Michele, Nicolina e Vito Spatafora

Alumni Type: Immigrant
Country of Origin: Italy
Ship Name: Conte Biancamano
Port of Entry: Halifax
Date of Arrival: November 16, 1953
Age on Arrival: Vito was 4

Vito Spatafora’s Immigration Story
As recounted by Vito Spatafora, December, 2023

Vito was born in 1949 in the small town of Vita, which is in the province of Trapani in Sicily, Italy. In November 1953, he and his loving mother, Nicolina crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the ship SS Conte Biancamano to reunite with Michele, (Vito’s father). Michele had left Sicily for Canada two years earlier to pave the way for his family’s arrival.

Crossing the Atlantic Ocean in the best of times was challenging for most people, but crossing in the dawn of winter with high waves and the threat of storms known as the Gales of November may be a frightening experience, even for an “old salt sailor.” So, imagine how country folk from Sicily reacted to the continuous undulating motion of the ship. While Vito’s mother laid in bed with her head in a bucket, Vito found the movement fun and had the run of the ship, to his mother’s chagrin. After many days at sea, Vito and Nicolina finally landed in Halifax, at Pier 21. They were herded through customs with passports and entry papers in hand. They were then directed to the train which took them to Toronto. The train ride was two days long, across the cold, snow covered Atlantic provinces, along the St. Lawrence River, through Quebec and the northern shores of Lake Ontario, until they finally reached Union Station, Toronto.

Nicolina grabbed Vito and their belongings and headed down the platform to the grand hall where Michele and his friends were waiting. The crowd was bustling with excitement. Nicolina and Michele spotted each other and ran to embrace for the first time in two years. That’s when Vito and his family started their lives together in Canada.

The first few years in Canada were challenging for the family. They didn’t speak the language or know the customs, nor were they prepared for the winters. However, they managed with the help of friends and relatives. With the skills they brought from Italy, Michele, a shoemaker, and Nicolina, a seamstress, both found jobs in their professions.

With his parents working full-time, as an only child, Vito had to fend for himself from a very young age. His lunches usually consisted of ketchup “sanguichi” (sandwiches). Growing up, Vito and his family moved homes throughout Toronto and the GTA a dozen times. This meant changing schools and making new friends every couple of years until he completed high school. Vito attended Waterloo Lutheran University (now Wilfred Laurier University) from which he graduated with an Honours BA, followed by a MA in Environmental Planning at York University.

In 1974 Vito met the love of his life, Frances Maio. Frances and Vito married in 1976. They settled in Richmond Hill and were blessed with three amazing children, Lina, Julia, and Michael.

Vito changed careers several times. He started his career in municipal politics; worked as an urban planner; went into private industry as a development consultant; and had partnerships in two small businesses. However, driven by his desire to preserve the Oak Ridges Moraine, in 1994 he was elected to Richmond Hill Council and returned to municipal politics. He dedicated the remaining 25 years of his working career to his constituents and is most proud of the work he did to preserve environmentally sensitive lands and promote climate change initiatives. Through events such as “Tastes of the Hill”, he worked hard to support local charities, while promoting diversity and multiculturalism. In recognition of his outstanding volunteer service to the community, he was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal. Vito retired as Deputy Mayor for Richmond Hill at the age of 69 to spend more time with his family and complete some things on his “bucket list”.

Vito was blessed with a grandson and five granddaughters. His grandchildren love to spend time in the summer at “Camp Nonni” where they enjoy swimming, hiking, and eating delicious meals. Vito and Frances take pride in passing down family traditions to the grandchildren. Some of their favourite traditions include annual sauce making, family vacations and a visit from “Santa Nonno” on Christmas Eve.

Vito is eternally grateful to his parents for having the courage to leave their homeland to come to Canada to build a better life for Vito and future generations.