TCDSB Portuguese Speaking Canadian Heritage Month

The Province of Ontario passed the Celebration of Portuguese Heritage Act in 2001 and this year marks the 20th anniversary of this Act. .

June is Portuguese Heritage Month

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS in 2001 the Government of Canada enacted June 10th as Portugal Day and the month of June as Portuguese Heritage Month;

AND WHEREAS the Portuguese Canadian communities, which have contributed towards the growth and development of our country since the year 1500, continue to make many significant contributions to our society and to enrich it with its history, language, culture and work ethic;

AND WHEREAS the history of the Toronto Catholic District School Board is rich in Portuguese traditions and culture, as seen through student, parent and staff representation;

AND WHEREAS June 10th is the anniversary of the death of Luis de Camoes, Portuguese poet who wrote the Lusiads epic poems narrating the history of Portugal;

THEREFORE, we, on behalf of the Toronto Catholic District School Board, do hereby proclaim June as "Portuguese Canadian Heritage Month" in the Toronto Catholic District School Board.

- Director of Education | Chair of the Board

Official Declaration of Portuguese Canadian Heritage Month

In November 2017, the House of Commons designated June as Portuguese Heritage Month. It’s an opportunity for Canadians to recognize, honour, and celebrate the Portuguese-Canadian community’s contribution to the social, economic, political, and cultural life of our country.

Canada is proud to be home to more than 480,000 Canadians of Portuguese descent, one of the largest Portuguese diasporas in the world. Portuguese Heritage Month is the perfect time to showcase the the Portuguese-Canadian community’s vibrant culture. It is also an opportunity to honour the community’s role in building our prosperous, inclusive, and diverse country.

"One language, so much to unite”

World Portuguese language day

The date of May 5th was officially established in 2009 by the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP) - an intergovernmental organization that has been in official partnership with UNESCO since 2000, and which brings together peoples with the Portuguese language as one of the foundations of their specific identity - to celebrate the Portuguese language and Lusophone cultures. In 2019, the 40th session of UNESCO's General Conference decided to proclaim May 5th of each year as "World Portuguese Language Day".

The Portuguese language is not only one of the most widespread languages in the world, with more than 265 million speakers spread through all continents, but it is also the most widely spoken language in the southern hemisphere. Portuguese remains, today, a major language of international communication and a language with a strong geographical projection, destined to increase. (UNESCO)