Date
May 14, 2011
Maker
Columbus Centre
Accession#
ICEA2011.0012.0001
Interview 1 With Trina Costantini-Powell
Trina Costantini-Powell is the granddaughter of Giuseppe (Joe) Costantini who was detained on June 10, 1940 and interned on June 12, 1940. He was released on January 29, 1941. She has carried on the legacy that her father Rudy Costantini started when he tried to expose this dark secret in Canada’s history. Rudy was a young child when the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) showed up at their home to arrest his father. Trina Costantini-Powell has inherited the two drawings from her father, of her grandfather drawn by artist Guido Casini, while they were both interned at Petawawa during World War II. These two drawings for Trina are both a tangible reminder of the family and community values that were passed down from Giuseppe (Joe) Costantini to his son Rudy and now to her, as well as a testament to the courage and strength to continue to persevere and expose this difficult time so it is never forgotten and hopefully never repeated.
In this opening clip Trina Costantini-Powell introduces herself and discusses how she first came to learn about her grandfather Giuseppe Costantini’s internment.
Trina Costantini-Powell speaks about the conversations she had with her father Rudy Costantini regarding her grandfather’s internment. She also shares her feelings regarding learning about this period in Canadian history.
Trina Costantini-Powell shares her father’s recollections of the day his father was interned.
In this clip Trina Costantini-Powell speaks about the sketches of her grandfather that were created in the internment camp. She also speaks about the importance of these sketches.
Trina Costantini-Powell discusses her family’s redress efforts.
Trina Costantini-Powell discusses how her father and his siblings coped during their father’s internment. She mentions that her father went to live with his godparents for a period of time during his father’s internment.
Trina Costantini-Powell shares how the internment period affected her father. She goes on to discuss his interest in politics and his career in the government.
Trina Costantini-Powell continues her discussion on her father’s career in the government.
Trina Costantini-Powell shares her feelings and views on the internment of Italian Canadians during WWII.
Trina Costantini-Powell shares her views on the issue of compensation.
Trina Costantini-Powell speaks to her grandfather’s character.
In closing Trina Costantini-Powell speaks about the importance of remembering the events that occurred to the Italian Canadian community during WWII.
Date
August 17, 2011
Maker
Columbus Centre
Accession#
ICEA2011.0012.0002
Interview 2 With Trina Costantini-Powell
Trina Costantini-Powell talks about the framed double sketches of her grandfather, Giuseppe Costantini, which hang on her wall. These sketches were created at Camp Petawawa by fellow internee and artist Guido Casini while Giuseppe was interned for 12 months. Trina talks about the importance of having sketches like these out in the open, so as to educate the public about this event in Canadian history.
Trina Costantini-Powell talks about the framed double sketches of her grandfather, Giuseppe Costantini, which hang on her wall.
