ACAPO (Alliance of Portuguese Clubs and Associations of Ontario) was founded on June 10, 1987, by Martinho Silva. The organization emerged after a meeting at the now defunct Casa do Algarve, where eight community associations decided to join forces to promote Portuguese culture. Among the founders were names such as Manuel de Almeida Melo, Manuel Brito Fialho and Florival Torres da Silva. Before ACAPO, Portugal Day celebrations were organized by the Council of Communities and the Portuguese Consulate in Toronto, with smaller-scale celebrations.

ACAPO's first event was a parade in 1987 on Dundas Street, which later became the traditional route between Lansdowne Avenue and Bellwoods Park. During its first decade, the organization focused on engaging older generations, attracting thousands of people to events at Bellwoods Park. In 1997, with the election of José Maria Eustáquio as president, ACAPO began to focus on youth as well, creating a Youth Alliance and promoting events that significantly increased participation among this age group. Under Eustáquio’s leadership, ACAPO modernized, bringing in renowned Portuguese artists such as Xutos e Pontapés and Pedro Abrunhosa, which attracted a younger audience. However, the organization faced financial challenges, such as in 1990, during an attempt to raise funds for Camões Park, which resulted in significant losses. Despite this, ACAPO continued to strengthen its mission, promoting Portuguese culture and uniting the Portuguese-Canadian community. The visit of the President of Portugal, Jorge Sampaio, in 2001 marked a moment of financial stability for ACAPO. However, in 2002, internal divisions and financial difficulties led to the departure of members and sponsors. Despite these challenges, the organization has remained resilient, adapting to changes in the community and the integration of Portuguese-Canadians into Canadian society.

Today, ACAPO has over 30 members and continues to be the leading promoter of Portugal Day celebrations in Canada. The event, which began as a one-day celebration, has evolved into a month-long series of activities culminating in Portugal Week. The parade, folk festivals and concerts continue to attract thousands of participants each year.

Decades after its founding, ACAPO remains a symbol of the preservation of Portuguese culture and traditions in Canada. Despite the challenges, the organization is recognized for its impact on the community and the dedication of its volunteers, who make the grand annual Portugal Week celebrations possible.