Toronto's Italian Barbers |
Toronto's Italian Barbers |
Montreal's Italian Barbers |
Montreal's Italian Barbers |
Italian Barber Shops |
They say Italians are romantics at heart. The language, the food, the culture, we express our passion for life through our lifestyle and traditions. Before night clubs, Internet and cell phones defined the dating scene we know today, back in the Old Country, our parents and grandparents had a more personal way to express their feelings. Through music and lyrics, one of the most beautiful displays of romanticism was the “Serenata”, which conquered many hearts.
Rosa Scarpato è nata a Sorrento ed è giunta a Montreal nel 1959 per sposarsi con Giuseppe Scarpato.
We all know “dog is man’s best friend.” But for Dominique Firetto, the furry four-legged creatures are much more than that. Dogs are his passion, his pride and his profession. The Italo-Montrealer has a particular attachment to Siberian Huskies. So much so, that he is a professional breeder, and travels with his dogs around the world to participate in dog shows.
“No one wants to learn, everyone wants to be a famous hairstylist because it’s glamorous,” says barber Mario Meleca. “Nowadays the barbers could make more money but hairstylists don’t know how to shave. There are hairstylists that send me clients to do a barber shave. The difference is that the hairstylists make clients pay for the time they spend while I can do a cut in 5 minutes for half the price.”
The area known as Cabbagetown is one of the largest areas of continuous, preserved Victorian housing in North America. The name was an epithet used by Toronto's British residents who were offended by the use of front gardens to grow cabbages by the hundreds of Irish families who had fled famine in the 1840s. "Cabbagetown" became synonymous for "slum" until the 1970s and 80s when the large stock of decayed but untouched Victorian housing was discovered and gradually restored as an appealing neighbourhood. Designated as a Heritage Conservation District, Cabbagetown is nowadays a physically beautiful, culturally-active community. Within the quaint neighbourhood resides the aptly named Cabbagetown Barber Shop (525 Parliament St), whose owners and operators have been providing top notch service to the community for the better part of two decades.
The Barber's Essential Tool Kit
Nicola received his first training in Italy from local barber Antonio Galati, who owned a salon near his house. He immigrated to Canada in 1967 and a few years later opened Sam & Nick Barber Shop with his partner Salvatore Roti. They had been partners for 35 years, until Sam retired to Wasaga Beach. Today, Nick is still one of the best barbers on College St.
Pat’s Barber Shop (once on McCaul St) was one of the most renowned barber shops in Toronto; it was also a preferred shooting location for films and commercials. When Salvatore came to Canada in the 60s, he started to work in Scarborough with two other partners from the same town. His father-in-law, Pasquale, who had been a barber for over 65 years, decided to retire in 1995 and Salvatore inherited his barber shop, now located in front of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Mario came to Canada when he was 18 to join his sister and two brothers. In 1969, he opened his business Promenade and moved it to Charles St. 11 years ago. The barber shop was located inside the building for 42 years until Dollarama bought the location in 2001. Mario’s Promenade is now a hidden gem behind the chaotic Yonge St.
Giuseppe immigrated to Canada on September 10, 1958. He started working in a barber shop on Royal York and Queens Quay, but eventually ended up on College St. “La mia vita sono 51 anni di College.” Joe’s Barber Shopis located withinAvalon Hair Design, a cutting-edge hair salon co-owned by his daughter Loriana.
