Group photo of participants in the Latino Heritage Month opening ceremony at the Manitoba Legislative Assembly. From left to right: María Fernanda Vallejo, Anita Neville and Nellie Kennedy in the foreground. Credit: Graham McDonald/U Multicultural Journalism and Media Arts Centre.
Since 2018, October 1 marks the beginning of Latino Heritage Month across Canada.
To mark this occasion, Latinas Manitoba, an organization which helps Spanish-speaking women in the province, organized an opening ceremony in the Manitoba Legislative Assembly.
The evening kicked off with the Latinas Manitoba Children’s Choir singing “O Canada” in Spanish and the year’s opening ceremony was dedicated to children and future generations of Latin American Manitobans.
Also present were Nellie Kennedy, the current provincial Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism, Lieutenant Governor Anita R. Neville, and Consul General of El Salvador to Winnipeg Fernando Aguilar.
The ceremony’s focus on future generations was evident throughout the evening. When a baby began crying during her remarks, Neville briefly stopped speaking to reassure the audience that she didn’t mind.
“I don’t mind the baby’s crying. This is what we’re here for: children, babies,” Neville commented.
For the second year in a row, Latinas Manitoba received a proclamation from the province recognizing October as Latino Heritage Month, which was presented by Kennedy.
Aguilar highlighted Manitoba’s growing Salvadoran community, saying Salvadorans have established businesses, professional careers, community organizations and cultural initiatives in the province while maintaining connections to El Salvador. He described members of the diaspora as natural bridges between the two places.
“The proclamation reminds us that Manitoba is enriched by a diverse and growing Latin American population, representing more than 20 countries, each bringing its own history, traditions and world perspectives,” Aguilar said.
“Among these communities is the Salvadoran community, whose presence in Manitoba is an important part of our relationship with the province. Salvadorans have established businesses, professional careers, community organizations and cultural initiatives here that contribute to Manitoba, while maintaining strong connections with El Salvador.”
The Salvadoran government opened a consulate general in Winnipeg in 2024 to serve a diaspora it estimated at more than 11,000 people in Manitoba and Nunavut.
Mayra Dubón, the master of ceremonies, read a message from Prime Minister Carney to the Latino community of Manitoba.
“Latin American Canadians continue to strengthen the social and cultural fabric of Canada,” Carney’s message read in part.
In an interview with the author of this piece, Vallejo expanded on the role her organization plays in helping Latino Manitobans and what gave rise to the idea.
The following contains quotes from María Fernanda Vallejo which have been translated from Spanish to English by the author.
Vallejo said Latinas Manitoba grew out of a Facebook group she created during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep Spanish-speaking women connected and help them access information and resources.
Having experienced intimate partner and gender-based violence herself, Vallejo said she was particularly concerned about women who might be experiencing abuse while isolated at home. The group also provided practical information for newcomers, ranging from changing pandemic restrictions to adjusting to Winnipeg winters.
“I thought that during the pandemic that situation was going to get worse as the immigration boom began,” Vallejo said.
“It was important that they stay connected, that they know about resources [and] updates about what was happening during the pandemic.”
Vallejo said the Latin American community in Winnipeg has boomed since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vallejo explained that, like many immigrants, skilled Latin Americans with professional training often have difficulty getting their credentials recognized in Winnipeg.
“There are various professionals from our countries who are ready to work, but we understand that nothing’s going to happen from one day or to the other.”
“Rather, they often have to re-do their education or work on their proficiency in English.”
Vallejo remarked that members of the Latino community have nevertheless been able to make many contributions to Winnipeg and Manitoba more generally.
“We are very good workers. There are lots of people [from the community] in construction, cleaning.”
Vallejo noted that many entrepreneurial Latino Manitobans were opening businesses in Winnipeg.
“There are others who are starting, creating new businesses. There are even Latin Americans who have various businesses and now can give work to more people. Therefore, you could say we’re contributing to the economy of Manitoba, of Canada.”
During the ceremony, Vallejo said that Latinas Manitoba had identified around 60 internationally educated health professionals and connected them with appropriate provincial health ministry contacts.
Additionally, the organization runs a child-care workforce pathway meant to prepare participants for careers in the sector, with approximately 22 active participants.
Near the end of the ceremony Dubón talked about the synthesis of identities that many Latinos experience after immigrating to Manitoba.
“When many of us came to Canada, we were told, ‘Bring only what you need.’ … Somehow, we forgot that advice, because we brought all our music, our accents, our traditions,” Dubón said.
“We wanted a better future for our children. We wanted to work hard. We wanted to contribute. We wanted to belong.”
“Slowly, Manitoba became more than the place where we lived. It became home.”
Near the end of the opening ceremony, Vallejo reiterated her commitment to making sure Latino Manitoban children stayed in touch with their roots.
“I want them to know they don’t have to choose between being proud of where their families came from and being proud to call Manitoba home. They can be both.”
Graham McDonald, U Multicultural Journalism and Media Arts Centre