Portuguese-Canadian History & Portuguese Communities in Canada
Latest Articles
Lusocanada is a research and media platform dedicated to Portuguese-Canadian history, communities, and cultural heritage across Canada.
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Ontario Recognized June 10 as Portugal Day in 1986
On June 10, 1986, the Proclamation of Portugal National Day was introduced in the Provincial Parliament of Ontario. Tony Ruprecht, then a Minister Without Portfolio for Citizenship and Culture, was the proponent of the historical proclamation. David N. Peterson was Premier of Ontario at the time.
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Pioneers: The Story of Manuel Fontes Maciel and Isilberta Silva
Manuel Fontes Maciel, born on September 1, 1932, in Terra do Pão on the island of Pico, was one of nine siblings. He worked on the family farm from a young age, living a simple yet happy and comfortable life. “There, we had a very good life. We ate well. We went fishing in the…
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First Free African American in Canada May Have Been Portuguese
Mathieu da Costa is known as the first free black person to enter Canada. Many scholars assert that his background is African-Portuguese, although this allegation is yet to be proven. He was born in 1589 in parts unknown and passed away, in Quebec City, in 1619 or shortly after. He was part of the exploring…
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Barrie, a growing community
Although the Portuguese community is significant in Barrie, it no longer has a Portuguese club. The first Portuguese arrived in Barrie in the early 1960s. Since then, the community has grown to significant numbers.
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Associação Democrática de Toronto – When a Defunct Organization Leaves a Permanent Mark
This association, founded in 1957 by people who were previously part of First Portuguese Canadian Club, which in its pioneering years focused mostly on organizing political events, closed its doors in modest fashion but with the typical dignity that it has always maintained throughout its existence.
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Victoria, BC – 70 Years of Portuguese Presence
Official Portuguese immigration to the City of Victoria occurred in 1955 after Manuel Potinho, José Cabrita, José de Souza and António Chorão arrived here from the mainland. A year later, a group of 19 men, all from the archipelago of the Azores but mostly from the island of São Miguel, added to the count.
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Alberta, an Affair of Two Cities
Alberta is home to some of the most splendid scenery in Canada and in the World. Home of the Rockies, pristine lakes, and winding rivers, it is a dream destination for many. It is also the home of over twenty-two thousand residents who consider Portuguese to be their ethnic origin.
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Portuguese Club of Brantford, a Lost Gem
The first Portuguese emigrated to Brantford in the 1950s to work in the tobacco fields and at Massey Ferguson, then the city’s major employer along with White Farm Equipment. Although in small numbers, most of the Portuguese residents of this region owned their homes, but the formation of an organized club was still difficult due to…
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The First to Arrive – Celebrating Our Pioneers
The official start of the Portuguese immigration to Canada is May 13, 1953, when 69 men disembarked at Pier 21, in Halifax, onboard the ship Saturnia. Later that month, seven other men arrived onboard Vulcania and, later, one hundred and three came aboard the Nea Hellas. For the rest of the decade, thousands more arrived in Halifax and spread…
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Terra Nova: A Story that Spans Over Centuries
For those who have done even minimal research into Portugal’s relationship with Newfoundland and Labrador, it is no secret that there is no certainty around who first ‘discovered’ this new land. However, there is strong evidence to suggest that the Portuguese can legitimately claim that they were the first Europeans to arrive here after the Vikings,…