He might not be as well-known as Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, famous explorers Vasco de Gama and Magellan, or celebrated poet Luís de Camões, but this Portuguese-Canadian from Chatham left a lasting impact in Southwestern Ontario.
António Joaquim Pereira Alves do Forno was honored posthumously with an induction into the Portuguese-Canadian Walk of Fame in Toronto at the end of May.
Do Forno passed away in October.
Walk of Fame representatives stated he was a trailblazing community leader whose dedicated efforts shaped the Portuguese community of Southwestern Ontario for over 40 years.
“António built a legacy of leadership, entrepreneurship, and cultural preservation,” said Walk of Fame officials.
Born in Portugal in 1935, do Forno moved to Canada in 1966.
In 1971, he co-founded the Portuguese Canadian Social Club of Chatham and served as its first president. He represented Portuguese Canadians for more than 20 years on the advisory board to the Portuguese government regarding emigration policies and communities abroad. In 1998, he was appointed Honorary Consul of Portugal in Canada.
He also initiated Portuguese language programs throughout Chatham and nearby areas while securing funding from both the Portuguese and Canadian governments to maintain Portuguese heritage in Chatham and Leamington.
For over 30 years, he ran Forno’s Travel Agency, worked as a provincially appointed Notary Public for four decades, volunteered with the Knights of Columbus for more than 40 years, and played a key role in establishing the annual Nossa Senhora de Fátima festivities in Chatham.
His contributions were widely acknowledged both in Portugal and Canada.
“Words cannot express how proud and happy I am for my father to receive this acknowledgement. While I wish he could have been here to receive it himself, this is an acknowledgement of the amazing life of community that he did for over 40 years for the Portuguese community in Southwestern Ontario,” said his son Paul do Forno.
June 10 is Portugal Day.
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