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George Pocaterra b.1882 in Rocette (sp?), Italy - a new town in which he
was the first boy to be born
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came from aristocratic background
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father was a high executive in the textile industry in Ferrari, Italy
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George wanted adventure in new land; at 20 years of age in 1903, arrived
in Winnipeg
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describes early life of George in Italy (very anecdotal); school in
Berne, then Bradford, England to learn about wool for
future at family-owned Manuficci-Rossi (sp?) Mills.
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when George was on a train going back to Italy from his studies, he
chanced to meet a Canadian clergyman & was able to help
him with a language difficulty
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George had already been enamored of Canada in his readings about it & now
he had a contact & acquaintance there
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in 1903 he went to visit Rev. Robert E. Spence in Glenborough, Manitoba
(near Winnipeg) who got him a job on a large farm owned
by the Steel brothers, Scotsmen.
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but "where was the romance?", so George went off to the "Real West" - the
Rocky Mountains, where he had the "real" life working on
the Bar D Ranch in the High River area of Alberta (very
entertaining retelling)
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repeat of "Arizona Frank" tale that Giorgio mentioned in his speech
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friendship with Walter Baker
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went on horseback riding holiday to "virgin" land at the confluence of
Highwood River, and Black & Sullivan creeks. Thought it was paradise and wanted to settle there.
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poker story
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sent for cousin from Italy to join him