|
Silvio was born in Villa di Tirano [province, Sondrio;
region, Lombardia] on the 27th of June, 1900. Silvio was
the second oldest of four brothers. His mother died in 1903
when he was just three years old. After his mother died an aunt took care of him until
his father remarried. Silvio worked on the family farm and
attended school until he was 14 years old. He served in the army from 23rd of March 1918, until
February of 1919 when he was discharged. Then he joined
the 'costume guards' for the next 3 years. The first time
Silvio heard about Canada was the 2nd of
May, 1924. He had a relative who lived in Rimbey who
operated a farm. He was told that he could have a job if he came over, so he went.
He took the train with his cousin to Genoa, and then took
a boat for 10 days to New York. Once he got to New York, he
boarded a train to Calgary, and then to Rimbey. Silvio
spent about 25 years working the coal mines in British
Columbia and Alberta before developing a lung condition
known as silicosis. In 1955 he took a job as a handyman in a
hotel at Edson. Over the years Silvio returned to the old
country numerous times to visit. He never married, and
spends his time reading books at the library or visiting old
friends.
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.
Listen to Oral History | Read Summary of Transcript
[back] [top]
|
Heritage Community Foundation Presents
