identity—featuring sociocultural and religious associations, businesses, and media outlets. And the First appeared at the key moment, during the embryonic stage of that construction.

There is another aspect we cannot forget: the standing that the First had with different levels of government. It was a mandatory stop for Canadian politicians during election campaigns and beyond, who went there to present themselves to the community, as well as for Portuguese dignitaries. Politicians respected the First.

Then came a natural transition phase that affected all organizations and the community itself. With the drastic decline in immigration, the First felt the impact deeply. There were leadership and financial crises, which led to the sale of the building where it had established itself in the meantime (at 722 College Street). And here I must open a parenthesis: I admire the vision of Manuel DaCosta, who purchased that magnificent building in the heart of the community. In doing so, he preserved part of our memory, our history, and our presence in Toronto. Today, that complex—which includes, beyond the former First building, Camões Square, the Portuguese Canadian Walk of Fame, and the magnificent Guardian Angel statue—continues to serve as a community anchor.

Meanwhile, the First had to navigate new paths, following the immigrant corridor along Rogers Road and Dufferin, where many Portuguese families had relocated. Today, it is located on Caledonia Road. Over the past four decades, we have witnessed pronounced residential mobility and suburbanization. Our communities transitioned from a degree of isolation to residential, social, and cultural integration. The First had to adapt to this new reality.

MS: Among the many activities that made history at this club—folklore, soccer, events, music, gastronomy…—we must talk about the First’s Portuguese school, which for generations was the place where many children and grandchildren of immigrants learned the language of their parents and grandparents. How important was this work in preserving Luso-Canadian identity?

JCT: We must highlight the pioneering and extraordinary work of the First’s school. I followed its progress for over two decades and had good friends there. If the First was the community anchor for decades, its school was an obligatory reference point. It played an extraordinary role among younger generations in teaching Portuguese, the native language of their parents and grandparents.

I know many young people who went through the First’s school and have gone very far in life. When I speak with them, they acknowledge the importance of having learned Portuguese. Knowledge takes up no space, and Portuguese is one of the most spoken languages in the world. I have no doubt that the First’s school played a crucial role in preserving our language, our culture, and our Luso-Canadian identity. A great deal is owed to it, as a pioneer in this field.

MS: On that note, what challenges does Portuguese language instruction face today in a community where new generations were born and raised in Canada?

JCT: I leave the pedagogical details to those working in education, but the numbers help illustrate the problem. According to the 2021 Census, fewer and fewer people of Portuguese origin declare Portuguese as their mother tongue. That is a fact. In Ontario, the situation is better, and in Toronto—the great heart of the community, where the pulse of our language and culture can still be felt—it is even more favorable. The few Portuguese immigrants who continue to arrive in Canada still come primarily to Toronto, which rejuvenates the clubs, associations, and Portuguese language schools. Concerns over the survival of the language apply more to other provinces and cities, where in the short term—say, ten years—the numbers will be even more concerning.

Today, about half of the Portuguese population in Canada was born here, and we are moving toward the fourth generation. With intercultural marriages, many of these young people no longer speak Portuguese, or speak very little. As their education levels rise—and statistics show clear socioeconomic mobility among the younger generations—it is natural that assimilation increases as well. Many Portuguese people feel that, in Canada, their culture is in transition. But separating them from their native culture and language would strip them of their identity.

We need more studies on the second, third, and soon, fourth generations. What do we know about them? What is their relationship with their parents’ language and culture? As in all ethnic groups, there are youth who reject their roots and others who rediscover them later on. I have seen this a lot, especially among the young people I interact with at the university: they take an interest in Portugal, their parents’ homeland, follow soccer because of Ronaldo, listen to Portuguese music, and travel there. There is a noticeable revival, a rediscovery of their roots.

MS: Many Portuguese clubs and associations today face aging memberships, difficulty in attracting younger people, and the community’s dispersion across Greater Toronto. At 70 years old, what future do you see for the First Portuguese?

JCT: I am not a pessimist, but I cannot ignore reality either. We have only been in Canada for seven decades. The first generation came to stay, and the Portuguese cultural heritage appears well-adapted and integrated into the host society. However, it is not guaranteed that the second and third generations will follow the path of their parents and grandparents, nor that they will be able to preserve the culture and traditions.

Cultural duality—or even cultural conflict—is perhaps the best way to define Luso-Canadian youth, whether of mainland, Azorean, or Madeiran descent. While for some their ethnic identity is a source of enrichment, for others it can be a source of conflict that leads them to reject their heritage. Whether they will be able to reconcile these two parts of themselves in the future remains an open question.

It is in this context that I view the First. The First had a massive historical role, but today, like all clubs and associations, it must adapt to new realities, new needs, and the sociocultural preferences of younger generations who were born in Canada and often do not speak Portuguese.

Madalena Balça/MS

 

For decades, it was in the classrooms of the Portuguese school at the First Portuguese Canadian Cultural Centre that thousands of children of immigrants learned to read, write, and feel the language of their parents and grandparents. At its peak, it had nearly 800 students, followed the official Portuguese curriculum, and awarded diplomas recognized by the Consulate. More than just a school, it was a gathering place for families and one of the pillars of Luso-Canadian identity in Toronto. It was and still is. Today, with fewer students and classes held only on Saturdays, it continues to carry out the same mission: keeping the Portuguese language alive for future generations.

Few people know this history as well as Celina de Melo. She arrived from Terceira Island in 1971 and, for 49 years, taught Portuguese to successive generations of Luso-Canadians. In the year the First celebrates its 70th anniversary, Professor Celina recalls the packed classrooms, the celebrations, the theater plays, and the trips to Portugal with her students, while leaving a heartfelt plea to families: don’t let the language die.

Milénio Stadium: How did you start teaching at the First Portuguese’s Portuguese school?

Celina de Melo: I arrived here in 1971 from Terceira, and I didn’t even know there were Portuguese classes. They told me there was a school office on Nassau Street. I went there, met with Professor Ferreira, and he immediately told me: «I want Celina to start working at the First.» Since I was already a teacher, they gave me a class right away at Ryerson School, at Dundas and Bathurst, near Augusta. I was there for a long time, then we moved to College Street. Later on, I also applied to the Canadian public school system, where I taught for many years, from kindergarten to grade 8. But I never left the First’s school.

MS: What do you remember about those early days in Canada?

CM: I missed the children I had left behind in the Azores deeply. But coming to Canada was a stroke of luck, a blessing that entered my life. I was doing what I truly loved. Professor Ferreira, who is no longer with us, was very fond of me and we worked very closely together. I always loved what I did, and even today, I would still love to be teaching.

MS: How many years did you teach here?

CM: From 1971 until 2020. That’s 49 years! Besides teaching, I visited all the schools, collected tuition fees, spoke with students and parents, and handled enrollments. We reached nearly 800 students, from kindergarten to 9th grade, and later up to 11th grade. We rented classrooms in Canadian schools. Classes ran from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, but in the winter, it was already dark by five-thirty. So I suggested to the board that we shift the schedule to five to seven so the children could go home earlier, and that’s what we did.

MS: The students spent their days in Canadian schools and then went to learn Portuguese at the end of the day. Did they go willingly, or because their parents forced them?

CM: They went willingly! The teachers were all young and knew how to welcome the kids. There was always a half-hour snack break; we would talk, laugh, put on celebrations and plays. Teaching Portuguese isn’t just about teaching reading and writing. It’s about teaching how to share, how to live alongside others. I always told our teachers: «We are an extension of the family.» And parents, back then, adored the Portuguese school. The truth is, even today, I go grocery shopping or anywhere else and someone comes up to me: «Dona Celina, you were my teacher!» Sometimes they come with two or three children of their own. Some I recognize, others I don’t. It gives me goosebumps. It’s a profound inner pride we feel when we realize that, as teachers, we left good memories with someone.

MS: What was taught besides the language?

CM: Our culture, and beyond that… daily life, how to carry oneself, how to behave. And then there were the trips. Once, during a celebration, the President was here, and I, a bit nervously, said I wished some of these local-born students, who had never been to Portugal, could get to know the country. The following year, I took 27 students to mainland Portugal, from Porto to Lisbon, with everything paid for by the Portuguese Government. It wasn’t just good; it was wonderful! Later, since I’m from the Azores, I spoke with the Regional Government, and over the next two years, we went to Terceira, Pico, and Faial with 23 students. The parents would drop them off at the airport and say: «Dona Celina, my child is in your hands.» It was a huge responsibility. I would only go to bed when everyone else was asleep. But they were so well-behaved, absolute angels.

MS: Do you think the school helped shape the Luso-Canadian identity of those generations?

CM: Yes, without a doubt. Many students were born here and didn’t know Portugal. The school gave them that. And it was serious education: we followed the curriculum from Portugal, the school became officially recognized, inspectors came to see how we operated, and at the end of the year, students took an exam at the Consulate and received an official diploma.

MS: What advice would you give to those teaching today, when many children are already third- or fourth-generation born in Canada?

CM: Now it’s harder. The school operates only on Saturdays, with two or three classes. Unfortunately, Portuguese was removed from the public schools (integrated language program). It was only half an hour a day—little, but better than nothing. Today, grandparents still speak Portuguese with their grandchildren, but it’s different. In the past, we had meetings, events, and we could see that the school mattered to the Portuguese community. At the end of the day, parents thought: «Let’s put the kids in Portuguese classes, it’s one more language!» Sometimes I feel a bit sad. I no longer run the school, but I offer my ideas: why not open classes during the week as well? We need to support parents. It’s tiring, but when you love the profession, you make the sacrifice. I used to teach all day long and, on Wednesdays, I still had a class of nearly 30 adults. I was crazy! But you know what I’ll tell you… my Portuguese school stays with me until I die.

MS: On this 70th anniversary of the First, what message would you like to leave for former students and families?

CM: To my former students, I ask with all my love: do not let your children lose the language you learned. The more languages we know, the better. Sometimes it takes a small sacrifice to pay for school, but it’s worth it. Education and learning are deeply important for living in this huge country and in this world, where life is becoming increasingly difficult.

Madalena Balça/MS

Está disponível mais uma edição do Milénio Stadium!

 

Cooking, recording a podcast, publishing a book, digitizing family cassettes, or bringing a telescope home. Public libraries across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond have reinvented themselves and now offer—almost always free of charge—services that many residents are unaware of. We took a look at six of them. Here’s a tip… enjoy!

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TORONTO | Toronto Reference Library

The home of writers and creators

The largest reference library in the country, located right by Bloor-Yonge station, is a true cultural hub.

• Publish your own book: The Asquith Press service allows you to print self-published books.
• Author talks: The Bram & Bluma Appel Salon regularly hosts renowned writers and academics.
• Free recording studio: You can record a podcast or song, take a professional headshot for your resume, or film a video project for school.
• Tech to take home: You can check out Arduino kits, Raspberry Pi sets, audio recording gear, and Artificial Intelligence learning kits.
• Culture without a ticket: With tpl:map passes, cardholders get free admission to the city’s artistic and cultural attractions.

Useful Information

• Address: 789 Yonge Street, Toronto (corner with Asquith Avenue, Yorkville neighborhood). Located one block north of Bloor Street; the nearest subway station is Bloor-Yonge.
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 8:30 PM; Saturday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sunday, 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM.
• Free membership eligibility: Anyone who lives, works, attends school, or owns property in Toronto, upon presenting ID with their name and address.
• Non-residents: $50 for three months or $150 for 12 months. This card does not grant access to musical instruments, tpl:map passes, Ontario Parks passes, or Wi-Fi hotspots.
• Digital alternative: Toronto residents aged 13 and older can apply online for a free digital card for immediate access to digital resources.

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MISSISSAUGA | Hazel McCallion Central Library

A library for cooking, gaming, and starting fresh

Renovated and reopened in 2024, Mississauga’s central library has become one of the most surprising spaces in the region.

• Community kitchen: The Kitchen is fully equipped and hosts programs on health, nutrition, and food literacy.
• Gaming and virtual reality room: Offers free access to gaming PCs, consoles, and virtual reality stations.
• Support for those in need: The Open Window Hub connects unhoused individuals or those facing mental health challenges with community services and organizations.
• A quiet space: A multifaith prayer room is open to people of all faiths to pray, reflect, or meditate.
• Art in the makerspace: Beyond 3D printers, the space hosts the Art Hub program, featuring digital, visual, and performing arts activities.

Useful Information

• Address: 301 Burnhamthorpe Road West, Mississauga (across from City Hall). Contact: 905-615-3500.
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Saturday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sunday, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
• Free membership eligibility: Residents and anyone who studies, works, or owns property in Mississauga.
• Non-residents: $40 per year.
• How to sign up: Simply bring a document showing your name and address to any branch; non-residents must also bring proof of employment, property ownership, or enrollment in a local school. An Ontario driver’s license or Photo Card is accepted.
• Parking: Paid, but free on weekdays after 6:00 PM and on weekends.

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BRAMPTON | Springdale Branch

Late-night studying and taking care of nature

With its green roof and undulating architecture, the Springdale branch is one of the most unique in the Brampton network.

• Science serving conservation: In partnership with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), the library 3D-printed models of snapping turtles, which were placed in nesting areas at the Heart Lake Conservation Area.
• Late-night study room: The After Hours Study Hall opens on Saturdays and Sundays from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM for ages 14 and up. During exam season, hours extend until 1:00 AM, Monday through Thursday.
• Free legal advice: In partnership with the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario, low-income individuals and families can receive a free one-on-one consultation.
• An unusual “Library of Things”: In the Brampton network, you can check out telescopes, GoPro cameras, radon detectors, birdwatching kits, memory support kits, and passes to the ROM.

Useful Information

• Address: 10705 Bramalea Road, Brampton. Contact: 905-793-4636.
• Hours: Monday to Thursday, 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Friday to Sunday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
• Free membership eligibility: Registration is free for all Ontario residents. This is the most open policy among all six libraries.
• How to sign up: Online or at any branch with a document showing your current address. Online registrants have limited access until they visit a branch to verify their address.
• Bonus: Members get a 10% discount on tickets at The Rose Theatre.

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HAMILTON | Central Library

Seeds, music, and welcoming spaces

Hamilton’s central library, located downtown, focuses heavily on community and sustainability.

• Seed library: In partnership with Green Venture, patrons can take home seeds to plant and, at the end of the season, return harvested seeds to renew the collection.
• Lunchtime music: Every Friday at noon, the library hosts live concerts.
• Newcomer center: The Newcomer Learning Centre on the 4th floor offers resources and programs for learning English.
• The city’s memory: The Local History & Archives department has been collecting and preserving Hamilton’s history since 1914.
• Senior fitness: The SMART program helps improve strength, balance, and flexibility for all fitness levels.

Useful Information

• Address: 55 York Boulevard, Hamilton. Contact: 905-546-3200.
• Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Saturday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sunday, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
• Free membership eligibility: Anyone who lives, works, studies, or owns property in Hamilton, with proper identification.
• Non-residents: $100 per year. This is the most expensive option among the six.
• Note: Cardholders from selected neighboring municipalities can also borrow books in Hamilton.

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OSHAWA | McLaughlin Branch

Saving family memories

Gifted to the city in 1954 by R.S. McLaughlin, founder of General Motors of Canada, Oshawa’s main library is a historic building featuring Frank Lloyd Wright architectural influences.

• Memory Lab: In the Local History Room, patrons can convert old photos, VHS tapes, vinyl records, and audio cassettes into digital formats.
• Motor City history: The local collection features unique materials on the McLaughlin family and the history of General Motors of Canada.
• Internet for those without: Connect Kits include a tablet and a Wi-Fi hotspot, available for six-week loans to residents without home internet.
• Books and ideas for seniors: Every month, seniors can discover a new author, listen to a reading, and participate in a Q&A session.
• The big book sale: The Friends of the Library organize an annual fall book sale to support the library.

Useful Information

• Address: 65 Debwewin Miikan (formerly Bagot Street), Oshawa. Contact: 905-579-6111, ext. 5200.
• Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Friday to Sunday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
• Free membership eligibility: Anyone who lives, works, studies, or owns property in Oshawa or anywhere within the Region of Durham.
• Non-residents: $40 per year. Does not include museum passes, Ontario Parks passes, or Wi-Fi hotspots.
• Renewal: Memberships must be renewed every two years.

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ALLISTON | New Tecumseth Public Library – Memorial Branch

A small library with a Nobel prize treasure

Located in a town of about 23,000 residents, the Alliston library proves you don’t have to be big to impress.

• The legacy of insulin’s co-discoverer: In 1988, the library inherited letters, diaries, photographs, and personal items belonging to Sir Frederick Banting from his widow, including his pipes and eyeglasses. Today, the collection can be explored online through the Banting Digital project, which also includes Banting’s drawings and paintings.
• Borrowing… cookware and ukuleles: The Library of Things in the New Tecumseth system includes Instant Pots, ukuleles, bongos, telescopes, VR headsets, sewing machines, meditation kits, and Ontario Parks passes.
• Educational computers for kids: Donated in memory of two local children, these stations feature educational games focused on reading and math.
• English conversation: An ESL Conversation Circle for non-native English speakers.
• Books at the potato festival: The library sells donated books during the annual Alliston Potato Festival in August.

Useful Information

• Address: 17 Victoria St. E., Alliston. Contact: 705-435-5651.
• Hours (subject to confirmation): Monday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Tuesday to Thursday, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; closed on weekends.
• Free membership eligibility: Anyone who lives or pays taxes in New Tecumseth, as well as the municipalities of Adjala-Tosorontio, Mono, and Mulmur. Free membership is also extended through reciprocal agreements to residents of Bradford-West Gwillimbury, Caledon, Essa, Innisfil, and King Township.
• Non-residents: $30 per year. The lowest fee for non-residents among the six libraries.
• How to sign up: Bring a document showing your current address (driver’s license, health card, utility bill, etc.). Applicants under 16 require a parent’s signature.
• Fines: The library has eliminated overdue fines.

Madalena Balça/MS