followed pathways laid down by those who preceded them. Given
the strong attachments which Italians had to their extended family
and fellow paesani in their home country, whole city blocks would
be inhabited by groups from specific Italian towns or regions. (Clifford
J. Jansen. Italians in a Multicultural Canada, 1989)
They created "Little Italies" similar to their country
of origin . Everyone could find food, clothing and similar Italian
stores,
many of these bearing the name of different regions of Italy.
The churches had services in the Italian language. Many schools
had a majority of Italian pupils. Italians began to have their
cinemas,
halls, clubs, travel and real estate agencies, etc. The famous
Italian restaurants attracted a large number of Canadians.
"Little Italies" are places of attraction for everyone.
Today walking down "Via Italia" in Windsor is like
walking down any busy city street in Italy: it is bustling,
friendly, animated -- Italian in spirit and in joyful hospitality. It
was the church of St. Angela Merici that brought the concentration
of Italians into a “Little Italy” in the Erie Street
area, also known today as “Via Italia”. It serves
as a combination stage-square for pageants, religious festivals,
bicycle races and a general gathering place while offering a
taste of Italian life with its various cafes, restaurants and
shops. (Walter Temelini. The Italian Cultural
Presence in Windsor, 1920-1990, The Luminous Mosaic, 1993)
|