The Government of the Azores promotes the Congress "60 Years of Azorean Emigration to Canada" from December 2 to 5. This initiative is part of the regional celebrations of this milestone.

Organised on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Faial, the event aims to honour and promote the important contribution provided by the Azorean community to the development of Canada at various levels as well as the role played by associations in the preservation of 'Azoreanity' in the Diaspora.

The Congress "60 Years of Azorean Emigration to Canada" will take place at Teatro Ribeiragrandense on December 2 at 2 PM. The programme includes three panels that will present different perspectives on Azorean emigration to Canada, the role of youngsters of Azorean descent and the importance of associations in the Communities.

The event will feature Azorean and Canadian university professors as guest speakers as well as associations leaders from the Region and the Communities, including the Houses of the Azores of Ontario, Quebec and Winnipeg.

In order to enhance the purposes of this initiative, the programme also includes several testimonies and life stories from emigrants who remained in Canada for a certain period of their lives and later returned to the Azores.

At the end of the work session, the national premiere of the documentary "Portuguese Joe" will take place at 5:30 PM. This documentary tells the story of José Silva, an emigrant from Pico who is considered to be one of the most important figures in the development of the Canadian west in the second half of the 19th century.

On the following day, December 3, the Franciscan Museum in the city of Ribeira Grande will host the launching of the book "Memórias de Afonso Maria Tavares, Pioneiro Açoriano 1953" (Memoirs of Afonso Maria Tavares, Azorean Pioneer - 1953). This book features the testimony of a pioneer in Azorean emigration, who was born in Rabo de Peixe and currently resides in Brampton.

Afonso Maria Tavares, currently aged 84, was part the group of 18 Azoreans who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on May 13, 1953.

The event will close with a musical moment featuring Rafael Carvalho and the "Violas da Terra" group (traditional Azorean guitar) of the Ponta Delgada Conservatory and fado singer Raquel Dutra.

On the islands of Terceira and Faial, the anniversary of Azorean emigration to Canada will be celebrated with the organisation of two conferences under the title "Azorean Paths in Canada" to be held at the Angra do Heroísmo Museum on December 4 and at João José da Graça Public Library and Regional Archive on the following day; both are scheduled to start at 8 PM.

In addition to a lecture to be delivered by José Carlos Teixeira, professor at the British Columbia University, Canada, the programme will also include the testimonies of emigrants who have returned to their islands of origin and the musical performances of Tibério Franco Choir from Terra Chã, Dixie Band and the Unânime Praiense Philharmonic Society.

Promoted by the Cabinet of the Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations, through the Regional Directorate for Communities, the Congress "60 Years of Azorean Emigration to Canada" closes the celebrations of the 60th Anniversary of Azorean emigration to Canada this year. Under this event, various initiatives were organised across the archipelago under the designation of "Life experiences of Our People."