Brazil | Salvador | July 7

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, on a walking tour of Pelourinho, the historic centre of Salvador.

Salvador’s historical centre – called Pelourinho or the Pillary – is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site and is full of colourful colonial architecture, magnificent old houses, the nation's first medical school (which now houses the Afro-Brazilian Museum) and Brazil's oldest cathedral (1572) in addition to a plethora of other churches, many of which feature significant works of art. The Afro-Brazilian Museum was opened in 1982 as a joint venture between the Federal Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Culture, the State Government of Bahia, the City of Salvador and the Federal University of Bahia. Its purpose is to celebrate and disseminate information on Brazil’s African culture, history and linkages.

"A galera de bobeira"

Young Brazilians enjoy a sunny afternoon in Salvador.

A young Brazilian smiles for the camera in Salvador.

A street vendor in Salvador.

Canadian moderator and filmmaker Cameron Bailey during the panel discussion and debate on “Film as a Force for Social Change: Accommodating diversity in Canada and Brazil” at the Solar do Unhão Cultural Centre in Salvador, Brazil.

With a focus on film as a force for social change, the theme of the debate was on the importance of inclusion and accommodating diversity in the Canadian and Brazilian contexts.

His Excellency Monsieur Jean-Daniel Lafond, during a panel discussion and debate on “Film as a Force for Social Change: Accommodating diversity in Canada and Brazil” at the Solar do Unhão Cultural Centre in Salvador, Brazil.

With a focus on film as a force for social change, the theme of the debate was on the importance of inclusion and accommodating diversity in the Canadian and Brazilian contexts.

Secretary of Culture for the State of Bahia Marcio Meirelles during a panel discussion and debate on “Film as a Force for Social Change: Accommodating diversity in Canada and Brazil” at the Solar do Unhão Cultural Centre in Salvador, Brazil.

With a focus on film as a force for social change, the theme of the debate was on the importance of inclusion and accommodating diversity in the Canadian and Brazilian contexts.

Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Monsieur Jean-Daniel Lafond, and moderator Cameron Bailey, during panel discussion and debate on “Film as a Force for Social Change: Accommodating diversity in Canada and Brazil” at the Solar do Unhão Cultural Centre in Salvador, Brazil.

With a focus on film as a force for social change, the theme of the debate was on the importance of inclusion and accommodating diversity in the Canadian and Brazilian contexts.

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, during in a panel discussion and debate on “Film as a Force for Social Change: Accommodating diversity in Canada and Brazil” at the Solar do Unhão Cultural Centre in Salvador, Brazil.

With a focus on film as a force for social change, the theme of the debate was on the importance of inclusion and accommodating diversity in the Canadian and Brazilian contexts.

Professor Luiza Bairros during a panel discussion and debate on “Film as a Force for Social Change: Accommodating diversity in Canada and Brazil” at the Solar do Unhão Cultural Centre in Salvador, Brazil.

With a focus on film as a force for social change, the theme of the debate was on the importance of inclusion and accommodating diversity in the Canadian and Brazilian contexts.

Delegate Hervé Fisher during a panel discussion and debate on “Film as a Force for Social Change: Accommodating diversity in Canada and Brazil” at the Solar do Unhão Cultural Centre in Salvador, Brazil.

With a focus on film as a force for social change, the theme of the debate was on the importance of inclusion and accommodating diversity in the Canadian and Brazilian contexts.

Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Monsieur Jean-Daniel Lafond, participated in a panel discussion and debate on “Film as a Force for Social Change: Accommodating diversity in Canada and Brazil” at the Solar do Unhão Cultural Centre in Salvador, Brazil.

With a focus on film as a force for social change, the theme of the debate was on the importance of inclusion and accommodating diversity in the Canadian and Brazilian contexts. The evening concluded with a reception including traditional Bahian music, dance, and cuisine.

Performers from GAPA-Bahia.

A view of historic Salvador, former capital of colonial Brazil under Portuguese rule.

A street vendor in Salvador.

Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Monsieur Jean-Daniel Lafond, at the Afro-Brazilian Museum. It was opened in 1982 as a joint venture between the Federal Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Culture, the State Government of Bahia, the City of Salvador and the Federal University of Bahia. Its purpose is to celebrate and disseminate information on Brazil’s African culture, history and linkages.

Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Monsieur Jean-Daniel Lafond, and their daughter Marie-Éden, visit Olodum School.

Olodum is an internationally acclaimed Afro-Brazilian cultural group from Salvador which highlights African heritage and black pride through music, dance, theatre and art. Olodum is dedicated to cultural activism in the struggle against racial discrimination and socioeconomic inequality. The Olodum School is where the organisation train and work with children and adolescents.

Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Monsieur Jean-Daniel Lafond, and their daughter Marie-Éden, visit to Olodum School.

Olodum is an internationally acclaimed Afro-Brazilian cultural group from Salvador which highlights African heritage and black pride through music, dance, theatre and art. Olodum is dedicated to cultural activism in the struggle against racial discrimination and socioeconomic inequality. The Olodum School is where the organisation train and work with children and adolescents.

A young performer from the Olodum School.

Olodum is an internationally acclaimed Afro-Brazilian cultural group from Salvador which highlights African heritage and black pride through music, dance, theatre and art. Olodum is dedicated to cultural activism in the struggle against racial discrimination and socioeconomic inequality. The Olodum School is where the organisation train and work with children and adolescents.

Members from the Olodum School perform for the Governor General.

Olodum is an internationally acclaimed Afro-Brazilian cultural group from Salvador which highlights African heritage and black pride through music, dance, theatre and art. Olodum is dedicated to cultural activism in the struggle against racial discrimination and socioeconomic inequality. The Olodum School is where the organisation train and work with children and adolescents.

Members of GAPA-Bahia perform for the Governor General.

The visit included a theatrical presentation by the youth volunteers and an HIV/AIDS hip-hop presentation also written and choreographed by the youth volunteers.

GAPA-BA or Support Group for the Prevention of AIDS in Bahia was founded in 1988 by a group of volunteers from diverse backgrounds. These students and professionals considered the AIDS epidemic a serious threat to society as a whole, rather than a problem concerning only the few distinct populations initially affected. The Canadian Internationa Development Agency was the first international organization to support GAPA-BA when it was still a young organization. In 1991, the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) supported the installation of an HIV/AIDS Hotline. While the hotline is no longer active, as the face and dimensions of HIV/AIDS changed over the intervening years, the project was instrumental in launching the organization and opening the first awareness-raising activities on the issue in Brazil’s more impoverished Northeast. GAPA-BA is now the largest AIDS prevention organization in all of Brazil.

Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Monsieur Jean-Daniel Lafond, and their daughter Marie-Éden, watch a performance by GAPA-Bahia.

The visit included a theatrical presentation by the youth volunteers and an HIV/AIDS hip-hop presentation also written and choreographed by the youth volunteers.

GAPA-BA or Support Group for the Prevention of AIDS in Bahia was founded in 1988 by a group of volunteers from diverse backgrounds. These students and professionals considered the AIDS epidemic a serious threat to society as a whole, rather than a problem concerning only the few distinct populations initially affected. The Canadian Internationa Development Agency was the first international organization to support GAPA-BA when it was still a young organization. In 1991, the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) supported the installation of an HIV/AIDS Hotline. While the hotline is no longer active, as the face and dimensions of HIV/AIDS changed over the intervening years, the project was instrumental in launching the organization and opening the first awareness-raising activities on the issue in Brazil’s more impoverished Northeast. GAPA-BA is now the largest AIDS prevention organization in all of Brazil.

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, during her visit of GAPA-Bahia. The visit included a theatrical presentation by the youth volunteers and an HIV/AIDS hip-hop presentation also written and choreographed by the youth volunteers.

GAPA-BA or Support Group for the Prevention of AIDS in Bahia was founded in 1988 by a group of volunteers from diverse backgrounds. These students and professionals considered the AIDS epidemic a serious threat to society as a whole, rather than a problem concerning only the few distinct populations initially affected. The Canadian Internationa Development Agency was the first international organization to support GAPA-BA when it was still a young organization. In 1991, the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) supported the installation of an HIV/AIDS Hotline. While the hotline is no longer active, as the face and dimensions of HIV/AIDS changed over the intervening years, the project was instrumental in launching the organization and opening the first awareness-raising activities on the issue in Brazil’s more impoverished Northeast. GAPA-BA is now the largest AIDS prevention organization in all of Brazil.

A Brazilian woman in traditional Bahian attire.

A Brazilian woman in traditional Bahian attire.

A young performer from the Olodum School.

Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Monsieur Jean-Daniel Lafond, participated in a panel discussion and debate on “Film as a Force for Social Change: Accommodating diversity in Canada and Brazil” at the Solar do Unhão Cultural Centre in Salvador, Brazil.

With a focus on film as a force for social change, the theme of the debate was on the importance of inclusion and accommodating diversity in the Canadian and Brazilian contexts. The evening concluded with a reception including traditional Bahian music, dance, and cuisine.