Barrie

BARRIE’S POPULATION: 197,059

STATISTICS FOR THE PORTUGUESE IN BARRIE:

AS MOTHER
TONGUE		AS MOST
SPOKEN		KNOWLEDGE OF
THE LANGUAGE		BORN IN
PORTUGAL		ETHNIC
ORIGIN
855
0.4% of population		240
0.1% of population		1,195
0.6% of population		920
0.5% of population		2,765
1.4% of population
Source: Statistics Canada

A growing community trying to organize

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Part of this article is an adaptation of a piece by Avelino Teixeira, published in Luso-Ontario Magazine, 2008


Reports suggest that three Portuguese families settled in Barrie in the early 1960s. Although the community continued to grow slowly for the next few years, it wasn’t until the late 80s that a significant number of Portuguese began to move to Barrie and District. Currently, there are over 500 Luso-Canadian families residing in the city and surrounding areas. 

Joaquim Conceição Mendes, born and raised in Caldas da Rainha, was one of the pioneers in the area. He arrived from The Netherlands at the Collingwood docks on board of a Dutch vessel in 1969, settled in Phelpston, just outside of Barrie, and was joined by his family a year later. Jack, as he came to be known, became a reference for any Portuguese who arrived in the city. 

He began working in Canada as a welder but made a significant career change when, in 1977, he became a co-owner of the famous Crissa Bakery, located on 200 Wellington Street. Two years later, he completed the purchased and became the sole owner. At the time, the Portuguese community in Barrie consisted of less then 10 families who had developed tremendous respect for Joaquim Conceição Mendes. 

In 1999, at the age of 60 and when the Portuguese community in Barrie had grown to significant numbers, Jack decided to sell the business. However, before he was able to complete the sale, he accidentally lost one of his arms and suffered significant spine injury when he was cleaning one of the machines in the bakery. As a result, he remained in hospital for the next 8 months, unable to breathe on his own. Meanwhile, his wife, Hermínia Mendes, sold the business to Weston’s Bakery. After many months of fighting for his life, Jack succumbed to his injuries and passed away on May 5th of 2000. 

Joaquim Conceição Mendes served as inspiration and courage to many newcomers who arrived in Barrie to fight for a better life. His legacy lives on in the memories of those who witnessed his journey, but his mark remains in how he paved the way to the many Portuguese who now occupy the area. 

The first known attempt to create a Portuguese association in the Barrie region occurred on June 3rd, 2006 when Luisa Almeida and a group of friends organized a barbeque to discuss the idea. After one year of preparation, the Portuguese Cultural Centre of Barrie and District was officially introduced to the community on June 18, 2007 during an event organized at the Stroud Community Centre, in Innisfil. Farol Restaurant catered the event and the entertainment was the responsibility of Duo Dois Amigos and the Fado singer, Paulo Filipe. 

Community gathering at the property of then president, Luisa Almeida, in 2012

The first Board of Directors was organized as follows:

President:  Paulo Raposo

Vice-President:  Luis Rodrigues

Secretaries:  Gilda Luis and Aurelio Correia

Treasurers:  Antonio Tavares and Julieta Tavares

Social Committee:  Jorge Vieira, Jose Lopes, and David Medeiros

Public Relations:  Danny Oliveira

Fiscal Department:  Fernando Almeida, President; Joao Nunes, Vice-President; Albino Almedia, Secretary

General Assembly:  Luisa Almeida, President; Domingos da Silva, Vice-President; Rosa Tavares, Secretary

Culinary Department:  Lucia da Silva and Teresa Ferreira

The Cultural Association was very active for the next 7 years.  It organized various activities for its members, which included dinner parties held at the Stroud Community Centre and summer gatherings at various outdoor locations in the region. 

At some point, it seems that the organization changed its name to Portuguese Association of Barrie. 

The last recorded gathering of this association occurred in 2014. The Association has been officially inactive since then.

With files from Luso-Ontario Magazine, 2008
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