POW #: P288
ARRESTED: June 10, 1940
RELEASED: April 02, 1943
NATURALIZED:
BORN: September 29, 1901
DIED: 1995

CAMP(S): Petawawa, Fredericton
TOWN/CITY: Hamilton
MARITAL STATUS: Married
OCCUPATION: Shoemaker

RELEASE NOTES: Conditional release upon agreeing to a Special Undertaking

Francesco Zaffiro came to Canada in 1926, sponsored by his uncle Gaetano Girgenti. He did not have much formal education but he did have a trade. Zaffiro borrowed money from his uncle to open a shoemaker’s shop. He returned to Italy in 1928 to marry Maria Maddalena Licata. The couple settled in Hamilton and had one son and three daughters. To help make ends meet, Zaffiro’s wife worked at the clothing factory for Coppley, Noyes and Randall. Very dedicated to her family, she would come home every lunch hour to prepare food for her children.

Zaffiro was an active member of the Italian Canadian community in Hamilton. A proud Italian, he had served in the Italian military during World War I. In Canada, he was involved with the fascio, the dopolavoro and the Trieste Lodge of Order Sons of Italy. The groups held their meetings in St. Anthony’s Church and later in the Casa d’Italia built by the community in 1936. Zaffiro held very high offices in all organizations, serving as the provincial vice-president of the Order Sons of Italy, the secretary of the Hamilton fascio, and was the president of the dopolavoro. According to his son Nicholas Zaffiro, he was attracted to the fascio because he believed Mussolini’s reforms had improved the conditions of his hometown in Sicily.

With the escalation of war, Zaffiro suspected he might be targeted by the authorities for his involvement in the Italian-based organizations. He had been tipped off by a friend that he was on a police list of those to be arrested and interned in the event of war with Italy. Nicholas Zaffiro was 10 years old when his father was picked up at work by the Royal Mounted Police (RCMP) and the local police. Nicholas arrived at his father’s shop after 4:00 pm on June 10, 1940, to be informed by other children that his father had been taken by the police “because he’s a spy.”

Zaffiro was taken to the city jail on Barton St. He was later transferred to the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) grounds in Toronto. Here, the Italian Canadian men walked nude to the showers, while military personnel, their family members and members of the general public were able to observe from a balcony walkway. This caused them much discomfort and humiliation.

Zaffiro was interned on June 19, 1940 at Petawawa Internment Camp. He was among the few Italian Canadians internees transferred to Fredericton Internment Camp. It is unclear what evidence supported his continuing internment. An appeal of his case was heard, but his release was denied on December 24, 1942. His son believes his father’s lengthy internment was due to his prominent involvement with the fascio and the Order Sons of Italy.

In camp, Zaffiro knew several of the internees including Nicola Masi, friend Giuseppe Travale, and neighbour Aurelio Del Piero and others from Hamilton, and also those he had worked with at the Order Sons of Italy including Dr. Vittorio Sabetta, the Grand Venerable. He also forged other connections including an unlikely one:

He did mention that, when he got out of the camp, he had a shoemaker’s shop, and there was a communist that had befriended him … used to drop in the shop and talk politics, meaning mainly fascist, communist views. But after the war, this fella came, this communist came to visit my dad, and commended him for his courage, in taking the punishment that was given at that particular time.1

While interned, Zaffiro worked in the woods and was able to learn French. He always maintained that the conditions in the camp were acceptable and not harsh for the internees.

Back at home, Zaffiro’s family suffered financially. They lived in a rented apartment and had no savings of note. Early on Antonio Di Stefano helped to keep the business running on James Street. Within a few months, Di Stefano would himself be interned; he had also been the caretaker for the Casa D’Italia in Hamilton. The business would close and according to government documents, the family applied for government relief. Nicholas notes:

My oldest sister, she was traumatized by the situation. She doesn’t even want to talk about it today. She was 13 years old, she was in grade eight at the time, and she finished her elementary school and had to go to work to help the family. And I also worked after school for five dollars a week. But as my dad explained to me at one time, he says, “I have to leave you something in my will.” He says, “because when you worked, five dollars a week would [buy] bread [since bread] was five and ten cents a loaf.” He says, “five dollars a week went quite a way.”

During this difficult time, the family was fortunate to receive support from their neighbours, of both Italian and English backgrounds. They were able to write to Zaffiro, but could not afford a visit. It would be almost three years before the family was reunited. Notified a week before his release, Zaffiro himself had been able to write to his wife to expect his return and his son Nicholas had received a phone call. His youngest daughter did not recognize her father and hid on his arrival.

On his return home, Zaffiro was able to find employment almost immediately. He had friends who had some connections with International Harvester (IH) – a manufacturer of farm equipment – from which he would retire with a pension. He was able to purchase his first home in 1945.

Although Zaffiro was told on his release that involvement with Italian-based organizations was not permitted, he would eventually work to reestablish the Order Sons of Italy. He also remained a loyal Liberal Party supporter. His son recounts the following conversation between his father and Quinto Martini, a former internee himself and a Conservative M.P.:

…there was a Sons of Italy convention up in the Sault, this [was a] post-war convention. And in the car, there was myself and my father – we were both supporting Liberal politics – and three Conservatives. And one of the Conservatives was Quinto Martini, who was also interned. And he said, “Mr. Zaffiro, why is it that you’re still a Liberal when the Liberals interned us during the war?” And my father said, “Quinto, listen, lucky it was the Liberals. If it was the Conservatives they would have shot us all.”

According to his son, Zaffiro never blamed the Canadian government for its actions:

I think he realized that the government was taking precautions under the circumstances, and he never, ever berated the government for what had happened at that time. So my father never condemned them for doing that, for taking those precautions. What he did detest was the inability to defend himself under the circumstances, and not being availed of justice, as we know it in our society. There was never a trial, and he was incarcerated, just on suspicion and what might happen, not [on] what had happened.

However, Zaffiro did join a group of former internees who felt that they were wrongly incarcerated and should receive individual compensation from the government. They did not have sufficient resources to pursue their cause. An avid supporter of higher education, Zaffiro also felt badly that his eldest daughter had to quit school at 13 to help support the family during his internment.

Nicholas Zaffiro would himself become a leader in the Order Sons of Italy organization. He notes his disappointment that the Casa d’Italia in Hamilton, which was built by his father’s generation, was confiscated by the Custodian of Enemy Property and sold. The community never received a penny. Other Casas in Toronto and Montreal were returned by the government to community members.

1. It is possible that Zaffiro would have been harassed for being on friendly terms with a communist. Accounts of camp life do indicate retaliation in the form of harassment and even beatings if leaders of the various groups, e.g. facists, Nazis etc., thought others were not showing appropriate loyalty to the cause.

Biography by Lucy Di Pietro
 
SOURCES:

• Interview with Nicholas Zaffiro. May 10, 2011. ICEA2011.0019.0001, Columbus Centre Collection.
• Interview with Nicholas Zaffiro. August 10, 2011. ICEA2011.0019.0002, Columbus Centre Collection.
• Library and Archives Canada, Custodian of Enemy Property (CEP): RG117-A-3, Vol 658, File 4082.
• Library and Archives Canada, RCMP: RG18, Vol 3569, File C.
• Library and Archives Canada, RCMP: RG146, Vol 97, File AH-1999/00227, “The Organization and Activities of the Italian Fascist Party in Canada,” Ottawa, 1937, p12.

POW #: P275
ARRESTED: June 10, 1940
RELEASED: April 15, 1941
NATURALIZED:
BORN:
DIED:

CAMP(S): Petawawa
TOWN/CITY: Toronto
MARITAL STATUS: Married
OCCUPATION: Business man, Co-owner of Shoe Service Shop

Teodoro Zambri lived on Drayton Ave. in Toronto. He was married to Grace Giarvecchia and they had a son, Celestine.

He was in the shoe shine business. He first operated the Regal Shoe Shine on 65 Queen St. W. before closing it down in the fall of 1939 to go into partnership with a fellow named Joseph Volpe. Together, they opened up Shoe Service Shop, located on 59 Queen St. W.

When Zambri was interned during WWII, Volpe bought out Zambri’s share in the business with the approval of the Custodian of Enemy Property.  Grace was allowed $50/month for allowance for herself and her son.  Zambri also had a safety deposit box left in the care of Rev. Libero Sauro (also interned).

Zambri was released on April 15, 1941 at 7:25 a.m.

Biography by Louanne Aspillaga

SOURCES:    

• Library and Archives Canada, Custodian of Enemy Property: RG117, Vol. 6586, File 5-1-1.
• Library and Archives Canada, Custodian of Enemy Property: RG117, Vol. 643, Internee File 2883 “Teodoro Zambri.”

POW #:
ARRESTED: June 10, 1940
RELEASED: June 26, 1942
NATURALIZED: February 12, 1929
BORN:
DIED:

CAMP(S): Petawawa
TOWN/CITY: Toronto
MARITAL STATUS: Married
OCCUPATION: Bricklayer

There is very little information known about Giuseppe Zanussi. His name appears on the government list dating to spring 1940 of “Important members of the fascio who are naturalized and whose internment is recommended.”  He is identified as a Captain, which may indicate his service in the Italian military during World War I. He is also named in the fascist newspaper Il Bollettino italo-canadese as having pledged six work days to the building of the Casa d’Italia in Toronto.  In the 1920s, he appears to have been married to Gelinda, and the couple had a daughter Rena.

The reasons for his release are not available. Biographical information is lacking.

Biography by Lucy Di Pietro

Do you know:
Is their any relationship with fellow internee Pietro Zanussi, who is also a bricklayer?
 
SOURCES:

• Library and Archives Canada. Canadian Naturalization 1915-1951.
• http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/naturalization-1915-1932/index-e.html.
• Library and Archives, RCMP: RG18 Vol. 3563, File C-11-19-2-3 Part 4.
• Principe, Angelo. The Darkest Side of the Fascist Years: The Italian-Canadian Press: 1920-1942. Toronto: Guernica. 1999.

POW #: P265
ARRESTED: June 10, 1940
RELEASED: June 26, 1942
NATURALIZED:
BORN: June 27, 1893
DIED:

CAMP(S): Petawawa
TOWN/CITY: Toronto
MARITAL STATUS: Married
OCCUPATION: Bricklayer

RELEASE NOTES: Conditional release (see below)

Pietro Zanussi was married to Assunta and the couple had two daughters and two sons. The Zanussis lived at 80 Power St. in Toronto.

Prior to his internment, Zanussi had worked as a bricklayer for a cousin named Eruni Zanussi.

Zanussi’s release conditions were as follows: he had to report to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) once a month; he could not change his place of residence or leave Toronto without the consent of the RCMP; and he was forbidden any involvement in fascist activities or organizations.

Biography by Travis Tomchuk

SOURCE:

• Library and Archives Canada, Custodian of Enemy Property: RG 117, Vol. 668, Internee File 4966 “Pietro Zanussi.”

POW #: P223
ARRESTED: June 10, 1940
RELEASED: July 17, 1941
NATURALIZED: November 27, 1930
BORN: September 10, 1892
DIED: 1962

CAMP(S): Petawawa
TOWN/CITY: Toronto
MARITAL STATUS: Married
OCCUPATION: Cabinetmaker

RELEASE NOTES: Released unconditionally

Nicola (Nick) Zaza was born on September 10, 1892, in Puglia, Italy. In 1925, distraught over the loss of his nine-month-old son, Zaza left Italy. He left behind his wife Amelia – pregnant with their third child – and their daughter as well as his mother and mother-in-law. On July 17, 1925, Zaza arrived at the port of Quebec via Cherbourg, France, having travelled aboard the Empress of France. After the passing of the two elderly ladies, Zaza sent for his family in 1930. The Zaza family first lived on Euclid Ave. in Toronto, later moving to 43 Clinton St. In 1935, another daughter was born. Zaza called her “his good luck charm.”

Zaza began his cabinetmaking business at the corner of College and Clinton streets in Toronto’s Little Italy. To better support his family, Zaza also worked in the furniture department at T. Eaton Co., located at 799 King St. West. His eldest daughter, Concetta (Tina), also worked there as a seamstress. On June 10, 1940, Zaza was arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) while working his shift at Eaton’s. Tina Zaza was fired from her job.

Zaza admitted to being a member of the fascio until 1938. However, he left the organization because he had little time for it. He was also a member of the dopolavoro, the Italian War Veterans, and the Order Sons of Italy. During World War I, he fought for Italy and sustained a bayonet injury to his right hand. Zaza claimed to love England. He was a member of the honour guards during the King’s and Queen’s visit in 1939.

Zaza was interned at Camp Petawawa for 13 months, during which time his certificate of naturalization was seized (Letter from J.E. Duggan to Concetta (Tina) Zaza, October 10, 1940). Zaza passed his days in the camp by creating a lot of mementos, such as carved wooden objects.

During her husband’s internment, Amelia Zaza took care of four daughters aged 19, 17, 14 and 4, without any financial support. When E.P. Allison, on behalf of the Custodian of Enemy Property, visited the Zaza residence, he noted that Amelia Zaza did not speak English and that one of her daughters acted as a translator for the meeting.

Former judge J.D. Hyndman – appointed by the Minister of Justice to review the cases of internees who objected to their internment – said:

Mrs. Zaza came to the Court House in Toronto and stated that her eyesight was almost gone and that she was waiting to go into the hospital to undergo an operation. She appeared to me to be much older than I really think she is and was undoubtedly in a very bad condition of health, which would be obvious to any person seeing her. She and her daughter both satisfied me that they are suffering great distress as a result of her husband’s internment. I am satisfied that this man would not be of any danger if released, and I think on humanitarian grounds if on no other. (J.D. Hyndman to Minister of Justice, May 22, 1941)   

Zaza’s youngest daughter, who was five years old at the time, was also present in the courtroom. She remembers that day clearly.

Zaza was discharged from the camp with an “unconditional release.” He never talked to his family about his time spent at the camp nor did he join another Italian club. However, he did entertain a lot of his friends in his home.

Zaza died in 1962.

Biography by Louanne Aspillaga
 
SOURCES:

• Correspondence with Dolores Di Rocco, Daughter of Nicola (Nick) Zaza. Project Staff at Columbus Centre of Toronto, March 2012.
• Library and Archives Canada, Custodian of Enemy Property: RG 117, Vol. 668, Internee File 4967, “Nicola Zaza.”
• Library and Archives Canada, J.D. Hyndman Fonds: MG 30, E 182, Vol. 14. J.D. Hyndman to Minister of Justice, in the Matter of the Defence of Canada Regulations and in the Matter of Nicola Zaza, 40D-269-4-D-87, May 22, 1941.
• Library and Archives Canada. J.E. Duggan, Letter to Concetta (Tina) Zaza. Toronto. October 10, 1940.
• Library and Archives Canada, RCMP: RG 18, Vol. 3569, File C.
• Minister’s Orders. List V1 & V4.

POW #: P475
ARRESTED: June 10, 1940
RELEASED: October 08, 1941
NATURALIZED: May 11, 1914
BORN: April 24, 1878
DIED:

CAMP(S): Petawawa
TOWN/CITY: Montreal
MARITAL STATUS: Married
OCCUPATION: Owner/operator of grocery store and butcher shop

RELEASE NOTES: Conditional release (see below)

Giovanni Zeppieri came to Canada in 1903. He was married to Fermina and the couple ran a grocery store and butcher shop located at 2927 Jolicoeur St. in Montreal. Their home address was 6012 Hurteau St.

According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Zeppieri was the director of the Ville Émard section of Fascio Giovanni Luparini. The office of this section was located at 2831 Springland St.

Zeppieri’s release conditions were as follows: he had to report to the RCMP once a month; he could not change his place of residence or leave Montreal without the consent of the RCMP; and he was forbidden any involvement in fascist activities or organizations.

Biography by Travis Tomchuk

SOURCES:

• Library and Archives Canada, Custodian of Enemy Property: RG 117, Vol. 660, Internee File 4224 “Giovanni Zeppieri.”
• Library and Archives Canada, CSIS: RG 146, Vol. 97, File AH-1999/00227, RCMP, “The Organization and Activities of the Italian Fascist Party in Canada,” Ottawa, 1937.

POW #:
ARRESTED: June 10, 1940
RELEASED: February 23, 1943
NATURALIZED: October 03, 1910
BORN: 1880
DIED:

CAMP(S): Petawawa, Fredericton
TOWN/CITY: Montreal
MARITAL STATUS: Separated
OCCUPATION: Tailor

RELEASE NOTES: Unconditional release

Umberto Zerillo came to Canada in 1902. He had been married to Helen MacIntosh but the couple separated in 1917. In 1940, MacIntosh was reported to be living with the Marquis Julius Lupi who was also interned. Zerillo’s home address was Apartment 1 – 400 Prince Arthur Avenue East.

In 1920, Zerillo had begun working as a tailor for Fashion-Craft and was a foreman at the time of his initial arrest. He returned to work at Fashion-Craft when he was first released.

In 1937, Zerillo returned to Italy for treatment of blindness in one of his eyes and returned to Montreal after a successful operation. He had also lost his right leg and used an artificial replacement. 

Zerillo’s interment was reviewed by H.A. Fortier, a Quebec judge appointed for such work. Fortier recommended Zerillo be released in part due to the man’s disability. As the judge stated, Zerillo was “a cripple and physically unable to engage in acts which may be prejudicial to the safety or welfare of the State.”

Following Zerillo’s first release on October 2, 1940, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) uncovered new evidence that led to Zerillo’s re-internment on October 17. This included photos, newspaper clippings from the local Italian-language fascist press, personal correspondence and witness statements that demonstrated his links to the Italian fascist movement in Canada.  

Biography by Travis Tomchuk
 
SOURCES:

• Library and Archives Canada, Custodian of Enemy Property: RG 117, Vol. 662, Internee File 4527 “Umberto Zerillo.”
• Library and Archives Canada, RCMP: RG 18, Vol. 3563, File C-11-19-2-3 Part 2, Letter from Ernest Lapointe, Minister of Justice, to S.T. Wood, RCMP Commissioner, 1 Oct. 1940.
• Library and Archives Canada, RCMP: RG 18, Vol. 3563, File C-11-19-2-3 Part 3, Letter from S.T. Wood, RCMP Commissioner,  to Ernest Lapointe, Minister of Justice, 4 Mar. 1941.

POW #: P1127
ARRESTED:
RELEASED: March 04, 1942
NATURALIZED:
BORN: November 01, 1902
DIED:

CAMP(S):
TOWN/CITY: Other British Columbia
MARITAL STATUS: Unknown
OCCUPATION:

RELEASE NOTES: Released conditionally upon his first subscribing to the Undertaking set out in Regulation 24(4) of the DOCR.

Luigi Ziana was born on November 1, 1902 in Italy. At the time of his arrest was living in Kamloops, BC. He was interned on July 11, 1940 and released two years later on March 4, 1942 at 1:12 a.m. Little else is known of Ziana.

Biography by Louanne Aspillaga
 
SOURCES:

• Library and Archives Canada, Custodian of Enemy Property: RG117, File 3569, Envelope F.
• Library and Archives Canada, Custodian of Enemy Property: RG117, Vol. 700, File 16146.
• Library and Archives Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP): RG18, Vol. 3569, File C.
• Minister’s Orders List, V5.