TDSB Celebrates Portuguese Heritage Month!

From Rio de Janeiro to Lisbon to East Timor and Angola, Portuguese is a language that unites many countries.

Students and staff are participating in special activities all month long. Events will educate the TDSB community on the experiences of Portuguese-speaking people.

From the arts to sports, medicine and public life, people of Portuguese heritage have made an incredible contribution to Canada’s history. This is an opportunity for our Portuguese-speaking communities to share their vibrant culture and traditions with the city.

Facts

• 250 million Portuguese speakers worldwide, making it the fifth-most spoken language 
• Almost 1,400 TDSB students speak Portuguese as their mother tongue or at home
• Portuguese is the official language of eight countries: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome & Principe and East Timor
• As well, due to historic ties, various regions of the world including Macau, China and Goa and Damao, India, celebrate their Portuguese influences

Canada is composed of people from many different backgrounds. But not all groups have been acknowledged in our history books. Portuguese Heritage Month will give all staff and students a better understanding of Portuguese communities and the diaspora, who have traditionally been excluded.

Equitable and Inclusive Schools encourages school communities to undertake activities which promote understanding of the histories, cultures and experiences of people of the Portuguese-speaking Diaspora.  Equitable and Inclusive Schools has created a Portuguese Heritage Resource Guide to support Portuguese Heritage Month.  This resource is not limited to June.  To access this resource, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/equity.