Italian Canadians in the Greater Toronto Area

Toronto has an Italian Canadian community. As of 2007, 34% of the ethnic Italians in Canada live in Toronto.[1]

"Soldiers of fortune" and educated people from Italy immigranted to Toronto prior to the 1850s. Toronto absorbed pedlars and craftspeople from northern Italy until the 1880s. 17 Italians lived in Toronto by 1860. Additional tradespeople arrived by 1870. After the 1880s many came from northern Italy, with most being from Genoa. The occupations tended to be craftspeople, service tradespeople, and pedlars.[2]

Italian immigration continued into the post-World War II era. 90% of the Italians who immigrated to Canada after World War II remained in Canada. During that period the community still had fluency in the Italian language.[3]

Geography

Little Italy (in Palmerston–Little Italy) and Corso Italia are the city's Little Italies.

Many Italians moved out of Little Italy, with several having moved to northwest Toronto, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, and then into Markham.[4]

Media

Italian newspapers, television, and radio have existed throughout Toronto's history.[3]

Notable residents

Residents of suburban cities:

The Italian Walk of Fame acknowledges ethnic Italians. It is located in Little Italy.

See also

References

Notes

  1. Harney, "Ethnicity, Social Organization, and Urban Space," p. 179.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Zucchi, p. 36.
  3. 1 2 Stanger-Ross, p. 30.
  4. Perin, Roberto (York University). "Staying Italian: Urban Change and Ethnic Life in Post-war Toronto and Philadelphia." Urban History, 12/2010, Volume 37, Issue 3. Cited: p. 493. "[...]whereas in Toronto, Little Italy became a jumping-off point: houses were later purchased in the northwestern part of the city and beyond, notably in the famous or infamous ‘ethnoburb’ of Vaughan."

Further reading

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