This week’s Letter from the Mayor is a guest article by Councillor Pietro Calendino, who has served on Burnaby City Council since 2002, as well as serving nine years as a Burnaby school trustee, representing Burnaby North as an MLA and teaching for 30 years.
When I came to Canada from Italy in 1959, building a new life here was much harder than it is today. That was true for Italians, but also for people from many other countries and cultures.
Many Italian immigrants arrived with little English and limited formal education. Generally, they found work in construction, factories and other forms of manual labour because those were the opportunities available to them. They worked hard, supported their families and tried to give their children opportunities they had not had themselves.
Even people who arrived with professional qualifications could find it difficult to move ahead. Language was one barrier, but attitudes were another. Italians were not always well regarded, and neither were immigrants from many other non-Anglo cultures.
Gradually, things began to improve. Immigrants learned English and became more familiar with Canadian life. Their children went further in school and began entering professions that had largely been closed to the first generation. More people could see a future for themselves beyond the difficult physical work their parents had done.
One of the first Italian Canadians I remember thinking had truly made it was Angelo Branca. The son of Italian immigrants, he became a respected lawyer and was appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 1963 and later to the BC Court of Appeal. He was also known for defending people who were disadvantaged and for helping Italians who had been interned during the Second World War.
At the time, there were not many Italian names in positions like that. Seeing someone from our community reach such a high level in the legal profession showed what was possible.
Others followed. Italian Canadians went into health care, law, education, politics and business. Construction was especially important because that was where so many members of the first generation had gained their experience and built their livelihoods and a strong reputation.
Families such as the Bosas became major names in construction and development. The Boffo family also began building in Burnaby more than 50 years ago and has maintained a strong connection to both the city and its Italian heritage.
Today, Italians coming to Canada are much more likely to arrive as trained professionals with specialized skills. But the foundation has been laid for them by the generations who came before and helped shape this city.
As I prepare to leave Burnaby City Council this month after nearly 24 years, I have been reflecting on a lifetime of public service that has included 30 years as a teacher, nine years as a Burnaby school trustee and service to the community as an MLA.
Over those decades I have been fortunate to see Canada become such an open and accepting country, and Burnaby grow into one of its most diverse cities.
Things really began to change after Canada adopted multiculturalism as an official policy in the 1970s. It took time, but people gradually became more accepting of the idea that you could make Canada your home while maintaining your own culture and traditions.
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For me, language was always central to that principle. Early in my teaching career, I became involved with the Burnaby Multicultural Society. Through that work, I met community leaders from many different backgrounds.
Language is how families pass down their stories, traditions and values. It connects children with their parents and grandparents and gives them a better understanding of where they came from. Once a language is lost, part of that connection can be lost with it. That led us to establish the BC Heritage Languages Association. Our aim was to give the languages children spoke at home a proper place in the public education system.
It took several years, but eventually students could earn school credit by passing a Ministry of Education test in their home language. In Burnaby, we introduced classes in languages including Italian, Japanese, Punjabi and Mandarin.
People can make Canada their home and contribute to their communities while remaining proud of their language, food and traditions. When we share those parts of our culture, we all benefit.
I am proud to have played a part in Burnaby’s enormous growth. Along the way, we delivered landmark protections for renters, introduced effective community policing initiatives and provided practical support for seniors. I am equally grateful for what this city has given me: the opportunity to raise my family, teach and serve my community in so many different roles.
My message to the next council is simple: Council must consider what is best for the whole city, rather than any one individual, neighbourhood or interest. That will sometimes require difficult decisions but most importantly it requires getting out into the community.
Attend local events. Walk through the neighbourhoods. Meet residents, merchants, volunteers and community organizations. Speak with seniors, families and young people. Listen to those who come before council, but also seek out people who may not know how to approach government or feel comfortable speaking in a council chamber.
The progress we have made reflects the efforts of generations of people — among them the Italian Canadian community — who worked hard to find their place and build a future here. Council has a responsibility to understand those experiences, bring our communities even closer together and ensure that our decisions serve them all.
As I leave council after nearly 24 years, I hope Burnaby will continue to be a place where people are welcomed, valued for what they contribute and proud to share the cultures and traditions that make our city such a great place to be.
