From Tanzania and Uganda to 50 Years in Mississauga: A Love Story Rooted in Family, Faith, and Field Hockey
From Tanzania and Uganda to 50 Years in Mississauga: A Love Story Rooted in Family, Faith, and Field Hockey
By: Shirley Fernandes
A few weeks ago, Ed and I were shopping at the Square One Mall, here in Mississauga, and to our great surprise there was a huge “50” on display. Turns out the mall and city are celebrating its 50th birthday, the same year as our Golden Wedding Anniversary… very coincidentally as we have so much history here in Mississauga and with this mall.
Our love story, 50 years in the making, Our Golden Wedding Anniversary…
In 1968, Edwin Fernandes was sent by his Father from Tanzania on his own, to make a better life for himself here in Canada, where he continued his education.
In November of 1972, my family arrived in Canada as refugees from Uganda. My first GoA Christmas dance was the following month and I attended this with my parents and a few of my siblings.
To my surprise, I met my now husband, Edwin that great evening. Just like the hit of a field hockey stick to the ball, we hit it off.
We dated and were engaged very soon. In 1974, Ed began his career in the hospitality industry, and more specifically in Square One Mall in Mississauga.
Luckily for us, he arranged for our wedding reception to be held in the mall’s Auditorium. We were married Saturday, June 1st, 1974!
Over the next years, we were blessed with our children Wayne, Joanna, and Tara into our family.
In 1985, we owned our very first business, “Hippo Cafe Restaurant” located in Square One Mall, one of the biggest malls in Canada at that time. This restaurant brought us much joy and pride as we were able to host many events, including the, late-and-great, Mayor Hazel McCallion’s Christmas Staff Luncheon, the Toronto Argonauts Meet-and-Greet, as well as, a G.O.A. fundraiser dinner which helped raise funds for a community building. Recently, the G.O.A. finally bought a second building for our Goan community and, how fun to know, the fundraising all began back in 1987 in our very own restaurant in Square One Mall… oh the memories!
Alongside Hippo Cafe and shortly thereafter, we than ventured into a multi million dollar Algonquin Tavel Agency situated in Yorkville, Toronto’s very own mini Hollywood which allowed us to enjoy memorable travel, road, skiing, and camping trips, some travel with family all around the world.
Our restaurant HIPPO CAFE opened in 1985,in Square One
First fund raising for the GOA CLUB held at our reataurant in Square One, JANUARY 1987
Then came Field Hockey!!! Of course before kids, field hockey was a sport that both Ed and I enjoyed playing, back in Tanzania and Uganda, as well as, here in North America and in many field hockey playing countries with the GOA Reds and GOA Ladies where we competed in many tournaments and leagues. But once the kids were into the sport, our lives took another exciting twist!
Our son Wayne began the sport at a young age, when he would join Ed for his practices and games. Years later, he would be named to the Junior and then to the Senior Canadian National Teams, where he played in 204 games, earning 204 international caps, representing this great country! We were so blessed to travel with our daughters to watch him play at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, 2 Pan American Games, 2 Commonwealth Games, 1 World Cup, 1 Challenger Cup, 2 Indoor World Cups, and many qualifiers along the way. Regarding our Mississauga connection, a home we have called for fifty years, we met Hurricane Hazel again when she presented our son with his award, as he was named “Athlete of the Year” in 2008 soon after he scored the winning goal at the Pan American Games that took Canada to the Beijing Olympics.
Wayne wins the award Athlete of the Year 2008 in the City of Mississauga at the Sports Banquet
Wayne first walk into the field at the Olympic stadium
Wayne Fernandes scores the winning goal at the Pan Am Games in Rio Brazil that took our Canadian Field Hockey team to the Olympics
The girls played field hockey as well, playing and coaching for Team Ontario, as well as earning scholarships in the USA. Tara played for Boston College, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and also did her Master’s degree, which later led to her obtaining her CPA designation. We especially enjoyed watching Tara and the Boston College Team win the Big East Championship in 2003. Joanna played for the University of Maine where she earned her degree and then coached at St. Lawrence University where she completed her Masters in Education. We were blessed with more travel to watch these two play or coach in their NCAA games across the USA.
Joanna and Tara get full field hockey scholarships in the US Universites.
Joanna earned a grad assisst position in St Lawrence University where she earned her Masters in Education.
Tara Graduation, earning her Masters at the Carroll School of Management in Boston College
Proud of our 3 Athletes
As the kids became involved in the sport, Ed found himself playing less and coaching more. Over the decades he also became the Vice President of Field Hockey Canada, and as the Men’s National Team qualified for the Sydney Olympics 2000 under his watch also gave him the experience of the Sydney Olympics, Ed was manager for various Canadian Senior and Junior National Outdoor and Indoor Field Hockey Teams which took us all over the world in all the Field Hockey playing countries. He has coached Team Ontario and various high school teams, but can now be found to be very dedicated to his GOA Reds girls’ team. He helps the girls reach their potential and helps them achieve their dreams of playing for their province/country or earning a scholarship to a NCAA team in the USA, just as his children did all those years ago. Recently he received the Development Coach of the Year Award, given out by Field Hockey Canada.
Today our three children are married and we are blessed to have our daughter-in-law, Ruby, and two son-in-laws, Filipe and Norman, who all add such fun to our family unit. We are also blessed with four beautiful grandchildren, Isaac, Serena, Lexington and Santiago. These four keep us entertained and active during the fun times we spend together. We are also blessed to have our Angel Baby Freddie in Heaven watching over us. In addition, within a few weeks, we are excited to welcome our sixth grandchild, another baby girl.
We celebrate this milestone of 50 years together as a married couple with gratitude to God, joy, and love. We are excited for what the next years hold, and look forward to enjoying life as our family continues to grow and make more memories together. Thanking and praising God for our amazing journey, and all the blessings my husband and I have received!
