Putting Down Urban Roots

The networks of relatives and friends that were so typical of Italian villages played an important role in Italian immigration to Canada.

	Meeting at the Toronto International Airport (now Pearson International), 1971 Photo: © Vincenzo Pietropaolo

Italian immigrants were rarely solitary individuals. They left behind not only their country, but also relatives, neighbours and friends who expected to receive money, tickets for the transatlantic journey, and information about employment opportunities, working conditions, housing and the climate in Canada. Upon their arrival here, they were almost always greeted by relatives or friends, who were ready to provide a place to live, lend them money, help them find work and show them how to get around.

	The Amatuzio family, Clark Street, Montreal, 1914 Photographer unknown Lent by Joe Fratino and the Amatuzio family

These networks of relatives and friends led to the creation of "migratory chains" through which entire sections of Italian villages were transplanted to specific locations in Canada. They also provided an incentive for immigrants to settle permanently as early as the 1910s. Immigration through the migratory chains intensified after 1945. From 1947 to 1967, 90% of Italian immigrants who entered the country were sponsored by relatives, resulting in immigration that was largely permanent and family oriented.

	Little Italy, Saint-Laurent Blvd., Montreal, Quebec, 2002 Photo: © Mauro Peressini

As Canada's cities grew, they attracted more and more immigrants, since they offered a much greater variety of interesting jobs. In 1976, 90% of Italian Canadians lived in cities of over 100,000 people.

	Distribution of people of Italian origin in Canada (including multiple origins) by province and territory, 1991 The figures indicate the number of Canadians of Italian origin in Canada (including multiple origins). In 1991, the total for the whole country was 1,147,780. Source: © Statistics Canada