“Sometimes we are a little too discreet and sometimes in Canadian society in general you don't realise the strength you have and the impact you have. I have been observing, that we have prominent Portuguese in all types of professions, and activities, from politics, artists, culture, economics, jurists, judges, two senior positions at the Bank of Canada”, said the diplomat.

“Our community has almost 500 thousand people, it is an important community in the context of Canada. When the President of the Republic of Portugal visited Canada, in September 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recognized several times the importance of the significance and integration of the Portuguese community in Canada and the contribution it makes”, he praised.

However, António Manuel Leão Rocha also recognized that sometimes “it is good for communities to be less discreet and more exuberant”, which is the way Portuguese-Canadians are.

According to the 2021 census, around 450,000 people of Portuguese origin reside in Canada.