The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations starts Sunday, January 22, a visit to Canada where he will establish several contacts with emigrant communities of Azorean origin in the provinces of Quebec, Manitoba and Ontario, in addition to meeting with various entities and institutions. He will also participate in the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of Lusopresse newspaper.
 
On the first day of his first official visit to the Diaspora, Rui Bettencourt, who will be accompanied by the Regional Director for Communities, Paulo Teves, takes part in session to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Lusopresse newspaper in Montreal. It features a conference on the history of the press in the Diaspora communities of North America to be delivered by professor Onésimo Teotónio Almeida. In addition to paying tribute to relevant personalities in the Portuguese-Canadian community, the event will also include cultural moments featuring music and poetry.
 
On the following day, the government official meets Sylvie Surprenant, Mayor of Sainte-Thérése; the latter was the emigration destination chosen by many Azoreans. Still in the province of Quebec, Rui Bettencourt meets with the board of the Caisse Desjardins Portugaise in Montreal and the Azorean community residing in Montreal. The meeting will take place at House of the Azores of Quebec.
 
On January 24, the Regional Secretary meets with the Minister of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion of Quebec, Kathleen Weil, and the Portuguese community of Manitoba, Winnipeg. He will then travel to the province of Ontario where visit Portuguese Support Service for Quality Living in Hamilton on January 25. This is a non-profit organisation that supports many families and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities. It involves the community in their projects in order to contribute to a better quality of life for seniors and disabled citizens, through the implementation of specific programmes according to individual and family needs.
 
The last two days of the visit will be dedicated to Toronto, where Rui Bettencourt delivers a paper at the University of York on the 21st century Azores under the Portuguese Studies Course. He will also meet with the Vice-Rectory for Internationalisation and External Relations of that university, the board of the House of the Azores of Ontario and the Federation of Luso-Canadian Entrepreneurs.
 
Due to the agreement signed between Canada and Portugal, thousands of Azoreans have immigrated to this country since 1953. They have settled in various provinces, especially in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia.