Is it true that basically every Azorean has family in Canada?

In the 1950s and 60s, life in the Azores was hard. Jobs were scarce, opportunities even scarcer. So thousands emigrated, especially to Canada and the United States. Over time, entire communities formed abroad, particularly in places like Toronto, Mississauga, and Fall River.

Fast forward a few generations and the result is simple. Almost every Azorean has someone overseas. A cousin in Toronto. An uncle in Mississauga. A godfather in Fall River. If it’s not direct family, it’s a close family friend who might as well be family.

And if you visit those cities, you’ll see it immediately. Portuguese bakeries selling massa sovada. Restaurants serving cozido and linguiça. Festas do Espírito Santo celebrated like you never left the islands. It’s not just immigration history. It’s a parallel Azores.

So yes, the joke is real. Start a conversation with an Azorean and within five minutes someone will say, “Ah, I have family in Canada.”

It’s not a stereotype. It’s demographics.