Cantar os Reis
Casa dos Poveiros
The Casa dos Poveiros was founded in 1986. The Cantares started in 1989.
337 Symington Ave., Toronto
I think we live these customs more intensely than they do in Portugal at times. The main motivation is to keep the traditions from our home. As much as we may try, we can’t escape that which is ours, our traditions, our roots – Laurentino Esteves.
The Casa dos Poveiros Community Center in Toronto was founded in October 1986 by immigrants from the northern mainland fishing town of Póvoa de Varzim. Three years later, it started the Cantares dos Reis (Three Kings Caroling), a Christmas tradition in many parts of rural Portugal.
History
The Casa dos Poveiros Community Center in Toronto was founded in October 1986 by immigrants from the northern mainland town of Póvoa de Varzim. Three years after its founding, the Casa started the Cantares dos Reis (Three Kings Caroling), a Christmas tradition in many parts of rural Portugal. The carolers visit Portuguese establishments in Toronto, singing to the staff and customers, and received gifts from the store owners – typically food products – that they later auction off as a form of raising funds for the club.
One of the Casa’s founders is Laurentino Esteves, a native of Balasar, who immigrated to Canada in 1986. He was the Casa’s president in 1994-95 and 2012-13. Esteves served as a Councilor of the Portuguese Communities and Member of Parliament in Lisbon, representing the “Out of Europe” district, after being elected in 2002 with the PSD party.
Hora dos Portugueses