Transformations: Volume Two: The Italian Canadian Experience

The powerfully honest accounts in this second anthology continue to document the tendency of Italian immigrants to approach all that they do with passion and an unwavering commitment to hard work, family and frugality. Also noted are what first generation Canadians valued and internalized most from their immigrant parents and grandparents. This second anthology serves as an extended tribute to the resourcefulness of the Italian Canadian spirit, in dealing with the hardships, the challenges, and ultimately, the accomplishments they experienced, as they worked hard to build their new lives in Canada. Collected over the past five years, these personal, family and community accounts acknowledge the perseverance of Italian immigrants and the contributions they made to help transform Canada into a more civil, inclusive and economically prosperous nation. Representing many similar experiences, across Canada, these accounts constitute an important part of Canadian history.

Angelo Bolotta emigrated from Italy to Canada, in 1955. He became a career educator, curriculum leader, administrator, university instructor, and lead author of successful school textbooks for Canadian history, civics, and economics. Angelo is also quite active in the Italian-Canadian community. Since 2013, he has collected stories chronicling the experiences and accomplishments of Italian immigrants across Canada.

Over the years Dr. Gina Valle has lent her time and expertise to Villa Charities, Italian Canadians as Enemy Aliens, The Association of Italian Canadian Writers and TLN’s Invisible Voices.  She was a Goggia Fellow at The Iacobucci Centre, is Editor of Echoes of Growing up Italian, and the recipient of the Ordine al Merito.