Pioneer Portrait: José de Freitas

posted by Gallery of the Portuguese Pioneers

Sep 7, 2016 1255 0 0

José de Freitas was born in Santa Luzia in Funchal, on May 27, 1925. He arrived in Halifax on June 2nd, 1953.

His first job was picking mushrooms in Milton. Later, in Toronto, he worked in a seed factory, an iron company, a battery factory, and in bread distribution.

Since he had always had white hair from a young age, his bosses often thought he was much older than he claimed. So, to avoid bosses altogether, he decided to take a real estate course, and eventually, he got his broker’s license. José became the first Portuguese real estate broker in Toronto.

José Freitas took part in the purchase of Madeira Park and was one of the founders of the Canadian Madeira Club in 1963, of which he is still a member.

José de Freitas nasceu em Santa Luzia no Funchal, Madeira, no dia 27 de Maio de 1925. Ele chegou a Halifax no dia 2 de Junho de 1953.

O seu primeiro trabalho foi na apanha de cogumelos, em Milton. Depois, em Toronto, trabalhou numa fábrica de sementes, numa companhia de ferro, numa fábrica de baterias, e na distribuição de pão.

Como sempre teve cabelo branco, os patrões pensavam que o Freitas era mais velho do que dizia. Para evitar patrões, resolveu tirar o curso de ‘real estate’, e em seguida a licença de “broker”. Não foi o primeiro a trabalhar no real estates, mas foi o primeiro “broker” português.

José Freitas também participou na compra do Madeira Park e na fundação do Canadian Madeira Club em 1963, clube que ainda é sócio.

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