My Home and Native Land: Dr. Joana Goncalves
NARRATOR: My home and native land: Personal stories of coming to Canada. DR. JOANA GONCALVES: When I came to Canada, I wanted to continue to be a doctor. And I would do anything to pursue that dream. NARRATOR: Dr. Joana Goncalves emigrated from Portugal in 1974. DR. JOANA GONCALVES: I was born in Madeira Island, Portugal. I lived in Madeira Island with my mother and my brothers and sisters. NARRATOR: Portugal was ruled by a dictatorship for most of the 20th century. During that time, thousands of people left Portugal to seek better economic and political conditions in other countries. DR. JOANA GONCALVES: When I came to Canada, I have two young children and I decided to stay home for them to grow until they would go to kindergarten and then pursue my career. NARRATOR: Dr. Goncalves later took the exams required to practise medicine in Ontario. She failed at her first two attempts. DR. JOANA GONCALVES: I thought to myself at that time was this is not going to be Canada that is going to tell me you are not going to be a doctor. And that gives me courage to pursue. I had one doctor telling me, oh, you will never get it. I start crying. And another doctor was in there. She’s Korean. And then she comes to me and says look it, no one has the right to tell you if you are able or not. Only yourself. And that I heard that, for me it was really a great enthusiasm. When I got my licence, of course the first person that I called was her. I went to her and I said, I got it. This is my …
