Search results

Title: ITA-8061-BIL-B
Date

Title: [Photograph of Seoma Feodorovich Chernenkoff and Dasha Semenovna Chernenkoff, c. 1975]
Date: c. 1975

Title: Italian interview - Brigida Ely
Description: In this interview, Brigida Ely discusses her difficult decision to leave her family in Italy in order to marry in Canada. She describes her childhood in Italy, the journey to Canada, and life in Toronto. Mrs. Ely was born in 1899 in a small town not far from Genoa. She came from a large family of eight children. Mrs. Ely describes how her sister
Show moreIn this interview, Brigida Ely discusses her difficult decision to leave her family in Italy in order to marry in Canada. She describes her childhood in Italy, the journey to Canada, and life in Toronto. Mrs. Ely was born in 1899 in a small town not far from Genoa. She came from a large family of eight children. Mrs. Ely describes how her sister had immigrated to Canada first and was able to find a husband for her - a customer at the fruit store she ran. Mrs. Ely explains that her father preferred she not leave for Canada since she was the youngest in the family and was expected to take care of the parents as they aged. However, her mother was concerned that she was not married at twenty-five years of age, and she took comfort in knowing that her daughter would not be alone in Canada. Mrs. Ely discusses the immigration process, which included a physical exam prior to departure and a long journey to Halifax by ship, followed by train to Toronto. Mrs. Ely was married sixteen days after her arrival. Her husband had arrived in 1920 and was originally from Abruzzo, Italy. For two and a half years they lived with her sister above the fruit store, and then in 1927, they bought a house in the Dufferin and Rogers area in Toronto. Mrs. Ely never worked outside of the home.
Dans cette entrevue, Brigida Ely raconte comment elle a quitt sa famille en Italie pour venir se marier au Canada. Ce ntait pas une dcision facile. Elle dcrit son enfance en Italie, le voyage pour se rendre au Canada et la vie Toronto. Mme Ely est ne en 1899 dans une petite ville pas loin de Gnes. Elle vient dune famille nombreuse de huit enfants. La sur de Mme Ely tait dj au Canada et parmi les clients qui frquentaient le magasin de fruits o elle travaillait, elle a trouv un mari pour sa sur. Mme Ely explique que son pre voulait quelle reste en Italie car elle tait la plus jeune et elle tait cense soccuper de ses parents durant leur vieillesse. Mais sa mre se faisait du souci parce quelle ntait pas encore marie vingt-cinq ans et elle savait que sa fille ne serait pas seule au Canada. Mme Ely dcrit le processus dimmigration qui comprend un examen mdical avant le dpart, un long voyage en bateau jusqu Halifax et le voyage par train jusqu Toronto. Mme Ely sest marie seize jours aprs son arrive. Son mari est arriv en 1920 et il tait originaire de la ville dAbruzzo (Italie). Pendant deux ans et demi, ils vivaient avec sa sur au-dessus du magasin et puis en 1927, ils ont achet une maison dans la rgion de Dufferin et Rogers Toronto. Mme Ely na jamais travaill lextrieur de la maison.
Show less
Date: 1977-07-12

Title: ITA-9893-PIE-C
Date

Title: Italian interview - Chiara Iannarelli
Description: In this interview, Chiara Iannarelli describes her life in Italy, her love of singing and long-time involvement in church choral groups, and her decision to come to Canada. Mrs. Iannarelli was born in Abruzzo, Italy in a village of 11,000 people. She lived in a two-room house along with her parents and four siblings. She earned a living by working
Show moreIn this interview, Chiara Iannarelli describes her life in Italy, her love of singing and long-time involvement in church choral groups, and her decision to come to Canada. Mrs. Iannarelli was born in Abruzzo, Italy in a village of 11,000 people. She lived in a two-room house along with her parents and four siblings. She earned a living by working twelve-hour days in a brick factory. Mrs. Iannarelli fondly reminisces about celebrations she enjoyed in Italy, such as the Festa of Santa Lucia and Festa di San Rocco, which were opportunities for people to get together, enjoy special music and engage in organized activities, including bike and horse races between villages. She also describes her lifelong enjoyment of singing and participating in choral groups. Mrs. Iannarelli had a son out of wedlock. She describes the pain she felt after her father did not speak to her for nineteen years, as well as her eventual reunion with him prior to his death. Mrs. Iannarelli's son eventually married and immigrated to Canada with his wife. After eleven years in Italy without him, she decided to join her son in Canada. She stayed with her son and his wife following her arrival, and later purchased a home of her own. At the time of the interview she had been in Canada for twenty-seven years.
Dans cette entrevue, Chiara Iannarelli dcrit sa vie en Italie, son amour de la chanson, sa participation dans les chorales de lglise pendant des annes, et sa dcision de venir au Canada. Mme Iannarelli est ne Abruzo, un village italien de 11,000 personnes. Elle vivait dans une maison de deux-pices avec ses parents et ses quatre frres et surs. Elle travaillait dans une fabrique de briques pour gagner sa vie. Mme Iannarelli se souvient avec nostalgie des clbrations en Italie, la Festa de San Lucia et la Festa di San Rocco o les gens pouvaient se rencontrer, couter de la musique et participer des activits telles que les courses de vlo ou de chevaux entre les villages. Elle raconte comment elle a toujours eu une passion pour la chanson et voque sa participation dans les groupes de chorale. Mme Iannarelli a eu un fils sans tre marie. Son pre a refus de lui parler pendant dix-neuf ans et cela la beaucoup affecte mais elle ajoute quils se sont revus avant sa mort. Le fils de Mme Iannarelli sest mari et a immigr au Canada avec son pouse. Aprs avoir pass onze ans en Italie, loin de son fils, elle a dcid de venir le rejoindre au Canada. Elle est reste avec son fils et sa femme aprs son arrive mais elle sest ensuite achet une maison. Au moment de lentrevue, cela faisait vingt-sept ans quelle tait au Canada.
Show less
Date: 1980-06-04

Title: ITA-0774-TAN-D
Date

Title: Italian Interview - Paola Iati
Description: This interviewee reminisces about his youth in Italy, serving in the Italian army in World War One, and migrating to Canada alone, and then bringing over his wife and child. He focuses on his experiences during the war, and his employment in Canada. The interviewee was born in 1899. He joined the army in 1917 at the age of eighteen. He describes
Show moreThis interviewee reminisces about his youth in Italy, serving in the Italian army in World War One, and migrating to Canada alone, and then bringing over his wife and child. He focuses on his experiences during the war, and his employment in Canada. The interviewee was born in 1899. He joined the army in 1917 at the age of eighteen. He describes his memorable experiences during the war, including being treated for malaria at the San Marino Republic hospital, and being taken prisoner by Austrian forces along with his entire 200,000 person regiment. He married his girlfriend of four years shortly after leaving the army, in 1921, and they had their first son in 1922. His father-in-law suggested he move to North Bay, Ontario, which he did in 1921. His wife joined him in 1930. The interviewee discusses his varied employment experiences throughout his time in Canada, including work in concrete finishing, waterworks construction and shoveling snow. His wife worked in a mica plant for a short time starting in 1944, and then worked as a dressmaker. The interviewee describes some of the changes he saw in North Bay during his time there, for example noting that there were no sidewalks or cars when he first arrived. He recounts stories of deprivation and food rationing during the Depression. He describes the importance of the Catholic Church to his life in Italy and in Canada, identifying several important priests by name.
Cet interview voque sa jeunesse en Italie, il a servi dans larme italienne durant la Premire Guerre mondiale, il a migr seul au Canada et ensuite il a fait venir sa femme et son enfant. Il parle surtout de ses expriences durant la guerre et de son travail au Canada. Linterview est n en 1899. Il sest joint larme en 1917 lge de dix-huit ans. Parmi ses expriences les plus mmorables durant la guerre, il voque son hospitalisation pour le traitement du paludisme au San Marino Republic hospital, et aussi sa capture par les forces autrichiennes qui avaient fait prisonnier un rgiment entier de 200,000 personnes. Il a pous sa petite amie de quatre ans quand il a quitt larme en 1921 et ils ont eu leur premier fils en 1922. Suivant lavis de son beau-pre, il a dmnag North Bay (Ontario) en 1921. Sa femme est venue le rejoindre en 1930. Linterview parle de ses divers emplois au Canada, il a travaill comme finisseur de bton, dans la construction des ouvrages deau et le dblayage de la neige. partir de 1944, son pouse a travaill dans une usine de mica pendant une brve priode avant de devenir couturire. Linterview dcrit les changements qui ont eu lieu depuis son arrive North Bay, il cite, par exemple, le fait quil ny avait pas de trottoirs ou de voitures lorsquil venait darriver. Il voque les pnuries et le rationnement de la nourriture durant la Dpression. Il souligne limportance de lglise catholique dans sa vie en Italie et au Canada et nomme plusieurs prtres importants.
Show less
Date: 1973-07-29

Title: Italian Interview - Mariana Di Valentin
Description: In this interview, Mariana Di Valentin describes her life in Italy until she immigrated to Canada in the 1930s, and her subsequent experiences in Ontario and New Brunswick. She focuses on her family employment history, her church involvement, and her adjustment to life in Canada. Born in Italy in 1902, Mrs. Di Valentin married her husband in Italy
Show moreIn this interview, Mariana Di Valentin describes her life in Italy until she immigrated to Canada in the 1930s, and her subsequent experiences in Ontario and New Brunswick. She focuses on her family employment history, her church involvement, and her adjustment to life in Canada. Born in Italy in 1902, Mrs. Di Valentin married her husband in Italy before he left for Canada in 1925. He returned to Italy in 1930, but went back to work in Canada a year later, sending for his wife to join him in 1936. Mrs. Di Valentin explains that she had planned to return to Italy after a few years in Canada, but that the negative effects of Depression and World War II on Italy caused her to change her mind and remain in Canada. Her family's life in Canada started in Ottawa, but Mrs. Di Valentin convinced her husband to move the family to Toronto because she believed that they would benefit from the larger Italian social network, and from being closer to relatives. In Toronto, Mrs. Di Valentin recalls working at Eaton's factory for fourteen years. She describes one incident where she and other Italian workers were let go for a month after Benito Mussolini came into power in Italy, until their employer was convinced to let them return. Mrs. Di Valentin reminisces fondly about her involvement with the Italian church in Toronto, and recalls how the Italian stores and Little Italy neighbourhood made it easy to make connections in Canada. She explains how her family had to move to New Brunswick because her son had a job there, and that although she missed Toronto's Italian community, her priority was keeping her family together. She concludes by talking about her husband's death in 1970 or 1971.
Dans cette entrevue, Maria Di Valentin raconte sa vie en Italie avant son immigration au Canada dans les annes 1930 et les annes passes en Ontario et au Nouveau-Brunswick. Elle parle de sa famille et de leurs emplois, de ses activits au sein de lglise et de son adaptation la vie au Canada. Ne en Italie en 1902, Mme Di Valentin a pous son mari en Italie avant son dpart pour le Canada en 1925. Il est retourn en Italie en 1930 mais un an plus tard, il est reparti au Canada pour travailler, et il a fait venir son pouse en 1936. Mme Di Valentin explique quelle pensait retourner en Italie aprs quelques annes au Canada mais, suite la Dpression et la Seconde Guerre mondiale en Italie, elle a dcid de rester au Canada. Au Canada, sa vie de famille a commenc Ottawa, mais Mme Di Valentin a russi convaincre son mari de dmnager Toronto o la communaut italienne tait plus importante et pour tre plus proche de sa famille. Toronto, Mme Di Valentin a travaill pour lusine Eaton pendant quatorze ans. Elle raconte un incident o, pendant un mois, elle fut congdie avec dautres employs italiens aprs la monte au pouvoir de Benito Mussolini, mais finalement ils ont pu reprendre leur travail. Mme Di Valentin voque avec nostalgie sa participation aux activits de lglise italienne Toronto ainsi que les magasins italiens et le quartier de la Petite Italie. Elle explique pourquoi sa famille a dcid de dmnager au Nouveau-Brunswick o son fils a trouv un emploi. Mme si elle aimait beaucoup faire partie de la communaut italienne Toronto, elle voulait surtout que sa famille reste unie. la fin de lentrevue, elle parle de la mort de son mari en 1970 ou 1971.
Show less
Date: 1977-10-18

Title: [Photograph of Timothy Oglow, c. 1975]
Date: c. 1975

Title: Italian Interview - Helen Lettieri
Description: This interview with Helen Lettieri describes her involvement with the Italian Canadian Benevolent Corporation (ICBC) in the 1970s and the establishment of the Columbus Centre, and Villa Columbo, an Italian senior citizens' home in Toronto, Ontario. Ms. Lettieri was involved in Italian politics from early on, first as part of the Ladies' Auxiliary
Show moreThis interview with Helen Lettieri describes her involvement with the Italian Canadian Benevolent Corporation (ICBC) in the 1970s and the establishment of the Columbus Centre, and Villa Columbo, an Italian senior citizens' home in Toronto, Ontario. Ms. Lettieri was involved in Italian politics from early on, first as part of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association and later as Vice President of the Italian Immigrant Aid Society. She was instrumental in establishing a daycare centre in Villa Columbo in 1976, an innovative program that was highly praised and emulated in other seniors' homes across Canada. She explains that she feels a close connection to Villa Columbo and is very proud of the excellent facilities that support the specific ethno-cultural needs of its Italian residents. Ms. Lettieri also describes the difficulties of being a Board member of the ICBC, and reflects on the gender difference at that level of community politics in the 1970s and 80s. She expresses her ideas and hopes for future ICBC endeavors, and stresses the need to focus attention on Italian youth. This interview provides excellent insight into the establishment of Villa Charities and the needs of the Italian community in the 1970s. Ms. Lettieri's ideas about the role of Italian women in community politics and in entrepreneurship provide an interesting contrast to some of the other interviews that focus on the roles of women in the Italian community before the Second World War.
Cette entrevue avec Helen Lettieri parle de son rle lItalian Canadian Benevolent Corporation (ICBC) dans les annes 1970 et la mise sur pied du Centre Colombus, et la Villa Columbo, une maison de retraite pour les Italiens du troisime ge Toronto, Ontario. Lengagement politique de Mme Lettieri a commenc trs tt, elle faisait partie de la branche fminine de la Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association et par la suite, elle est devenue la vice-prsidente de lItalian Immigrant Aid Society (Socit daide aux Immigrants italiens ). Elle a jou un rle capital dans ltablissement dun service de garderie la Villa Columbo en 1976, un projet innovateur qui fut trs apprci et adopt par dautres maisons de retraite travers le Canada. Elle explique quelle a un lien spcial avec la Villa Columbo et elle est trs fire de la qualit des services et des facilits offertes afin de rpondre aux besoins ethnoculturels et spcifiques des rsidents italiens. Mme Lettieri parle aussi des difficults quelle a rencontres en tant que membre du comit du ICBC et des diffrences qui, dans ces cas, existaient entre les hommes et les femmes dans les annes 1970 et 1980. Elle fait part de ses ides et ses espoirs pour les projets futurs de la ICBC et souligne limportance de la jeunesse italienne. Cette entrevue permet de mieux comprendre ltablissement des Villa Charities et les besoins de la communaut italienne dans les annes 1970. Les ides de Mme Lettieri sur le rle des femmes italiennes dans le domaine politique et celui des affaires offrent un contraste intressant avec les autres entrevues centres sur le rle des femmes dans la communaut italienne avant la Seconde Guerre mondiale.
Show less
Date: 1984-03-05

Title: ITA-9879-CON-A
Date

Title: Italian Interview - F. Borg
Description: In this interview Frances Borg describes her father's experiences immigrating to Canada in the 1910s, and how he built a successful wholesale banana business in Toronto. Mrs. Borg provides excellent detail regarding the emotions and motivations behind both her parents' decisions to emigrate, including local violence and financial strain in Sicily.
Show moreIn this interview Frances Borg describes her father's experiences immigrating to Canada in the 1910s, and how he built a successful wholesale banana business in Toronto. Mrs. Borg provides excellent detail regarding the emotions and motivations behind both her parents' decisions to emigrate, including local violence and financial strain in Sicily. Her parents met and married in Canada, where she and her sister were born. They lived in a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood, and worked closely with the fruit stores in Kensington Market. She pays particular attention to the language and literacy barriers both her parents faced, describing how her father learned to read and write in English for the purpose of his business. She also mentions how she taught her mother English after school every day, using her class textbooks. Mrs. Borg describes the social activities and outings her parents enjoyed in the 1930s and 40s, including vaudeville and burlesque shows. This interview presents an interesting perspective on the interaction between diverse ethnic groups, and emphasizes the early multiculturalism of Kensington Market in Toronto. Although she touches briefly on some instances of fear and prejudice during the War, Mrs. Borg reminisces fondly about her experiences as a young girl living in a multi-ethnic neighbourhood.
Dans cette entrevue, Frances Borg raconte lmigration de son pre au Canada dans les annes 1910. Il a ouvert Toronto une entreprise spcialise dans la vente de bananes en gros. Parmi les raisons qui ont pouss ses parents migrer, Mme Borg voque laugmentation de la violence et les problmes financiers en Sicile. Ses parents se sont rencontrs et se sont maris au Canada o elle et sa sur sont nes. Ils vivaient dans un quartier prdominance juive et travaillaient en troite collaboration avec les magasins de fruits de Kensington Market. Elle ne manque pas de souligner les problmes de langue et dalphabtisation rencontrs par ses parents. Elle raconte comment son pre a appris lire et crire langlais pour les besoins de son entreprise. Elle raconte aussi comment elle a appris langlais sa mre en utilisant ses manuels scolaires. Parmi les activits sociales et les sorties que ses parents apprciaient le plus, Mme Borg mentionne les spectacles incluant le vaudeville et le burlesque. Cette entrevue donne une vue intressante sur les rapports entre les diffrents groupes ethniques et lmergence du multiculturalisme dans le quartier de Kensington Market Toronto. Mme si elle mentionne brivement le climat de peur et les prjugs qui rgnaient durant la Guerre, Mme Borg garde de trs bons souvenirs de cette priode de sa jeunesse o elle vivait dans un quartier multiethnique.
Show less
Date: 418/1983

Title: [Interview of Tanya Tihkonovna Reibin by Marje Maloff, c. 1975]
Date: c. 1975

Title: ITA-0562-EMB-A
Date

Title: ITA-0661-BAS-A
Date

Title: Italian Interview - Lucia Sabucco
Description: In this interview, Lucia Sabucco shares her memories of life in Welland, Ontario, concentrating on the role of the Plymouth Cordage Company, a rope-making factory, in her family's life. Mrs. Sabucco's father immigrated to Canada from northern Italy in 1905, settling in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and working for the Plymouth Cordage Company. When the
Show moreIn this interview, Lucia Sabucco shares her memories of life in Welland, Ontario, concentrating on the role of the Plymouth Cordage Company, a rope-making factory, in her family's life. Mrs. Sabucco's father immigrated to Canada from northern Italy in 1905, settling in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and working for the Plymouth Cordage Company. When the company opened a branch in Canada, her father followed, and instructed his family in Italy to change the destination on their immigration paperwork to Canada. Mrs. Sabucco was one year old when she arrived in Welland, and her family moved directly into a company house that her father had secured for them. Mrs. Sabucco explains that the cordage company provided more than jobs and housing; it also cleared the snow from the streets, held an annual fair for the employees and their families, and offered construction classes for boys and sewing classes for girls. Mrs. Sabucco explains the company's hiring practices, wherein all interested applicants would come to the plant office in the early morning and the superintendent would select the people that he wanted. She offers the story of how she spent almost a year applying for work at the company before she was finally selected, at age fourteen, because there was a shortage of labourers during World War I. Mrs. Sabucco provides detailed descriptions of her family's company house, in which they rented rooms to boarders. She describes the work involved in running a household during her childhood, singling out her mother's cooking as noteworthy. She then provides a detailed description of the plant's operations, converting hemp to rope. She briefly touches on her adult life, clarifying that her marriage in 1924 was not an arranged marriage, though that practice was not unknown in the community.
Dans cette entrevue, Lucia Sabucco voque ses souvenirs de la vie Welland (Ontario), en particulier sur le rle de la Plymouth Cordage Company, une usine de cordes, dans la vie de sa famille. Le pre de Mme Sabucco a immigr au Canada du nord de lItalie en 1905, il tait tabli Plymouth, Massachussets, o il travaillait pour la Plymouth Cordage Company. Quand la compagnie a ouvert une branche au Canada, son pre a suivi, et il a donn des instructions sa famille en Italie pour quils changent la destination sur le formulaire dimmigration Canada. Mme Sabucco avait un an quand elle est arrive Welland et grce au travail de son pre, sa famille a pu dmnager tout de suite dans une maison fournie par la compagnie. Mme Sabucco explique quen plus de leur donner un emploi et un logement, lusine de cordes faisait aussi le dblayage des rues en hiver, elle organisait une fte annuelle pour les employs et leurs familles et elle offrait des cours de construction aux garons et des cours de couture aux filles. Mme Sabucco explique les pratiques demploi de la compagnie : tous ceux qui taient intresss se prsentaient au bureau de lusine tt le matin et le chef choisissait ceux quil voulait engager. Elle raconte comment elle a attendu presque un an avant de trouver un emploi dans la compagnie lorsquelle a finalement t choisie, lge de quatorze ans, suite une pnurie douvriers durant la Premire Guerre mondiale. Mme Sabucco dcrit en dtail la maison o habitait sa famille et o ils louaient des chambres des pensionnaires. Elle se souvient des responsabilits et des nombreuses tches accomplir dans la maison quand elle tait enfant, et en particulier de la cuisine de sa mre qui tait remarquable. Elle dcrit ensuite le fonctionnement de lusine, la transformation du chanvre en corde. Elle parle brivement de sa vie dadulte et prcise que son mariage en 1924 ntait pas arrang mme si cette pratique existait encore lpoque.
Show less
Date: 1977-07-12

Title: ITA-0827-IPP-B
Date

Title: Italian Interview - Adriano Bertulli
Description: Adriana Bertulli was born in 1899 in Italy. In this interview, she discusses her life with her husband in Sudbury, Ontario, spending some time reflecting on how she and her husband made ends meet. Mrs. Bertulli briefly discusses her life in Italy, recalling that she had never met her father who died young while working in Canada. Her mother later
Show moreAdriana Bertulli was born in 1899 in Italy. In this interview, she discusses her life with her husband in Sudbury, Ontario, spending some time reflecting on how she and her husband made ends meet. Mrs. Bertulli briefly discusses her life in Italy, recalling that she had never met her father who died young while working in Canada. Her mother later remarried, and Mrs. Bertulli was the eldest of five children. In 1920, Mrs. Bertulli's uncle sponsored her to come to Canada in order to leave the widespread hunger she was faced with in Italy. She describes the immigration process she underwent, including a medical exam prior to departure as well as travel by ship and train. She also recounts her feelings of sadness and regret upon her arrival in Canada, and the steps she took to return to Italy before ultimately deciding to remain in Canada. She met her husband, and they were married at the Italian Club in 1921. Soon after, they had two children. Mrs. Bertulli's husband carried carbon for a living and eventually obtained employment at INCO. Mrs. Bertulli cared for their children as well as the two or three boarders they took in, cooking, cleaning and ironing clothes for about $3.00 per month. After some time, Mrs. Bertulli's husband became ill, and with little to no income, they accepted food from the neighbours as a means of survival. She has found that life has always been difficult for her family, both in Canada and in Italy, but was happy to report that by 1981, she was able to return to her home country for the first time in sixty-one years.
Adriana Bertulli est ne en 1899 en Italie. Dans cette entrevue, elle parle de sa vie avec son mari Sudbury (Ontario), comment ils faisaient pour joindre les deux bouts. Mme Bertulli parle brivement de sa vie en Italie, elle mentionne quelle na jamais connu son pre qui est mort jeune alors quil travaillait au Canada. Sa mre sest remarie par la suite, et Mme Bertulli tait lane de cinq enfants. En 1920, loncle de Mme Bertulli la fait venir au Canada pour fuir la famine qui stait abattue sur toute lItalie. Elle dcrit le processus dimmigration qui inclut lexamen mdical avant le dpart et le voyage en bateau et en train. Elle se souvient de sa tristesse son arrive au Canada et des dmarches entreprises pour retourner en Italie mais, la fin, elle dcida de rester au Canada. Elle a rencontr son mari et ils se sont maris au Club Italien en 1921. Peu aprs, ils ont eu deux enfants. Le mari de Mme Bertulli transportait du carbone pour gagner sa vie avant de trouver un emploi INCO. Mme Bertulli soccupait de ses enfants et de deux ou trois pensionnaires quils avaient pris chez eux, elle prparait leurs repas, faisait la lessive et le repassage pour 3 $ par mois. Quelque temps aprs, le mari de Mme Bertulli est tomb malade, elle sest retrouve presque sans revenus et ce sont les voisins qui les ont aids en leur donnant de la nourriture. Elle considre que la vie a toujours t difficile pour sa famille, au Canada et en Italie, mais elle tait heureuse quelle ait pu retourner dans son pays natal en 1981, aprs soixante et un ans.
Show less
Date: 1984-08-04

Title: Italian Interview - Rosa Marie Sangali
Description: In this interview, Rosa Maria Sangali describes her life in Italy and her immigration to Canada with her adult son and his family in 1975. Mrs. Sangali concentrates on her memories of her childhood in Italy and her married life, with limited discussion of her experiences in Toronto, Ontario. Mrs. Sangali was born in a tourist town, and fondly
Show moreIn this interview, Rosa Maria Sangali describes her life in Italy and her immigration to Canada with her adult son and his family in 1975. Mrs. Sangali concentrates on her memories of her childhood in Italy and her married life, with limited discussion of her experiences in Toronto, Ontario. Mrs. Sangali was born in a tourist town, and fondly recalls the carnivals and festivals of her youth. She is the daughter of a successful lawyer, and her parents wanted their four daughters to succeed. To that end, she was educated in Milan, and studied literature, music and French. She married her husband in 1938, and they had one son in 1942 named Fausto. Mrs. Sangali recollects the hardships she experienced in Italy during World War Two, such as having difficulty finding food for her son. After twenty years of marriage in 1958, her factory director husband died. Fausto was married in 1969, and immigrated to Canada in 1975 along with his wife and Mrs. Sangali to start a jewellery store. The store failed, and Fausto and his family returned to Italy. Mrs. Sangali was unable to join them, owing to her poor health. While in Toronto, her son discovered the Villa Colombo, an Italian seniors' residence, and placed Mrs. Sangali there. She describes herself as actively involved in the Villa Colombo's activities, so long as her health permits.
Dans cette entrevue, Rosa Maria Sangali dcrit sa vie en Italie et son immigration au Canada avec son fils adulte et sa famille en 1975. Mme Sangali voque surtout les souvenirs de son enfance en Italie et sa vie dpouse, et ne parle pas beaucoup de ses expriences Toronto, Ontario. Mme Sangali est ne dans une ville touristique, et elle voque avec nostalgie les carnavals et les festivals durant sa jeunesse. Elle est la fille dun avocat reconnu et ses parents ont tout fait pour la russite de leurs quatre filles. Elle a reu son ducation Milan, elle a tudi la littrature, la musique et le franais. Elle a pous son mari en 1938, et en 1942, ils ont eu un fils nomm Fausto. Mme Sangali se souvient de la situation difficile en Italie durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale o elle narrivait pas trouver de la nourriture pour son fils. Le mari de Mme Sangali tait directeur dusine et il est mort en 1958, aprs vingt ans de mariage. Fausto sest mari en 1969 et a immigr au Canada en 1975 avec son pouse et sa mre (Mme Sangali) pour ouvrir une bijouterie. Mais lentreprise a chou et la famille a d retourner en Italie. Mme Sangali na pas pu partir avec eux cause de sa sant dficiente. Lorsquil tait Toronto, son fils a dcouvert la Villa Colombo, une maison de retraite italienne, et cest l quil a plac Mme Sangali. Elle ajoute que si sa sant le lui permet, elle participe autant que possible aux activits de la Villa Colombo.
Show less
Date: 1976-03-07

Title: Italian Interview - Maria De Zorzi
Description: In this interview, Maria De Zorzi describes her experiences as an immigrant from northern Italy, living in Toronto in the 1920s-1940s. She describes life in the small Italian village where she grew up, how she ended up moving to Canada, and her adjustment to life in Toronto. Mrs. De Zorzi's father owned a grain mill in Italy, and she provides a
Show moreIn this interview, Maria De Zorzi describes her experiences as an immigrant from northern Italy, living in Toronto in the 1920s-1940s. She describes life in the small Italian village where she grew up, how she ended up moving to Canada, and her adjustment to life in Toronto. Mrs. De Zorzi's father owned a grain mill in Italy, and she provides a detailed description of millwork. She attended school to the age of thirteen, and then helped her mother at home, learning skills such as sewing and embroidery. She says that she was allowed to socialize as a young woman, choosing her husband for herself, without parental interference. Her husband joined his brother in Canada, working in construction, while she remained in Italy and gave birth to their child. In 1919, Mrs. De Zorzi's husband sent for her and their child to come to Canada, and though she wanted to remain in Italy, she immigrated. In Toronto, she found it difficult to navigate without knowing the language, but soon learned enough English to get by. She explains that her family had some very lean years during the Depression because her husband was unable to find work in construction. However, she says, during World War II, he worked in factories, and after the war the housing construction boom gave them a period of economic stability. She reminisces about adjusting to the new country, for example by learning new recipes so that her children's food looked like the food their friends were eating.
Dans cette entrevue, Maria De Zorzi raconte ses expriences en tant quimmigrante du nord de lItalie, sa vie Toronto dans les annes 1920 1940. Elle dcrit sa vie dans le petit village italien o elle a grandi, comment elle a migr au Canada et son adaptation la vie Toronto. Le pre de Mme De Zorzi tait propritaire dun moulin en Italie et elle donne une description dtaille du travail de moulinage. Elle est alle lcole jusqu lge de treize ans et ensuite elle est reste la maison pour aider sa mre et apprendre la couture et la broderie. Elle prcise quelle pouvait sortir et rencontrer des amis lorsquelle tait encore jeune fille et que cest elle qui a choisi son mari, et non ses parents. Son mari est venu rejoindre son frre au Canada pour travailler dans la construction et elle est reste en Italie o elle a donn naissance leur enfant. En 1919, le mari de Mme de Zorzi a fait venir son pouse et son enfant au Canada alors quelle voulait rester en Italie. Toronto, elle ne pouvait pas se dplacer comme elle le voulait car elle ne parlait pas la langue mais par la suite, elle parlait suffisamment langlais pour pouvoir se dbrouiller. Elle explique que la vie tait trs difficile pour sa famille durant la Dpression car son mari narrivait pas trouver du travail dans la construction. Toutefois il a travaill dans les usines durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale et aprs la guerre, la situation sest stabilise en raison du boom dans lindustrie de la construction. Elle raconte comment elle sest adapte son nouveau pays, elle apprenait de nouvelles recettes pour prparer les repas de ses enfants et pour quils ne se sentent pas trop diffrents de leurs camarades.
Show less
Date: 1977-12-10

Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Library

SFU Digitized Collections

You are here

Pages

Pages