Brampton

Community Organizations: Vasco da Gama de Brampton

A LARGE PORTUGUESE COMMUNITY UNDERREPRESENTED BY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

BRAMPTON’S POPULATION – 663,922

STATISTICS FOR THE PORTUGUESE IN BRAMPTON:

AS MOTHER TONGUE	AS MOST SPOKEN	KNOWLEDGE OF THE LANGUAGE	BORN IN PORTUGAL	ETHNIC ORIGIN
10,590 1.6% of population	4,350 0.6% of population	13,940 2.1% of population	8,450 1.3% of population	24,500 3.7% of population

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The city of Brampton started with a simple tavern on the corners of Main and Queen Streets, established by William Buffy. The intersection became known as Buffy’s corner. In 1834, John Elliot divided the land and named the area Brampton. The Portuguese landmarks in this locality are numerous. The majority are businesses owned by Luso-Canadians, but there are also a few community organizations that maintain the culture and traditions of the motherland.

According to the 2021 Census, there are 24,500 people residing in Brampton who consider their origin to be Portuguese. Ten thousand five hundred and ninety (10,590) consider Portuguese their mother tongue, 4,350 speak it at home, and 13,940 can communicate in the language. The number of Luso-Canadians residing here who were born in Portugal is 8,450. The numbers seem substantial until we consider that Brampton has a population of around half-a-million people, placing the Portuguese community at less than 5% of the total population.

Before we formed a community here, Brampton went through many transformations. Just like the majority of the cities in Canada, it started as a farming town. In fact, the first agricultural fair was held here in 1835, an event that was promoted by the Region of Peel Agricultural Society. The fair continues to be held to this day.

Some landmarks and institutions that have survived the test of time were started in the mid-1800’s. Such is the case of the first library, first opened in 1887 with 360 volumes and later revamped, in 1907, by millionaire Andrew Carnegie. As far as institutions, the Brampton Concert Band was formed in 1884 by a group of local mechanics and today it remains as one of the oldest in Canada.

The oldest business in Brampton is Peel Mutual Insurance Company, formed in the mid-1800’s and the oldest store still in operation is Jas Harmsworth & Son, founded in 1890. Capitol Theatre, founded in April of 1922, closed in 1981 and its building is now occupied by the city’s Heritage Centre. Brampton Mall opened to the public in 1960 and the new City Hall was inaugurated in 1990. Brampton also has one of the biggest hospitals in Canada, the Peel Memorial Hospital, formerly known as William Osler Health Centre.

If you travel to Brampton, you can find bars, bakeries, and a few take-out restaurants bearing Portuguese names. However, the Luso-Canadian population here has integrated fairly quickly, making the remnants of our presence less visible than in other locations across Canada.

With files from Luso-Ontario Magazine, 2008

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