Bermuda Day Grand Marshal 2013 – The Colours, Sights and Sounds of Bermuda
Jose Pereira was born in Sao Miguel, Azores and was a policeman before coming to Bermuda in 1969 where he worked in construction and landscaping.
For the last 10 years Joe has been the Greenhouse Manager at Save Open Spaces (SOS), a charity that grows native and endemic plants. SOS works with Government, other charities, the private sector and schools to provide awareness and supply native and endemic plants for planting across the island. Joe is responsible for growing literally tens of thousands of plants during the years which are either sold to cover costs or donated to environmental projects. At the SOS greenhouse in Devonshire, Joe also hosts educational classes for students to teach them the importance of and how to grow everything from Bermuda cedars and palmettos to olivewood, snowberry and many other plants. SOS also recently provided every school student on the island with a cedar tree.
Joe has been a member of Vasco Da Gama Club for 43 years and was a member of the executive committee for 5 years. During this time he had the opportunity to help the Portuguese community as well as participate in many cultural events including building floats for the 24 May parade.
A member of St. Theresa’s Church for 40 years, Joe also volunteers for the “Loaf and Fish” programme which feed the needy in the community at the St. Theresa’s Church Hall in Hamilton. He has also worked with the Centro de Cultura Portuguese and helped start a Portuguese language school.
Married for 45 years to his wife Rita, Joe has two daughters and has lived on North Shore, Pembroke for most of his life. When not growing plants Joe loves to enjoy his other passion in life, fishing.
