The Regional Under Secretary for External Relations stressed the importance that the Regional Government attaches to the teaching of Portuguese language and the preservation of Azorean culture and traditions in Canada, stressing the role played by the Harbord Collegiate Institute in Toronto.
 
Rodrigo Oliveira spoke Thursday during a reception of a group consisting of 29 students, aged between 15 and 17, and three teachers from the aforementioned Canadian secondary school, who are visiting the Azores. The government official stressed "the satisfaction with which the Region welcomes many youngsters of Azorean-descent as well as many youngsters without family or emotional ties to our islands."

"The interest shown by students and teachers in learning more about the Azores is source of pride for us," said Rodrigo Oliveira.

The Regional Under Secretary stressed the role played by the Harbord Collegiate Institute, recalling that "it was one of the first secondary schools to teach Portuguese in Canada since the 1970s. Nowadays, it still maintains the teaching of Portuguese language in its curriculum with great success." The President of the Government, Vasco Cordeiro, visited this institution in the context of a visit to the Azorean communities in Canada.

"The Government of the Azores attaches great importance to the Portuguese language and the preservation of Azorean culture and traditions in Canada," restated Rodrigo Oliveira.

"By recognising the relevant action of this institution and the enthusiasm and the connection of students to the Region," the government official announced that "the Government has decided to donate, through the Regional Directorate for Communities, 300 books in Portuguese to the library of Harbord Collegiate Institute." As he added, "the books depict several subjects from Azorean authors or Azorean themes and will be soon coming to Toronto." They are expected to delivered to the school by the beginning of next week.

"When you return to Canada, your school will already have the books that will allow you to further apprehend the knowledge acquired in this trip," said Rodrigo Oliveira.

"I am sure that you and all the students of Harbord Collegiate Institute will make the best use of this truly Azorean library and that you will be the best ambassadors of the Azores, our culture and our natural beauty with your families and communities," said the government official.

The group, which comprises over a dozen youngsters learning Portuguese at Harbord Collegiate Institute, will remain on the island of São Miguel until March 21. The trip programme includes several visits to local institutions, such as museums, schools and libraries, with the aim of providing a better understanding of the history, geography and culture of the Azores.

Students will also have the opportunity to explore many tourist sites on São Miguel, including the Furnas, Sete Cidades and Fogo Crater Lakes, Vila Franca Islet, "Gruta do Carvão" (Coal Cave) and Pico da Vara, among other places.
 
Established in 1892, the Harbord Collegiate Institute is a Canadian public high school attended by about a thousand students, most of them of Portuguese descent, with a teaching staff consisting of 50 teachers. The school is located in downtown Toronto.