Origins & History

How CIBPA was born

 

On June 10, 1940, Benito Mussolini declared war on France and Great Britain. That declaration of war was quickly followed with the Canadian government’s declaration of war against Italy. That declaration of war set into effect a quick chain of events which had devastating effects for many Italians living in this city as well as throughout this country.

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Declared enemy aliens living within Canada, thousands were arrested in sweeps throughout Canada’s major cities where Italians lived. While most were released within a week, some 700 or so Italians were detained in internment camps. Thousands of others faced discrimination and anger from Canadians at large. Properties were at times confiscated; workers lay off, the unemployed not hired.

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The war years destroyed much of the leadership in the community, and seriously damaged the reputations of many associations which represented Italians prior to the war. Stereotypes centered on images of Italian criminality, disloyalty and distrustfulness were serious obstacles working against Italian businessmen and professionals.

To counter this image, many within the community felt there needed to be a new association not tainted by the war years which could work at rebuilding a positive image of the community as well as lobbying for the interests of its members. It was in this particular context that the CIBPA was born.

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The Canadian-Italian Business and Professional Association (CIBPA) was officially incorporated on June 10, 1949.

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The members, of which 70 were present, held their first annual general meeting soon after, chaired by William Remiggi.

The first Board of Directors elected had Mr. C. Teodori as its President, and was further composed by the following members:

Mr. M. D’Ambrosio, Mr. S. Violante, Mr. P. Di Maulo, Mr. A. Gagliardi, Mr. S. Papa, Mr. P. Giuliani, Mr. L. Panaccio, Mr. A. Zampini, and Mr. L. Martinelli.

 

The commitment of the founding president to do the impossible to accomplish the objectives and the mission of the Association were recorded by the minutes of the general assembly.