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4- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday January 26, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Oakville promised the opportunity for a new life Continued from page 3 Within weeks, rainy weather meant there was a scarcity of work. Amid the damp and cold, crowded sleeping conditions and outbreaks of lice and pneumonia, Peter scrambled to secure a job at a Québec gold mine with East Malarctic Mines Limited. Just a few years earlier, in 1947, the mining company had lost workers who became trapped in a fire in the gold mine. "He worked in the mill so it wasn't as bad as having to go down into the mine," said Ginesi, noting that after two years, Peter had lined up a job in the same gold mine mill for his brother, Carmen -- her dad. Two years after Peter had arrived in Canada, in 1953, his brother Carmen, along with Peter's wife, Guilia and Peter and Guilia's daughter, Nella, made the 10day ocean voyage aboard The Saturnia and joined Peter in the Malarctic. "In Italy, there was very little future for them. They were in a farming community and Peter wanted a better future for his family," said Ginesi. Peter first travelled to Ontario during the summer in 1955. Shortly after, he moved to Oakville holding down various jobs and working on area farms. "They still remember some of the farmers' names. They remember picking Mynt Hair Studio would like to welcome Kori to their team. 2530 Third Line, Oakville Tel: (905) 827-0803 www.mynthairstudio.com fruit near Bronte Park for `Jack,'" said Ginesi. In 1956, Peter's brother Carmen followed. While working full time at British Paints in 1957 Peter began his part-time painting company. "Uncle Peter's painting business flourished," said Ginesi. Busy would best describe 1957 for the De Luca family. Not only did the business get established, but Peter's son, Tony, the first of the family to have been born in Canada, was born. Two days before Tony's birth, Peter's brother, Carmen married a sweetheart from Italy, Lina, who also made the voyage to Canada. Lina arrived in Halifax on the Vulcania in November 1957. "My mother had just arrived from Italy. She celebrated her 17th birthday on Christmas Eve and on Dec. 28, she married my dad. Two days later, on Dec. 30, my cousin, Tony, was born," said Ginesi. While an original business partnership didn't work out for Peter, by 1959, he was working well with Dave Ross, an immigrant from Lebanon. "Oakville was booming at that time. It was starting to grow. My uncle saw opportunity," said Ginesi. A decade later, Ross was no longer involved, but Peter's youngest son is named Dave, said Ginesi. In 1976, Peter's son Tony took over the family business. What began as Ross and De Luca Painters, was dubbed De Luca Painters and Decorators, Ltd. Though its head office had for years been Peter's garage on Brookside Drive -- "If you go in his garage, you still see paint in there," laughed Ginesi -- is now on Speers Road, east of Third Line. "He used to have the neighbourhood boys helping him on summer breaks," said Ginesi, rhyming off families whose sons always found a job at De Luca's. Ginesi said her uncle, now aged 85, still paints his own home. Today more than 40 members of the De Luca family live in Halton. Two of Peter's sisters came to Canada and settled here, another sister, came, but returned to Italy. Younger brother Paul never came to Canada. His brothers sent money home to educate him. Ginesi said her dad got a job at Ford and upon retiring was a quality control inspector. Her mom worked at General Electric. While her cousin Tony and she attended St. James, their families moved to north Oakville so Tony went to Pinegrove Public School, Gordon E. Perdue and later WOSS. Ginesi went to Montclair Public School and then WOSS. Today, Ginesi said family members are settled across town, from Bronte to Joshua Creek -- and all thanks to her Uncle Peter's willingness to take a chance on a life in Canada. CARRIERS WANTED The Oakville Beaver The Oakville Beaver is looking for newspaper carriers in your neighbour hood! Support your local carrier You are Welcome at the Y! sis Core Strengthening WAVE for Cardio and Core -of-the-art Wellness & ss Centre Pools or Track ble Gymnasium bing Centre m Lessons ss Classes and Youth Programs ial Arts h Leadership Programs y Youth Nights ol Kayaking Minding Join our carrier club Earn extra money and win prizes Many routes still available Call immediately for more information 905-845-9742 410 Rebecca Street Oakville, ON L6K 1K7 Telephone: 905-845-3417 Facsimile: 905-842-6792 E-mail: customerservice@oakville.ymca.ca