Antonio Fernandes Moreira

Country of Origin: Portugal
Date of Entry: April 14, 1955
Name of Vessel: Saturnia

António and Maria Moreira of Proença-a-Nova, Portugal dreamed of pursing a better life for themselves and their children. They had become aware of the opening of immigration to Canada, and although other family members and friends immigrated to Brazil and Angola, they had decided their future lay in Canada.

António Moreira of Vale Da Carreira married Maria Da Conçeiçao Da Silva Fernandes of Cimadas Fundeiras (affectionately known as "Marquitas") on September 4, 1950 and had three children. Their oldest daughter, Aurora, was born on June 24, 1951; followed by Filomena on January 1, 1953; and Amilcar (a.k.a. "Michael") on January 13, 1955.

Having made the decision to immigrate to Canada, António and Maria borrowed money for António's passage. Due to the financial constraints and the risk involved, António was to come alone. Antonio was accepted as an "endentured worker", having the prerequisite "hardened hands".

On Good Friday, April 8, 1955, António boarded the ship Saturnia in the port of Lisbon after a tearful and heartbreaking departure from his family. He arrived in Halifax, at Pier 21, on April 14, 1955 to begin his new life.

He was selected to work on the dairy farm of Sterling Wood of Charlottetown, PEI. He worked 16-hour days, was poorly fed, and, after having been on the farm for a few months, had still not received any wages. With the assistance of a Portuguese/ English dictionary, he voiced his concerns to his employer who was only able to pay him some of the money he was owed. António then decided to leave the farm and try his luck elsewhere. Not having anywhere to stay, he hitched rides on trains and slept outdoors, eventually working his way to Montreal where he registered with the Portuguese Consulate on July 3, 1955.

He worked his way to Toronto believing that work might be more plentiful. Until he was settled, he found shelter some nights in abandoned ships on the harbourfront, buying loafs of bread costing 5 cents for sustenance. He managed to find a job with the railroad in the winter of 1955/1956. He recounted having worked building the railroads to the north over frozen muskeg and lakes using the frozen waterways as roads to bring in men and supplies. He stated that, while the job was very easy, the cold was extreme.

When the ice thawed in the spring of 1956, he returned by rail back to Toronto. He lived in a flat at 214 Robert Street.

He eventually found work at the first Swiss Chalet that had opened at Bloor and St. George. This restaurant, and subsequent chain, would employ other family members and friends. António would work at many Swiss Chalet locations, lending his expertise wherever it was needed. Except for a brief period between 1970 and 1973, during which time he co-owned "Dundas Clover Farm", a supermarket in the Portuguese community, António would continue to have an affiliation with Swiss Chalet until his death on May 9, 1981.

Being the family man that he was, and being by himself, he yearned for the company of his loved ones. Until their arrival, he wrote frequent letters to his wife "Marquitas", sending whatever money he could. On January 15, 1958,"Marquitas" and children arrived in Montreal after a sixteen-hour flight. The family's reunion in Toronto was delayed by one day due to a snow storm in Montreal. The reunion was extremely joyful and emotional.

The Moreira family lived briefly in a second-storey flat in the Kensington Market until they moved into their home at 65 Palmerston Avenue which António had purchased prior to his family's arrival. Their open-door policy would make their home a place of welcome and refuge for many family and friends on their arrival from Portugal until they became established.

Aurora started kindergarten at Ryerson Public School and later transferred to St. Mary's school, where the three Moreira children would graduate from. Antonio's health would fail him, eventually requiring three open-heart surgeries and many periods of convalescence. "Marquitas" herself was also not healthy, requiring hospitalization several times. Despite the lean years, they encouraged their children to pursue post-secondary education. Aurora attended Ryerson University, Filomena attended York University and Michael graduated from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College after attending the University of Toronto.

António and "Marquitas" took solace in seeing their three children married and established. Aurora and her husband Michael had two children, Phillip and Kathryn; Filomena and her husband Fernando had two children, Francisco and Sofia; and Michael and his wife Elsie had twin boys, Adam and Stefan. Although António knew his first three grandchildren, Francisco, Sofia and Phillip, he never met Kathryn, Adam and Stefan. They were all loved by their grandmother "Marquitas", who took great pleasure in their company for an additional 18 years. She especially enjoyed the family gatherings at Michael's cottage for Thanksgiving, which became a tradition.

Family and friends celebrated António and Marquitas 25th wedding anniversary with a party at their home and celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in 1980 at the Lisbon by Night restaurant in Toronto.

The home, at 65 Palmerston Avenue, was sold shortly after António's death and "Marquitas" moved in with Aurora and son-in-law, Michael.

"Marquitas" ' 80th birthday was celebrated by many friends and family at Filomena and Fernando's home. Maria died shortly after her 85th birthday, on November 8, 1999.

Although they never forgot their Portuguese roots, António and "Marquitas" felt at home in their adopted country, Canada.

António's children and grandchildren have had a plaque in his name inscribed in the Sobey Wall of Honour, with the Pier 21 Society, in Halifax commemorating his arrival in 1955. Michael Moreira has made a donation to the Chiropractic College in memory of António and Maria Moreira. We are very proud of the contribution made by our parents, António and Maria, whose efforts, hard work, tenacity, courage, sense of adventure, and humility have afforded us the opportunity to fulfill their dreams.