Insuring His Family’s Future Many Portuguese families migrated to Canada in the ’50s and ’60s from the Azores, a group of small islands in the Atlantic, some 800 miles off the west coast of Portugal. Collectively, these volcanic islands are administered as a political jurisdiction of Portugal. In order to seek a more secure future, many families from the Azores uprooted themselves and immigrated to Canada. José Martins and his family, as viewed here, are typical representatives of Canada's Portuguese community who made their way to Canada. After they arrived in Canada in 1964, they struggled with a new language, a new culture, and the absence of relatives and old friends. But they persevered. Today, they are making a substantial contribution to both Cambridge, Ontario, where they happily live, and to Canadian society, in general. In this 1995 photograph, José is standing, centre, back row, in front of his wife, Manuela, who is holding grand daughter Madelene, just baptized by Father Isabelle. The Martins family today consists of five children all of whom have gone on to complete post secondary school education. After living more than half of his life in Canada, José now runs his own insurance company, enjoys the Toronto Maple Leafs, has a pilot’s licence, loves to fish, and oversees the traditional family dinner each Sunday. [Photo, courtesy José Martins]

Since the first half of the 16th century, the Portuguese have been fishing the Grand Banks, a vast extension of the continental shelf off southeastern Newfoundland in the North Atlantic. It was natural, therefore, for young Valentim Arezes, born in Portugal, to follow in the footsteps of his ancestors. During the 1960s, he began working for a Portuguese trawler. After 12 years, because the political scene in his native land made working conditions unbearable, young Valentim decided to “jump ship.” Thus, in 1972, he went to a travel agency, purchased a train ticket to Madrid, Spain, then purchased a plane ticket for Canada, arriving, St. John's Newfoundland, October 12, 1972. For the last 27 years, Valentim has been a fisherman. After stints with National Sea Products and Fishery Products International, he now is first mate on a vessel with a crew of 29 men plying the oceans for shrimp. Valentim calls Canada “the land of opportunity” and Newfoundland “a place to call home.” In this view, First Mate Valentim Arezes stands in front of his shrimp vessel in the harbour of St. John’s, Newfoundland, September 1999. [Photo, courtesy Valentim Arezes]