| Completed in 1913, St. Anthony's is the spiritual heart of Little Italy, with services
in Italian and English. The panel shows long-time volunteers Luigi Mion and Angelo Filoso
carrying the church statue with the church in the background, framed by two of the church
windows. The insert shows the parish priests throughout the years.
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| Founded in 1872, the Servite Sisters of the Addolorato arrived in Canada in 1961. The
members of the Community dedicate themselves to educating the children of St. Anthony's
Parish, helping their families, and instilling in their parents the conviction of a
Christian life.
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| San Rocco de la Croix is the patron saint of those afflicted by disease. His feast day
in mid-August includes a mass, food, dancing, and a procession such as shown here with band
and statue.
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| Angelo Fiore was the only Italian-speaking officer on the Ottawa police force when
he joined in 1974. He became responsible for Italian Week policing in 1994, and retired as
detective-sergeant in 2003. The left image is of an Italian Week parade headed by him. The
right shows a celebration when Italy won the World Cup and features several Italo-Canadians
active in the community.
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| Since 1981 Trattoria Caffé Italia has been entertaining guests in Ottawa's Little
Italy. Dominic and Pasquale Carrozza, head chef Connie and the rest of the Trattoria Caffé
Italia family, invite you to enjoy their homemade pastas, desserts and tender veal dishes.
Select a wine from their award-winning wine list and enjoy a great evening out.
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| The left panel shows the original
La Roma entrance at the corner of Bronson and
Somerset. It moved to 430 Preston in 1995, the main view. Family owned and operated
throughout, La Roma continues to prove the excellence of contemporary Italian cuisine in
the heart of Little Italy.
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| Founded in 1945, Italo-Canadian owned throughout its life,
Preston Hardware
expanded and became Ottawa's first self-serve hardware store in 1957. It also sells wine
making supplies on a seasonal basis. The photos span the 1945 original to the major
expansion of 1993, with the main view being of the storefront of 1957.
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| Il Lavoratore, The Labourer. Joe Cotroneo was born at 271 Preston, near Gladstone. The
background shows his childhood home with his father heading off to work as a plasterer. His
mother and children wave goodby from the veranda in a scene typical of Little Italy at the
time. The family photos include early photos of his father, a sister's first communion, and
his sisters preparing food.
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| A family business for 35 years, now entering its 3rd generation, Venice Steel Works
provides the finest in wrought-iron work to residents of Little Italy and beyond. The main
view is of John Frigo at work; inserts show the business front and John with his father.
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| From its beginnings in 1934 as the Preston Hotel, it has featured hearty Italian
cuisine and its unique square pizza. Renamed the
Prescott in 1941 because it was the last hotel on
the road to Prescott, it now focusses entirely on its food. The main view is of the hotel
in 1934, the small one, today.
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| The Nicastro family opened their first store in Little Italy in 1972. This store at
first catered to Italian immigrant families in the area, but soon grew in popularity to
became one of Ottawa's favourite Italian grocers. The Nicastro brothers opened their next
store on Merivale Rd., where Joe, Rocco and Frank
Nicastro can still be found. Pat Nicastro opened La
Bottega in 1995. The Nicastro's are proud to be the 5th generation of food merchants,
and proud to continue serving Ottawa's Italian community.
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| Since 1979, this family owned pastry & gelato shop has prepared the finest in
prize-winning cakes for weddings and other special occasions, as well as many smaller
Italian confections with breakfast and lunch. Insert photos include chef Joe Calabro's
mother, father and brother. It is a family-oriented establishment serving generations from
past to present.
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| Domenico Licari and his wife Paola (Belle) arrived from Reggio Calabria in 1912.
Domenico was a pioneer of the Italian community who helped build St. Anthony's Church. His
son Angelo was president of the Sons of Italy Society for 18 years and was very involved in
the community. The mural shows Domenico with his son Angelo in front of his house at 369
Preston St that he built himself and lived in until the age of 102. Angelo with his wife
Juliette and 7 children lived next door at 363 Preston St.
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| Since 1978, Fleischer Photography, with
Monika Fleischer at the helm, has been creating
photographic memories of special occasions in the lives of Ottawa's Italian community. The
film strip shows some of these occasions, with St. Anthony's Church hosting a typical
wedding. Monika's daughter Kathy now continues this proud tradition.
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| St. Anthony's Day is is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday in June. It begins with an outdoor
mass on the steps of St. Anthony's Church, continues with a procession and ends with a
feast in the church prepared by the Ladies Aid. The procession was for many years led by
Lorne Kelly, shown here. It begins Italian
Week, filled with special occasions and festivities throughout Little Italy.
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| For 65 years, the Guzzo Adamo family supplied Italian groceries to Ottawa at 362
Preston Street. The main view is of the store built in 1912. The insert photos include the
founders Francesco and Filomena Guzzo, Pasquale and Maria Capello Adamo and their two
children Joseph and Pasqualina (Pat) who operated the business for the last 40 years until
1977.
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| Since 1794 the people of Rapino have celebrated the May 8 feast of the Madonna di Carpineto with the Verginelle
procession, girls and boys dressed as angels. The mural shows the church, the procession, a view of Rapino, its famous
pottery, the Ottawa Rapinese Soccer Team and the Associazione Rapinese di Ottawa executive
committee with its president, Lorenzo Micucci. The Rapinesi of Ottawa continue with great
pride to carry on their ancestral values and traditions.
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