An Azorean in Canada

<p><em>An Azorean in Canada: A Memoir</em> traces my adventures and misadventures from the moment I was born in 1952 in Ponta Delgada São Miguel Azores to the moment that I emigrate in December of 1969 and set foot in Toronto to the present day. It deals with a variety of universal themes such as infancy adolescence adulthood immigration discrimination resilience adaptation and survival in a new country. The tome is divided into three parts which are subdivided into chapters each one with its own title. The third part is followed by an Epilogue summarizing the highlights of my life and times and an Acknowledgments section. It also includes an insert containing authentic photographs with their respective captions.</p><p><em>An Azorean in Canada: A Memoir</em> contains factual socio-economic and cultural information about life in the Azores in the 1950s and '60s and the general conditions that led to widespread emigration to America Canada France and elsewhere in the XX century. However the bulk of the story pertains to life in Canada where I have lived studied worked and raised a family for the last fifty-three years. From specific references to common individuals to important political personalities and to historical and cultural events stretching from the early 1970s to the present I allude to and comment on many of them. So in this regard <em>An Azorean in Canada: A Memoir</em> is also about the work in progress that Canada remains to this day. </p><p>Professionally speaking I was a high school teacher and department head of French and Modern Languages and in that capacity I have much to say about pedagogy and public education. Also being a firm believer in life-long learning after retiring from teaching in 2010 I went back to the University of Toronto to do a Ph.D. in Québec literature which I completed in 2017. </p><p>In addition throughout the book I reminisce with fondness about my involvement with an amateur theatre group at the University of Toronto La Troupe des Anciens since 1975 and my association since 2010 with a not-for-profit the Canadian Education Exchange Foundation (CEEF) specializing in international student exchanges for adolescents. These two organizations brought me much personal satisfaction and pleasure during my leisure time. </p><p><em>An Azorean in Canada: A Memoir</em> will be of utmost interest to members of the Portuguese community especially those with an Azorean background who emigrated to Canada USA France Brazil and elsewhere since I am one of their own. Furthermore past present and future teachers will find the book educational informative and entertaining. Finally anybody out there contemplating doing graduate work joining an amateur troupe or a not-for-profit will find in my book all the encouragement needed to actually do it. The rewards will be countless. </p>