Portuguese culture and solidarity took center stage at the Festival of Hope, an event that brought the community together for an evening of celebration and raised $1.8 million for the Luso Canadian Charitable Society.

Presented by LiUNA Local 183, the event aimed to support Luso’s supportive housing project, designed to provide greater security, independence, and quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families.

Portuguese music, gastronomy, and traditions brought the event to life, with one of the highlights being a performance by Gipsy’s Kings Way featuring Pablo Reyes, who energized the crowd with their infectious rhythms.

Beyond the festivities, however, there was an urgent mission: responding to families concerned about their children’s futures.

Jack Prazeres, president of the Luso Canadian Charitable Society, emphasized the collective effort that made the initiative possible: “This is a historic night, the result of joint work between LiUNA Local 183, our partners, the Luso team, and over 60 volunteers. The most important thing is raising the necessary funds to help the families who need it most.”

The project also has the support of the Government of Ontario, which provided $16 million toward its realization.

Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, highlighted the importance of this investment and expressed his desire to attend the future building’s grand opening: “We are proud to support the extraordinary work that Luso does for the people who need it most. Our government provided $16 million to support this project. I can’t wait to be at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.”

Solidarity was also demonstrated through individual acts of generosity. One of the most memorable moments was the donation of a motorcycle on behalf of the Belas family for fundraising purposes. Two buyers competed for the vehicle, which ultimately raised $102,000.

Donor Fernanda Belas explained the motivation behind the gesture: “It was a motorcycle my husband treasured deeply. After his passing, I decided to donate it to Luso, an institution that was very special to both of us. The motorcycle was auctioned off for $102,000, an amount that makes me very happy to be able to help this cause.”

For Heather Grand, executive director of Luso, “the festival represents hope for families who have been waiting years for a housing solution for their children with disabilities.”

The project seeks to address an urgent need by promoting greater independence and peace of mind for residents and their families.

With $1.8 million raised, the Festival of Hope demonstrated the community’s ability to unite around a common cause while clearly showcasing the power of solidarity—contributing to a more inclusive and dignified future with greater opportunities for individuals with disabilities and their families.

FP/MS

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The LiUNA! Local 183 Industry Awareness Event 2026 brought together professionals, companies, and partners to celebrate training achievements, introduce new technologies, and promote safety in the construction industry.

One of the event’s highlights was the annual awards presentation. Tevon Nurse and Isabella Labao received the Apprentice of the Year award, while Dagmar Construction was recognized with the Vic Soncin Commitment to Training Employer Appreciation Award for its dedication to workforce development.

Jack Oliveira, Business Manager of LiUNA Local 183, emphasized the importance of recognizing apprentices’ merit and preparing future industry professionals: “It is a very important day for us to celebrate the great work of our apprentices and recognize those who stood out most throughout the training program,” he stated.

He also underscored the significance of female representation, noting that honoring a female recipient this year sends a powerful message to upcoming workers. Additionally, he expressed gratitude to partner companies for supporting the training center—particularly through material contributions for courses—and thanked community media outlets for covering the event.

Sandro Pinto, Executive Director of the LiUNA Local 183 Training and Rehabilitation Fund, highlighted the center’s extensive operations, including the renewal of thousands of safety certifications. “Technological innovation is essential for the construction industry. We must continue updating our programs and working hand-in-hand with labor unions and businesses to keep pace with that evolution,” he noted.

Among the key priorities for the coming year, Sandro Pinto pointed to program enhancements, workforce recruitment, and expanding opportunities for women: “It is impossible to secure the future of the construction industry without greater participation from women,” he stressed.

Corporate collaboration was also featured prominently. Cintya Prazares-Mare, President of Senso Group Building Supplies, recalled the early support her business received from the Portuguese community.

“We started out as a small company, and it was primarily the Portuguese community that backed us and helped us get to where we are today. Because of that, we feel it is crucial to give back. Events like this allow us to meet graduates completing their programs and network with fellow industry professionals,” she said.

Leigh Crawford, Territory Manager at Milwaukee Tool, noted that their corporate commitment extends beyond supplying equipment to building direct relationships with trade workers and supporting union initiatives.

Meanwhile, Dal Hennig, Director of Operations at Action First Aid, highlighted the firm’s roughly 30 years of expertise in first-aid training and its ongoing partnership with Local 183 in this field.

The event demonstrated how strong collaboration between labor unions, training institutions, and private industry drives skill development, enhances workplace safety, and prepares tradespeople for the future demands of construction. In a rapidly evolving sector, investing in training remains an investment in the future of workers and the industry alike.

Francisco Pegado/MS

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A batalha de Toronto por causa das ciclovias tornou-se em algo muito mais amplo do que um mero debate sobre bicicletas, congestionamentos de trânsito e lugares de estacionamento. Transformou-se num duelo político entre a Cidade de Toronto e o governo provincial de Ontário, levantando uma questão fundamental: quem deve decidir a forma como as ruas de Toronto são projetadas — o município responsável pela gestão da cidade ou o premier e o governo provincial que tutelam a província?

No centro da disputa está a determinação do Premier Doug Ford em remover certas ciclovias em artérias principais de Toronto, argumentando que estas contribuem para o congestionamento do tráfego e dificultam a vida aos automobilistas. A liderança municipal de Toronto, por sua vez, tem defendido a infraestrutura ciclável como parte integrante de uma rede de transportes moderna capaz de melhorar a segurança, oferecer alternativas à condução e ajudar a cidade a acolher uma população em crescimento.

Agora, com a província a avançar com o seu plano de remoção das ciclovias e com eleições municipais agendadas para 26 de outubro, o confronto adquiriu um peso político ainda maior. Já não se trata simplesmente de uma luta por tinta no asfalto. É uma batalha sobre prioridades de transporte, autonomia municipal, segurança pública e o próprio futuro de Toronto. O litígio judicial atingiu um ponto de viragem a 14 de agosto de 2026, quando o Tribunal de Apelo de Ontário anulou uma decisão de primeira instância que tinha impedido a província de remover as ciclovias. O tribunal de recurso concluiu que o tribunal inferior tinha ultrapassado as suas competências ao criar, na prática, um direito constitucional às ciclovias onde este não existia na lei. Essa decisão abriu caminho para que o governo provincial avançasse.

Esta semana, a província tem agendado o início da remoção de um troço de ciclovias protegidas na Bloor Street West, em Etobicoke. Prevê-se que os trabalhos demorem um mês, inserindo-se no plano mais vasto da província que visa igualmente troços da Bloor, Yonge e University, bem como Queen’s Park Crescent e Avenue Road. Para Ford, a vitória nos tribunais representa uma validação da posição do seu governo. Para os defensores do ciclismo e para muitos líderes municipais, trata-se de um avanço preocupante que coloca os interesses dos automobilistas à frente da segurança de quem anda de bicicleta.

Por que razão está Doug Ford a fazer isto?

Existem várias razões, e todas elas vão além do objetivo declarado de reduzir o congestionamento. Ford argumenta que circular em Toronto se tornou cada vez mais difícil e que a remoção das ciclovias em vias movimentadas devolverá espaço aos automóveis, táxis, veículos de mercadorias e outros utilizadores da estrada. O seu governo afirma que, quando se elimina uma faixa de rodagem para dar lugar à infraestrutura ciclável, os condutores ficam a competir por menos espaço. A restituição dessa faixa, segundo este argumento, deverá melhorar a fluidez do trânsito e reduzir os atrasos.

Há também o apelo político aos automobilistas… os condutores constituem um eleitorado expressivo, não apenas em Toronto, mas em toda a Grande Área de Toronto e na província de Ontário. Ford construiu grande parte da sua identidade política em torno do custo de vida, do acesso ao trabalho e da redução das frustrações do dia a dia. As ciclovias tornaram-se um símbolo visível da tensão entre condutores e planeadores de transportes urbanos. Ao adotar uma posição firme contra determinadas vias reservadas, Ford consegue apresentar-se como alguém disposto a desafiar a Câmara Municipal e a defender os automobilistas. É razoável identificar um cálculo político nesta estratégia, embora tal não prove que a política seja a sua única motivação. O governo de Ford está também a deixar uma posição clara sobre o equilíbrio de poder entre Queen’s Park e a Câmara Municipal de Toronto.

O argumento provincial mais forte não é o de que as ciclovias sejam intrinsecamente más. É o de que o espaço rodoviário é limitado e que as decisões de transporte devem basear-se em dados concretos sobre o funcionamento de cada corredor. No entanto, restaurar uma faixa de rodagem para automóveis não significa automaticamente que o trânsito vá melhorar. Os resultados dependem de quantas pessoas conduzem, de onde ocorrem os congestionamentos, da configuração dos cruzamentos e de saber se uma capacidade rodoviária adicional irá atração de mais viagens de veículos. O argumento de Toronto é o de que a infraestrutura ciclável não é uma mera conveniência para ciclistas recreativos: é parte de um sistema de transportes mais amplo que permite às pessoas deslocarem-se sem recurso ao automóvel.

Em minha opinião, o timing dificilmente poderia ser mais significativo. As eleições municipais de Toronto estão marcadas para 26 de outubro de 2026, e a disputa pelas ciclovias tornou-se um tema central na corrida à presidência da câmara. O governo provincial está a dar início ao processo de remoção precisamente no momento em que os candidatos fazem os seus últimos apelos aos eleitores… para Olivia Chow, esta batalha oferece uma oportunidade de se apresentar como defensora do poder de decisão municipal e da segurança dos ciclistas. Chow pode argumentar que Toronto deve ser livre de determinar as suas próprias prioridades de transporte e que a província está a impor uma solução onerosa sem demonstrar devidamente que esta irá reduzir o congestionamento. Acredito que Ford e Chow estão a trabalhar em conjunto nisto… sim, leu bem, e passo a explicar o porquê: porque isto mobiliza a base de apoio de Chow para ir votar, em vez de se abster por achar que a vitória já está garantida. Para Ford, é um bom negócio ter Chow reeleita e ver o seu acordo para o aeroporto da ilha concluído com Chow no cargo durante os próximos quatro anos.

Em última análise, a batalha pelas ciclovias em Toronto é sobre muito mais do que asfalto, tinta e trânsito acumulado. É uma luta para saber quem decide o futuro da cidade: se o governo provincial em Queen’s Park, se os líderes municipais eleitos para representar os residentes de Toronto. A província pode ter a autoridade legal para agir, mas a lei não apaga a frustração dos ciclistas, as preocupações dos bairros nem as consequências políticas de atropelar a autarquia. Com a aproximação das eleições municipais de 26 de outubro, esta controvérsia poderá transformar-se num verdadeiro referendo à liderança, à democracia local e à visão que Toronto tem para o seu próprio futuro. Porque, quando os governos disputam as ruas, são em última análise as pessoas que nelas vivem, trabalham e se deslocam que pagam a conta.

Vincent Black/MS

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O que dizer daquele circo em Washington? Parece que quanto mais nos aproximamos das eleições intercalares nos Estados Unidos, mais insanas as coisas ficam no Salão Oval. O mais recente porta-voz? Não digo mais nada. Ele escolhe-os apenas por fotografias? Eu já vi, e senti, o nervosismo à frente de uma câmara, mas o porta-voz da Casa Branca deveria ter a experiência adequada para desempenhar o cargo.

Dito isto, o padrão de oferecer cargos a amigos e familiares tem sido o lema do mandato de DT. Olhe-se para o diretor do FBI, por exemplo, ou para o Departamento de Justiça. Lembram-se daquele pequeno neo-nazi a guiar os grupos de agentes do ICE, a vestir um sobretudo? E não nos esqueçamos do ex-canalizador (sem qualquer desrespeito para quem exerce a profissão) que é agora Secretário da Segurança Interna. Eu achei que DT teria algum tipo de estratégia para tentar angariar votos para o seu bando. Pelo que vejo, está simplesmente a agir por impulso. Tentar baixar os preços do gasóleo no seu país através da compra de combustível a Putin, apesar de as sanções o proibirem, é a reação de um tolo numa tentativa de apaziguar os eleitores. E o que dizer da suborno do tipo “se formos eleitos”, ou do uso de dinheiros públicos para anúncios de promoção pessoal? Ele é o melhor, o mais amado, o mais prestável, o que mais merece. Ele é o pacote completo; as sondagens baixas são fake news. Estreito só de pensar na dimensão dos estragos causados por este clã. Imagine-se desarmar toda esta raiva e divisão até um nível em que possamos todos simplesmente falar sobre os problemas, sem a gritaria e o apontar de dedos que se tornaram a norma. Porque é com isso que todos nos deparamos.

Assumindo que a Abelha-Mestra fique politicamente de mãos atadas, esta farsa, que já dura há demasiado tempo, chegará ao fim para que a recuperação possa começar. A reparação, tanto interna como no exterior, vai levar algum tempo, e já se sabe quem vai pagar a conta por isso. Haverá também resistência, até que deixe de ser aceitável ter um discurso de ódio. Duvido que o racismo e a homofobia sejam erradicados tão cedo, mas a tolerância prevalecerá. No centro de tudo isto está também o facto de a cultura americana ter raízes profundas no militarismo e na defesa. Como DT demonstrou, eles são suficientemente poderosos para fazerem o que bem entendem. Podem invadir países sem aviso nem represálias; podem asfixiar outros ao bloquear o comércio. O seu poderio militar prende a atenção de todos. Por mais letais ou ilegais que sejam as suas ações, muito poucos se atrevem a falar porque têm medo.

O mundo atingiu um ponto nesta linha do tempo em que milionários e países fortemente armados estão num jogo de forças, enquanto dançam juntos. Não tente imaginar a cena, para não ficar com dores de cabeça. O que quero dizer é que estão a fazer negócios entre si, e os negócios podem ser duros quando os interesses são elevados. Espero apenas que existam pessoas com poder em número suficiente dispostas a lutar pelo resto de nós e, assim, a inspirar-nos a recuperar o mundo que pertence a todos.

Fiquem bem,

Raul Freitas/MS

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The budget debate seemed to be well on track even before it officially began. The Government had yielded to the four simple demands presented by the PS (Socialist Party). However, a Budget is not evaluated by what the Government announces; it is evaluated by what actually gets written into it. And reading the Budget as it stands provides no firm guarantees that there are funds available to complete the PRR (Recovery and Resilience Plan) projects and ensure reconstruction following Storm Kristin.

This, however, is far from the only reason for concern. The Government insists on cutting the Ministry of Health’s budget, proposing an overall reduction of 1.5%, highlighted by a 4.5% drop in National Health Service (SNS) purchasing. This strategy was already attempted this year, justifying a 10% reduction in SNS purchasing with efficiency gains. Contrary to forecasts, however, purchasing grew by 30% up to August. The goal of controlling spending failed. The overhaul of health institution management did happen, but for the worse. With an unprecedented reduction in the number of surgeries and consultations, we can truly state that this was—and continues to be—a recipe for disaster.

The story does not end with Health, which seems to be the poor relation of the AD (Democratic Alliance) governance. Even excluding PRR funds, the budget for the Ministry of Territorial Cohesion drops by 19.2%. The Government justifies this with the end of extraordinary measures for the state of calamity. But what about all the support measures that remain unpaid? Meanwhile, Infrastructure and Housing grows by a mere 3.9%, even without the PRR. With that figure, it is impossible to see how housing investments will be secured—both those for which the PRR proved insufficient, and the commitments made in the meantime to build homes beyond the 26,000 originally planned.

No government likes to present a scenario like this. In other times, this would face different scrutiny. In other times, a Government would find itself forced to allocate funds for its commitments. As I have argued here before, there should be a way for us to know the status update and the line item under which major public investments are registered. But this choice by the Government reveals itself as an absolute necessity when we realize that, by the Government’s own estimates, the cumulative deviation in net expenditure would reach 0.9% of GDP, exceeding the European threshold of 0.6%. Only by resorting to the exceptional flexibility granted to Defense spending is this deviation reduced to 0.5%. In a climate of high interest rates and nervous markets, this is already bad. Pushing the envelope further would be reckless.

We need to understand why a razor-thin budget is being drafted—why the PSD insists there is no margin for further measures to address the cost of living, and why those who defend them are accused, as they say, of wanting to lead us to bankruptcy. It is not because of the measures themselves. They were implemented during another crisis, which we faced with a higher public debt, and were even publicly defended by the current Prime Minister and the current Minister of Finance, who were then in opposition. It is because of the choices we accumulated along the way—corporate tax (IRC) cuts, personal income tax (IRS) cuts concentrated on higher incomes, tax breaks for “moderate rents,” the purchase of REN, among so many other inexplicable expenses. Without the budgetary impact of all these decisions, there would be money for further relief measures.

Why do we seem incapable of choosing or, now, of correcting course? Here, decisions were made without warning or scrutiny, such as the purchase of REN, and others for which the Government refused to quantify the budgetary impact, such as the housing tax package. Even now, the Government does not quantify how much it costs to eliminate the additional solidarity tax rate for incomes between 80,000 and 90,000 euros.

Above all, however, measures were taken one by one, without a global vision of their impact—neither on public accounts nor on people’s wallets. They were decided this way, outside the budget process, for reasons of political expediency—some (if not all) of these measures were unpalatable to the PS, on whom the Government relies to pass the Budget. Thus, Montenegro approves what he wants with CHEGA and calls upon the PS to help pay the bill.

The result is plain to see: a political Frankenstein that is far from matching the ideal of stripping the Budget of controversy and friction. In politics as in life, when you try to avoid tough decisions, you quickly realize you cannot have the best of both worlds. There is always an opportunity cost to everything we do. And in this case, it is a very steep one.

Yet there is another angle from which we should reconsider the trend of “decaf” Budgets—that of the media economy. For Montenegro, the unintended consequence turned out better than the plan. Unlike his predecessors, the Prime Minister does not need the energy to think nor the courage to decide on a slate of initiatives that the opposition would inevitably deem piecemeal, unambitious, and unfair in some way or sense. This new paradigm has lowered expectations regarding the content of the Budget to zero—and when nothing is expected, no one can be disappointed.

Just because not much is expected from the Government anymore does not mean things have to be this way. The pressure the Government spares itself is pressure that keeps suffocating both families and the businesses that employ them, leaving the country ever closer to the edge of the cliff. Balancing this fiscal management requires tremendous prudence. But if history proves anything, it is that when you take care of people and their incomes, you can even achieve the “arithmetically impossible.”

Miguel Costa Matos/MS

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Over recent years, the body of literature dedicated to the phenomenon of migration has been richly expanded through the publication of a significant number of works that help deepen study and broaden knowledge regarding the history of Portuguese emigration and the communities that, over generations, built life journeys across borders.

One of the most recent examples of the relevance of these publications for analyzing and understanding the Portuguese diaspora is Portugal e os EUA: um puzzle pessoal das relações luso-americanas (Portugal and the US: a personal puzzle of Luso-American relations), authored by Leonídio Paulo Ferreira, a renowned Portuguese journalist and current deputy director of Diário de Notícias.

A leading voice in Portugal on international conflict analysis and geopolitics, the journalist and author—who holds a degree in Social Communication, a master’s in American Studies, and a doctorate in Contemporary History—has closely followed the Luso-American diaspora, conducting extensive reporting among the Portuguese communities of New England and California over the years.

In addition to his editorials and opinion pieces in Diário de Notícias and the Portuguese-language press worldwide, his close contact with the diaspora in general, and with the Portuguese and Luso-American communities in the United States in particular, led him to publish the book Encontros e encontrões de Portugal no mundo in 2019 under the Desassossego imprint. Written in a chronicle style, this work charts the Portuguese presence on a global scale, revisiting episodes, figures, and defining moments of our collective history through encounters between cultures and clashes of interests, convergence and disconnect.

Last September, Leonídio Paulo Ferreira returned to deepen this line of reflection, this time focusing on relations between Portugal and the United States of America and, most notably, on the history and experiences of the Luso-American community. Comprising more than 1.3 million people, according to commonly cited estimates, this community represents an important demographic, economic, and cultural reality, with a historical presence spanning from coast to coast. It is against this backdrop that Portugal e os EUA: um puzzle pessoal das relações luso-americanas emerges—a work that invites the reader to discover the many pieces of a centuries-old transatlantic connection.

Published as part of the essay collection of the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation, the book immediately reveals the author’s personal connection to the universe he seeks to portray. In the introduction, Leonídio Paulo Ferreira describes himself as an “avid collector of Luso-American stories,” traversing through chronicles, essays, and interviews to explore a diverse set of realities, events, and figures that have marked—and continue to mark—the history of the Portuguese diaspora in the United States.

From the pages of the work, the figure of a “Portuguese Cabrillo” landing in California quickly emerges, evoking João Rodrigues Cabrilho (Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo), a navigator in the service of the Spanish Crown who, in 1542, reached the coast of present-day California and entered San Diego Bay. Traditionally identified in Portuguese and Luso-American historiography as Portuguese, Cabrillo represents one of the most iconic historical links between Portugal and the North American West Coast.

The narrative does not stop at revisiting the past, however. Leonídio Paulo Ferreira builds a bridge to the present through Idalmiro da Rosa, honorary consul of Portugal in San Diego, whose work helps preserve and revitalize the historical and cultural ties uniting that region to Portugal, particularly through the annual celebrations of Cabrillo’s arrival and the festivities honoring the Holy Spirit (Divino Espírito Santo).

Yet the author’s perspective extends far beyond historical recollection. It is also an outlook of closeness, recognition, and admiration for those who, through hard work, entrepreneurial drive, and commitment to their communities, continue to project Portugal in the world. It is in this vein that Manuel Eduardo Vieira appears—a commander born in Silveira, on the island of Pico, in the Azores, whose business career made him a prominent figure in American agriculture, earning him the title of the “sweet potato king.” His journey serves as a striking example of the initiative and professional success of Portuguese immigrants who, without severing ties to their roots, earned a distinguished place in their host societies.

The work also intersects the journalist’s perspective with that of Onésimo Teotónio Almeida, an acclaimed academic and one of the essential figures in contemporary thought regarding portugalidade (Portugueseness), the experience of Luso-American emigration, and the construction of transatlantic identities. With over half a century of life experience in the United States, the Azorean intellectual offers a particularly rich perspective on the processes of adaptation, belonging, and cultural transformation that run through Portuguese communities in America.

Above all, as the author himself emphasizes, it is a book “about episodes and figures that fascinate me, and also about places I have visited and people I have met who, in various ways, left a Portuguese mark on the United States (even before the country was born).”

Daniel Bastos/MS

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Politics, sports, and culture should not be used to fuel division.

My dear readers, those who follow my columns already know that I hold a center-right political ideology—without extremes—and that I make no secret of my passion for Sporting. That has never stopped me from respecting other clubs, democratic parties, or those who think differently.

I am not against anyone simply because they belong to a different party or club than mine. I am, however, against the politics of easy promises, half-truths, and words spoken merely to win votes. It is sad to think that there are still those who believe citizens lack the ability to think, compare, and draw their own conclusions.

My dear politicians, times have changed. The mindset of “I want, I can, and I command” should no longer have a place in the society we live in today. It is time for greater professionalism, transparency, and respect for those who entrust you with their vote.

Today, information travels fast, documents remain on record, and statements do not simply fade away with time. Those who promise one thing and do another will, sooner or later, have to answer for their words and actions. After all, truth may take time, but it rarely stays hidden forever.

And many will ask: what prompted all of this?

It was prompted by a joke made by our Prime Minister—a joke that, in my opinion, was entirely avoidable.

I want to make a point of acknowledging that I consider the Government’s efforts to reorganize the country to be important. I also understand that the opposition holds responsibilities, and that we must all learn from past mistakes. Offering criticism does not mean ignoring what is going well, just as offering praise does not mean accepting everything blindly.

However, there is one thing we must not forget: the Assembly of the Republic is the venue to debate ideas, present solutions, and challenge political stances. There is no need to resort to sports to convey a message that can be expressed clearly and directly.

By using the example of a club that finishes a championship without winning and makes the promise that “next year will be the year,” the Prime Minister resorted to a joke that, in my view, did not reflect well on him. And I say this not just as a Sporting supporter, but because I believe that whoever holds the highest office in Government must be mindful of the weight of their words and the context in which they use them.

Sporting is much more than a football team. It is a club rich in history, with multiple sports departments, athletes who represent Portugal, and thousands of fans who live the sport with passion. No club is above criticism, but neither should it be turned into a tool for unnecessary political confrontation.

Mr. Prime Minister, many Sporting supporters voted for you as well. That does not mean they have to agree with all of your actions, nor that they should remain indifferent when they feel a remark was unwarranted. Respect knows no party colors or club allegiances, and the responsibility to set the example rests primarily with those in leadership positions.

This reflection goes far beyond football. It applies to everyone holding positions of responsibility, and to those who believe power gives them license to say or do whatever they please. Fanaticism clouds judgment, just as the conviction that only we are right stops us from listening to others.

Those in leadership should surround themselves with competent people who are capable of questioning, analyzing, and presenting solutions—not just those who agree with everything or say what others want to hear. The same applies to those seeking votes: citizens deserve serious proposals, not promises tailored merely to match their expectations.

My dear readers, climbing a ladder can take a long time, but falling down takes only a second. Power is not eternal, positions are temporary, and the way we treat others ultimately speaks much louder about who we are than any speech ever could.

May this serve as a reflection for everyone—in politics, in sports, and in society. We can hold different opinions, support different clubs, and vote for different parties. What we cannot lose is respect, the ability to think for ourselves, and the responsibility to demand more from those who represent us.

Long live Portugal, and long live respect for all. Because in unity lies strength.

Have a great weekend.

Augusto Bandeira/MS

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My home… But the story is different:

It is I in the wind and rain, barefoot here,

Sitting upon a stone of memory.

— Vitorino Nemésio

Last Sunday, October 4th, Mário Silva was at the Casa dos Açores do Ontário in Toronto to present the Portuguese version of his poetic work Bridges Beyond Silence, a ceremony attended by the Mayor of Toronto, Olivia Chow.

Mário Silva was born on the island of São Miguel, in the Azores, and Olivia Chow in Hong Kong. Throughout their lives, both have held various political positions, sharing the common bond of being immigrants. During the book launch, Mário Silva engaged in a conversation with York University’s Vice-President, Professor Maria João Maciel Jorge—herself an immigrant of Azorean heritage. If the chosen title for the work was Bridges Beyond Silence, we can say that the use of the word “Bridges” in this context takes on a very special meaning. Most of those present at this event, including the audience, were, in a metaphorical sense, true bridge builders whose pillars rest upon a geography of affection between past and present—where the past is woven from roots tied to their birthplace, and the present to the host country where their daily lives unfold; some successful, others less so.

It was precisely for this reason that Mário Silva, despite having written his work in English—the language in which he grew up, studied, matured, and reached adulthood—felt the need to see it expressed in his primary language: his mother tongue, the one in which he first began to dialogue with the world around him. And that was precisely what he confessed before an attentive audience: “To see these poems return to the language of my childhood, and to read them at the Casa dos Açores, among the community that raised me, is a homecoming.” A return to the home that, no matter how distant, remains the place where our sensory memories—auditory, olfactory, gustatory, visual, and tactile—silently reside. The first voices that called us, but also lulled us to sleep with lullabies; the hands that comforted us in the laps where we nestled; the smell of the earth that defined a territory of scarce horizons; the roar of the sea echoing the rhythm of the tides that brought and carried away dreams of lands of abundance; the scent of fresh bread in the morning or cinnamon and sugar on festive days; the creaking of doors and windows that could either seal off private intimacy or open to news from distant shores.

A few years ago, Visão magazine published an article on our emigration titled “A Country on a Journey.” Yes, we will always be a country on a journey, crossing bridges between various piers of departure and arrival. Remaining in motion—yesterday as today—is our destiny, our fado, no matter how much we entangle ourselves in wordplay and call the young people who leave the “generation in mobility”—who seek nothing different than those who left before them: work and decent pay.

Like swallows setting off to nest under foreign eaves, they contribute to turning the country into an endless autumn. We are increasingly shedding the leaves of youth, reducing ourselves to bare, dry, withered branches—the very image of the winter of old age. The landscaped rectangle born facing the sea is condemned to be emptied of youth. The latter, like a river, grew tired of emptying into the estuaries of dead-end lives and will continue to swell the ranks of those who, in the near future, will be the new builders of other “bridges beyond silence.”

Aida Batista/MS

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

Fotos: DR

Tony Gouveia assinalou quatro décadas de percurso musical, marcadas pela dedicação à música portuguesa e pela divulgação da cultura nacional junto das comunidades portuguesas no Canadá.

A banda Tabu celebrou, no passado sábado, dia 10 de outubro, os seus 40 anos de carreira, numa noite especial de música, convívio e recordações, realizada no Portuguese Cultural Centre of Mississauga (PCCM), em Mississauga, no Canadá. O evento reuniu música ao vivo, jantar e momentos de celebração de um percurso artístico que marcou várias gerações da comunidade portuguesa. Reno, Jessica Amaro, Jennifer Bettencourt, Carlos e Armando Janeiro, Carlos Borges e John Ferreira deram também um colorido diferente ao serão festivo, enchendo com música de qualidade o PCCM.

A comemoração foi também uma oportunidade para recordar a trajetória de Tony Gouveia, músico ligado à história dos Tabu e uma figura associada à promoção da música portuguesa na diáspora. Antes da realização do espetáculo, Tony Gouveia esteve nos nossos estúdios para dar a conhecer os detalhes desta celebração e recordar os momentos mais marcantes de uma carreira dedicada à música.

O seu percurso foi igualmente tema de conversa no podcast Sentir, Pensar e Agir, conduzido por Rómulo Medeiros Ávila, onde foram abordadas diferentes etapas da sua vida artística, desde os primeiros passos no mundo da música até à consolidação de uma identidade musical própria.

Tabu: quatro décadas a levar a música portuguesa mais longe

Ao longo de 40 anos, os Tabu construíram um percurso marcado pela paixão pela música e pela vontade de conciliar as raízes portuguesas com novas sonoridades e arranjos musicais. A banda conquistou um lugar especial na memória de muitos portugueses no Canadá, marcando presença em concertos, festas e encontros comunitários que ajudaram a fortalecer os laços entre a diáspora e Portugal.

Para além da componente artística, e já em declarações ao nosso jornal, assumem que “a música dos Tabu representou, para muitos emigrantes, uma forma de manter viva a ligação à terra natal, à língua portuguesa e às tradições culturais. As atuações do grupo tornaram-se momentos de encontro entre amigos e familiares, contribuindo para a preservação da identidade portuguesa junto das novas gerações”.

A conversa permitiu também recordar experiências vividas ao longo da carreira, os desafios do meio musical e a importância do trabalho coletivo na construção do percurso da banda. A evolução da comunidade portuguesa no Canadá, bem como as mudanças nos meios de comunicação e nas formas de divulgação musical, foram outros dos temas que marcaram a reflexão sobre estas quatro décadas.

Uma celebração da música e da identidade portuguesa

A noite comemorativa no Centro Cultural Português de Mississauga foi dedicada à celebração dos 40 anos dos Tabu, com jantar, espetáculo ao vivo e artistas convidados, num programa pensado para reunir fãs, amigos e familiares em torno da música e das memórias partilhadas.

Mais do que assinalar uma data, a iniciativa destacou o contributo de Tony Gouveia e dos Tabu para a vida cultural da comunidade portuguesa no Canadá. Ao longo de quatro décadas, o grupo ajudou a dar visibilidade à música portuguesa além-fronteiras, acompanhando as transformações da diáspora e mantendo uma ligação constante às suas origens. A celebração dos 40 anos dos Tabu constituiu, assim, um momento de reconhecimento de um percurso artístico construído com dedicação, criatividade e paixão, reafirmando o papel da música como elemento de união entre gerações e como expressão viva da cultura portuguesa no Canadá.

Romulo Ávila/MS

LiUNA Local 183 marked the 28th annual edition of the LiUNA Local 183 Scholarship Trust Fund, awarding over one million Canadian dollars in scholarships to 116 students—children and grandchildren of active and retired union members—to support their post-secondary studies and the fulfillment of their academic and professional goals.

During the ceremony, Jack Oliveira, Business Manager of LiUNA Local 183, congratulated the students and their families, highlighting the sacrifices made by parents to provide better opportunities for their children: “Never forget where you came from and the sacrifices your families made to give you a better future,” he stated. Oliveira also revealed that over 600 applications were received this year.

Joseph Mancinelli, International Vice President and Canadian Director of LiUNA, also emphasized the pride members feel in supporting their children: “Tonight, we celebrate not only the academic achievements of the students, but also the pride of our members in being able to support their children and grandchildren,” he noted.

During the ceremony, we spoke with some of the recipient students, who shared their excitement and gratitude for the support received.

Among the scholarship recipients, Emma Saraiva Almeida from the University of Guelph-Humber highlighted that the financial support will allow her to dedicate more time to her studies while reducing concerns about tuition and school expenses: “The effort and hard work I put into my studies were worth it,” she said, thanking the organization for the opportunity.

For Tushig Ariunjargal from Centennial College, receiving the scholarship was a source of pride: “It is an honor to receive this scholarship,” he declared, thanking LiUNA Local 183 for the recognition.

Aaron Baldeo from the University of Toronto emphasized the impact of the support on his family, acknowledging his parents’ hard work to finance his education: “My parents work very hard to pay for my education, and I know this scholarship will help them a lot,” he explained, adding that he hopes the support will also help ease his parents’ financial burden.

Meanwhile, Keiliah La-Lowe, also from the University of Toronto, highlighted the personal significance of this award: “As a young Black woman, this recognition shows me that the community continues to believe in young people,” she stated, viewing the scholarship as an incentive to invest in her future and achieve her career goals.

Emma Travassos from George Brown Polytechnic also expressed her gratitude: “It is an honor to receive support from LiUNA Local 183,” she said, noting the difference these initiatives make in students’ lives.

These testimonials highlight the importance of scholarships in supporting families, recognizing academic merit, and creating better future opportunities for young people.

Since 2006, the Local 183 Scholarship Trust Fund has awarded over 11 million dollars in scholarships, supporting more than 1,200 beneficiaries.

The initiative reaffirms LiUNA Local 183’s commitment to education, recognizing academic excellence, supporting families, and creating better opportunities for future generations.

Francisco Pegado/MS

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

The federal government is turning up the heat on the U.S. owner of Stelco Holdings Inc. over impending layoffs at the Hamilton, Ont.-based steel plant.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly sent a letter to Stelco president Paul Simon on Monday laying out her “extreme disappointment” over the company’s plan to lay off up to 500 workers in response to U.S. tariffs and other market pressures.

Canada gave U.S.-based Cleveland-Cliffs the go-ahead to purchase Stelco back in 2024 under the Investment Canada Act, which regulates foreign takeovers.

Canada’s approval of the deal was contingent on the new owner maintaining the number of union jobs and the majority of non-union positions, Joly said.

Those conditions don’t expire just because “business strategy or market conditions have changed,” she wrote in the letter.

“This is particularly relevant here, where Cleveland-Cliffs has cited trade disruptions as affecting its operations at Hamilton Works, notwithstanding its chief executive officer’s public support for Section 232 tariff measures,” Joly said.

Lourenco Goncalves, the chief executive of Cleveland-Cliffs, has publicly supported U.S. steel tariffs, saying they are a “necessary step” to curb dumped steel imports.

In the letter, Joly said she wants to see Cleveland-Cliffs’ plan to comply with all undertakings of the original acquisition. She asked for a response within five business days or the government could consider legal action.

If the steelmaker does not comply, Ottawa could go to superior court where a judge could order the company to meet its obligations, impose penalties or even order a sale of the business, Joly said.

Ron Wells, president of United Steelworkers local 1005, which represents workers at Stelco’s Hamilton plant, said he is pleased the federal government acted “very swiftly.”

“They were very slow to react last time,” he said, referring to an earlier dispute involving the steel mill under a different owner. “We actually had to lobby to get them to react.”

DCN/MS

The City of Toronto is expanding its pre-approved building plans program by launching new designs for fourplex and sixplex buildings as a way to speed up homebuilding throughout the city.

The new designs, which can be accommodated on wide and narrow lots, build on the city’s existing pre-approved plans program for garden and laneway suites, explains a release.

“These new made-in-Toronto designs make it easier to add more homes to residential properties,” it states. “By providing building designs at no cost, homeowners can benefit from a headstart on the design process.”

The plans meet with the Ontario Building Code and include opportunities for sustainable features, bicycle parking, waste storage and more. They were also developed with accessibility, climate resilience, cost and ease of construction as core considerations. Designs were created by an architectural firm selected through a competitive procurement process, the release adds.

This initiative complements the Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation’s (CMHC) Housing Design Catalogue.

Currently, fourplexes are permitted city-wide, while sixplexes vary by location. If a multiplex meets the zoning requirements, owners can apply directly for a building permit, without going to the Committee of Adjustment.

The new multiplex plans can be used to prepare a building permit application and will undergo the city’s review process.

It should be noted, applicants must still engage a qualified design professional to take responsibility for the design and prepare the site-specific drawings and information required for their property.

DCN/MS

The province says work to remove bike lanes on a stretch of a major Toronto road will begin next week.

It comes after Ontario’s top court overturned in August a ruling that blocked the government’s bid to remove protected bike lanes along stretches of Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue in Toronto.

Dakota Brasier, a spokesperson for Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, says work to restore vehicle lanes on Bloor Street West will begin on Tuesday.

A lower court last year stopped the province from replacing the protected bike lanes with car lanes, but the Ontario Court of Appeal found that judgment had effectively created a right to bike lanes where none existed.

The province has since been pressing ahead with its plan to overhaul the cycling network over the city’s objections.

Last month it put out a bid request to study and design options to restore vehicle traffic on bike lane sections of the affected roads, and said the successful bidder will also be expected to look for ways to retain or reconfigure bike lanes, “where they make sense and do not make gridlock worse.”

DCN/MS