A travelling exhibition from the Columbus Centre, Toronto

A travelling exhibition created by the Columbus Centre in Toronto that documents Italian Canadian experiences during the Second World War.

Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Times:Italian Canadian Experiences During WWII

will be on exhibit here in Timmins, Ontario.

Date:September 2nd to September 27th, 2015

Location: Red Gallery

The exhibit explores the impact that Italy’s decision to enter the War on the side of Germany had on the lives of Italian Canadians in the early 1940s.

In 1940, when Italy joined the Second World War on the German side, the Canadian government gave the RCMP authority to detain and imprison Italian Canadians, who were considered dangerous, without charges.

As a result, 31 000 Italian Canadians were designated “enemy aliens” and around 600 were removed from their homes and held in prisons and camps.

Many Italian Canadians also lost jobs or experienced racism and violence in their communities during this period.

Members of our own community are mentioned in this exhibition Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Times: Italian Canadian Experiences combines historical research with personal testimonies to shed light on this difficult period in Canadian history and raise important questions about ethnicity, democracy and human rights.

For more information, please contact Karen Bachmann, Director /Curator of the museum at 705-360-2617.