Canada is home to approximately 1.6 million Canadians of Italian descent. For more than a century, thousands of Italians â including my parents â have chosen Canada as their new home, a safe haven with endless opportunities, where the rule of law prevails and where diversity, inclusion and equality converge. From far and wide, Italian Canadians have contributed to Canadaâs cultural landscape and economic vitality.
Unfortunately, our communityâs history is also tainted by one particular event that took place some 80 years ago during the Second World War.
It was June 10th, 1940. In response to the news that Italy was joining Nazi Germanyâs war efforts, a resolution was unanimously adopted by the House of Commons and the Senate of Canada confirming our nationâs support to France and the United Kingdom.