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

1 |  Page 2

Italian Organizations:

• Italian Lodge in Lethbridge
  
  
• head office in Fernie, B.C.
  
  
• no difficulty in joining - just apply; monthly meetings;  provided services to Italian community; e.g. paid subsidy in case of illness, paid for funerals; good lodge
  
  
• also a lodge in Coalhurst (got together with Lethbridge lodge for picnics, social activities)
  
  
• relations good among members and within total community; very good relations; considered good Canadian citizens
  
  

Italians in Lethbridge and surrounding area:

• c.1930, no. of Italians about 300; population of Lethbridge about 7000
  
  
• Italians who came to this area worked 2 or 3 years in the mine, then bought land; coming from a poor country was good training, served them well for farming in southern Alberta
  
  
• of Italians were employed in mining or farming
  
  

Opinions about Canada:

• good schooling, education so his children won't have to work in the mines; want for them a life different than what he went through
  
  
• memorable incident - when first came to Canada was in a threshing outfit; didn't know any English; when cook realized his lack of English, made sure that he had food & that it was passed to him; nice experience
  
  
• would choose Canada if had to do it all over again; huge country; "easy-going"
  
  
• happy to have children born in Canada and doing well here
  
  
• senses a terrific future around Lethbridge, especially with irrigation
  
  
• science works with natural resources to provide for a good future
  
  
• feels very optimistic about Canada surviving as a nation - "Of course.Canada got everything!"
  
  

Listen to Oral History  |  Read Short Biography 

[<<previous]

[back] [top]