Date
December 07, 2010
Maker
Columbus Centre
Accession#
ICEA2010.0002.0001
Interview 1 With John Edward De Toro
John Edward De Toro was born in Toronto in 1929. His grandparents come from the Italian region of Abruzzi. His father, John Michael De Toro came to Canada at the age of eight, and his mother, Mary De Toro was born in Canada. John Edward recounts his experiences growing up in Toronto, and the discrimination he faced by classmates at Fairbank Memorial Elementary School in the city. He explains that his father spoke with the school’s Principal, Mr. Wheeler, who kindly took measures to make sure the bullying and name calling ended. He also explains that his father faced discrimination in the workplace at Ontario Hydro, St. Catharines from his coworkers with whom he had to physically fight off and as a result, felt he had to leave his job and start his own company. The De Toro family business that started as a result was called Advance Paving Company Limited. John Edward has written three books: an autobiography and two novels – one of which is loosely based on a real event he heard about as a child where an Italian man has an affair with a Canadian soldier’s wife. John Edward also explains that he has some family connections to the establishment of Villa Colombo.
In this opening clip John Edward De Toro speaks about the Toronto neighbourhood he grew up in.
In this clip John Edward De Toro recounts the discrimination he faced at school after Italy’s war declaration.
John Edward De Toro speaks about the discrimination his father faced while working for Ontario Hydro in St. Catharines.
In this clip John Edward De Toro discusses the reasons why the Italian Canadian community faced discrimination during World War II. He also talks about the experiences of the Japanese Canadians.
John Edward De Toro briefly shares other stories of discrimination from the war period.
In closing John Edward De Toro speaks about the neighbourhood he grew up in and talks about how the neighbours treated his family during the war years.
Date
June 06, 2011
Maker
Columbus Centre
Accession#
ICEA2010.0002.0002
Interview 2 With John Edward De Toro
In his second interview John Edward De Toro recounts his experiences growing up in Toronto, and the discrimination he faced by classmates at Fairbank Memorial Elementary School during World War II. He explains that his father spoke with the school’s Principal, Mr. Wheeler, who kindly took measures to make sure the bullying and name calling ended. He also explains that his father faced discrimination in the workplace at Ontario Hydro in St. Catharines from his coworkers. His father had to physically defend himself from this discrimination and in the end decided to leave his job and start his own paving/concrete company. The De Toro family business that started as a result was called Advance Paving Company Limited. John Edward worked as both an electrician with the City of Toronto and for the family business as a contractor. During his interview he also speaks of the fond memories he has of the Palais Royale from the 1940s to the 50s.
In this opening clip John Edward De Toro introduces himself and speaks about his parents.
John Edward De Toro shares one of his earliest childhood memories of when he started attending school in Toronto.
John Edward De Toro discusses the Toronto neighbourhood he grew up in prior to World War II.
John Edward De Toro discusses the discrimination he faced at school due to his Italian heritage in the days immediately after Italy declared war on the Allies. He credits his principal Mr. Wheeler with helping to stop the harassment that he and another Italian Canadian student faced.
John Edward De Toro discusses the harassment his father John faced while working for Ontario Hydro in St. Catharines during World War II. His father had to physically defend himself against co-workers who discriminated against his Italian heritage. This treatment eventually lead to John Sr. leaving his place of employment and starting his own company.
John Edward De Toro briefly mentions that besides the one experience with discrimination at school he got along well with the other children in Toronto.
John Edward De Toro mentions that while he did hear of arrests in the Italian Canadian community in Toronto, he did not directly know these men as his family lived in more of an Anglo-Saxon neighbourhood.
John Edward De Toro describes his schooling after the war years. He went on to study electrical and became a licensed electrician in the City of Toronto. He spent a few years working in this trade before he went to work with his father in their family business called Advance Paving.
In this clip John Edward De Toro describes the social scene in the post-war years in Toronto. At around 17 years of age he began going to the dance halls. In particular he talks about the Palais Royale.
In closing, John Edward De Toro says that while his family experience during World War II was difficult, essentially it was a blessing in disguise. Had his father not faced discrimination he would not have been forced to begin his own business.
