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    Mr. and Mrs. Domenico Chiarello (Nella Anselmo)

    Mr. and Mrs. Domenico Chiarello (Nella Anselmo)

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Raffaele Albi

Mr. and Mrs.
Enrico Butti

Mr. & Mrs.
Domenico Chiarello
(Nella Anselmo)

Gus & Assunta Dotto
(Emilia Raffin)

 Attilio & Stella Gatto

Gus Lavorato

Giovanni Paron

Louie Protti

Mr. & Mrs. Sartor

Sam Scrivano

Silvio Tona

Paolo Veltri

Year of the Coal Miner September 2003 - 2004


Domenico Chiarello.  Photo from the booklet Italians Settle in Edmonton.Domenico Chiarello was 15 years old when he left Naples on the 1st of May, 1924. The next 16 days were spent on the boat before arriving in Halifax on May 17th. He and his mother then took a train to Edmonton to meet up with his father. Domenico found work in the coal mines and eventually operated his own mine for 24 years before opening up the first Italian Grocery store in Edmonton in 1948. 

Nella Anselmo came to Canada when she was 19 years old. She met Domenico in the Bay and told him that he should come visit, as a friend, but he thought otherwise. He showed up and asked her to marry him. They got married in St. Joseph's  Cathedral and had a small breakfast reception.

The interview was conducted by Tony Falcone and Tony Caria 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. 

Listen to Oral History  |  Read Summary of Transcript 

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