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 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: 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...
Honouring the Men of the “White Fleet” in Newfoundland
Every year in St. John’s, Newfoundland, a ceremony takes place that ties the Portuguese to the heart of Newfoundland. It is a ritual of respect...
Saturnia: The Ship of New Beginnings
In the spring of 1953, a group of Portuguese men gathered their few belongings, kissed their families goodbye, and stepped onto the Saturnia. For them,...
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...
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...
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....