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Interviews With Hon. Dolores Holmes

Date

May 20, 2011

Maker

Columbus Centre

Accession#

ICEA2011.0027.0001

Interview 1 With Hon. Dolores Holmes

The Honourable Dolores Holmes was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1929. Her father, Angelo Branca was also born in Vancouver, on Mount Sicker in 1903. Dolores Holmes followed in her father’s footsteps and became a lawyer at her dad’s firm after graduating from law school in 1952. The majority of this interview deals with her life in Vancouver: community dances, Catholic school, and the family grocery store. Dolores explains how her father Angelo proposed to her mother, Viola Millar. During World War II Angelo Branca helped the Italian Canadian community members who had family members interned. Dolores briefly explains the difficulties that the Pasqualini family faced during Santo Pasqualini’s internment. The end of the interview focuses on Dolores Holmes’ marriage, her legal career, and her five children. She also explains that during the early part of World War II her father joined the Canadian reserves.

In this opening clip Hon. Dolores Holmes introduces herself.

Hon. Dolores Holmes speaks about her parents and describes their early life in Vancouver.

Hon. Dolores Holmes speaks about her grandparents and the family grocery store.

Hon. Dolores Holmes talks about working at her father’s law firm during the 1940s and how her father helped the family members of many of the Italian internees.

Hon. Dolores Holmes speaks about the internment of Santo Pasqualini and shares her opinion on the internment of Italian Canadians.

In this clip Hon. Dolores Holmes talks about the Italian organization her grandfather formed in Vancouver.

In this final clip Hon. Dolores Holmes speaks about how her father joined the reserves during World War II.

Date

June 27, 2011

Maker

Columbus Centre

Accession#

ICEA2011.0027.0002

Interview 2 With Hon. Dolores Holmes

The Honourable Dolores Holmes was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1929. Dolores Holmes followed in her father’s footsteps and became a lawyer at her dad’s firm after graduating from law school in 1952. The majority of the interview focuses on Dolores Holmes’ family life, her experiences in law school and her career.

In this opening clip Hon. Dolores Holmes shares memories of attending school in the East Hastings neighbourhood of Vancouver.

Hon. Dolores Holmes briefly speaks about the church she attended as a child and the church she now attends.

Hon. Dolores Holmes describes her experiences as a law student and her path to becoming a judge.

In this clip Hon. Dolores Holmes speaks about her mother and reminisces about the family events from her childhood.

Hon. Dolores Holmes talks about her grandfather and the Italian organizations he founded in the Vancouver community. She also goes on to talk about her own family.

In closing Hon. Dolores Holmes recalls many of the Italian family members from the Vancouver area and speaks of their friendships.