In 1940, the Canadian government authorized the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police to intern Italians and Italian Canadians, classified as "enemy
aliens", after Italy declared war on Britain and France. Many others, while
not interned, were forced to report to the RCMP on a monthly basis.
The Columbus Centre of Toronto is a proud recipient of the Community Historical Recognition Program (CHRP), Citizenship and Immigration Canada fund for its project, Italian Canadians as Enemy Aliens: Memories of World War II. The project will acknowledge, commemorate, and educate the general public on the Italian Canadian World War II experience. It will examine how the Canadian government’s policies affected everyday existence and the ways Italians and Italian Canadians responded to these challenges.
This national project will collect the personal memories of those who were either directly affected by internment, an “enemy alien” designation, and other forms of discrimination, or who want to share the experiences of family members. We are also seeking stories of personal resilience and community initiative during this period.
These personal memories will form a national archive, along with related print, photographic and other documents. This archive will be shared with the Italian community and general public through a permanent exhibit housed at the Columbus Centre, websites, and a publication.
The project will be complete by March 2012.
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The Columbus Centre of Toronto is a proud recipient of the Community Historical Recognition Program (CHRP), Citizenship and Immigration Canada fund for its project, Italian Canadians as Enemy Aliens: Memories of World War II. The project will acknowledge, commemorate, and educate the general public on the Italian Canadian World War II experience. It will examine how the Canadian government’s policies affected everyday existence and the ways Italians and Italian Canadians responded to these challenges.
This national project will collect the personal memories of those who were either directly affected by internment, an “enemy alien” designation, and other forms of discrimination, or who want to share the experiences of family members. We are also seeking stories of personal resilience and community initiative during this period.
These personal memories will form a national archive, along with related print, photographic and other documents. This archive will be shared with the Italian community and general public through a permanent exhibit housed at the Columbus Centre, websites, and a publication.
The project will be complete by March 2012.
“Like” our Fan Page and join our Group Follow us on Twitter ItCanWWII View our YouTube Channel ItalianCanadiansWWII
Examples of materials we are looking for:
Photo of Osvaldo Giacomelli with camp inmates │Petawawa, ON │ca. 1940│Courtesy of Giacomelli Family.
Photo of Osvaldo Giacomelli │Petawawa, ON │ca. 1940 │ Courtesy of Giacomelli Family
Osvaldo was born in Hamilton, ON. In 1940, he was 20 years old and arrested on suspicion that he was a Fascist agent. He was among the very last of the internees to be released in 1945.
Photo of Osvaldo Giacomelli with camp inmates │Petawawa, ON │ca. 1940│Courtesy of Giacomelli Family.
Photo of Osvaldo Giacomelli │Petawawa, ON │ca. 1940 │ Courtesy of Giacomelli Family
Osvaldo was born in Hamilton, ON. In 1940, he was 20 years old and arrested on suspicion that he was a Fascist agent. He was among the very last of the internees to be released in 1945.