Latest news with #FranciscoVidal
CBC
20-07-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Ontario refugee agencies host soccer tournament to build community and friendship
Social Sharing Refugees from all over the world came together for an annual soccer tournament in North York this Saturday organized as a way to help newcomers build connections in Canada, and take their minds off the stress of being in a new country. The tournament was put on by the Ontario Coalition of Service Providers for Refugee Claimants, a group of agencies and refugee housing services that are located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), said, located in Toronto. Francisco Vidal, executive director of Sojourn House, which provides emergency shelter and transitional housing services to newly arrived refugees in the GTA, said the tournament "uses soccer as a tool to build community and promote healthy lifestyles." Participating in the matches also helps improve players' mental and physical health, he said. "Some of [the players] have not had their refugee claim hearing yet," he said. "This puts their mind away into something that can build community and friendship." Event an opportunity to share experiences Dany Abuela attended the tournament for the first time on Saturday. Abuela moved to Toronto from Ecuador in January with his family. They have been staying at Romero House, an organization that provides refugee claimants with transitional housing and immigration support. "We are happy. Canada is a great country," he said. "This event for us is very important because we can speak with the other people, know their experience." Tenzin Khentse moved to Canada from India in 2021 and now works at the FCJ Refugee Centre as a youth leader focused on preventing human trafficking. He said the event is a good distraction for those dealing with refugee and asylum procedures. "Football is something that everybody enjoys. It's something everybody can relate to, and it's a really good distraction, you just forget about your problems for a while," said Khentse. This year, Vidal said there has been "a lot of hype" around the tournament because of the 2026 FIFA World Cup — which will be hosted in Canada, U.S. and Mexico — as well as the story of Canadian soccer star Alphonso Davies, who was born in a refugee camp in Ghana before he moved to Canada when he was five years old. Soccer team is like a 'new family in Canada' Some refugees living in refugee houses do not have family in Canada, said Diana Gallego, the co-executive director of the FCJ Refugee Centre, located in York. "To become a member of a soccer team, it's kind of [like] 'This is my new family in Canada,'" she said. Gallego said she fled Colombia 21 years ago with her husband and her son. Her son played in the tournament on Saturday. "When we are forced to leave our countries, we do it because our lives are at risk," she said. "To come here and to find an open home and somebody that can welcome you is really important." The coalition has organized five tournaments since 2018. This year marks the first time an agency from Hamilton participated in the tournament, as a way to engage with refugess outside the GTA, Vidal said.
Time Out
17-06-2025
- Business
- Time Out
Páteo do Petisco and Burguês arrive at the renovated Parede Market
It was at the traditional Mercado da Parede – which has been getting a long-overdue revamp over the past few years – that two of Cascais' best-loved restaurants opened their doors on June 5th: Páteo do Petisco and Burguês. The launches had been in the pipeline for quite some time, with renovation works taking a couple of years to wrap up completely. The Páteo group, which first opened Páteo do Petisco in Torre back in 2010 (and later expanded to Mercado da Vila), won a public tender to take over the spaces. 'One of our strengths was having two distinct concepts,' Francisco Vidal, one of the group's partners, told Time Out Cascais. 'That way, the local council only had to deal with one operator.' Mercado da Parede still runs as a traditional market from Tuesday to Sunday, with a butcher, fruit and veg stalls, a deli and a fishmonger. It was already home to a Padaria Portuguesa – with the local council offices of Carcavelos and Parede located just above – and now the space has welcomed two new foodie neighbours. 'We've got loads of regulars from around here who used to head into Cascais,' says Francisco. 'Now they've got somewhere right on their doorstep – and Parede's a lively area. It's probably one of the most street-active neighbourhoods along the coast. There's been a real boost in local population too, so it made total sense.' 'We only opened a week ago, but it's already been buzzing!' he adds. 'Another big plus is that Uber Eats plays a huge part in our business nowadays. With these two concepts here, we're now able to serve both Cascais and Oeiras – which is something we're really excited about.' The art of "petiscar" The menus are exactly the same as in the original spots. At Páteo do Petisco, it's all about classic Portuguese petiscos – just as the name suggests. Think peixinhos da horta (green beans in tempura, €8), garlicky fried cuttlefish with aioli (€10.20), sizzling garlic prawns (€12), pica pau (marinated beef strips) with skinny fries (€13.25), ovos rotos (soft eggs with chips and ham, €9.50), eggs with farinheira sausage (€7.50), slow-cooked moelas (gizzards, €9.30), padrón peppers (€7.80), flame-grilled chouriço (€8), or sautéed mushrooms (€9.50) – just to name a few. If you're after something a bit heartier, they've got you covered with full-on mains too. There's the teclado (a grilled meat combo) with sliced potatoes (€14), aged beef (€29), the signature Bife à Páteo (€15.50), classic bitoques (€13.50), or secretos (juicy pork cuts, €14), plus a range of other steaks, fish and seafood dishes. And for the sandwich lovers, there are prego rolls to suit all tastes – whether you're into beef, black pork, chicken or tuna. Between two slices of bread Right next door, in a similarly laid-out space, Burguês is all about burgers. And we're not talking about your average cheeseburger. On the menu, the Alto Gabarito (€15) stands tall with 150g of beef, lettuce, tomato, queijo da ilha (Azores cheese), mushrooms, onions, bacon and a fried egg on top. Then there's the Guincho (€13.60), with the same 150g of beef, plus lettuce, tomato, brie, mushrooms and cured ham. Or you can keep it classic with the Burguês (€10.90), stacked with beef, lettuce, tomato, cheddar, bacon and onion. Burguês To kick things off, there are some all-American-inspired starters: chicken wings (€5.50 for 5), onion rings (€4.20 for 6), or breaded jalapeños stuffed with cheddar (€4.90 for 5). And if you're keeping it light(ish), there are salads on offer too (€12.80). The new Páteo do Petisco seats around 80 people, with a counter, an outdoor terrace and even a TV to catch the footie. Over at Burguês, there's space for about 40 diners. Francisco Vidal says it's a long-term move: 'We're here to stay.' As for what's next, the group – which also runs Páteo do Guincho at Cascais Marina – might have more in the pipeline. 'Right now we're in a solid place and the goal is to keep growing,' says Francisco. 'We're always open to exploring new opportunities – whether that's here, there or somewhere in between.'
