Louie Protti was born in 1914 at Pocahontas in Jasper
National Park. Louie's father was Giovanni Batista Protti. He
was born in Cimolias on the 3rd of June, 1874, the son of
Sebastiano Domenico Protti. Louie's mother was Angela Maria
Protti, and she was born on the 28th of October, 1881 in
Cimolias. Giovanni came to North America in 1903 and landed in
New York. After some time working in the States, he moved to
Pocahontas and brought his family there in 1913. Louie's parents
were both dead by 1918, so he and his siblings were taken to St.
Albert where they attended a boarding school. Louie was about 13
years old when he left to go to St. John's College, where he was
schooled in Latin and Greek. His younger brother and sister
stayed in St. Albert. Louie eventually went to Rome to attend
the Gregorian University where he finally learned how to speak
Italian. He returned to Edmonton after he graduated and took a
job teaching in Hobbema, before going on to work in the Hospital
and Health field in the areas of business and administration.
Louie and his wife, Theresa, have three children, all of whom
have good careers in their chosen fields.
The interview was conducted by Carmela Marino and Anna Bruni
for the
Italians Settle in Edmonton Project in 1983 resulting in the
commemorative booklet of the same name.
This was a 25th anniversary project of the Santa Maria
Goretti Parish. A Society was set up and a committee struck to
undertake the research. The President was Frank Sdao and the
research was led by Dr. Adriana Albi Davies.
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Louie Protti:
Oral History Excerpts
Louis Protti describes his father's emigration experience.
Click here to listen! |
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