Immigration History
Immigration History traces the journey of the Portuguese to Canada, from the arrival of early newcomers at Pier 21 to the hard work, sacrifice, and resilience that helped build new lives across the country. It is a story of departure and arrival, of labour in farms and construction, of family reunification, and of the foundations of Portuguese-Canadian community life.
EXPLORE THE PORTUGUESE CANADIAN IMMIGRATION HISTORY
A Silent Betrayal
Beneath the surface of the immigration journey, there is a lesser-known reality: some members of the Portuguese community reported undocumented immigrants to Canadian authorities, leading to arrests, deportations, and lasting fear.
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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.
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The First to Arrive
The official start of the Portuguese immigration to Canada is May 13, 1953, 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.
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Where the Indigenous Don’t Call the Shots
A series of excerpts from ‘Where the Indigenous Don’t Call the Shots’ (translation from the Portuguese version named ‘Lá, onde os índios não mandam), a book released by a former Portuguese immigrant to Canada.
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Eternal Debt
The adventure undertaken by our pioneers did not start the moment they waved farewell to their families, neither the instant they boarded a boat filled with strangers nor the day they arrived at their destination.
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Pioneers – We Owe Them Our Presence Here
The pioneers who arrived at Pier 21, in Halifax, in 1953, began a movement of courage and resilience that allowed those who followed to adapt and integrate into Canadian life.
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Monuments to Emigrants: Canada in the Memory of Portuguese Emigration
In a piece written exclusively for LusoCanada, Historian Daniel Bastos explores the monuments to emigration established in Portugal and their particular relation to Canada.
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Portuguese in Canada
There seems to be evidence of the Portuguese presence in Canada since 1470. Fishermen and explorers marked the first contact with Canada off the coasts of modern Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. After 1953, the Portuguese established in Canada.
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