QGA’s participation in 2011 Canada Day Parade
By Melanie Rodriguez
Secretary, QGA
http://quebec-goan-association.blogspot.com/2011/07/canada-day-parade-goa-float-2011-quebec.html
This year’s Canada Day was blessed with a wonderful summer’s day for the
thousands of people who lined Ste-Catherine street in Montreal last
Friday to cheer the parade and also dance and sing to the sounds of live
Goan music blasting from our very own QGA float. And not to forget our
Goan dancers clad in colourful saris and Goan attire who graced the
float as it slowly moved down the parade route. Many at the
parade were thrilled with our colourful and well decorated QGA float and
cheered us on with slogans such as “viva Goa” and “Happy Canada Day”.
Armed with a water bottle, a big smile and a huge bunch of Canada flags
my job as “float security” was thrilling as it was great to see our
float so well appreciated by the cheering crowds who were swept away by
the beat of our float’s young Goan musicians.
M.P. Justine Trudeau who was on the review stand threw a few big waves
to our float (and to me) and Flora who was the parade emcee did a good
job introducing our President Mary Silveira and float participants to
the crowds. After the parade we took plenty of group pictures and were
treated to well deserved refreshments and Indian snacks and then helped
dismantle decorations, instruments and the sound system on the float and
the two supporting vans.
In summary this was a thrilling experience and it was great to see the
crowds pose for pictures with our float and display there appreciation
by applauding and swaying to the strains of our float’s intoxicating
Goan beat. It was also very rewarding to see the acknowledgement in the
faces and body language of the various communities and specially the
East Indian, Goan and Portuguese communities embedded in the crowds.
(ENDS)
Dear Friends,
The QGA float at this year's Canada Day parade in Montreal was a huge
success mainly due to the the hard work and contributions of the following
members and friends of the QGA. This marks the second time that the QGA
participated in Montreal's Canada Day celebrations.
Sponsors: Werner & Mary Brauer (Sutton) & Ingrid Brauer
Musicians : Our Youth.....Aaron Dacosta on drums, Lianne Rodriguez on
electric guitar and Ryan Parboo on bongos
Goan folk dancers : Megan Marolly..(QGA -Prince), Amber Dacosta, Naomi
Maclean, Mary Silveira, Annette Rodriguez, Antonio & Blanche Dacosta,
Carmelita Rasquinha and Celina Soares
Float DJ : Sunny Parboo
Float security : Melanie Rodriguez/Joan Paes/Jackson D'Souza/Santaninho
Fernandes/Bikram Singh/Ovid Da Silva
Photographers: Bikram Singh and Joan Paes
Float lead vehicle : Armando Silveira & Noel Rodriguez
Float Support vehicle : Linda .May Vanderlowen /Joann Vanderlowen &
Allen Vanderlowen
Snacks catering : Celine & Sunny Parboo
Support staff : Flora Marlow and the Family./Nick D'Mello/Felix D'Sa
/Ardian De Souza/Joe & Daphane Fernandes.
Float design and decorations :
Luiza D'Sa..... Lead decorator and designer
Esmie D'Souza..... decorations
Olive Rego... ...... posters design (Painting)
Valentine Dias........posters design (write -up)
Float set-up : Armando Silveira, Sunny Parboo & crew
Publicity & flyer Designer : Rohan Lobo (from Goa)
Thank you one and all
Mary Silveira
President - QGA
ALLIANCE OF GOAN ASSOCIATIONS- CANADA
