School Student: Father and Family Money

school student: A 12-year-old Frank Martinello took on work as a shoeshine boy and did other odd jobs to bring the family money while the father was interned, according to The Chronicle Herald. Over in New Waterford, Esperando Razzolini saw his father taken away as well, sending the 16-year-old high school student into a Cape Breton coal mine to help the family make ends meet during their father's absence. Felice Martinello, who had emigrated to Cape Breton from Italy in search of a better life for his young family in the 1920s, was one of 600 Italian-Canadians sent to internment camps days after Italy declared war on Great Britain and its allies on June 10, 1940. The men were among more than 20 Nova Scotian Italian Canadians interned because they were suspected of sympathizing with fascism. Martinello, who now lives in Hamilton, Ont., recalls one particular Saturday when a U.S. ship was in Sydney and he made 35 in tips from American sailors after working from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Besides the one in Fredericton, camps were also located in Kanaskis, Alta. and Petawawa, Ont. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.