Cipriano Gomes, is one of the twins born to a middle class family in a village, Chorao-Goa. His childhood days were tough and he often remembers the difficult days where he had to walk miles to school without shoes. To make ends meat for the family he would go to Mapusa bazaar to sell mangoes, bananas and rice which they grew on the farm. Milking the buffaloes, feeding the chickens and helping out in the fields were just a few of his daily chores.

Despite difficult times, life in Chorao was peaceful and not driven by modern day technology. Although, there was no electricity, Cipriano would study diligently with lanterns and candles. The Gomes family were always taught to trust in God and are deeply religious. They would follow Goan tradition and celebrate their annual Church feast with much religious fervour and a scrumptious roasted piggling meal.

After completing his early childhood school days in Goa, Cipriano left for Bombay (Mumbai) to earn his apprenticeship at Naval Dockyard. He can never forget his monthly earning of only 75 rupees and his sleepless nights on trunks at the Club, Dhobitalao Mumbai. Upon receiving his Engineering certification, Cipriano began sailing on merchant ships and then married his first love, Nell in 1978. Together they settled in their lovely 2 bedroom apartment in Chembur and raised 3 lovely children Genevra, Clinton and Chelsea.

With the hope of seeking new horizons and a better life, the Gomes family immigrated to Canada in 1996. Cipriano now enjoys a dynamic and fulfilling career with Transport Canada in the Marine safety. His wife Nell works as a grain inspector for Canadian Grain Commission. The eldest daughter Genevra is married and works as a Registered Nurse in New York. Clinton, is pursuing his MBA in the US and Chelsea works as a Respiratory Therapist at St Paul's hospital in Vancouver.

Cipriano's hobbies include gardening, playing with his grand-daughter Rachel and helping his son with his web design business www.clintsys.com. The family are proud to be members of the Canadian Goan Association and enjoy the very many benefits of meeting Goankar folks and keeping the Goan tradition alive in Canada.

Gina was the first born to her parents… Abercio and Greta in the big beautiful city of Bombay. She finished her BA at St. Xavier’s college, Bombay and pursued an exciting career with the Airlines, continuing with the same Airline, when she immigrated to Vancouver in 1998. She has moved on to her second job, now working for YVR, and has many an interesting tale to tell after every shift is done.

Gina's dad is from Margao while her Mum hails from Bombay. She spent many holidays in GOA and is a true Goan than a "Bomaikar" in many ways!! "Working shifts sometimes keeps me from not being able to make it to GOA functions, but I’m working at it!!"

Olavo, was born in Brunei, where his dad worked for Shell. He went back to India on holidays every 3 years and Bombay was where he settled with his parents, in 1970. Their yearly trips to Goa for the May holidays, was what sparked his love and passion for Goa. There are tons of memories I have of beautiful Goa, but those that stand out are… Listening to stories on the “balcao” from a Grand Aunt, The Carnival in Goa with my college buddies, having fresh toddy from our dear “Sur” man, pulling water from the well at Dad’s home, trying to understand an all Konkani mass, so on and so forth…

I always loved talking Konkani and improved on it with every trip to Goa, sometimes much to the dismay of my darling parents who chided me for using some words that did not come from the so called "family dictionary"!! Do you get me? Olavo loves his job with Carlson Wagonlit Travel in their Corporate Travel division.

We came to Vancouver in 1998 with 2 little kids…. Athina and Darren, (both now at UBC) and not little anymore!! Our dear Lord, blessed us with a miracle child Keagan born in Jan 2004, and thus we will be (all over again) at the Soccer fields for many years to come!!

We love our home of Tsawwassen and are truly blessed to have family and such wonderful friends that we call our extended family.

We are very pleased to be members of the GOA in Vancouver and thank one and all of the Executive committee for the time, love and passion they put into making this organization such a comfortable, "Susegad" place to have fun and connect with other "Goyankars"!

Viva la Goa

If several years ago, one were to ask Maura where she would eventually settle down, Canada, would have been the last place that would have crossed her mind. She fondly refers to Saligao, Goa, as her first home, having moved there from Dar-es-salaam, East Africa, with her mum and five sisters after the untimely death of her father. She nostalgically recounts the nine-day sea voyage from Dar-es-salaam to Goa, aboard the SS Kampala and the long taxi drive from Marmagoa to Saligao.

Studying with the help of kerosene lamps or having to fill up large copper pots with water drawn from the well were adjustments she and her siblings took in their stride. Maura reminisces the fun times she had growing up in the early seventies when Saligao was a vibrant village. The Christmas season was a special time because there were a number of activities such as staging a ‘live’ Nativity scene in a large open truck, complete with carollers that serenaded the village, intra village crib making contests, etc. Saligao was home to several passionate and accomplished musicians to whom Maura attributes her love for Goan music including the mando and dulpods.

Maura was a high school teacher for a few years before joining her beloved husband, Francisco, in Bahrain in 1979. It is here that they had their three precious children Danielle, Jonathan and Rebecca. In 1989, the Da Cruz family immigrated to Canada because Maura had promised her late sister Malvina Athaide to seriously consider Vancouver when it came time to leave Bahrain. She is very glad to have made that decision because she and the family are surrounded by a deeply spiritual, caring and fun-loving community in ‘sunny’ Ladner. Maura nostalgically recalls the Goan Association Christmas plays that her children wholeheartedly participated in during their pre-teen years. Over the last few years, with the help of enthusiastic dancers, she has organized lively performances, like the Kunbi dance, for the Nite in Goa. She commends the dedication of those who generously give off their time to serve on the Association’s Executive and its committees because the varied activities have provided a venue to connect with her 'Gaokars' and form some wonderful friendships.

Maura is grateful to enjoy a dynamic and fulfilling career in organizational development (Human Resources) at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. A certified professional coach, Maura along with her business partner offer a spectrum of coaching, training and consulting services (www.clearperspectives.ca), with an emphasis on helping individuals, community groups or organizations build upon their strengths to achieve optimal results.

Originating from East Africa (as a child), my family migrated to the United Kingdom, where I attended secondary school, in the Greater Boroughs of London.

After graduating, I worked and studied in the evenings for some years, and ended up buying my own home in the Greater London Borough of Sidcup, Kent.

For my spare time I played badminton, and grass hockey for the GOA London, and visited Toronto, Ontario on several occasions for the "Gold Cup". After my fourth visit, I felt that the Canadians had a much better lifestyle than the British, and so returned home to apply to emigrate to Canada. Whilst, this whole process was in the works, I decided that my first hurdle was to get married and then move to Canada.

Toronto was the first place we landed in, and as we were job hunting we decided to drive across Canada to the West Coast, British Columbia. We ended up in the northern part of British Columbia, in a place called Fort St. John. We both had great jobs for a couple of years, before we felt that "Goans" could not live like Eskimos, and so we decided to move down to the big city of Vancouver, where we have lived in Burnaby for the past 30 years.

During these past 30 years, I have been President of the then CGA-Vancouver for many years in the 80's and 90's, today known as the GOA Vancouver. Having come to the end of my road and the toll of three children, that took up a lot of our time, I handed over my seat to William Lobo and moved on.

As a husband, father, and employee/businessman, I have had three careers over the many turns of our economy, in the three decades. I am now settled down as a Realtor (Real Estate Agent) since 1991.

Now that my family is a lot older and independent, I volunteer my time as a Director of Finance at St. Michael’s Hospital, in Burnaby, and as President for two years at "The Edmonds Seniors' Centre for 55+" also in Burnaby.

Working with The Parks & Recreation and dignitaries of Burnaby’s City Hall is quite an experience. I spend a lot of valuable time making changes in the lives of many seniors in the community of Edmonds/Kingsway, allowing them to enjoy hours of fun and friendship, and company in the many programs provided at "The Edmonds Seniors' Centre for 55+".

Inspite of all this, I still conduct my full time job as a realtor, and am always willing to assist my Goan Community in their needs to invest in Real Estate.