Gerry D’Mello

Daijiworld Media Network – Toronto

Toronto, Sep 13: Radio Mango, the first ever Konkani channel that created history in North American hemisphere by broadcasting Konkani programme in 2012 under the slogan of ‘Amchi Bhas, Amchem Sangeeth’, has gloriously completed six years.

To mark this unique feat year after year, an award titled ‘Radio Mango Award’ was instituted in 2015 to honour great personalities who have substantially contributed for the cause and promotion of Konkani language, art and culture in Canada.

Eminent Konkani personalities - Max Mendes from the Mangalurean community and Zulema de Souza from the Goan community have become the winners of ‘2018 Radio Mango Award’. This award will be conferred on the recipients during the 6th anniversary celebrations scheduled to be held on September 22 at the renowned Payal Banquet Hall, Mississauga.

Max Mendes - a visionary and a leader

Maxim Mendes fondly known as Max Mendes was born to Magdalene and Late Basil Mendes. He is the eldest of 9 children and holds a master’s degree in public administration. His father was a recognised philanthropist and business person, having construction, pharmaceutical and travel companies in India. Due to his father’s early death, Max not only stepped up to the plate to assist his mother in looking after the family, but also took on the helm of his father’s business at the tender age of 19. Since business ran in his veins, he too successfully ventured into constructing several high-rise buildings in Karnataka and Maharashtra. This early success in the business world motivated him to explore other opportunities globally. Canada provided a perfect platform to test his ambitious plans. In 1999 he migrated to Canada with his wife and children.

Having inherent business qualities, pursuing real estate was an obvious choice. He excelled in this field and bagged numerous high achievers award, platinum and the coveted red diamond awards, year after year. Besides real estate, Max has several flagship businesses under his belt: settlement services, exports, hospitality and software development. One of his primary goals of becoming a builder in Canada came to fruition in 2017 when he ventured into development of properties in Toronto.

In 2005, history was created in Canada, when the Konkan community pooled their efforts to showcase the first ever mega musical performance by the late legendary Konkani composer/singer Konkan Kogul Wilfy Rebimbus and his troupe, at the Living Arts Centre, under the leadership and banner of Max Mendes Group. This musical feat set the trend of many acclaimed overseas singers like Sangeeth Samraat Henry D’Souza, Konkan Kalashree Claud D’Souza and Yodeling King Melwyn Peris performing here, thereby, promoting the rich Mangalurean culture, language, music and theatrical art in Canada under Canara World Foundation.

Max is a visionary and leader. His passion for Konkani prodded him to promote the Manglurean culture, traditions, art and music in Canada. Max takes great pride of being one of the founding members of The Mangalorean Association of Canada (MAC), Canara World Foundation (CWF), Konkan Organisation of Toronto (KOT), Konkani Catholics of Brampton (KCOB) and Canadian Canara Vision Inc. (CCVI).

He also championed the protest march in 2008, at the Celebration Square, Mississauga, to bring awareness to the Canadian authorities when the human rights of the Christian minorities in Mangaluru were violated.

As if putting all of these shows, events and activities, doesn’t make him busy enough, he is also the president of Canara World Foundation Inc, and is the current chairperson of Canadian Canara Vision Inc. This organisation provides affordable Catholic burial grounds for people originating from the Konkan belt of India.

For being a promoter of these cultural activities and for his leadership qualities, he has been recognised with several awards including the ‘Toastmaster’s International Leadership Award’ and the ‘BMO Hero of the Game’.

Max is not the “All work and no play” guy, he is an avid marathon runner, enjoys playing ice curling and badminton, acting, reading and travelling around the world.

His wife Nancy, three children Rayner, Shaina and Tamera are his motivation to succeed.

Zulema de Souza - a multi-faceted personality

This zesty and zany octogenarian is being recognized By Radio Mango for her invaluable contribution to Goan culture, and the impact she has created through her volunteer work over 47 years. Zulema de Souza’s multi-faceted skills and abilities include a trail-blazing sporting career, a teaching career, and a consultancy for Race Relations at the Peel Board of Education - where she developed the framework to identify bias in regional curricula - and her own practice as an accredited Family mediator and Family therapist.

Her achievements are numerous and varied:

•First female president of the Goa Overseas Association (1982-83) (1987-88). During her tenure the GOA attained status as a charitable organisation.
•Initiated, designed and executed the largest International Goan Convention in 1988 which showcased Goans on the world stage. The objectives were to promote the sense of community among Goans in Canada, to develop the capacity of Goans to meet the social, economic, cultural and political challenges, to foster better understanding between Goans and the community at large, and to share with others Goan values .
•Helped in the formation of the International Goan organisation (IGO) whose purpose was to enhance the collective capacity of Goans everywhere, and help organise through member organisations projects beneficial to Goans all over the globe.
•Board member of the multi-cultural History society of Ontario for over 20 years.
•Principal for international Languages School, Peel Board continuing education for 9 years, when she endeavoured to establish a Konkani language program.
•Profiled contributions of Goans to Canadian society in the publication Canada at the millennium- a trans-cultural society.
•Assisted refugees from Uganda to assimilate into Canada, working with the Lady Easton Foundation. She single-handedly found accommodation for 20 refugee families from Uganda
•Founder of the first Junior Goan Hockey team
•Founder member and first secretary of the Goan theatrical Group
•President of the West End seniors
•Volunteer at the Para Olympics
•Won Gold medal Kololo Secondary school Uganda for her invaluable contribution to the school, Pune University Gold medal for being winning team captain for 3 consecutive years, 2 Ontario Volunteer awards.
•Contributions to 2 publications: Goa – Continuity and Change, and Uganda, South Asians Exodus.
•Zulema has been featured in the Times of India, Goa. In addition to Konkani, she is fluent in 4 other languages
Recognising their relentless service to the Konkani language and the society at large, Radio Mango is deeply honoured to bestow upon Max Mendes and Zulema de Souza, the prestigious ‘Radio Mango Award – 2018’.

Radio Mango’s 6th anniversary

There will be song and dance with fabulous prizes, and many surprise performances on September 22, as Radio Mango with North America’s only radio program celebrates yet another milestone – its 6th anniversary of broadcasting (now online) in Toronto, Canada. Radio Mango has earned a reputation of organising not just unique, but highly enjoyable events, year after year. This year is no different. The most anticipated event of the year is poised to offer guests the very best. Renowned musician Acacio Pereira is going to perform for the first time in Toronto Acacio Pereira and Victor Solo
N’ live. The Headliner Band – Goa Amigos, together with DJ will keep dancers burning the floor. The best MC, Antony Dourado will keep the show crisp and exciting. All of this is happening at one of GTA’s best Banquet Halls ‘The Payal’.

Six years ago, Radio Mango went on air on Saturday, September 29, 2012. Since then, it has grown exponentially, as Konkani speakers all over the world tune in to get their dose of nostalgia and memories through songs composed and sung by legends from Mangaluru and Goa. Today, Radio Mango is acknowledged and recognized all over the world as a professionally run online radio, dedicated to preserving the Konkani language in Canada.

This Radio Mango’s exclusive event is being sponsored by the best. Elizabeth Hayde of RE/MAX is presenting platinum sponsor and Norman Karkada of Erin Park Lexus the gold sponsor, Divya Ratnasamy of Right at Home Realty, Reynold Sequeira of Remax Realty Specialists Inc, Mango Mirchi and The Serial Chefs are the silver sponsors. Apart from attractive door and raffle prizes the free photo booth sponsored by Edgar De Souza of De Souza, Financial Corp will be an added attraction.

For the event tickets please call:

Milena on 4168972631 or Alan on 4169020673
Or write to: milena@radiomango.ca, alan@radiomango.ca