Family Stories

Guerrino Serani was born in Calgary, Alberta, on October 23, 1914. The family home was located at 412 2nd Avenue N.E., where he and his siblings were born. He attended St. Angela’s School from Grade 1 through Grade 9, just a block away from the family residence. Although he briefly at Peter and Catherine Serani in front of their house Although he briefly attended St. Mary’s Boys High School, he did not complete Grade 10. Throughout his life, he often spoke fondly of St. Ange

Born in Calgary in 1917. He attended St. Angela’s Elementary School and St. Mary’s High School, leaving school in 1934 to work in the family business, working mainly in the city and on highway construction sites. In 1948, with the ever- increasing construction in Calgary, Bill and his brother Nado focused their work solely within the city. This handmade silver and gold buckle was presented to Bill on his birthday by Delores in 1955. The driver of the Tractor Crawler depict

Giovanni Dipalo born 1865 and Rosaria Ciffarelli born 1869. They were married in 1889 were from Altamura, Bari, Italy. Son James with his daughter Rose and Rosaria Arriving in Calgary 1908 and they settled at 229 3 Ave E with their 2 sons James (age 11) and Victor. Giovanni worked in construction, and one of the jobs he had was installing the iconic stone at the Banff Springs Hotel. After returning to Calgary from Banff, he went to work for the City at the streetcar shop, whe

Through hard work, entrepreneurship, and generosity, the Carloni family became pillars of Calgary’s Italian community. Back Row Lydia Anna Lawrence Nina Front Adelaide Luca Luca (Louie) was born in Antrodoco, Italy. In 1913, at the age of 17, he travelled to Calgary where he reunited with his sister Melvina, who had immigrated with her husband Giuseppe Fabbi in 1904 (see Fabbi story). He settled in Bridgeland within the Italian community where he worked for Burns Fo

Through sacrifice, resilience, and family connections, the Cioni family helped shape Calgary’s early Italian community. Genesio (Gene), Gary, Martha, Maria (in front) Gisa Cioni was the first of the Sabato Cioni children to arrive in Calgary from Antrodoco, Rieti, for her marriage to Ricardo Santopinto in 1912 (see Santopinto Family). Gisa’s mother, Villemina Cattani Cioni, had died in 1902 and a year later her father, Sabato Cioni, married Flavia (Fulvia) Cardellini Cioni. T

From Sicily to Calgary, Joe and Bertha Cozzubbo built a home filled with music, family, and community spirit. Back row Donald Bertha Hazel Joe Margaret Front Allan Yvonne Agatino was born in 1894 in Gaggi, Messina, Italy, travelling by boat with his father Salvatore and his brother Marino. They arrived at Ellis Island in 1906. After a stay in New York, their father found work with the CPR, working their way across Canada before settling into life in

From Hillhurst to the coffee trade, Marino Cozzubbo built a life of family, flavor, and community. Marino and brother Agatino (Joe) with Lillian Marino was born in Gaggi, Messina, Italy, and traveled by boat with his father Salvatore and brother Agatino, arriving at Ellis Island in 1906. After staying in New York, the family worked their way across Canada with the CPR, settling in Hillhurst in 1908. In 1916, Marino and Agatino began working for the Tuxedo Coffee and Spice Mil

From military service to community leadership, the Dipalo family helped shape Calgary’s early Italian community. Rose John Irene Raymond Victor Evelyn James was born in Altamura, Bari, Italy. He came over with his father Giovanni and mother Rosaria in 1908. Attending school and settling into life in Calgary, he enlisted in the Canadian Army with the 1st Regimental Battalion of Alberta and was discharged as a private in May 1918. After learning the plumbing and heating

Known as “La Zia per Tutti,” Cesira DiPaolo devoted her life to helping immigrants, supporting her community, and caring for family. Cesira DiPaolo (née Iafolla) was born on May 9, 1900, in the mountain village of Villalago, L’Aquila, to Concetta Grossi and Alfonso Iafolla. Life in the family home was busy and demanding, shaped by the rhythms of rural life and the needs of a large household. As the fourth of seven children, Cesira quickly learned responsibility, often caring

From Italy to Alberta, the Fabbi family’s story reflects resilience, sacrifice, and the strength of family bonds. Leo, Ringo, Benny, Giuseppe, Malvina, Serena , Nordegg 1918 Giuseppe and Malvina (Carloni) Fabbi, both hailing from Antocodoco, Italy, embarked on a journey that brought them to Canada. They traveled by ship to the Port of Quebec, continuing their journey to Calgary, where they arrived on May 1, 1904. The couple obtained their naturalization on September 20, 19

From Antrodoco to Calgary, the Serani family built a quiet life centered on faith, family, and community. Guerrero (Peter) Serafino Yolanda Palma Joseph (Pep) circa 1926 Serafino and Palma (Fabi) Serani were among some of the first Italian families to emigrate to Calgary in the early part of the 20th century. They were both born in the central Italian town of Antrodoco in the province of Rieti, in the region of Lazio. Serafino

A humble immigrant with a pickaxe and vision, Lawrence Grassi helped shape some of the most beautiful trails in the Canadian Rockies. Lawrence Grassi standing on Princess Margaret Mountain circa 1920 (open domain). Lawrence Grassi, born Andrea Lorenzo Grassi on December 20, 1890, in Falmenta, Piedmonte, Italy, immigrated to Ontario in 1912 to work for the CPR. Four years later, he moved to Canmore, Alberta to work as a coal miner for the next 30 years, until his retirement in

From Italy to Calgary, the Taverna family built a life rooted in hard work, community, and tradition. Elaine Tommy Jenny Elaine Serafino Sam Serafino Taverna was born on July 23, 1887 in Colosimi, Cosenza, Italy. He left Italy in 1906 and arrived at Ellis Island on June 21, 1906. From there, he travelled to Port Arthur, Ontario (now Thunder Bay) to meet his brother, eventually making his way to Calgary where he worked at the street car barn for the City. He obtained his Certi

From Sicily to Calgary: the Cozzubbo family built a life rooted in hard work, family, and community. Salvatore Cozzubbo was born in 1861 in Gaggi, Messina, Italy. He immigrated to Canada in 1906 along with sons Agatino (Joe), age 12, and Marino, age 13. They made their way to Calgary where they settled in the Hillhurst neighborhood at 317 - 10 1/2 Street W. While working for the City, Salvatore made a home for his sons until the rest of the family came to join them. Store and

A pioneer of Bridgeland, Annibale Corradetti helped build Calgary through hard work, resilience, and devotion to family. Annibale Corradetti (1867–1952) arrived in Calgary in February 1903, following his brother who had immigrated in 1899. His brother eventually returned to Italy in 1902, complaining that Canada’s winters were too cold, the flowers had no scent, and the women were not as beautiful as those back home. Annibale famously replied, “I think I can do better,” and s

From coal mines to new beginnings: two Italian families built a life of resilience, sacrifice, and community in Alberta. The first is our maternal grandparents wedding picture. The couple on the left is Maria and Luigi Fantin and the other is Luigia and Giovanni Violini. The second picture is our father's family circa 1930, and the last picture is the house our grandfather built in Sunnyside circa 1925. On December 4, 1906, at the age of 28, Giovanni Violini arrived at Ellis

From Ellis Island to Calgary: the Santopinto family’s journey of faith, sacrifice, and Italian pride across generations. Riccardo Santopinto arrived at Ellis Island on the San Giovanni, which sailed from Naples on April 14, 1910. He was 28 years old. He came from Antrodoco, Aquila, where he was born on February 20, 1882. Gisa Cioni, also from Antrodoco, arrived at Ellis Island on July 1, 1912, aboard the Moltke from Naples at 19 years of age. She was born on June 14, 1893. Al

It is impossible to think of Italian history in southern Alberta without acknowledging the life and contributions of one of its earliest pioneers, namely Giorgio (George) Pocaterra. Giorgio W. Pocaterra was born in Piovene Rocchette, Veneto, Italy, into a prominent aristocratic family. His father was a senior executive in a textile company, and Giorgio’s early life reflected the expectations of his status. He received his education in northern Italy, Switzerland, and Germany,