The Portuguese community in Gatineau (fit in, homes, construction)

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

Does Gatineau still have an identifiable Portuguese community? Or have they assimilated?

[Acajack]

Most familiies have been here since the 1970s and at this point fit in very seamlessly. A few generations on, most are in mixed marriages and a lot of the kids today don't speak much Portuguese at all. (My kids have several friends of Portuguese origin.)


Though the notion of Portuguese pride is still quite strong, somewhat similar to what you see with Italian pride in the NYC area.


You see flags on cars during the World Cup for example, and when Portugal won the Euro a few years there were celebrations on the street where their cafés are located and the police had to close it to traffic.

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Most familiies have been here since the 1970s and at this point fit in very seamlessly. A few generations on, most are in mixed marriages and a lot of the kids today don't speak much Portuguese at all. (My kids have several friends of Portuguese origin.)


Though the notion of Portuguese pride is still quite strong, somewhat similar to what you see with Italian pride in the NYC area.


You see flags on cars during the World Cup for example, and when Portugal won the Euro a few years there were celebrations on the street where their cafés are located and the police had to close it to traffic.

Have you eaten at a Portuguese restaurant?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Mouldy Old Schmo

Have you eaten at a Portuguese restaurant?

On a few occasions, yes. I've also been to their community centre a few times.

[AFP]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Most familiies have been here since the 1970s and at this point fit in very seamlessly. A few generations on, most are in mixed marriages and a lot of the kids today don't speak much Portuguese at all. (My kids have several friends of Portuguese origin.)


Though the notion of Portuguese pride is still quite strong, somewhat similar to what you see with Italian pride in the NYC area.


You see flags on cars during the World Cup for example, and when Portugal won the Euro a few years there were celebrations on the street where their cafés are located and the police had to close it to traffic.

Those that choose to marry other people of Portuguese heritage and teach their children Portuguese are considered less integrated?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by AFP

Those that choose to marry other people of Portuguese heritage and teach their children Portuguese are considered less integrated?

Nope.

[Acajack]

In Quebec, how "integrated" people are perceived to be is largely a question of which accent people speak with in French. Though there may be other factors as well that compensate for one's accent.

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

Originally Posted by Acajack

On a few occasions, yes. I've also been to their community centre a few times.

Have you been to this one?
Portugalos Restaurant Take Out Menu - Portugalos Restaurant

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

What brought the Portuguese to Gatineau in the first place? Did they come from the mainland, the Azores, or Cape Verde?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Mouldy Old Schmo

What brought the Portuguese to Gatineau in the first place? Did they come from the mainland, the Azores, or Cape Verde?

My sense is that the vast majority of them are from the Azores, and most of these even have origins in one small town in the Azores.


As with more such migrations it began with a couple of people who moved here to work, and then they sent word back home that there were lots of jobs here, and many more people started coming over as a result. I think the first men came in the late 50s, and then the migration accelerated greatly in the 60s and 70s. Initially it was almost all men, but eventually there were women coming too.


They were very active in the construction trades, especially anything involving concrete. Tens of thousands of homes here have concrete foundations laid by Portuguese workers. Including mine.