Date
June 13, 2011
Maker
Columbus Centre
Accession#
ICEA2011.0035.0001
Interview With Ann Dolson
Ann Dolson (née Martinello) is the daughter of internee, Felice Martiniello, and the sister of interviewee, Frank Martinello. The Martiniello family emigrated from Italy to Canada in the early to mid 1920s. Upon their arrival to Canada, the family last name was changed to “Martinello” from “Martiniello” due to an error on the landed immigrant card. Felice continued to use the original spelling of his family name, while the rest of his family adopted the new spelling. The Martinellos lived in Sydney, Nova Scotia but after the internment period moved to Hamilton, ON. In her interview Ann recalls an incident when her father went to Montreal for a meeting, which she says her mother believed as the reason for his internment. Ann does describe her father as being active in the community as an organizer. Ann also recounts the day her father was arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and the impact it had on her during a later incident when she feared her mother had also been taken. Ann says that her family was poor in Nova Scotia, but the situation improved with their move to Ontario. Ann speaks mostly about her childhood memories; the everyday activities she, her six other siblings, and their parents engaged in. She also talks about her marriage and family.
Ann Dolson introduces herself and speaks about her family and her early life growing up in Sydney, NS.
Ann Dolson speaks about her family’s involvement with the local church in Sydney as well as the church in Hamilton after their move. She also speaks about her father being an organizer and explains that after attending a meeting of the fascio in Montreal he was interned.
Ann Dolson mentions that although none of her friends parents’ were interned, many were afraid to identify themselves as Italians after June 10, 1940.
Ann Dolson describes how her family survived during her father’s absence.
Ann Dolson mentions the one incident of discrimination she faced due to her father’s internment. Otherwise she says her neighbours and friends were very good to her family.
Ann Dolson describes the day that her father was arrested. She then goes on to describe a day after her father’s arrest when she feared that her mother had also been taken away.
Ann Dolson describes how her mother kept the family together during her father’s internment. She also describes how she and her siblings helped their mother during the internment.
Ann Dolson describes her family’s move from Sydney, NS to Hamilton, ON.
In this clip Ann Dolson speaks about her godparents and how they assisted and supported her family during her father’s internment.
Ann Dolson mentions that her father worked in the kitchen during his internment and would often cook pancakes, a recipe he learned in camp, for the children upon his return.
Ann Dolson describes how her eldest sister Florence suffered as a result of the internment period.
Ann Dolson reflects on the internment period.
Ann Dolson describes how she and her siblings assisted their mother in supporting the family.
Ann Dolson shares a story of an encounter she had with the Mounties while living on Dorchester Street in Sydney.
