PORTUGUESE CANADIANS

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'Portuguese Canadians' are Canadians of Portuguese descent. According to StatCan, in 2001, there were 357,690 persons of Portuguese descent living in Canada, or 1.2% of the nation's total population. Most Portuguese Canadians live in Ontario 248,265 (69%), followed by Québec 48,765 (14%) and British Columbia 30,085 (8%) Population figures for people of Portuguese descent in Canada

History of Portuguese in Canada

The Portuguese Canadian community chose 2003 as the year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their officially-sponsored immigration to Canada. The Honourable David Collenette, Minister of Transport and Minister Responsible for Canada Post, said that "the Portuguese Canadian community is a vibrant group that enriches the Canadian mosaic with its history, language, culture and work ethic." He added that Canada Post was proud to be issuing a stamp honouring Portuguese Canadians during the month of June when cultural celebrations honouring the life of 16th century poet Luís de Camões, considered to be Portugal's greatest poet, are taking place in many communities across the country.
Portugal played a pioneering role in the explorations of the New World in the 15th and 16th centuries. In the 15th century, Prince Henry of Portugal, better known as Henry the Navigator, established a school of navigation in Sagres, in the Algarve region of Portugal. From this school emerged explorers who found their way to the Indies, South America, North America and Africa, including Gaspar Corte Real who was one of the earliest discoverers of Canada. Corte Real explored the northeast coast of "Terra Nova", naming Conception Bay, Portugal Cove and Labrador -- which means "labourer" in Portuguese.
During the 1950s, a large number of immigrants from the Azores, fleeing political conflict with the regime of António de Oliveira Salazar, moved into the downtown core of Canada’s major cities such as the area of Portugal Village in Toronto, Ontario and further west along Dundas Street to Brockton Village. The stretch of Dundas St. passing through Brockton Village is also known as "Rua Açores". From the 1970s, increasing numbers of Brazilians moved into the same area.
Hamilton, Ontario also has a solid Portuguese community concentrated in the downtown core around Barton and James Streets and nearby the St. Mary's Roman Catholic church. This area in Hamilton is known as "Jamesville" and is shared with a neighbouring Italian population.
Many second generation Portuguese-Canadians have moved out of Toronto to suburbs such as Brampton, Mississauga, Oakville, Kitchener, Cambridge and Hamilton and Laval outside of Montreal. This spatial and social move, aided by Portuguese-Canadian real estate agents who settle them into suburban communities with large concentrations of other Portuguese, indicates the gradual economic security and comfort with which Portuguese-Canadians address their every day lives in Canada. With this move to the suburbs, there has also emerged an increase in Portuguese students pursuing university training for employment beyond the construction site or the factory floor to professions and small businesses.

Notable Portuguese Canadians

Business

★ Alain J. P. Belda - has been the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Alcoa since January 2001. Distinguished Americans & Canadians of Portuguese Descent

Education

Film & Television

★ Justin Louis - Actor (sometimes credited as 'Justin Lewis'), appeared on 9 different TV series to date. imdb.com Bio: Justin Louis

★ Keanu Reeves, (1964- ), best known for his role as Neo in the action film trilogy The Matrix. (paternal grandmother was Portuguese-Chinese from Hawaii; Rose Lokalia Miguel). Keanu Reeves Family Tree; Ancestry

★ Sid Seixeiro - News TV Anchor for The Score Television Network. Distinguished Americans & Canadians of Portuguese Descent

Music

Singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado.

★ Keshia Chanté (1988 - ) teen pop singer. Interview with Keshia Chanté Interview with Keshia Chanté #2

★ Suzana Da Camara - Jazz vocalist & composer. Biography: Suzana Da Camara (Official web site)

★ Shawn Desman, (1982- ), is a Canadian pop/R&B singer. Maplemusic.com Biography: Shawn Desman

★ Nelly Furtado, (1978- ), Pop singer-songwriter. Rollingstone.com Biography: Nelly Furtado

★ Anthony Gomes, (1975- ), Canadian blues and blues-rock guitarist and singer. Biography: Anthony Gomes (Official web site)

★ Lucas Silveira, singer/guitarist of rock band The Cliks.

Politicians/ Law

Science/ Medicine

★ Dr. Horacio Arruda - Chief Medical Officer of Health for Québec (Parents born in Azores). Distinguished Americans & Canadians of Portuguese Descent

Sports

★ Stephen Ames, (1964- ), Golf, 2002 PGA PlayersChampionship. Distinguished Americans & Canadians of Portuguese Descent

★ Daniel Marcio Fernandes, (1983- ), He is currently the first choice goalkeeper of Greek football club PAOK FC. Daniel Marcio Fernandes Bio at myspace.com

★ Steve Martins, (1972- ), Pro hockey player for Ottawa Senators. Distinguished Americans & Canadians of Portuguese Descent

★ Mike Ribeiro, (1980- ), Pro hockey player for the Dallas Stars. Distinguished Americans & Canadians of Portuguese Descent

★ Tony Tavares - former President of the Montreal Expos. Distinguished Americans & Canadians of Portuguese Descent

★ Steven Vitoria - Pro soccer player who was born in the greater Toronto area and now plays for Portugal.{{cite web| title = Distinguished Americans & Canadians of Portuguese Descent|

★ John Tavares - Pro lacrosse player who stars for the Buffalo Bandits.{{cite web| title = Distinguished Americans & Canadians of Portuguese Descent|

Miscellaneous

★ Emanuel Jaques, (1965-1977), victim of a high-profile murder in Toronto.^[1]

Groups

Some Portuguese-Canadians adopt the name Luso-Canadians for their local social and business clubs in reference to Lusitania, the ancient name associated with Portugal under the Roman empire. The attendance growth of organizations indicate the growth in small business and universities throughout the community.
Leading as a national voice one can find the "Congresso" Luso-Canadiano National Congress.

Portuguese-Canadian business groups

★ Federation of Portuguese-Canadian Business and Professionals

★ Association of Portuguese Businesses in Winnipeg

★ Alliance Of Portuguese Clubs And Associations Of Ontario

★ Alliance des Professionels et Entrepreneurs Portugais du Québec

Portuguese-Canadian Educational groups

★ Portuguese Association of Ryerson, PAR

★ York University Portuguese Association, YUPA

★ University of Toronto Portuguese Association, UTPA
★ UTPA 2004 / UTPA 2005 - present

Other groups

★ Congresso - Portuguese Canadian National Congress

★ Lusa Web - The meeting place for Portuguese-Americans/ Canadians.

★ Viva Portugal Viva Portugal - Linking the Portuguese Communities in Canada, The US, and other countries outside of Portugal.

★ pclaonline.com Portuguese Canadian Lawyers Association

★ Portuguese Social Club - The Portuguese Social Club is a Society established to Promote, Preserve, Maintain our Cultural Heritage and to Unite all Portuguese of Nova Scotia.

★ Portuguese Benevolent Society - a non-profit organization created to promote harmony, education and culture in and about the Luso community.

★ Canada's Portuguese Film & Video Festival - presented in multiple cities.

★ JOVENSvancouver - youth group in Greater Vancouver.

★ Arco Iris BC - a BGLTQ support and social group in B.C.

Portuguese Publications

★ Lusitania - Canada's monthly celebrating the Portuguese world.

★ Portugal News - News from Portugal, in English and Portuguese.

★ Voz Lusitana - Portuguese/English monthly newspaper.

References

1. Miracles of Emanuel Jaques. Available: http://www.ccca.ca/c/writing/m/mays/mays002t.html Accessed: 2007-6-19

External links

★ Distinguished Americans & Canadians of Portuguese Descent

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