|
Canada is often described as a country that welcomes diversity and
encourages multiculturalism. People come to Canada with many different skills and the hope
of contributing to their new society. If you are reading this booklet, you are probably
interested in finding out more about Portugal and the Portuguese, where they come from and
what it is like in their original home. Perhaps you are part of the HOST Program connected to a Portuguese family. You may be working with Portuguese who have settled in Canada recently. This information will help you understand what changes they are going through and how you can smooth the way. From 1950 to 1972, over one million Portuguese citizens immigrated to France, South Africa, Venezuela, West Germany, Argentina, the United States and Canada.The Canadian government sponsored people from Portugal. Some immigrants worked on farms or the railways. Most of the Portuguese who came to Canada settled in Southern Ontario and around Toronto. Those who left Portugal after 1974 found immigration to Canada easier than those who emigrated before that time because of the political changes in Portugal and the alterations in Canadian immigration policies. Portuguese people who immigrated to Canada after 1974 had more opportunities to integrate with Canadian society and were, in general, better educated compared to earlier generations. In order to understand the feelings, thoughts and behaviour of Portuguese people who live in Canada today, we must explore the history, customs and cultural traditions of Portugal. While this cultural profile provides insight into some customs, it does not cover all facets of life. The customs described may not apply in equal measure to all newcomers from the profiled country. |
|