Report: Nancy Mendes
Pics: Melden Pereira
Canada, Apr 29: Canada witnessed a top notch show exhibited by Canara World Foundation with the performance of the Rebimbus family, commemorating their decennial celebration on Saturday April 26 at the Port Credit Secondary School Auditorium, Mississauga.
The mega event started at 1 pm with the national anthem of India and Canada. The curtain raiser was a playback prayerful song of late Wilfy, 'Namo Namo'.
The crowd was mesmerized by the songs sung by the famous Sangeet Kutum Rebimbus family: Meena, Veena, Arthur, Arvin, Anna, Vishwas and Charleen. They were supported by talented local singers Gerry and Lucy D’Mello, Manohar Pais, Wilson D’Souza, Linton Pinto, Anita Prabhu, Sonia Monteiro, Lara Rebello, Aditi Pinto, Lawrentina and Clementina D’Souza and Charlotte D’Souza.
Foot-tapping music to the singers was provided by Oliver and Ian Sequeira, Ashton Fernandes and Joswin Pinto, with acoustic and sound coordinated by Joyson D’Souza. To add glitz and glamour to the songs were dances by the famous local dancers Carol Lobo, Samantha and Savanna Goveas, Shannon Pais, Cheryl Carnelio, Christine D’Souza, Manohar Pais and Charlotte D’Souza.
The event would have been incomplete, if it wasn’t complemented with rib-tickling comedy skits performed by Francis Fernandes Casia, Manohar Pais, Rony Monteiro, Raymond Monteiro, Santosh D’Souza, Carol Lobo, Flavian Pinto, Max and Nancy Mendes and Ewan D’Souza.
The event was emceed flawlessly by Donald Alva. Flavian Pinto and Nancy Mendes opened the event by welcoming the audience.
Catering and hall management was efficiently managed by Paul Mathias and Michael Serrao.
Other highlights of the day’s event were:
Paul Mathias announced the Excellence in Education Awardees of the community: Clementina D’Souza in the junior category was presented by Ingrid Pereira and Anushka Castelino in the senior ccategory by Irene Mathias.
Miriam Pinto announced The Canara Champion Award which was presented to Oliver Sequeira by Gilbert D’Souza for his musical contribution to the community.
For their contribution to Canara World Foundation Decennial Celebration, awards were bestowed on Veena Pais by Martin Menezes, Vishwas Rebimbus by Miriam Pinto and Joswin Pinto by Nancy Mendes.
Meena Rebimbus was brought in a ceremonial procession on the stage by the entire Organizing committee of Canara World Foundation. The Maan Patr was read and bestowed on her by Max Mendes and a symbolic Shawl was draped by Gerry D’Mello, with a fruit basket gifted by Mavy Pereira .The Canara Kala Sanketh the highest and prestigious Award presented by Canara World Foundation to the contributors of Konkani music, literary, arts and culture was presented to Konkan Maina, Meena Rebimbus by Flavian Pinto.
Nancy Mendes in her vote of thanks, thanked all the artists, singers, musicians, dancers, sponsors, media partners, caterers, volunteers, committee members and other contributors who made the event a resounding success.
The sponsors of the event were:
Maxim Mendes – Max Mendes Group
Flavian Pinto - Sun Life Financials
Michael D’Souza – UAE
Martin Menezes - Mortgage Specialists at RBC
Gilbert D’Souza - Canada
Felix D’Souza - UAE
Peter D’Souza - UAE
Ayoub Ali - Barristers and Solicitors at Streetsville Law office
UAE Exchange
Nancy Mendes - Canadian Immigration (CCWIS Inc.)
Stan Goveas - Brampton Monuments and Rock of Colours
Wilson D’Souza - Mortgage Specialists at BMO
Claud Pereira - Sun Life Financial
Ravi Fernandes - Trinity Auto Garage
Konkan Organisation of Toronto
Diwakar Kamath - Chartered Accountants
Hemant - Century Travels
Frank Serrao - Dixie Toyota