Coming to Canada
Fleeing the aftermath of war, this industrious newcomer appeared destined for success in Canada
My father, Antonio, was born on the lonely island of Vele Srakane in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea. He grew up poor during the World War II era. Food and clothing were scant; bullets whistling by and bombs dropping were plentiful. He remembers the Virgin Mary coming to him in a dream one night, telling him not to worry, the war would soon be over. Around then, he and a friend were sent to Baška Voda for war duty. Incredibly, both boys were soon released, after the intercession of Antonio's mother, who prayed to the Virgin Mary for exactly that.
In 1948, Vele Srakane was in postwar turmoil. My father and a few men paddled a small boat to Italy, hoping to escape to a better life. Instead, they were thrown in jail upon arrival as suspected spies.
Finally set free, he entered Campo Canzanella at Fuorigrotta, Naples, a refugee camp holding some 1,100 men. He worked in the camp infirmary for three years, giving needles to patients, and wound up sick in hospital, thinking, “I'm never going to have a normal life—find a good job, marry, have a family. I'm nothing but skin and bones.”
He recovered after five months and his doctors suggested he emigrate to Australia. But by then Australia was closed to new emigrants, so he applied for Canada, not even knowing where it was. Within a month, he was at work in a bush camp in Canada, travelling by ship to Halifax and by train to Beardmore, Ont.
After bush camp, he moved to Port Arthur, Ont., and worked as an orderly at St. Joseph's Hospital. Near his apartment, he recognized St. Anthony's Church as a place he had dreamed about before moving to Canada. Soon, he met his wife-to-be and was married there.
He worked a full year without taking a day off to pay for a TV repair course he wanted to pursue. “I'm going to make a business out of it,” he told his wife.“She replied, “How? You can't even speak English!” So, he learned English and electronics together.
He started out by doing repairs, charging $3.50 per house call. He built a modest shop, opened stores and hired staff, and began selling TVS like hotcakes! With success came business travel to places like Hawaii, Spain and Japan. His shop—tony's TV & Stereo—had transformed him into the "Color TV Man," which became the title of his self-published book.
After my father had left Italy, his mother had a baby boy, whom he had never seen. She named him Libero, which means “free” in Italian. In 1964, my father brought over his parents and brother from Croatia to live in Canada and met Libero for the first time!
His parents, brother and wife have all now passed away. At 89, my father chuckles, “I guess I'm going to be next, but I hope not.”
My father has had a remarkable life so far, overcoming adversity and enjoying success and a wonderful family life here in Canada. ■
"Color TV Man" by Antonio Tarabocchia is available at www.blurb.ca.