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   Romano Tedesco & Mrs. Irma Giacobbo > Oral History Transcript 

   Romano Tedesco and Mrs. Irma Giacobbo 

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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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Mr. R:  Mr. Sab Roncucci
Mrs. G:  Mrs. Irma Giacobbo

Mr. R:

Tell me, were there any episodes that you remember in those days that still linger in your mind, say, some of the Italians who had a real big misfortune, or something drastic happened to your friends up there. You know, some episode. Somebody who had a real accident or misfortune.

Mrs. G:

Well, there were some. Some had broken their legs, some lost their wives, you know, things like that. Hard cases.

Mr. R:

Were people willing to help in those days?

Mrs. G:

Yes, very, very much. If anybody had to go to the hospital and stayed for a long time, and we knew that the family couldn't afford, because, in those days there was no red cross [probably means 'Blue Cross' health insurance], there was nothing, you had to pay out of your own pocket. Then we make a collection, pick up a person who goes around and collects, and everybody donates whatever they could, but they did give. And we always did help out the families that had sick...I know there was a lady had her husband sick for a long, long time and everybody used to go and help her.

Mr. R:

Tell me, how were the relations, the relationships, between you Italians, because I imagine, from what you say and your father said, that you are very close, but how were relations between the Italians and other people of other nationalities. Was a good feeling?

Mrs. G:

Very good. Very, very good. I guess, you know, there were just a few of us and we always... the Ukrainians, the French, and the Germans and the Italians. When they were there, everybody was friends. Even some of the Indians.

Mr. R:

I was up north, and they were very friendly. There was no other way out. You had to be, in fact. Nowadays, it's a little bit different.

Mr. R:

Yes, nowadays, people can say, "Well, I can afford not to bother about that," because, you know, they have a few dollars in their pocket. But in those days, though, I guess, the need was keeping people closer.

Mrs. G:

That's right. No, nationality, you know, for that, we never had a problem. We always got along good. I don't know what it was, but it was just that way, I think.

Mr. R:

And your contacts with Lac La Biche? It was a big centre. Your contact, was it frequent, or you just went to Lac La Biche once in awhile?

Mrs. G:

I went to Lac La Biche when I had to take my children, after they had the hospital and there was a doctor there, after a few years there. When they were sick, or at Easter time, we used to go before Easter, do a little bit of shopping, and for Christmas. But otherwise, I never...

Mr. R:

And school. How about the schools?

Mrs. G:

We had a school. We had a school close to home - about half a mile. When I was going to school it was a mile and a half, after when my children were going, it was half a mile. And then they all went to Lac La Biche - by bus. 

Mr. R:

I see. So that was pretty good, I guess.

Mrs. G:

Oh yes, that was pretty good.

Mr. R:

No problems, then.

Mrs. G:

No problem. The kids, they pick them up in front of your step and they take them right by the school.


 

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