Raymond Culos: “I Am Canadian-Italian, so ‘Canadian’ Comes First”
Raymond Culos (b. 1936), Vancouver born first-generation Canadian-Italian writer and historian, talks about his Italian connection and his memories of the 1950s. …
Linda Massaro, a Truly Remarkable Survivor
Linda Massaro (b. 1937) became and orphan at 10 years old, learned dressmaking at 11 and married at 15 years old. In …
Sam Buonassisi: ‘If You Don’t Adapt in Retail, You’re Dead’
Sam Buonassisi (b. 1936) immigrated from Italy in 1953. Now a successful business owner on the Drive, he explains the importance of …
Grey Skies and Soft Rain – Interview With Storyteller Mary Gavan
Mary Gavan is a Scottish-born professional storyteller and former palliative care nurse who has been living in Canada for almost 40 years. …
David Fukuhara on Life in East Van after Internment
David Fukuhara (b. 1939) left East Vancouver at only 3 years old and went to live in an internment camp. Read his …
Mary Hucul, From a Little Italian Village to Commercial Drive
Mary Hucul (b. 1921) reminisces about her two-week immigration trip from Italy to Vancouver at age 8, her mother’s garden on Pender …
David Lee: ‘I Lived an Everyday Life, and it was Good’
David Lee (b. 1942) owned a body shop in East Van for 40 years. At age 10 he traveled from China to …
German Immigrant Helga Recounts Her Struggle to Start over in 1959
Helga (b. 1934), a German immigrant, came with her family to Canada in 1959. The first years of hardship almost drove them …
Joe Comparelli and His Youth in Strathcona
Fisherman Joe Comparelli (b. 1923) shares memories of delivering newspapers as a child, attending the Grandview School of Commerce, and living in Little …
Thomas Ma, a Life in Vancouver’s Kitchens
Thomas Ma (b. 1932), an immigrant from China, built his career working in Vancouver’s kitchens before achieving success as a restaurant owner. …
