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    John Camarta:  Oral History Transcript Summary

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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

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Provincial Development:

  • John talks about the political scene in Alberta, and the formation of the UFA government. He says that because of a lack of communication systems, you hardly ever saw politicians.
     
  • Prior to World War ll John says that there were not enough Italians in one place to make a significant contribution to culture, but that after the war there was a large Italian community in Edmonton.
     
  • John says that the economic development of the province experienced big changes with the discovery of oil in Leduc in 1947. Before that he says that there were no social programs to help people, you were on your own. But now there are programs like medicare and family allowance to help families.
     
  • John is asked if he would homestead all over again if given the chance, and he replies by saying that he asked another man the same question. This man had been a prisoner of war during World War l, and said that he would choose war over homesteading! John agreed with him because of the many hardships he endured as a pioneer.
     
  • John concludes by saying that the smart people gave up homesteading, and that he was one of the fools who stayed.

Home Country

  • John's first trip home was in 1961, 52 years after he came to North America. Although his mother and father were dead, he still had two sisters living there. He could not believe the changes in Italy.
     
  • In conclusion he says that he might have retired there, but he thinks he has it pretty good here in Alberta. He went back two more times since that first visit in 1961, but he says he is too old to travel anymore.

 

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