Recently, I was honoured by the Liga Solidaria da Mulher Portuguesa de Manitoba, as a successfull Immigrant, Entrepreneur and Trailblazer. The gala had 400 women in attendance all dressed to the nines…beautiful women, full of passion and energy.
The event was a fundraiser with funds being donate to CancerCare Manitoba and a portion of the proceeds were donated to the St. Boniface Palliative Care Unit on honour of Mr. Manuel Guerra who passed way in December 2010. Manuel Guerra was a champion in the Portuguese Community, an entrepreneur and a mentor to many, including myself. I owe him for convincing my father to allow me to go to school at the age of 17.5 and get my grade 12. Upon arriving in Winnipeg in April 1973, I had to go to work in a sewing factory to help support my family; mom, dad, five brothers and me. Later, the collaboration began between Manuel and Irene, my supervisor at the time to persuade my father that school was where I should be. Both of these individuals saw the capacity and the desire I had to learn, and they worked together to make ut happen for me. That decision changed the course of my life and provided me with many new opportunities to learn, grow and achieve different levels of success.
In preparing to write my speech and compile material for presentation, I spent many hours going through old pictures, and reflecting on many extraordinary moments in my journey. It was an emotional journey down memory lane in my preparation and reflection as I prepared to address 400 women. Many of these women are my mother’s generation. Many of them told me that my mother would have been so proud of me. I am getting to live the life that she could even dream for herself. Her generation had a very different set of circumstances, and therefore could not even dream of what they did not know existed for them. I wonder if this is what every generation must go through to further themselves. My desire to learn and get formal education in Canada, perhaps was a result of knowing that my mother was illiterate. I was the one who taught her how to write her name, when she needed to sign papers for our immigrating to Canada. I started working full-time at the age of 14 years old. My mother started working serving the rich in S. Miguel when she was 7 years old. Yet, in S. Miguel I had 6 years of education which was equivalent to Grade 8 in Manitoba. I always had a thirst for learning especially languages and history. My mother did not always understand my desire to further my education. She wanted me to learn how to be a good home maker ; cook, clean, sew and embroider. My father in the other hand supported my desire to continue school back home. Coming to Winnipeg, Canada and due to the financial need, he did not have a choice at first, and the decision for me to immediately go to work became my reality.
Perhaps this is where my desire to advocate for the development of human capacity comes from. My work with immigrants, women and youth and my passion for this work comes from a very deep place in my soul. As I spoke of at the event, everything that happens to us in life is part of the strength of the fabric of what we are made of. I am a strong, passionate, determined and compassionate woman because of my past and all the experiences in my life so far.
I am grateful and privileged to be considered a role model in the Portuguese community and I will continue to do my best to be a deserve the honour bestowed upon me.
