Joe says that at the time of his arrival in 1925, the
Italian community in Lethbridge consisted of about 30
families.
They formed an Italian Society that had meetings and
dances. These dances helped people connect with one
another. The society would also help people out in times
of need. For example, people paid $3.00 a month to be a
member, and if they got sick and could not work, the
society would give them a dollar a day. If that person
was sick for too long, then they could turn to the Head
Lodge, located in Fernie B.C., for more funds until they
recovered and were able to work again.
Italians from other communities like Coleman would
come to Lethbridge for dances as well.
Joe explains that this first club evolved into another
because some of the younger people thought that the
first club was made up of facists, and did not want to
be associated with them. Joe and three of his friends
formed a new lodge/club called The Italian Canadian Club
in 1948.
The new club had 75 members at their first dance, and
grew to about 150 members by their fourth or fifth
dance. They also had picnics and festivals for the kids.
Eventually the first club was dissolved and all those
people joined the new one.
Representative of Vice Consul:
Joe talks about serving as a representative for the
Vice Consul of Calgary for six years. He would go to
the CPR station to meet new Italian immigrants and help
them adjust to Canadian life.
Joe says that the immigrants that came after the 2nd
World War faced fewer difficulties than he faced when he
arrived.
Going Home:
Joe says that he is glad he came to Canada and that if
he had to do it all over again, he would.
Joe took his son back to his hometown in 1950, after
being away for 25 years. He describes some of the
changes he observed while there.
He returned again in 1968 and talks about how the
standard of living is much higher than it was in 1950.
Heritage Community Foundation Presents
