Louis (Luigi)
Biamonte

Mike Biollo

Father Giovanni
Bonelli

Camillo Bridarolli

Mr. & Mrs. Henry
Butti

John Camarta

Domenico Chiarello

Joe Fabbri

Mario Grassi

Victor Losa

Filomena Michetti

Mrs. Mamie Meardi

Tony Nimis

Giorgio W. &
Norma Pocaterra

Mr. & Mrs. John
Segatti

Romano Tedesco &
Mrs. Irma Giacobbo

Angelo Toppano

Mr. R:

Tell me these groups were organized by what agency?

Mr. L:

No, it was organized by the City of Edmonton.

Mr. R:

Oh, the City of Edmonton? That was in 19 what? 20-21?

Mr. L:

Yes, -21,-22,-23. I don't remember.

Mr. R:

Yes, but anyway, well that is a compliment for the City of Edmonton at that time. And even now.

Mr. L:

It was for all new Canadians of any origin. 

Mr. R:

Therefore the teachers, I'm sure, did not speak Italian.

Mr. L:

Never, not even a word. So, I had to manage it by myself.

Mr. R:

Well, my compliments because I think you did it very well.  So okay, then you came in about the beginning of the 20s, the early 20s, and, well, you managed to become, in a very short time, a proprietor of a jewelry (store) and then you were appointed as a consulate...

Mr. L:

A regente- regent. 

Mr. R:

Regent would have to be the right word.

Mr. L:

Yes, regent, because they don't appoint you right away. But then in 1936 I was appointed, nominated, with a patent 'patente' of 'agente consulare'.

Mr. R:

Oh yes, I saw that document signed by the ambassador. Yes, that's good.  Now tell me, how many Italians were there in the early 20s, say prior to your becoming involved as an agent.

Mr. L:

In the whole province?

Mr. R:

No, let's say first Edmonton.

Mr. L:

In Edmonton? About 500.

Mr. R:

500 Italians? And in the province? Do you have any idea?

Mr. L:

No. No I have no idea. But then my office covered the whole province.

Mr. R:

I see.

Mr. L:

And part of Saskatchewan, too.

Mr. R:

Oh.

Mr. L:

Yes, because they had nobody in Saskatchewan yet.

Mr. R:

Would you venture any figure, say, just approximate...

Mr. L:

No, I would not bother looking, investigating it - so long ago, so many years ago.

Mr. R:

Also, it must have been the same situation as it is now - people don't come and register with the consul agent unless they need something.

Mr. L:

And now there is a stricter control of many entries of different nationalities.

Mr. R:

Yes, yes, in those days, I think everything was guess work.

Mr. L:

They came & gone and ...freewheel.

Mr. R:

Tell me now, you are now about this time say, about 36, 35, you are a successful businessman, and then, of course, well, it was the dirty thirties, what I heard. How did you manage that?

Mr. L:

Yes, the Depression years. I carry on, just the same. And we were able to survive. And it was very, very hard to give service. Many Italians, they couldn't even pay for any documents. Many times I had to make them for nothing. Free of charge.

Mr. R:

I guess that was a very hard time.

Mr. L:

It was a very thankless job, also. Because many times the Italians didn't want to give any money. They didn't like to pay. Often I had to leave the store to do some service, say, take an Italian to court, to help him translate, and I didn't receive any remuneration.

Mr. R:

That's also to your credit.

Mr. L:

You see, we had no salaries. It was all free. It's not like the other nations that they gave a salary.