Waterloo Oral History Interviews

Exploring Italian Heritage: Showcasing Experiential Learning in Italian Studies at Saint Jerome’s University

Italian Language and Italian Studies students at Saint Jerome’s College on the University of Waterloo campus, led by Dr. Roberta Cauchi-Santoro, embarked on an immersive journey through engaging experiential learning research. Their research delves into the heart of the Italian community in Southwestern Ontario and beyond, uncovering immigration experiences through oral history interviews. This digital exhibit showcases recorded interviews, transcripts, audio, and captivating photographs from the project, which is housed on the Italian-Canadian Narrative Showcase community website (ICNS).

The student’s research was collaborative, fostering a deeper connection between the university, the Waterloo Italian Club, the Italian Canadian Archives Project (ICAP), the Waterloo Chapter and the ICNS. Through this initiative, the ongoing undergraduate community-engaged research serves as a testament to the contributions of the Italian community in the region while celebrating Italian Canadian heritage and the profound impact of experiential learning in the Italian Studies program at SJU.