The first time he heard about Canada was the 2nd of
May, 1924. He had a relative who lived in Rimbey. They
told him he could have a job if he came over, so he went.
He took the train with his cousin to Genoa, and then took
a boat for 10 days to New York.
His dad died in 1923 before he left, and his two
younger brothers died in 1925, and 1937. His oldest
brother was still alive.
He brought a big trunk with him on the boat containing
his personal belongings. Once he got to New York, he
boarded a train to Calgary, and then to Rimbey. He worked
on his relative's farm in Rimby for a few months, making a
wage of $20.00 a month.
Silvio and his cousin moved to Nanaimo to work in the
coal mines for 2 years. Then they moved back to Alberta to
work in the mines. Silvio worked in the mines in Edson,
Luscar, and Drumheller for 25 years.
The first time he came to Edmonton was in the fall of
1936. He was able to make a better wage in the mines
around Edmonton. In 1949 he quit working due to a lung
condition called silicosis.
He spent the next five years without a job, living off
his pension. He started to feel that life was not worth
living, so he found another job. In 1955 he started
working in a hotel at Edson, doing odd jobs.
When he was 57 he went back to the 'old country' to
visit his brother and returned to Canada. He went back a
few more times during the following years. His brother
died in 1973 without ever coming to Canada.
Silvio never married, and he jokes that it was because
he was not handsome enough. He never bought a house
either, but he did have good times with his friends doing
things like hunting.
He spent some time in the Okanagan where he enjoyed
making wine.
Some of his Canadians friends called him 'Macaroni'
but other than that he didn't experience any
discrimination.
At the time of this interview Silvio said he spends
most of his time at the library reading books and visiting
with old friends.
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