Gus was born in 1922. His younger brother Frank was
born in 1925.
He went to school at Queens Avenue and had friends of
all different nationalities.
Gus doesn't remember any instances of discrimination
among his friends.
Briefly moved to the U.S. in 1928 but came back in
1930 because life was too fast and the weather too hot.
When he came back he attended school at McCauley School.
The family then moved into the Scrivano family's
house.
Although there were Catholic schools at the time he
didn't attend them for long. He had problems in Catholic
school because he was left handed, and teachers would
hit him when he wrote with his left hand. Gus still writes
with his left hand.
He made it to grade 10 at Foothills high school. His
favorite subjects were math and history. He also took
Italian courses by correspondence. Victor Losa used to
send him Italian books while he was up there.
Once he quit school he came back to the city of
Edmonton and worked in the coal mines for 50 cents an
hour, ten hours a day.
Gus remembers Christmas being an important celebration
in his family.
He does not remember any Italians being denied jobs
because of their ethnic background.
He worked in an Safeway bakery for awhile, earning
$14.00 per week until he turned 18, then he joined the
Air Force.
Most Italians Gus knew went to Sacred Heart Church.
He was gone for five years during the war. He learned
to fix planes.
When he came back to Canada he went to an apprentice
school for carpentry, and then worked for Northwest
Industries in 1946-47.
Italian businesses at this time included stores and
coffee shops.
Gus and his wife married in 1950. They have three
children.
They try to maintain Italian traditions in the home
through cooking, language, and some education.
Heritage Community Foundation Presents
