Our History

Portuguese in Mississauga

Dr. Jose Carlos Teixeira, a well-known geographer, says that many Portuguese moved from Portugal Village (now Little Portugal) and from other points of Toronto to Mississauga since the 1970s. From 1,415 in 1971 to 27,400 in 2006. As of 1991, there were more Portuguese living in Mississauga than in Little Portugal.

According to the author, in a survey conducted in 1990, the reasons given for the relocation to Mississauga were mainly to do with the desire to buy a modern and spacious homes. It was in 1979 and 1995 that the two churches were built with funds raised by the Portuguese community (under the leadership of Monsignor Resendes). The churches were Holy Savior of the World and Christ the King, in which the Club played an important role.

As Teixeira also noted, the Luso-Canadian population of Mississauga tends to be the second-generation, younger and educated, constituted by many professionals and managers of companies and, consequently, earning higher salaries. The average income of households is considerably higher in this suburb and constitutes, along with the generational dimension, the greatest statistical difference between the community in the old Portuguese neighborhood and that of Mississauga.

The most important meeting places of the oldest Portuguese, first generation, are the Center and the Church of Christ the King, whereby both establish senior groups. The church is located in downtown of the city, near the City Hall.

The Foundation of the Portuguese Cultural Centre of Mississauga

The idea of ​​the founding of the club came from a lack of a place where Portuguese could gather during the evening and weekends. They spoke little English and many of these men worked in the mushroom factory located in the southeast area of ​​the city (Lakeview). They liked to socialise, including playing cards, organizing parties and to practice their faith. According the previous President Gualter Oliveira, the group of 10 individuals had an idea of ​​raising funds to build a church during these social gatherings circa 1968/1968.

Thus, on February 26, 1974, friends Artur Janeiro, Fernando Pereira, José Carreiro, José Francisco, José Pinto, João (John) Silvestre, Juvenal Lima, Isaías de Melo, Manuel Pacheco and Manuel Raposo, in line with intentions, founded the Portuguese Club of Mississauga (CPM).

When it was founded in 1974, the Club’s first headquarters was located on Haines Road in a small room rented in an industrial shed. In 1977, due to increased memberships, the need to celebrate feasts on the Sabbath and to celebrate Mass on Sunday (by Father Resendes, now Monsignor), a division or “unit” was rented for a period of twenty-four years on a commercial floor located at 1310 Dundas Street East, just off Dixie Road. In 2001 the headquarters of the Portuguese Cultural Centre of Mississauga moved to it’s current location. The first party held at the new headquarters was the election of the Miss PCCM.

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