To unite and promote fellowship and goodwill among its members
To help foster the Portuguese tradition evolved in Macau
To promote and develop social and cultural activities for its members
To help and assist newcomers from Hong Kong and Macau to integrate into the Canadian Society.

In the 1950s members of our community from Hong Kong, Macau and Shanghai began their migration to Canada, with many settling in Toronto. In just over a half century, one can now find Macanese families established in communities stretching from the east to west coasts of this great adopted country of ours. 

It was a difficult transition for many. We had to adjust to the severe winters, blend in with the very different lifestyle, and even learn the subtle differences in the North American vernacular that was not familiar to us in our land of birth. We were also raising young families and settling into new careers.

Although we still got together with our friends from "back home", these occasions were few and far between. Sadly it was mostly at funerals that the "community" saw each other.

By the 1970s we were more or less settled and the Macanese population increased dramatically with continuing immigration. There was "talk" about getting a club organized, as many other ethnic groups had done. But it took many more years before this materialized, due mostly to the fact that we were so spread out geographically.

Then in the late 1980s, by which time we were well into our careers, raising families, and now citizens of our adopted land, the formation of the Casa actually took place. A small group, no more than two dozen individuals, got together in a Chinese restaurant and passed ideas around. Everyone felt quite caught up with the idea of forming an association and further discussions took place over the next few months.

However, with no funds at all, the going was difficult. We realized that functions would have to be held in restaurants, or we would have to rent halls and other such facilities. But things were taking shape and excitement heightened. It was then decided that membership fees would be $60 per year to help with initial expenses. (Current fees are $36 per year for full members) A Constitution was drawn up and a name for the club had to be decided on.

Finally, in 1990, the association was incorporated and its name was officially registered as Casa de Macau Cultural and Recreational Centre in Ontario. Officers were elected to serve for two-year terms, and today, we are firmly established, with a modest clubhouse to call our own. The space that we occupy was obtained through the generosity of Fundação Oriente. Small as our Clubhouse is, the premises are well utilized with over 200 days in a year taken up for activities including the monthly Social and Card Drive, the twice-weekly class for Tai Chi, and weekly classes for Line Dance and Yoga, all of which are open to our members, as well as for regular Board of Executives and Committee meetings. Larger events or functions, such as Dia de Macau, Christmas parties, Annual Meetings etc. are still held outside the Clubhouse as fire regulations restrict the number of persons on the premises to not more than 50.

We publish a quarterly newsletter, which is mailed out to all members, with complementary copies sent to all our sister associations around the world as well as other related organizations. A quarterly calendar of events is published in the Newsletter and posted on Casa's website. We hope that this will be another forum through which there can be an exchange and sharing of ideas between our Casa and the greater Macanese community worldwide.