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The 2006 Toronto Reunion
The 2006 Toronto Reunion
by Norman D'Costa
As one would expect, the 10th Dr. Ribeiro Goan School reunion, which is held every three years and has become one of the most anticipated gatherings on the social calendar in Toronto, was another rousing success.
The five-day event kicked off with a trip to Niagara Falls on Sept. 13, followed by a pub night and a golf tournament that culminated with the grand ball at the Sagan Banquet Hall in Mississauga on Sept. 16 which was attended by 437 ex-students. The curtain came down on the festivities on Sunday Sept. 17 with a picnic that was attended by some 125.
The grand ball was the second largest gathering since the event was first held in 1980, only bettered by the 75th anniversary celebrations held in 2003 when 500 converged on Canada´s largest city.
The visitors this time came from as far away as New Zealand, Australia, Kenya, Spain, the U.K., Germany, the United States. And, for the very first time, the reunion saw a couple of ex-students from Trinidad and Tobago and one from Qatar. As has been the norm of late, the United Kingdom led the foreign invasion with a contingent of 45. For many it was a time to renew acquaintances with classmates they had not seen since leaving school and in some cases that was after some 40 years ago.
The trip to Niagara included a stop at one of the natural wonders of the world and several took the opportunity to spend and make a few bucks at the casino. The group also had the opportunity to taste some of the award-winning wines in an area that is home to 20 of world´s top wineries.
The following night we had the pub night and ex-student Raymond De Mello and his Le Ombre band put on an impressive show. The Pic-A-Deli Restaurant in Oakville bar did a roaring trade.
On Friday a field of 28 competed in the golf tournament at Castlemore in Brampton and although Remy Diniz was given a run for his money, he retained his title as the best ex-student by shooting an 85. Lewis and Antonette de Souza from Nairobi provided shirts for all of the golfers.
The ball was grand in every respect. The hall´s ambience, excellent food and music by Naked Flame earned rave reviews. Each table was provided with a bottle of red and white wine and mementos with the school´s logo were presented to each couple along with the brochure. The grace before meals was said by popular teacher Yvonne Da Costa (Coty), a resident of Toronto.
Delphine Da Costa, the president of the 10th reunion, praised her small committee and said without their experience and expertise it would have been impossible to run a function of this magnitude. Her committee included Xavier Carvalho (Social Secretary and organizer of the golf tournament and the picnic); Ida Gomes ( Assistant Social Secretary and organizer of the trip to Niagara Falls, which was by the way the first of its kind organized by the ex-students committee); Eugene Pereira, the hard-working treasurer and his assistant treasurer Maurice dos Remedios, who were kept extremely busy by last-minute ticket requests; Claire Fonseca, the energetic secretary, and her assistant Norman Da Costa who put together the brochure. Delphine also thanked their spouses for their work behind the scenes.
She also informed the gathering that Zahir Malik, one of the directors of the school who travelled from Nairobi for the function, had informed her that there was a move to rename the school Dr. Ribeiro Parklands School in the new year and this announcement was met with a long round of applause.
She also acknowledged Mrs. Angela Ribeiro, daughter of Dr. Ribeiro, who turned 90 this month. Mrs. Ribeiro was unable to attend following the recent death of her son Dr. Gerry Ribeiro in England.
Delphine also thanked all those who donated prizes and those who advertised in the brochure. The winner of the top prize of the raffle, a four-day safari in Kenya kindly donated by ex-student Tom Fernandes, president and owner of Wildlife Safari Kenya Limited, was Toronto´s Pascoal de Souza.
Finally, Delphine paid tribute to Merwin D'Souza for his support in promoting the function on his widely read website and presented him with a four foot giraffe carving all the way from Nairobi.
The night ended with Silu Fernandes, a three-time Olympian, being acclaimed the incoming president. Silu will be in charge of the 11th reunion in Toronto in September 2009.
Please start making your arrangements for the trip now as Silu promises another fun-filled occasion!!
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