Cressy De Mello

Abstract:

Mrs. De Mello was born in Bombay, India and came to Uganda when she was eighteen to visit her older sister. She found a secretarial position at the Uganda Garment Industry Limited and subsequently worked for the senior accountant of the ministry of education. She met her husband Nick De Mello, a travel agent, and the couple married in 1970. Upon returning from their honeymoon, the couple learned that Idi Amin had overthrown the government.

Soon after the expulsion was announced, Mr. De Mello was taken to Makindye prison and interrogated. He was only let go after promising 50 000 shillings and all his belongings to the army. The family fled Uganda the next day and came to Canada where they first settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia, then St. John, New Brunswick, then Montreal, Quebec, and finally Toronto, Ontario.

Ms. De Mello reflects fondly on her time in St. John, reminiscing about the kindness that was shown to her and her family when they arrived. She speaks about starting the QGA, the Quebec Goan Association, her family’s experiences with French education in Quebec and their eventual move to Toronto. She talks about her and her family’s return trips to Uganda and her overall gratitude to the Canadian government and people for assisting them in settling in Canada.

This oral history was conducted virtually.

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