Legacy

“I remember as a little kid, my dad would ask if I wanted to go to the beach. We would phone my friends up and go to Wasaga. We stayed all day, played in the water and ate fried chicken—those were some of the best memories of my life…[Pierina and Rino] let us make our own decisions and learn from our own mistakes. They were affectionate and had infinite patience, always looking at the positive side of life.” – Melissa

            After getting married, Rino and Pierina began to form their own family unit. The promise of a bright and prosperous life for their future children led the young couple—along with thousands of other Italian migrants—to Canada¹. They had three children, all of which were born in their new homeland. In 1959, Rino and Pierina welcomed their first daughter, Ornella, to the family. Three years later, Vania was born. In 1974, they had their third daughter, Melissa. Years later, as grandparents, Rino and Pierina’s involvement would help shape the lives and well-being of their five grandchildren.²  “Legacy” illustrates Rino and Pierina with their descendants as they build a home by fostering feelings of security, familiarity, community and hope.³ This category showcases a few of the ways in which the immigrant couple embraced Canada, including celebrating holidays such as Halloween and visiting famous Canadian landmarks.  

1. Iacovetta, Franca. Such Hardworking People: Italian Immigrants in Postwar Toronto. McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1992, pp. 197.

2. Cline, Ruth. “Books for Adolescents: The Grandparent Connection in Young Adult Literature.” Journal of Reading, Vol. 32, no. 6, 1989, pp. 568. 

3. Hage, Ghassan. “Migration, Food, Memory and Home-Building.” Memory: History, Theories, Debates, edited by Susannah Radstone, Bill Schwarz, Fordham University Press, 2010, pp. 418.

“Legacy” captions

1. Pierina holds Ornella on the day of her Baptism. [1959, Guelph, Canada] Photo provided by: Melissa

2. Vania and Ornella with their parents on a visit to Rino’s mother, Eva. [Montebelluna, 1967] Photo provided by: Melissa

3. The entire nuclear family stands in front of their house. [1975, Guelph, Canada]. Photo provided by: Melissa

4. Rino, Pierina and Melissa pictured visiting a famous Canadian landmark. [1979, Niagara Falls, Canada] Photo provided by: Melissa

5. Pierina embraces three of her grandchildren, who are dressed up warmly for Halloween. [October 31, 1991, Guelph, Canada]. Photo provided by: Ornella

6. Rino, Pierina, their descendants and their families pose for a photo. [2000, Guelph, Canada]. Photo provided by: Ornella.