Janet D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Canada
Canada, Dec 24: A dynamic successful organization has the courage, boldness and willingness to stick with an unconventional and unique course of action, it follows a path not walked on by others and it aims to stand out by always doing something special.
The Mangalorean Association of Canada (MAC), under the dynamic leadership of Maxim D’Mello, its president, Everest Vijay Dante, vice-president and the hugely talented Executive Committee is the perfect example of an innovative and consistently evolving association and it demonstrated its uniqueness by successfully introducing and concluding an exceptional event, a Christmas Bazaar attended by over 500 people.
Strategic marketing, consistent communication, active encouragement and advocacy of entrepreneurship resonated with the community and MAC was guaranteed a favourable outcome for the Bazaar.
The MAC Christmas Bazaar provided an awareness and much needed visibility of the entrepreneurs, especially the young adults who were looking to build a compelling personal brand, promote their products, penetrate niche markets, encounter other start up businesses or simply provide a platform for other people with talent who have a vision and dream of starting a new business venture.
As a powerful organisation, MAC has tremendous influence and impact within the community and the Bazaar was the perfect opportunity and platform to learn vital entrepreneurial literacy, employability, readiness skills, start up resources and grow their own micro-enterprises in a fun but tried and tested way. MAC's fulfilled its objective to connect new immigrant entrepreneurs with people within the community, it provided a casual fun atmosphere for newcomers to meet people from their hometowns in India, and finally, it brought back nostalgic memories of traditions and experiences of childhood days with families and friends coming together to share the Christmas cheer.
The Christmas Bazaar started at 10 am with a prayer led by Ronald Fernandes, sports coordinator followed by a welcome address by Everest Vijay Dante, vice-president of MAC. A total of 15 business women, men and young entrepreneurs set up their allocated and numbered tables with their home baked delicious Kuswar, cakes, hot food, powder masalas, packaged snacks, artwork, jewelry and ethnic clothing.
Each vendor was given an opportunity by the emcee, Charlotte D’Souza, joint secretary to deliver a short campaign message about their motivation to join the bazaar and their products to build brand awareness, drive traffic, boost sales and increase engagement through social media.
These hardworking, versatile and talented entrepreneurs had heart tugging stories of their discovery and journey and MAC, through their Christmas Bazaar, introduced and promoted them within the Canadian and international multicultural Konkani landscape. Here are our community entrepreneurs who went above and beyond to participate in the Bazaar, support MAC and bring the true selfless Christmas spirit to all.
? Maiden Hand – Nina Crasta for delightful artisan handbags, pouches, and wall
decors
? Little Flower - Sunita Aranha for delicious homemade Rose Kokkisam and
Nevrios
? Caroline’s Christmas Workshop – Caroline Menezes, our youngest talented
businessgirl for rock art, paintings and delicious baked treats
? Bollywood Dance – Jasmine Monteiro, an amazing dancer and
choreographer providing dance lessons to Bollywood music
? Province of Design – Deborah Lewis & Nicole Lewis for innovative
Christmas decorations, greeting cards & one of a kind jewelry
? Marigold Bakery – Nicole Cardoza, a young student who owns a bakery
and bake drool worthy cakes and cookies
? Jasmine Noronha – a cheerful and successful realtor who also makes home-
made pickles
? Jerry’s Mangalorean Spices – Jerry Moraes who despite all adversity
and handicap sells Mangalorean spices, savory treats, Kuswar,
mouthwatering pork dishes and sannas
? Papa Simon’s – Janet Rodrigues, who with great nostalgia and fondness, uses her dad’s recipe for plum cake and also sells other goodies like coconut
cookies with almonds
? Just Like Mum’s – Melisha Noronha who delighted visitors with her Mangalore buns and chutney, Mallad pork, baked goods and cakes
? Rochelle Kitchen Artifacts and Food – Marina Pereira for finger licking homemade Biryani and Kheema Pao
? Goan Spices – Noel D’Souza for its one stop shop for premium Goan spices, masalas, pickles and Kuswar
? Udupi Madras Café – our very own Vijay Dante for delectable and flavorful Golibhaje, Vada, Holige, and in a class of its own, the melt in the mouth traditional Mysore Pak
? Amcha Kuznanth – Charlotte D’Souza, Vidya Alvares, Christine D’Souza for their delectable authentic Pork Baffat, pillowy Sannas and tasty rum cakes
? Namaste North – Roushelle Lobo for Indian ethnic ladies salwar kameez, men’s kurtas and kids clothing
Each event organised by MAC promotes belonging, inclusion and representation and in that very spirit, executive members and volunteers provided a safe and fun area for children’s activities such as gingerbread house drawing corner and face tattoos.
Seating areas were allocated for seniors and families who wanted to take a respite from all the fun and just chill and eat hot food and snacks. And what is a Christmas Bazaar without our beloved Santa who is a symbol of hope and reminds us that miracles can happen if we put our faith in the spirit of kindness and generosity.
Jervis D’Sa was the Christmas Bazaar’s Santa and he provided the joy and festive spirits with his loud HOHOHO and he distributed candy and children took pictures with Santa.
The Mangalorean youth were the stars of the event as they led the Karaoke and singing sessions with old and new favorites such as Susanna, Mog Tuzo Kitlo Ashelon, Chandrem Voodenv Ailo, Namma Kudlaadha Vooru and many more.
MAC is tremendously thankful to the youth artistes for their magnanimity in supporting the association and are grateful to Elroy Crasta, Jasmine Monteiro, Aster Fernandes, Oswin Rebello, Thomas D’Souza, Steven Pais, and Calvin Fernandes.
The youth also had a food table with delicacies such as Coorgi pork ribs, chicken patties, pav bhaji and charumuri chat that Bazaar visitors enjoyed tremendously.
The enthusiasm was contagious and other community singers such as eynold Sequiera, Leo Rego, Sanjay Castelino and Fr Roshan D’Souza joined in, adding to the mood and spirit of the Christmas Bazaar.
When the Christmas Bazaar gradually wound up at 3.30 pm, everyone including the vendors were fulfilled and content. Every single entrepreneur had positive feedback and experiences; they had all achieved profitable margins, their products were sold out, and both startups and established businesses were committed to participating in the 2024 MAC Christmas Bazaar.
Jerry Moraes of Jerry’s Mangalorean Spices commented, “My biggest thanks to the MAC Executive Committee for assisting me with my wheelchair and products. My kuswas was fully sold out.”
Sunita Aranha of Little Flower said,” I feel truly honored and blessed to be a part of MAC. My rose cookies and Nevrios sold out in 2 hours.”
Nicole Cardoza, who owns Marigold Bakery said,” Thank you MAC for giving Marigold Bakery an opportunity to showcase my talents and baking skills.” Marina Pereira of Rochelle Kitchen Artifacts and Food said, “I had an incredible time and it brought me so much happiness to interact with so many extraordinary individuals and felt glad to have very good feedback on the biryani that was sold out.”
Caroline’s Christmas Workshop run by Caroline Menezes had the following comment, "I had a phenomenal time and was overjoyed to meet so many wonderful people. All my rock art and acrylic paintings were sold out.” Roushelle Lobo of Namaste North said, “It was an absolute pleasure to be a vendor at such a well organised Christmas Bazaar by the amazing MAC team. I am ecstatic about the new connections I made within the community and look forward to similar future events.”
The Mangalorean Association of Canada thanks the benefactors, sponsors and all the vendors for their advocacy and contributions. MAC expresses its deepest gratitude to Vincent and Prescilla Machado for their generous, selfless, and voluntary monetary gift towards the bazaar. Vincent and Prescilla Machado have been incredible supporters of MAC and have contributed to the many successful events organized by MAC.
MAC applauds co-sponsor Everest Vijay Dante of the renowned and well-known Udupi Madras Cafe for being a loyal, loyal, committed advocate and sponsor of the Christmas Bazaar and the many events organised by MAC. MAC’s sincere gratitude to Felix D’Souza of D’Souza Ansher Mechanical Services Inc , Ronald and Clara Fernandes for their kindness in sponsoring the personalized custom MAC banners.
MAC appreciates the efforts of its media partners Konkani TV Canada, Radio Mango and Daijiworld for their support of the Bazaar. "The broadest, and maybe the most meaningful definition of volunteering: Doing more than you have to because you want to, in a cause you consider good." – Ivan Scheier.
Every single executive member of MAC rose to the challenge, went above and beyond, painstakingly and meticulously planned, executed and volunteered their time and skills to orchestrate a magnificent 2023 Christmas Bazaar.
MAC has also thanked an army of volunteers within the community who contributed in big and small ways to ensure the success of the event. And finally, MAC has applauded the management and staff of Palacio Event Center for their kindness and flexibility in accommodating many informal changes and requests as well as participating in all the festivities.