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Groups of attendees stand around talking in a large open exhibit with a large circle in the middle of the floor filled with textiles and a guitar.

Movimento Perpétuo

This exhibition and website commemorates the 70th anniversaries of Portugal-Canada diplomatic relations and the beginning of Portuguese mass migration to Canada.

A women speaks at a white podium with three men in suits standing behind her.
“Movimento Perpétuo: The Portuguese Diaspora in Canada” Unveiling Event, September 11, 2023. Nominee for the 2024 Heritage Toronto Public History Award. Image by José Rodrigues. Courtesy of Gilberto Fernandes.

“Movimento Perpétuo: The Portuguese Diaspora in Canada” Unveiling Event, September 11, 2023. Nominee for the 2024 Heritage Toronto Public History Award. Image by José Rodrigues. Courtesy of Gilberto Fernandes.

Photo of the crowd at the Movimento Perpétuo project unveil event. Three gentlemen wearing suits and talking to each other are in focus.
“Movimento Perpétuo: The Portuguese Diaspora in Canada”, September 11, 2023. Public History Nominee 2024 Heritage Toronto Awards. Image by José Rodrigues. Courtesy of Gilberto Fernandes.

“Movimento Perpétuo: The Portuguese Diaspora in Canada”, September 11, 2023. Public History Nominee 2024 Heritage Toronto Awards. Image by José Rodrigues. Courtesy of Gilberto Fernandes.

A group of people admiring an exhibit case with yellow text panels in the background.
“Movimento Perpétuo: The Portuguese Diaspora in Canada.” 2024 Public History Award nominee. Image by José Rodrigues. Courtesy of Gilberto Fernandes.

“Movimento Perpétuo: The Portuguese Diaspora in Canada.” 2024 Public History Award nominee. Image by José Rodrigues. Courtesy of Gilberto Fernandes.

Project Lead: Gilberto Fernandes

Project Website 

Date of Release: September 11, 2023

To commemorate the 70th anniversaries of Portugal-Canada diplomatic relations and the beginning of Portuguese mass migration to Canada, the Embassy of Portugal recruited Gilberto Fernandes to create the exhibition and website “Movimento Perpétuo: The Portuguese Diaspora in Canada.”

Launched in June 2023, the website has 200 pages; over 1,700 images; 70 profiles of Portuguese-Canadian individuals and organizations across Canada (predominantly Toronto); 93 digitized artifacts sourced from community members (24 of them digitized into 3D objects); oral history recordings resulting in 128 audio clips, averaging 4 minutes each; 16 annotated virtual tours of locations in Ontario (mainly Toronto) and Quebec; more than 100 short videos; an illustrated and interactive timeline with more than 300 entries; 8 historical records collections; interactive maps; and infographics. 

The website is the iceberg under the travelling exhibition, which included 12 pieces of artwork from seven Toronto-based Portuguese-Canadian artists (curated by Rui Pimenta). The exhibition was unveiled by the President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Mayor Olivia Chow, and other Canadian and Portuguese dignitaries. 

While Movimento Perpétuo reflects on the history of a transnational group of people across Canada, the bulk of its content deals with individuals, organizations, and locations based in or associated with Toronto, where the vast majority of Portuguese-Canadians live. 

Additional Project Members:

Assistant Curator (Artwork): Rui Pimenta
Research Assistants and Copy Writers: Alice Franco, Amanda Dinally, Ester-Judit Flores, Madeline Ball, Rui Pascoal
Graphic Designer: Tanazz Bamji

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