I am grateful today as I remember that my late immigrant parents–Vincenzo and Yolanda Del Monte–were welcomed to Canada’s shores in 1950. This country gave them a decent level of peace and prosperity, and they left a beautiful legacy in their children and grandchildren.

I am also very grateful that my in laws–Domenico and Savina Chiarella–made their way across ‘the big water’ to set up their new home for their future family. I was blessed forever to meet their first-born–Rosetta Italia Chiarella–in our italian class in first year university 39 years ago.  She’s my wife today and her middle name “Italia” represents the fact that being the first born in Canada, it would always remind her parents of where they came from.

Here she is 39 years later, more beautiful and wiser than ever.

Grazie Canada!!!