Fascism and Internment Immigration

by Adriana Albi Davies, Ph.D.

 1  |  Page 2  |  3

Family reunification was viewed as the priority and this included extended family members. According to Franc Sturino, "the sponsorship of relatives took up so much of the Italian quota that practically no open placement recruitment of Italian immigrants took place" after 1955.⁵ This stream of immigrants continued, more-or-less steadily until 1967-68. There was one "hiccup." In 1956, the Hungarian Revolution saw an influx from that trouble spot. With the downturn in the economy, immigration was viewed negatively. Sturino notes, 

Hostility over Italian immigration was more prevalent in eastern than western Canada, as Italian numbers were higher in the east. Politicians, union leaders and Anglo-Canadians were alarmed when figures revealed that in 1958, Italian immigration had surpassed that from Britain by 2,000 people.

The severe recession of 1958, combined with fears over the changing nature of Canada's 'racial' composition, produced what one historian describes as a 'near panic' situation. The federal government responded in 1959 by enacting an order-in-council restricting the admission of sponsored relatives. However, criticism from the Liberal opposition 'proved effective in rallying a large segment of public opinion and various ethnic groups and the government was forced to rescind the restrictive order a month after it passage.' ⁶

The coming in of Leduc No. 1 in 1947 changed the economy of Alberta. With it came opportunities for work not only in the oil patch but also in the range of industries supporting it and the growing population of the region. The economies of Edmonton and Calgary heated up, the former as the "gateway to the North" and the mines in the Northwest Territories where many strong young men went to make their fortune. Alberta's urban centres (including Lethbridge because of its history of Italian immigration to work in the mines) became destinations of choice for both skilled and unskilled labour. Italian-owned construction companies, such as the Galleli Construction in Calgary and the New West Construction in Edmonton provided employment to many. As did the railways, steelmaking, all types of construction and resource-based industries.

From 1949 onwards, many immigrants came to Edmonton. They were recruited by labour agents, including the Nigro/Anselmo families in Edmonton.  They employed workers for road works and construction through the New West Construction Company that they established. The company purchased equipment used for the building of the Alaska Highway, which the American government did not want to bother shipping back to the US. Among the first hired, were Raffaele (Ralph) Albi and his best man, Attilio Gatto, who arrived in 1949. Angelo Santa Rosa was the New West Foreman. Others, such as Franco (Frank) Spinelli, ended up working in mines in the Northwest Territories.

Once immigrants were financially on their feet and had learned the language, they looked for other work opportunities. The growing oil industry provided other work opportunities. Ralph Albi moved to Imperial Oil in 1951and worked on plant maintenance. Because he had quickly acquired English, he was able to obtain his carpenter's papers (he was a trained master carpenter in Italy). He used his knowledge to help many others acquire their trade qualifications by serving as an interpreter when they sat their exams. He also helped many obtain work at Imperial Oil.

Whereas earlier immigration from Italy had brought largely unskilled labour, the new immigration brought people with trades. This included carpenters, masons and, to a lesser extent, tailors, teachers, engineers and others. Among their numbers were people who came for the love of travel and adventure, and also because they did not like what was happening in Italy.  These include Sabatino Roncucci, a professional tailor, who came in to Edmonton in 1958. Tony Falcone, a recently qualified school teacher in Italy, came because, having sat state exams, he would have had to wait for up to three years to get either a teaching or civil service job.

[<<previous] [continue>>]

[back] [top]