The Italian people first started arriving in Montreal in the 1800’s and in the ensuing decades became Canada’s most important and influential immigrant group. There are approximately 260,345 Italian people in Montreal, the second largest population in Canada.
The history of the Italian people in Canada dates back to the time of Giovanni Caboto, who in 1497explored the coast of Newfoundland. Known today as John Cabot, this navigator was commissioned by the English to undertake voyages of discovery. Italians have played an active role in the exploration and development of the nation. On behalf of France, Giovanni Verrazzano explored Atlantic Canada and Francesco Giuseppe Bressani was a Jesuit missionary in Huron country.
After the Second World War, the industrialization of North America and the demand for labour, attracted numerous Italians to Canada and many settled in Montreal. What began as the movement of migratory workers, returning annually to Italy, became an immigration of permanent residents. The first arrivals congregated in Little Italy but as they settled the Italian people began sponsoring the immigration of friends and relatives. Subsequent generations moved on to live in Riviere-des-Prairies, LaSalle and St. Leonard.
Like countless immigrants many of the Italian people came to Montreal carrying only the proverbial suitcase. They were not universally welcomed and many cultural stereotypes labeled the Italian people as Catholic, hard-working, food-loving etc. The significance of the Italian people, their values and traditions are relevant to today’s society and the Italian people are ‘showing us another way to be modern: by exercising moderation… setting limits on change so the world would remain human.’ Notwithstanding the stereotypes, the Italian people are passionate, proud and boisterous. They are above average academic achievers and proud homeowners. These energetically affable people do keep the faith and the majorities are Roman Catholic.
The skills that the artisans and tradesmen brought to Montreal helped build the city. The contributions of the Italian people are innumerable. Onorato Catelli and Lino Saputo in the food-processing industry, Cosimo Cavallaro artist and filmmaker, Mary Melfi writer, Gino Vannelli , Angelo Esposito and Arturo "Thunder" Gatti are a few of the notable Italian people from Montreal.
Sources; Presenza: A New Look at Italian-Canadian Heritage.' Curators Mauro Peressini and Constance Nebel. Canadian Museum of Civilization, 13 June 2003-6 September 2004.
Historica Foundation of Canada, 2008
