People of Little Portugal: Porch Resistance

Julia Menezes and Vivian Gomes

Join us as we explore the intimate relationship between people, places, and memories, with Argyle Street in Little Portugal as the focal point of intergenerational and intercultural exchange. Guided by the enduring symbols of front porches and their significance in both Portuguese and Brazilian cultures, Julia and Vivian will reflect on how affective memories and place-based experiences over generations have shaped our understanding of neighbourhood life.

Our walk will focus on the personification of spaces—how buildings, streets, and transitional spaces embody cultural and community memory, and how people shape the connections that transcend generations, resisting the evolving dynamics of the neighbourhood.

Featuring personal stories from people in Little Portugal, we’ll explore how transitional spaces, like porches, serve as bridges between the private and public, embodying community memory, fostering intergenerational bonds, and contributing to the personification of place.

We will conclude at Osler Park, a newly renovated space that reflects the evolving urban landscape of Little Portugal. We’ll discuss how community-driven design, such as the removal of fences and improved connectivity between spaces, mirrors the connector spirit of the porch. Through intergenerational relationships and community memory, we’ll explore how Little Portugal’s porch life continues to support the neighbourhood's social fabric.

Walk Start:

Fix Coffee + Bikes (80 Gladstone Ave) Dufferin St and Alma Ave

Osler Playground (123 Argyle St) Ossington Ave and Argyle St

Walk End: