Mr. Speaker, Portuguese people around the world commemorate their rich history and vibrant culture today. June 10 honours the passing of Luís de Camões, a national hero and a legend who penned Os Lusíadas, a renowned collection of epic poems that capture stories of brave explorers and the Enlightenment during the age of discoveries in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Those mariners were the first to circumnavigate the globe and open trade routes around the world, including the initial mapping of Terra Nova's shores off the Grand Banks. Centuries later, a wave of new Portuguese migration arrived at Pier 21 in 1953. My father, among the migrants, sailed across the Atlantic in search of opportunity in Canada. The migrants opened doors for generations that followed.
Today we celebrate a strong and vibrant Portuguese diaspora. I congratulate its members and the unifying voice of the Alliance of Portuguese Clubs and Associations of Ontario, which showcases the annual Portugal Day parade in Toronto.
Feliz Dia de Portugal. Feliz Dia de Camões. Feliz Dia das Comunidades Portuguesas à volta do Mundo. Happy Portugal Day.