Interview With Andrea Grimes

Date

July 19, 2011

Maker

Columbus Centre

Accession#

ICEA2011.0061.0001

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Interview With Andrea Grimes

Andrea Grimes (born in Windsor on September 16, 1949) speaks about her family and their experiences in Windsor, ON. Grime’s maternal grandfather, Luigi Meconi, was born on March 28, 1893 in Faleria, Italy. Luigi came to Canada in 1909 at age 16. Luigi served in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces during World War I. He was then interned at Camp Petawawa during World War II. Luigi had several occupations, including court interpreter, running a post office, a notary public, helping his brother, Mariano, in the winemaking business, running a travel agency, and running a grocery store. Andrea’s maternal grandmother, Emilia, started a restaurant in the family’s home (the old Scott family homestead) called the Rose Garden Restaurant, while Luigi was interned. Andrea’s mother, Claire, married a man of Irish descent named Vere who served in the army and worked in the hospitality industry at the Prince Edward Hotel. Andrea talks about her role in writing the Impronte book and creating the Impronte exhibit and her experiences talking to people who did not want to share their memories about the time period of the internment. Andrea concludes by speaking about objects she brought with her which once belonged to her grandfather, including two hand-crafted boxes, carved by her grandfather during his internment and her grandfather’s walking cane.

Andrea Grimes introduces herself and speaks about her parents and grandparents. She also briefly about the war period and her grandfather’s internment.

In this clip Andrea Grimes speaks about her grandfather Luigi Meconi. She speaks about his migration to Canada and his role in the Windsor Italian community.

Andrea Grimes continues speaking about her grandfather and his life and career in Windsor.

Andrea Grimes speaks about her grandfather’s involvement in St. Angela Merici Church in Windsor.

Andrea Grimes continues to speak about her grandfather, specifically his role as leader in the Italian community.

Andrea Grimes speaks about the ethnic make-up of Windsor, the discrimination Italian faced in Canada and the Italian community.

Andrea Grimes briefly speaks about her grandfather’s internment and his life in the camp.

Andrea Grimes speaks about her grandparents and their early life in Windsor. She then goes on to discuss how her grandmother survived during her grandfather’s absence.

In this clip Andrea Grimes speaks about her grandfather’s life after his release from internment.

Andrea Grimes speaks of the day her grandfather was arrested.

Andrea Grimes speaks about her grandfather’s experience in the internment camp.

Andrea Grimes speaks about her grandfather becoming sick while interned and his sudden death after his release.

Andrea Grimes discusses what happened to her grandfather’s businesses during his internment. She also speaks about her grandmother who opened up a restaurant during the internment to make ends meet.