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Most Portuguese arrived in Halifax, Canada after the first wave of official immigration which was started when the immigrants arrived aboard the Saturnia in May 13, 1953. This group of pioneers have often been honored has the first Portuguese pioneers in Canada. Every year and most recently with Joe Silvey from BC, we learned of Portuguese who had arrived in the country during the 20 th century prior to the arrival of the Saturnia. This is a list of Portuguese who were living in Canada and mostly in Montreal before the first wave of Portuguese arrived on May 13, 1953. If you can add any names to this list, email-me at fcandido7@hotmail.com. Abel. He served as an agent for finding jobs to new immigrants. He will charge a fee to help them find jobs. He took off to the United States with a fortune without providing any service and he was never seen again. "He was a crook", Viola said. Antonio Viola also mentioned that he was in the Mafia in the United States and he was killed there. He was a Portuguese from Torres Verdes. ( Diaspora.com interview with pioneers) Alvaro Marques He was 19 years old when he arrived via Venezuela unemployed and with $80.00 dollars in his pocket. He arrived in Montreal with a tourist visa on January 2, 1952. (2 pictures on page 18) (Marques e Marujo 1993) Antonio Viola He arrived in Montreal on June 2, 1952. He came aboard the Italian ship Vulcania. He left behind a wife and 2 children. Contrarily to the other immigrants of that time he did not come on a tourist visa. He received a visa from the Canadian Immigration branch and he was permitted to leave by the Portugese government. On page 19 he is sitting on a table with 8 other men. There is also a letter to his wife dated on Christmas Eve 1952. He talks about another person who came with him from Portugal. He mentions another man called Norberto and 2 guys from Bombarral. (page 19) (Marques e Marujo 1993). In Portuguese Immigrants 25 years in Canada. We learn more about him. He was from Peniche and he was sponsored by a Brazilian friend who lived in Montreal to come to Canada. He received a letter from Canada allowing him to move to Canada if he was willing to work as a cabinet maker. He came aboard the Vulcania. He says that only 10 to12 people lived in Montreal at the time and they were very liked. There were 2 from Arruba, 2 from Venezuela, 2 from France and 1 from Brazil and a few more. (Marques and Medeiros, 1980) ( Diaspora.com interview with pioneers) Camacha ( I read his name somewhere and I lost the source. He was living in Montreal) Coitos de Bombarral. Antonio Viola talks about those two brothers. He said they were blacksmiths and worked in Seven-Islands, Quebec in 1952. He also said they only stayed 18 months. ( Diaspora.com interview with pioneers) Correia ( he is mentioned as living in Montreal in 1951. He later moved to the United States. . As mentioned by Roldao Andrade on page 125. (Marques and Medeiros 1980, page 125) David Vahnon. He was working for CBC in 1951 operating programs for Brazil. As mentioned by Roldao Andrade on page 125. (Marques and Medeiros 1980, page 125)
Frederico Guerra. Guerra (possibly the same man as above) He was in Sept-Iles in 1952 with a certain Norberto Mota. (Marques e Marujo 1993). Jose da Batata (Rodrigues). Known as such, maybe was not is real name. He was from Loulé, Portugal. He came on the Saturnia before 1952 and he returned aboard the Vulcania in June 2 of the year 1952. He was one of the men who thought Viola was working for the secret police. (PIDE) and he was a spy aboard the Vulcania they almost threw him over board. Joaquim Salvadinho. He was from Loulé, Portugal. He came on the Saturnia before 1952 and he returned aboard the Vulcania in June 2 of the year 1952. He came on the Saturnia before 1952 and he returned aboard the Vulcania in June 2 of the year 1952. He was one of the men who thought Viola was working for the secret police. (P.I.D.E) and he was a spy aboard the Vulcania they almost threw him over board. ( Diaspora.com interview with pioneers) Manuel Cabral. He was a Portuguese American born in Somerset Massachussets. His parents were Portuguese . He came to Morrisburg Ontario in 1919 to work as tack-maker. He left for the United-States and came back again. He established different enterprises such as a mink-feed business. He helped many Portuguese to get establish around Galt, known as Cambridge today, by providing them with lodging in his own property and helping them to find jobs in the area. He seemed to be a very generous men helping many when the first contingent of Portuguese immigrants arrived in 1953.(Anderson and Higgs) Manuel Ferreira He was 26 years old when he left Madeira. He spent some time in Brazil and Venezuela. Because of a lack of work he moved to Coracao where he lived for 5 years. The book said he lived there under very difficult situations. He arrived in Montreal on Ocober 24, 1951. He would invest $7,000 and lose it all. There is a picture of him in Sept-iles, Quebec. ( no date) (Marques e Marujo 1993) Manuel Mota was about 30 years old when he emigrated to Canada. He arrived in Montreal in December 22, 1951. He had previously lived in Brazil and Venezuela. There is a picture of him in Goose Bay Labrador with 2 other workers. Picture 1952 winter.(page 16) (Marques e Marujo 1993) Norberto Mota. He was in Sept-Iles in 1952 with a certain Guerra. Norberto is probably the same person who is mentioned and seen in the picture of Viola on page 19 (Marques e Marujo 1993). Roldao Andradre He lived in Montreal. He came to Canada via New York by plane. He arrived in 1951. He worked for Sparry and Air Canada. (Marques and Medeiros 1980 page 125) Silva Mr. Living in Montreal in 1951. As mentioned by Roldao Andrade on page 125. (Marques and Medeiros 1980 page 125)
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