I spotted the terracotta rooftop from the subway, where Toronto’s Bloor line runs above ground between Keele and Dundas West stations. Glowing in the sunshine, it looked like a chinoiserie pagoda festooned with birds. Naturally, I had to investigate.
I found the Franco family on their front porch, Mom, Dad and adult son Simon, the man responsible for turning an unassuming garden shed into a little slice of Madiera–“back home” to these friendly Portuguese-Canadians.
The clay pigeons and finial were souvenirs from a trip to the old country, which Simon had been looking for a way to utilize. By chance, he happened to be on Sorauren Avenue one afternoon when someone was demolishing a galvanized steel roof; Simon offered the guy–who turned out to be a former high school chum–$100 and duly hauled away the rusted, black scrap. His parents thought he’d lost his mind.
But like all great do-it-yourselfers, Simon had a vision for this trash/treasure. He took one of the terracotta birds to Home Depot where they colour-matched some exterior paint. Now, all put together, you’d swear it was a genuine tile roof. The Francos have recreated a Madeira country house right down to the shutters and little swallows adorning the doorway. “It’s just like back home,” says the senior Mr. Franco proudly.
The family entertains in their cozy back garden with live fado singing and glasses of Poncha, conjuring vivid memories of Madeira (below). The island may be an ocean away but its spirit is here, a stone’s throw from High Park.
Photo of Madeira by Valgonzarp
August 27th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Wow, this actually IS inspiring. And the multi-culti angle is just soooo Canadian.