Agua Retorta is a small village (also referred to as a civil parish) situated on the southeast coast on the island of Sao Miguel in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores.
Manuel Botelho was born in 1938 and raised on one side of the village of Agua Retorta while Luisa Resendes was born in 1943 and raised on the opposite side of this same village of about 1,700 people.
As children they both went to different schools but the families knew one another.
Manuel had one sister and Luisa came from a family of one brother and one sister.
Luisa explains, "The name of my village means crooked water. The land is fertile so almost everyone worked in horticulture or farming in one way or another. We grew almost all of our own food and we all worked together. We didn't have electricity so that meant no television or radio. We didn't know about these things, so we did not miss them.
"Both of our families worked the land and in particular the vineyards growing grapes for the purpose of making wine. Harvesting the crops and preparing the grapes to make the wine was always a happy event with a celebration and great food at the end of the season."
Manuel started working the land as early as the age of 12 while Luisa was taught to sew.
At the age of 15 Luisa and her sister Maria started their own seamstress shop.
Manuel played in a marching band and Luisa sang in the church choir so they saw one another every weekend.
The young couple fell in love in 1964 and got married in 1966; a year later their first child Gil was born.
Their second child Gina was born in 1974.
Manuel made the decision to go to Canada with the hope of building a better life for his young son and wife.
He arrived in Prince George in 1968, found work in Giscome and in 1969 he sent for his wife and two-year-old son.
Luisa reflected back and said, "I came straight to Giscome from Portugal via airports in Montreal, Vancouver and Prince George. I did not speak English and I had very little money, I was exhausted and confused but I had our son and I was on the way to meet my husband and the prospects of a better life. Back home we all worked hard but we could not get ahead so I had hopes for my new life.
"I arrived in Giscome, we were so isolated, life was very hard, it was cold and there was snow in my new country. We never experienced snow in Portugal so I was in for a real shock. I was very unhappy at first and that upset Manuel.
"I quickly came to understand that this was my new life and it would be up to me if I was happy or not. It wasn't easy for either one of us but we were young and we both knew we could do it."
Manuel worked for Northwood in the sawmill division for 30 years.
Later Luisa worked in the kitchen of the bunkhouse at Giscome and did some seamstress work for people in the area; it was here that she started to learn some English and a few of the Canadian customs.
In 1974 the sawmill at Giscome shut down and they moved to town to their first home on Carney Street.
Luisa said, "I went from the bush to the city and I was very happy about that. I was still having a hard time because I could not speak English. I never took lessons and I learned some words here and there so that is why some of my words are still upside down. Things were now easier and I quickly grew to love Prince George."
Luisa picked up seamstress work all over town by word of mouth and took up baby sitting other children for additional income while raising her children.
She worked at Pine Centre Mall for 24 years; 17 years for Woolco and the rest of the time at Sears and Tip Top Tailors.
Together they raised two children Gil (Natasha) of Prince George and Gina who currently lives in Calgary.
They have three grandchildren, Johnathan, Matthew and Isabella.
Manuel worked for Northwood for a total of 30 years and retired in 1998. He could always be found spending many hours in his near perfect garden.
Luisa said, "I still enjoy singing in the church choir but I love spending time with our beautiful grandchildren. I volunteer at Gateway Lodge and spend my time there singing for and praying with the residents."
Manuel and Luisa moved to Asher Place just over one year ago and Luisa said, "We love it here. We have many good friends as well as a great family. Prince George did end up being a better life for all of us."
