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Brazilians in Calgary
By Elizia Teixeira | Sotaque Brasileiro, # 5, Summer 2004
The Brazilian community in Calgary is small but very vibrant and full of enthusiasm. According to Canadian census data - "Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada" and "Immigrants and Citizenship" - in 2001 no more than 500 Brazilians were living in the region. Today, there might be a little more.
Brazilians in Calgary. Photo Elizia Teixeira. |
Coming from different regions of Brazil, and for various reasons, Brazilians often go through a natural sequence of adaptation, which includes the fact of having to undergo a very long winter. When you can choose, the best time of arrival is after the winter, to have more time to prepare ... Dressing up "in layers" can be one of the first important things to learn to cope with sudden temperature changes. The "Chinook", a hot wind in the middle of winter, which can make the temperature of -10°C go up to the opposite of the scale sometimes on the same day, is very well received by all.
The prolonged winter is offset somewhat by the beautiful sunny days. On a clear day the scenery gets more beautiful with the rocky mountains composing, in the background, the silhouette of downtown Calgary, with its conglomeration of modern mirrored buildings, the headquarters of some of the most economically important companies in Canada, mostly related to oil.
Regarding the economic issue, it is interesting to talk to Brazilians about what brought them to Calgary, and discover that some came here after doing a survey comparing living conditions in several other cities in Canada. The fact that Alberta is the only province in Canada that does not charge sales tax, can serve as an indicator of its economic and structural strength.
The Brazilians have an association in Calgary. The Brazilian Community Association of Alberta (BCAAB - www.bcaab.org) was formed in September 2003. The BCAAB, with the help of volunteers, has successfully promoted many activities in their eight months of existence: the Independence Party dinner dance; a very juicy Feijoada prepared by volunteers under the coordination of Helena Warkentin; New Year’s party with lots of good food and music and in February, our first Carnaval in Calgary was a spectacular success with sell-out crowd of 500 people. In June, the choice is always the “Festa Junina” and typical Brazilian barbecue as well. Support and corporate sponsorship are essential to the achievement of these events.
The Brazilians here in Calgary also participate in activities enjoyed by Canadians, such as walking. There are many existing trails in the Rocky Mountains with incredible scenery that attracts tourists from many countries in Banff National Park, Lake Louise and Kananaskis Country, also in the Rockies, but still not as affected by the tourism industry.
A trip down the Bow River, the river that runs through the city, should be done at least once. The Calgary bike paths are also attractive to short trips in town, or even used for transportation.
Among the Brazilians in Calgary, we find some that have been here for more than 20 years, but most came in the last 10 years, and of course, every year there are more and more Brazilians arriving. Many also make up a floating population such as students and others with temporary professional activities.
Romeo Forezli, from São Paulo, has been in Canada for more than 34 years, came from Ottawa to Calgary, and likes to keep in contact with other Brazilians, being an active presence in the promotion of artistic and sporting activities. He has participated in theater productions and commercials for Canadian television but still believes he will achieve one of his dreams of forming a theater group here in Calgary to promote and disseminate our culture. Football has always been his passion and he has been coaching children for a long time.
Raimunda Jackson, Yone Dorosh, Boris Celser, Jaci da Silva, Socorro Ducheck, Paulo Alves, Miguel Forezli and Oswaldo Reinert have also been in the Calgary area for over 20 years and are always receptive to pass on their experience when approached by newcomers .
A special mention goes to Annette Hester, an economist at the University of Calgary, that while the centre's director of Latin American studies at this university, and now in her capacity as a consultant for special projects, promotes many activities to strengthen ties between Canada and Brazil. In 2003 was created the chair: "The Canada Visiting Research Chair in Brazil Studies" which no doubt reflects her efforts. This post is offered to an outstanding Brazilian academic to participate in conferences and teach at four Canadian universities, including Calgary. The first occupant of this position was Dr. Marcos Sawaya Jank of Economics at USP and now in May, Dr. Germano de Paula, an economist at the University of Uberlandia will be doing a tour of Canada discussing the steel industry.
Among the more recently arrived, Elaine Costeira, from Macapá, arrived 9 years ago to study languages, and is now a teacher in the public school system of Calgary. She speaks of her pleasure in teaching students from 8th grade a unit on Brazil. For over 10 years this unit from 25 to 30 hours, is part of the official curriculum of social studies in Alberta, in the public and catholic schools, and covers aspects of geography, history, economics, politics and socio-cultural. Thus, in Alberta the chances of finding Canadians that confuse the capital of Brazil and do not know what language we speak are much lower than elsewhere.
Still in education in Alberta, Barbara Oliveira and Malcolm Lim, through his company "Pulse Drum and Dance," teach dance and percussion to students of all grades. Malcolm also runs the Calgary School of Samba which has 20 members, with vocal and dance under the responsibility of Barbara. Malcolm Lim, a Canadian of Chinese descent, first fell in love with strong and rich Brazilian rhythm, and then with Barbara. It was in Rio, when engaged in research and study of Brazilian percussion, that he met Barbara, a “sambista carioca”, which had also been lead singer of a band in Germany. Barbara also teaches Brazilian dance at various dance studios in town.
Learning English and improving in their area of study, work and /or research are the main reasons for Brazilian students to temporarily settle here bringing lots of energy and news from the beloved country.
Stella Zamuner, a biologist with a PhD from USP, is currently doing post-doctoral research at the invitation of the Faculty of Medicine. Like Stella, several other Brazilians came to Calgary attracted by some aspect of their professional area and to obtain a knowledge that will be valuable when they return to Brazil. The University of Calgary offers many opportunities for initiatives that somehow contribute to strengthen the bond of academic collaboration with Brazilian universities.
Hendrik Kraay, a Canadian that 20 years ago lived in Brazil while attending a Rotary exchange, is now a professor of history of Brazil for graduate students at the University of Calgary. He is one of two historians in Brazil, today, in Canada.
Professionals trained in Brazil are also attracted by the possibility of access to education offered by the University of Calgary, so they decide to return to school, in some cases to get their professional license but also to get "Canadian experience" and "network". Rodrigo Gatti, from Campinas São Paulo, graduated in civil engineering in Brazil, decided to start his life here and through the university, is doing some specialized courses that will also help in his quest to get his professional license.
Simon Tuma, an engineer at Petrobras, is an example of Brazilians living in Calgary for professional reasons. He is monitoring the construction of a plant to process gas from oil, to be installed in Natal, RN, which will significantly increase the production of cooking gas (LPG) for the market in northeastern Brazil.
The areas of engineering, geology and computer seem to stand out as the preferred for Brazilians training in Calgary. But we also have English-Portuguese translators and health care professionals such as physiotherapists. Some also decide to start their own business in their area of interest. Marcelo Pinheiro, carioca, a project manager, came to Canada 7 years ago and recently established himself as a professional photographer, having already obtained good reviews in publications in Britain and the United States.
In the area of entertainment, CKUA (www.ckua.org) a radio station that is maintained by the listeners, includes Brazilian music in its excellent program of "world music".
And our Capooeira also leaves Calgary residents amazed and excited to learn the quick and smart steps of this striking expression of Brazilian culture. The instructor Sapo, from Recife, has been striving to teach this art, under the leadership of Mestre Eclilson from Vancouver. Capoeira Aché Brazil Calgary (http://www.capoeiracalgary.ca) is growing every day, and currently has 40 students.
Latin Restaurants like the Conga Room and Latin Corner include Brazilian dishes on its menu. The musician Luis Emilio, a Cuban who has lived in Brazil and loves Brazilian music, performs at the Latin Corner regularly, and always includes our music in his repertoire. The idea of a "Bossa Nova Night" may soon happen.
There isn’t a Brazilian restaurant in Calgary, but this may change soon because according to some rumors there is a group seriously interested in filling this void.
Recently the news crew of Fantastico (Rede Globo), on a tour of Canada, included a visit to tourist attractions in the vicinity of Calgary. Besides showing the Rocky Mountains, they also highlighted the dinosaur park in Brooks and the museum of dinosaurs in Dhrumheller.
NOTE: At the present time there is a great Brazilian restaurant in Calgary – Gaucho Brazilian Barbecue – specializing in Brazilian favourites. www.brazilianbbq.ca.
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