With the recently unveiled 7200 sq ft plush facility, the Goan Overseas Association has a place to call home.
The Goan Overseas Association (G.O.A.), Toronto, Canada are now in possession of the first Goan Community Centre in Brampton, Canada, which G.O.A says is also the first in all of North America.
Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the Goan Community Centre, Selwyn Collaco, President of the Goan Overseas Association, said, “This is a significant achievement for us Goan Canadians, who have worked very hard over the past 50 years to achieve this dream. Special thanks and acknowledgment goes out to all the founder members, presidents and their committees, members, volunteers and sponsors over the years. It is the contribution and resilience of the community that has led to this achievement, We now have a physical footprint on Canadian soil.”
This is a significant achievement for us Goan Canadians, who have worked very hard over the past 50 years to achieve this dream – Selwyn Collaco | President, Goan Overseas Association
An email announcing this to their members was sent by The Goan Overseas Association and their charity arm, The Goan Charitable Organization (GCO). It stated that this significant milestone was a result of 50 years of their volunteer contribution and hard work and that all their efforts and hardships over the years has led to what they have achieved today.
“We are pleased to announce the successful purchase of a 7200 sq ft. facility to be the first Goan Community Centre located at 20 Strathearn Ave, Brampton. We are now officially in possession of the facility as the new owners,” read the announcement.
The Goan Community Centre comprises of two units, the GCO Centre and the G.O.A. Members Lounge: The GCO centre will be operated to meet the GCO’s charitable objectives and mandate to help with the organisation’s seniors Forever Young programming, new immigrants, advancement of education, language classes, counselling services etc. The banquet and kitchen facilities will be available when not in use as a rental facility for small events and private family gatherings.
The G.O.A. Members Lounge will be accessible to all members and guests for various social activities and events with a full-fledged licensed bar. The premises will also be available as a rental facility for other communities and events.
“We will be providing more details in the coming weeks and months as we make plans and progress to open up based on covid safety protocols. The Goan Charitable Organization will also be launching a fundraising campaign towards the ‘Donor Wall’ to assist with some of the start up and operating funds needed to be successful,” said Collaco.
We are confident that today, we are in a much better position to build a much stronger and unified Goan Canadian community for generations to come, through a physical presence along with all other established communities. We now as proud ‘Goan Canadians’ and as a community, have a place to call home,” Collaco added.
During the pandemic, The Goan Overseas Association has also been making significant contributions in Canada and were nominated as ‘Covid Heroes’ by the city of Mississauga, besides also being involved here at home in Goa helping with the covid relief as part of the Goa Outreach Initiative. An incredible accomplishment and contribution by a Goan community organization that recently competed 50 years
