Italian immigrants faced significant discrimination due to their Catholic faith. Still, they worked hard for Canada, with large numbers arriving after 1945. By 1960, one in three Toronto construction workers was Italian. These 15,000 workers built homes for millions, which we still enjoy today, and created generations of future tradespeople who continue to build housing we so desperately need.
Anybody who enjoys patio season should also thank Italian immigrants. Before their arrival, it was widely illegal for restaurants to serve alcohol outdoors.
