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Crow's Nest Pass
Italian Pioneers

Nordegg
Italian Pioneers

Coal Branch
Italian Pioneers

Canmore
Italian Pioneers

Year of the Coal Miner September 2003 - 2004

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The following information has been extracted from Edna (Hill) Appleby's Canmore:  The Story of An Era (Calgary:  D.W. Friesen & Sons Ltd., 1975).  There are very few people of Italian heritage mentioned in the book and additional archival research and oral histories need to be undertake with families, such as the Caffaro's now residing in Edmonton.  The Heritage Community Foundation thanks the author and publisher.

  • Pete Balla, Canmore, Alberta, c.1890.  Image from Camore - The Story of an Era by Edna (Hill) Appleby.Balla Family-Pete was a member of the H.W. McNeill Co.'s Brass Band and is pictured in a c1890 (?) photograph. He is mentioned in Appleby's Canmore:  The Story of An Era as having come to Canmore when the Bankhead mine closed. Pete, John and Ken Balla are mentioned as having been a member of the Elks Band in 1923.
     
  • B. Biava-He is listed as a charter member of the Imperial Order of Foresters on their establishment on April 15, Canmore miners' band, Canmore, Alberta, 1923.  Taken over by Elks Club in 1923; new uniforms supplied by club.  Photo courtesy of Glenbow Archives. 1908.
     
  • John Bertino-John is mentioned in Appleby's Canmore:  The Story of An Era as having been a member of the Elks Band in 1923.
     
  • Attilio Caffaro changing tire.  Canmore, Alberta, 1923.  Note rack for spare wheel at rear of 1919 Buick.  Photo courtesy of Glenbow Archives.Caffaro Family-Attilio Caffaro is shown in a photograph in  Appleby's Canmore:  The Story of An Era  in 1923 changing the tire on his Buick vehicle and was also a member of the Elk's Band in 1923.  Descendants include Assistant Chief Justice, Mr. Peter Caffaro, of Edmonton.  
     
  • Cassale Family-They are mentioned in Appleby's Canmore:  The Story of An Era as having come to Canmore when the Bankhead mine closed.
     
  • O. Carsana-He is listed in the Roll of Honour of Men Enlisting in the First World War 1914-18.
     
  • Chiaverina Family-They are mentioned in Appleby's Canmore:  The Story of An Era as having come to Canmore when the Bankhead mine Mrs. Faletti in front of Canmore skating and curling rink.  Image from Camore - The Story of an Era by Edna (Hill) Appleby.closed.
     
  • Lawrence Faletti-He is mentioned in Appleby's Canmore:  The Story of An Era as having organized the Elks Band in 1923.  A Mrs. Faletti is pictured as a curler in a group photo.
     
  • Gerussi Family-Enrico Gerussi, who trained in Italy as a stonemason, was a coal miner working in the Lethbridge area, as well as a musician. In 1927E. Gerussi. Courtesy of the Romulus & Remus Italian Society of Lethbridge., he married Teresina and they moved to Medicine Hat where their eldest son, Bruno, was born.  The family subsequently moved to Exshaw, where Enrico worked as a sectionman on the CPR.  Near Exshaw, according to Edna (Hill) Appleby, author of Canmore:  The Story of An Era, there remains a stone bridge built by Mr. Gerussi.  Bruno became an actor starring on The Beachcombers television series.  The family moved from Exshaw to Vancouver.
     
  • J. Giovanetti-He is mentioned in Appleby's Canmore:  The Story of An Era as having been a member of the Elks Band in 1923.
     
  • J. Giovanozzo and T. Giovanozza are listed in Canmore's Roll of Honour for WWI.  Image from Camore - The Story of an Era by Edna (Hill) Appleby.J. Giovanozzo-He is listed in the Roll of Honour of Men Enlisting in the First World War 1914-18.
     
  • T. Giovanozzo-He is listed in the Roll of Honour of Men Enlisting in the First World War 1914-18.

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