Giovanni John Fabiano

Alumni Type: Immigrant
Country of Origin: Italy
Ship Name: S.S. Olympia
Port of Entry: Halifax
Date of Arrival: May 5, 1959
Age on Arrival: 6 and 12

Emilia Pecchia

I was almost 7 years old when we embarked on our journey to our promised land called Canada in 1959. We prepared by travelling to Rome to get our vaccinations and our passport photos taken. My mother even had special dresses made for myself and my two sisters. It was the first time we had something so new.

The day we left was a difficult and emotional one. I adored my grandfather and we had a special bond and closeness that only the two of us shared. As I hugged him tight, I asked, “Who is going to take care of you when I’m gone?” We also said goodbye to our family members in our village of Campodimele, as well as our humble home.

My mother, father, two sisters and I boarded the S.S. Olympia in Naples for a week-long unsettled journey along the Atlantic Ocean. We were not prepared for the choppy waters and the seasickness that was a constant companion to each of us with the exception of my father. One of the days the captain called an evacuation drill and because of the language barrier, I thought they were going to throw us overboard! I couldn’t swim, so I panicked and bawled my eyes out while clinging to my father for protection with my oversized lifejacket draped over my little neck. I was so relieved when it was over and realized that we weren’t going anywhere.

When we arrived in Halifax on May 5th, I was feeling apprehensive as we walked down the long ramp of the ship to the landing strip where we were corralled into the station to be processed. My mother stood by our green chest that carried what little belongings we had while we waited to take the train for a 2-day journey to Toronto, our new home.

We started school one week after arriving, and we found it challenging to fit in and be accepted because we didn’t speak English. We were laughed at and mocked, but we were determined to learn the language and assimilate. We took the summer and learned as much as we could and by September, we had improved so much that people would not have known that we didn’t speak a word of English only 3 months earlier.

My mother and father sacrificed everything they had to give us a better life. My father always struggled with missing his birthplace, and it took my mother many years to feel at home in Canada. However, my parents never let trials and tribulations stand in their way, and through hard work, determination and perseverance, gave my siblings and I the opportunity to live and thrive in this beautiful country we call home.

Giovanni John Fabiano

I was almost 12 years old when we came to Canada in 1959. Preparing to leave, I felt both excited and scared, and I didn’t know what was in store for us. Saying goodbye to all our friends and relatives in our town of Carpanzano was emotional, especially for my mother.

My father, mother, brother and I left Naples on the S.S. Olympia and headed to Canada. One of the stops we made was in Lisbon and I remember my mother gave me a banana to try. It was the first time I had ever tasted one and I ended up eating so many of them to the point where I got sick. To this day, I still have an aversion to bananas! To add to this, my mother and I became seasick and my father had to take over caregiving duties. It was a long week at sea.

When we arrived in Halifax on August 22nd, we then had a long 2 day train ride to Toronto. I remember feeling trapped, unable to freely move around, and anxious to see our final destination. We arrived at Union station late at night and were greeted by my uncle, who was our sponsor, and driven to his home.

The next morning when I looked outside, I remembered feeling very underwhelmed with the surrounding area. It was nothing like back home and I wondered if I would ever learn to like it here. When I started school just over a week later, I struggled. Not being able to speak the language or communicate with anyone was the hardest thing I had ever experienced. I was determined to learn the language so I spent much of my spare time watching T.V., especially cartoons, in order to improve my English skills. Thankfully, once I began to learn the language, I felt more comfortable and was able to settle into my new home, a home I now love.

My parents left everything behind, and through their courage, strength, hard work and perseverance, gave us a new chance for a better future. I will be forever thankful for their sacrifice.