Before the Saturnia – Conclusion
Much of the pre-1953 Portuguese presence in Canada exists not in neatly catalogued archives, but in fragments—partial documents, passing references, and, most importantly, memory. This...
Before the Saturnia – Part 9
Another figure whose story firmly establishes Portuguese presence in Canada well before 1953 is Pedro da Silva, widely recognized as the first recorded mail carrier...
Before the Saturnia – Part 8
Among the few Portuguese individuals whose presence in early Canadian history is both documented and remembered, José “Portuguese Joe” da Silva occupies a unique and...
Before the Saturnia – Parts 5 to 7
Record keeping was a challenge in the early days of immigration. Furthermore, the Portuguese who arrived in Canada before 1953 relied heavily on the church...
Before the Saturnia – Part 4
Before 1953, Portuguese individuals in Canada did not form concentrated neighbourhoods or recognizable ethnic enclaves. Instead, their presence followed the logic of work, transport, and...
Before the Saturnia – Part 3
The Portuguese individuals present in Canada before 1953 did not arrive as part of a single migration wave, nor did they constitute a cohesive or...
Before the Saturnia – Part 2
To understand why Portuguese individuals were present in Canada long before formal immigration pathways existed, it is essential to situate Portugal within its historical and...
Before the Saturnia: Portuguese Presence in Canada
For decades, the history of the Portuguese community in Canada has been summarized with a single date: 1953. The arrival of the ship SS Saturnia...