“It is very important that you keep our culture alive in this country. Do not let the Azorean and Portuguese culture die.”

With this call, the President of the Regional Government concluded the speech he delivered on Saturday night during a dinner hosted by the House of the Azores of Ontario to honour those who have contributed to the construction of its premises; a street in Toronto will be named after this institution next Sunday.

Carlos César began by saying that this achievement was only possible due to the joint efforts of the Azorean community rooted in this city and the initiative of Ana Bailão, a Portuguese councilwoman at the Toronto City Hall, and stressed that “this was only possible because she is one of us.”

Mentioning the local elections taking place on May 2, the President of the Government urged emigrants “to vote on our people, to empower our people” because, as he stressed, “it is very important that our community achieve such influence and power in this country.”

The “House of the Azores Way,” to be opened at a ceremony presided over by the President of the Government, is not only a demonstration of the good work carried out by the institution led by Carlos Botelho, but also a motive for the “unlimited pride” felt by Carlos César towards the emigrants communities across the world.

“I have said that we will be better Azoreans if we are better Canadians in Canada, better Bermudians in Bermuda, better Brazilians in Brazil and better Americans,” Carlos César stressed, adding that this is the quality of citizenship that “makes the Azorean people, a people that seeks prominence, a people that fights, a people that pursues victory, a people that fulfils its dream whenever it has the chance to do so.”

Furthermore, the President of the Government conveyed his belief in the capacities of the Azorean people to cope with the difficult situation the word is facing, which has also affected the Region.

“I know that our country and our region have the necessary energy to recover, renew and build a better future,” Carlos César stressed, adding that in the case of the Azores “we expect that this crisis be overcome soon.”

Moreover, the President of the Government expressed his desire to resume the fast pace of regional development so that when “each of you return or visit the Azores may say become acquainted with the progress of our islands, thus saying with sincerity and emotion, that it is good to be Azorean.
 
Without detriment to the emigrants that have integrated in the countries where they reside, “it is very important to preserve what is most representative of our culture and way of living,” stated Carlos César.