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:

I am in the Glenora District in Edmonton in what I call a very beautiful bungalow, set in a Victorian style kind of character. I am in a very casual conversation with Victor Losa. He has been a very successful businessman in Edmonton and at one time served the Italian community in the capacity of Agente Consulare which means Agent for the Italian consulate in Vancouver. 
So Mr. Losa has distinguished himself here, as I said before, for serving the community with all the things which come with it - the glory - well, sometimes the displeasures, anyway, all the things that people get when they are in public life. 
Anyway, Mr. Victor Losa, good evening and I hope that you'll be able to answer a few questions in a very informal way.

Mr. L:

Sure

Mr. R:

Let's start, Mr. Losa, with when you came to Canada and from where.

Mr. L:

Yes, I came from Turin , the city of Turin, where I was born in May1905. And I came to Edmonton directly because I had a contract of work - contracto de Lavoro. And with one Italian jeweler that had a jewelry shop, jewelry store, in Edmonton - name - Pietro Colbertaldo - that he was Italian Consular Agent for all Alberta.
And therefore, he knew of a school of watchmakers in Turin because he attended the school himself. Therefore he wanted to get another watchmaker from the same school, and I applied because I was one of their pupils. As such , I was received by Mr. Colbertaldo around 1920, yes 1920, and I start working for Mr. Colbertaldo right away, for a few years, until he was appointed to a better position as Italian Consul in Vancouver, B.C. [He was actually appointed to Winnipeg, Manitoba.] So therefore, there was nothing else to do but to sell me the store, the jewelry store, and also the consular office because there was nobody else that could hold such an office at that time in Edmonton. So therefore, I became proprietor of the store, that I had no dream to be, and also the Italian consul.

Mr. R:

That's very interesting, Mr. Losa. It seems that I was going to ask you how, you know your career went along, but it seems to me you just hit the nail on the head, so to speak. You came at the right time, with the right person, who, in a way, catapulted you into two positions at the same time. I think you are one of the few, perhaps, who have been very lucky. Tell me, Mr. Losa, in our conversation before this recording, I noticed the remarkable good Italian that you speak , and when I say remarkable, I mean perfect Italian. How did you manage to retain your knowledge of Italian after so many years.

Mr. L:

Well, I keep on reading - newspapers and books - in Italian. That is why. And then, I like to talk - with Italian people. Despite my wife is not an Italian.

Mr. R:

Oh, your wife is not of Italian origin?

Mr. L:

No, not Italian.

Mr. R:

Boy, that is even more remarkable, then, your ability of retention.
Now, another question, then, always in the language field. Because your English is very good, too, how did you learn English when you came here?

Mr. L:

Well, for a couple of winters, I went to school - evening school - for new Canadians. 

Mr. R:

Yes, yes.

Mr. L:

That's where I learned the first fundamentals of the English language.