Italian-Canadian Narratives Showcase
Italian-Canadian Narratives Showcase
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Month: November 2024

Struggles and Triumphs: The Italian Immigrant Experience

In my course ITAL2P98: Italians in Canada and Italy-Canada Relations at Brock University in the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (MLLC), I chose a personal approach by interviewing my Nonno and Nonna, Salvatore and Rosalia Di Blasi, to document their experiences as Italian immigrants to Canada. The interview was structured in two parts: first, I focused on their individual stories, including their journeys, family history, and the impacts of immigration. In the second part, I brought them together to discuss their experiences of starting a family as young immigrants. Despite the unique challenges they each faced, they supported each other and, with the help of family, managed to overcome obstacles and build a successful life in Canada.

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Echoes of the past: An Italian Mother-Daughter Emigration Story to Canada

In the mid 20th century, countless families sought refuge and new beginnings beyond their homeland. Angela Pisano, born in 1944, was one such child who embarked on a life changing journey at the age of only eight years old. In 1952, Angela and her mother emigrated from the South of Italy, their native land, to Canada in Niagara Falls. Driven by the hope of better living conditions and better opportunities. They were welcomed by her uncle, who had already established his life in the new land. Angela Pisano’s story is one of resilience, adaptation and the longing for a brighter future. Through her reflections on this pivotal moment, I invite you into her challenges, experiences, impressions, and triumphs as a young little girl of immigrant life.

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Professore Luciano Soligo: Una Storia di Famiglia e Vita tra Veneto e Toronto

The purpose of this assignment is to learn and understand the journey and experiences of those in the Italian Canadian community. This includes their stories about growing up in Italy and immigrating to Canada to pursue certain goals. On October 17th, Professore Soligo and I met in his office at Brock University in St. Catharines around 1pm for his interview. In this case, Professore Luciano Soligo who was born in Toronto spoke about his story of moving back to Italy as a 7-year-old and then coming back on his own at 18 to pursue a better life for himself and family in the future. I was able to ask and learn a lot about his parents, how they met and Prof Soligo’s childhood in both Toronto and Italy. Also, his Parents experiences and thoughts of Canada after having moved here initially and then back to Italy. Furthermore, I learned about Prof Soligo experiences with schooling in both Italy and in Canada then his work life as a teenager to where he is now. Lastly, his take on being "Italo-Canadese" as well as his deep love for Italy that has him torn between his feelings of where "home" is.

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