"It's not to recognize success, let's not get confused. This is simply to recognize examples of Portuguese descendants who really stood out in a foreign country, who came here, didn't forget their culture, but worked within the country and we really have to recognize the sacrifices we had to make", said Manuel da Costa.

The businessman stressed that immigrants, upon arriving in Canada, faced several challenges, including integration into Canadian society, the education process and then reaching a "certain level".

The Walk of Fame for Portuguese Canadians was inaugurated on June 2, 2013, is located in Praça Camões, next to College Street, in Toronto, and four members of the community are recognized annually, including, this year, a university musical group.

"In total, 37, 38 people have already been honored, but we still have a million to recognize. And that's why we have many years to recognize the Portuguese descendants who are really making a difference in this country", he added.

The 2024 edition recognized the chief economist of 'The Conference Board of Canada' Pedro Antunes, the researcher at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto Nancy Silva Gagliardi and the businessman in the media industry Frank Alvarez. Luso-Can Tuna was recognized with the title 'Builder'.

Pedro Antunes has been at 'The Conference Board of Canada' since 1991, a non-governmental financial analysis think tank without profit.

Nancy Silva Gagliardi, with a PhD in molecular biology from York University, is a program manager in the research operations department of a pediatric hospital in Toronto.

Businessman Frank Alvarez, in Canada since 1967, founded the radio station CIRV FM and the television station FPTV, important media outlets in promoting Portuguese culture in Canada.

Luso-Can Tuna, celebrating its 26th anniversary this year, is the only Portuguese academic tuna in North America.

"This is what Portugal has to be proud of, the people, the immigrants, who manage to reach occasions like these. (...) We, here and in other countries, represent Portugal in many ways", highlighted Manuel da Costa.

The Walk of Fame for Portuguese Canadians is a private project of the businessman.

Several public figures and businessmen are already on the Walk of Fame for Portuguese Canadians, such as singers Nelly Furtado and Shawn Desman and ice hockey players John Tavares and Drew Doughty.

According to the 2021 census, around 450 thousand people of Portuguese origin live in Canada.

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