IL POSTINO VOL. 3 NO. 7 APRIL 2003 /APRILE 2003 $2.00 Happy Easter Buona Pasqua Joyeux Pâques CUSTOMERCUSTOMER NUMBER: NUMBER: 04564405 04564405 PUBLICATIONPUBLICATION AGREEMENT AGREEMENT NUMBER: NUMBER: 1835041 1835041 IL POSTINO • OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA April 2003.pmd 1 23/05/2007, 3:13 PM Page 2 IL POSTINO April 2003 IL POSTINO Culture / Cultura VOLUME 3 , NUMBER 7 865 Gladstone Avenue, Suite 101 • Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7T4 Tel.: (613) 567-4532 • Fax: (613) 567-0726 [email protected] From the Shamrock to www.ilpostinocanada.com Publisher Preston Street Community Foundation the Celtic Cross: Italian Canadian Community Centre of the National Capital Region Inc. Executive Editor Who is St. Patrick? Angelo Filoso By Krista Walsh Managing Editor Rarely are historical figures seen clearly. They are al- of age he was kidnapped by Irish Raiders and sold into Oliviana Mingarelli ways shrouded by mysteries, rumors and myths. St. slavery in Ireland. During his time in the Green Country Patrick is one among this numerous group. St. Patrick, he worked as a shepherd and became closer to God. Associate Editors patron saint of Ireland, was in fact not even born on the Six years later he managed to escape and he headed Emerald Isle. However, this is not so important since it is to Gaul. There he changed his name to Patrick (a decid- Jennifer Filoso & Tessa Derksen accepted that not all patron saints are from the edly more Christian name) and spent the next 15 years country they watch over. (For example, St. of his life speaking the word of God. He eventually Advertising Director Anthony of Padua was actually born in returned to Ireland and began to speak of the Oliviana Mingrarelli Portugal.) Yet, it still begs the questions: Christian God to anyone there who was willing where did this man come from? to listen and learn. St. Patrick used the Layout & Design No matter how much research shamrock to represent the Christian’s Tessa Derksen & Oliviana Mingarelli you do or how many theories Holy Trinity and also used methods of are put forward, no verifiable preaching that would allow the Irish to Web Site Manager answer may ever be found. accept the new ideas more easily. He Wen-Yi Que There are accounts that St. used fire to celebrate the Easter holi- Patrick was born in Wales, but day, as the Irish usually worshipped Printing there are also sources that argue their own gods the same way. As well, Winchester Print & Stationary he was born in Roman-Britain. Is it h e mixed the Christian cross with the sun, a possible that this Irish saint may have come from strong Irish symbol, and thus created what is now con- an Italian background? sidered to be the Celtic Cross. In this way, he converted Contributors for this issue Considering his father and his mother were of Ro- many to Christianity before he died on. It is believed he (in alphabetical order) man background and that Patrick’s name was originally died on March 17, which is why we celebrate his memory changed to the Romanized Patricius (born Maewyn and his accomplishments on this day. Tessa Derksen, Cecilia DiFelice, Angelo Filoso, Marcus Filoso, Succat), the world could be lead to believe that indeed, Whether Italian, Welsh or British this was the man Ariella Hostetter, Italian Embassy, Ermanno La Riccia, Antonio St. Patrick may have been Italian. who drove the snakes out of Ireland and brought Christi- Maglio, Luciano Pradal, Nicole Valentinuzzi, Danilo Velasquez, Maewyn grew up not believing in the Christian God, anity to the Emerald Isle, thereby deserving the title of Krista Walsh his family not being a very religious family, but at 16 years St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland. 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Name and Surname: / Nome e cognome:_______________________________________ Get a head start on your Street: / Via: ____________________ Postal Code: / Cp.:________City: / Città:____________ Province: / Provincia: ____ graduation or wedding Tel.:___________________________ Fax:____________________________ Date:___________________________ 46 Murray Street (Time Square Building) to / intestato a: Preston Street Community Foundation Inc., Suite 101 Gladstone Avenue 865, Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7T4 Ottawa, Ontario, KIN 5M4 (613) 244-0044 IL POSTINO • OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA April 2003.pmd 2 23/05/2007, 3:13 PM April 2003 IL POSTINO Page 3 Memories / Ricordi The Della Valle Family Carrying on Traditions By Ariella Hostetter The tomatoes and pole beans that used to reach up their families once they were established. Laura and the to the second-story windows no longer grow in the small three girls landed in Halifax and then endured a long train yard of the house at the corner of Preston and Norman. ride to Ottawa. The trunk remained unopened in the din- Marisa (Della Valle) Butko remembers her mother’s ing room of the Della Valle home for over 30 years. None broad smile when gathering the huge red tomatoes that of the children remember their mother explaining what she planted every year. Holding them in her hands, Laura it contained. The trunk was opened only after Laura went Della Valle would ask, “See how beautiful they are?” to live in Villa Marconi. The Della Valle family lived on Preston Street for over The Della Valle’s first home was at the corner of Pres- family Photo courtesy of the Della Valle 30 years. Laura and Lorenzo raised four children: three ton and St. Anthony (later Arlington Ave.), where the Fish daughters, Valerie, Rossana and Marisa, and a son, Tony. Market now is. In the 1950’s what is now a major high- The family has since moved to other parts of Ottawa and way – the Queensway – was then a railway line. This Ontario, but their memories remain of the family home railway line ran past the house. The Della Valle girls re- on Preston Street. member spending winter days climbing up the slope While Laura Della Valle devoted herself to taking care leading to the railway and sliding down. of their home and children, Lorenzo worked as a finish- Some time later the family moved to a new home on ing carpenter for large residential construction compa- Preston Street, on the corner of Norman Street, where nies, such as Campeau and Minto. Lorenzo specialized they were surrounded by many relatives, friends and lo- in kitchen cabinets and in installing molding and finish- cal businesses. The sisters could go next door to visit ing details. friends, but were forbidden to enter the Prescott Hotel, TOP: Della Valle family, left to right: Antonio (with Tony). During his spare time, Lorenzo would retreat to his located two doors down. The hotel, with its dubious male garage where he had set-up a woodworking shop. His lodgers lurking around, was no place for girls (or women Valerie, Rossana and Laura (with Marisa). talented hands turned out furniture for each of his three for that matter). Yet every once in a while the sisters daughters, as well as trays, pen holders and trivets.