Agostinho Martins: A Family and Community Man

Name:	Agostinho Martins
Place of Birth:	Madeira
Arrival in Canada:	Pier 21 (Halifax), March of 1957

By Paulo Pereira

Author’s note: In 2003, I had the opportunity and the honour to converse with Agostinho Martins, a Portuguese Canadian who arrived in Canada in 1957. Beyond his contribution to the development of the Portuguese community in Toronto, he also played a major role in a few of our not-for-profit organizations. He was once part of Portuguese United, an association that is now in the realm of memory. He was also one of the founders of Casa da Madeira and director of the soccer section of First Portuguese. He worked for the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) most of his life. In his career, he was bus, streetcar, and subway driver.

Agostinho Martins was born in Madeira in 1938, at a time Salazar ruled Portugal. Those days were not the most conducive to flourishing the human capacity. Consequently, like many others, this madeirense decided to venture onto the high seas in search of a new beginning and better opportunities. 

His sister, Conceição Nunes, was the inspiration for Agostinho to move to Canada. “I was 18 years old when I came. In Portugal, at that time, I worked in a kitchenware store and the reason I left was because I had a sister here, who came in 1954”, he said. This was at a time in which conflict between Portugal and India occurred and, as he was under 21 years of age, he ran the risk of being recruited to the army. “I could have been called to fight in India, but after my sister’s sponsorship, I came to Canada”, he explained. Agostinho Martins also recognized the support of his parents who wanted a better future for their son.

Leaving is always the hardest part. With a mixture of sadness and excitement, he began his voyage on February 16, 1957. “I traveled on the ship to the mainland [Portugal] and, on the same day I came ashore, Queen Elizabeth was also disembarking…I saw her”, he recalled with a smile. “Then, I traveled on a ship to New York, and then to Halifax”, he said. The trip between New York and Halifax was slower than anticipated due to bad weather that disrupted the Atlantic waters. “It was a long journey. There were many refugees from Hungary on the ship and there wasn’t much room”, he commented. Agostinho recalled, with nostalgia, that four people slept in the same room in conditions that today would not be acceptable.

Unlike many other pioneers who arrived in Canada without any ties, Martins considered himself fortunate for having been welcomed by people he knew and for getting the support he required to start his journey of adaptation to a new country. “My sister was waiting for me with my brother-in-law and my nephew”, he recalled.

Even though he had been forced to leave family and friends behind, his sense of adventure and curiosity helped him turn that situation into something positive. “I missed my friends, but I made new friends here. I was always confident that all would be alright. I never thought that it was a mistake to immigrate to Canada”, he said.

Upon arriving in Toronto, he was mesmerized. Here, he felt that he would have the opportunities and the freedoms he did not have in Portugal. “We could not compare Canada to our homeland. All that I found here was fascinating. I could instantly tell that I would have a better future here”, he stated. Agostinho Martins began learning English as St. Christopher House, a place where he made many new friends. “Sometimes I would just go there to socialize, but I always ended up learning a bit of English. I did not stay in school for long, but learning English was never difficult for me”, he said.

While living at his sister’s house, he began looking for a job. In those days, life was hard for immigrants because, added to the lack of education, the language was a major barrier to finding a job. “I didn’t work for six weeks, but then I found a job at a restaurant”, he shared. His perseverance and enthusiasm pushed him to want more. As a result, he was eventually hired by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). “Before, I worked at Greycoach for a year but, due to my family responsibilities, I started driving streetcars”, he recalled. His experience as driver and conductor would lead him to operate buses, streetcars, and even subways until he retired at the age of 60. “I met my wife here and, when I got married, we lived together at my in-laws, on Shaw Street. I have four children and six grandchildren – a girl and five boys”, he told us at the time of our conversation, in 2003.

His involvement with community organizations began shortly after he arrived in Toronto. “I am one of the founders of Casa da Madeira and the [Madeira] park. I am member number eight and I was the president twice”, he informed us. His first term was in 1982 and his second in 1994, the year the building that houses the association was purchased. “It was my executive that purchased the building where we are currently located”, he proudly stated. Beyond his terms as president, Agostinho Martins also filled other roles within Casa da Madeira, including President of the General Assembly, in 1971.

His dedication to Casa da Madeira has been a lifelong experience, either as part of the executive or simply as a member. Even before Casa da Madeira was formed, Agostinho Martins had already been part of another community organization called Portuguese United. “I was part of that club in 58 or 59. I was also involved with soccer at First Portuguese. When players from Belenenses came to Toronto, I was one of the directors for the soccer section at First”, he revealed. Although he was involved with soccer, Agostinho was never a member of First Portuguese’s main executive board.

In 2003, at the time of our conversation, Agostinho Martins was Public Relations Officer at Casa da Madeira.

Agostinho Martins had the opportunity to witness the evolution of the Portuguese community in Toronto because he arrived at a time in which it was still trying to organize. “Our community, at the time I arrived, was small. Now, it’s much bigger. We have many clubs, which may be good or bad. However, I see that many young people are involved with the folk-dance groups, which is something I was not expecting”, he confessed.

Although he left his motherland at a very young age, Agostinho Martins never neglected his routes. Beyond playing crucial roles within various community organizations, he was also instrumental in the development of our community. It is to the likes of Agostinho Martins that we owe our presence in this great country!

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