The Castrilli Family

Italian Origins
Like many other Italian families, the Castrilli family immigrated to North Bay, Ontario, Canada in the mid to late 1950’s.

They came from the region in central Italy known at the time as Abruzzi e Molise. Their small town of Carpinone, located about 100km north of Naples, was a part of the province of Campobasso. When Molise became its own region in 1965, the province of Campobasso split into two separate provinces. The area that includes the town of Carpinone is now known as the province of Isernia.

Nicola Castrilli
Nicola Castrilli wanted to come to Canada to leave behind the struggle of farming and find work so that he could make a better life for himself and his family. He left Italy on July 8, 1956, switching passage from the fated SS Andrea Doria to the SS Christoforo Colombo. Sponsored by his brother, Antonio, he arrived in Canada on July 18, 1956, landing at the historic Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Traveling by train from Halifax to Montreal, he then made his way to his brother in North Bay, Ontario. Nicola lived with his brother in a boarding house on Third Avenue, within an area of North Bay that came to be known as Little Italy because it housed many of the Italian immigrants that came to the city in search of work. North Bay was a growing town with a construction boom that held the promise of jobs and business prospects and this encouraged many Italians to continue to head north of Toronto in search of opportunities.

In 1958, Nicola sponsored his son Giacinto Castrilli, who joined him in North Bay. With the aid of her father’s sponsorship 1959, Nicola’s oldest daughter Filomena arrived in Canada to make a home in North Bay with her husband Michele (Mike) Forte and their four-year-old son Giovanni (Johnny).

Nicola worked in construction for a few years until December of 1959 when he returned to Italy for a short time to be with his wife Rosina as she underwent surgery. On April 10 of 1960 he left Italy once again to return to Canada, arranging for Rosina and their youngest daughter Angelina to join the rest of the Castrilli family in North Bay, which they were finally able to do in October of 1960.

They continued to board with friends and after three months of hard work and saving, Nicola and Rosina were able to purchase their first home and they moved their family to Kehoe St. Nicola was employed for a time at the Empire Hotel and then soon landed a job across the street from the hotel at the Empire Bowl where he worked until his retirement in 1980. Nicola passed away May 27, 1987 at the age of 77 and his wife Rosina died May 27, 2001 at the age of 87.

Giacinto Castrilli
When his father left Italy for Canada, Giacinto Castrilli was almost halfway through his mandatory service in the Italian army. As with all young Italian men at that time, his obligation to the military began in the year he turned 21 and, after reporting for duty in November 1955, he honed his work ethic in the army for 18 months until he was released from service in April of 1957.

In September of that same year, Giacinto obtained his travel visa from the Canadian Consulate in Rome and on January 4, 1958, he boarded a ship, the SS Cristoforo Colombo, to begin his journey to a new life in Canada. His ship landed at Ellis Island, January 13, 1958 – Giacinto was the only member of the Castrilli family to come through this port on a first trip and he had to obtain permission from the American Consulate to travel by train through New York so he could cross through Niagara Falls into Canada. From Niagara to Toronto, his train journey then continued until he arrived in North Bay, Ontario to reunite with his father. Giacinto would eventually make a trip back to Italy to visit during the time his father was there in 1960. He returned to North Bay in May of 1960, making the voyage to Canada once again on the same SS Christoforo Colombo.

Giacinto began his working life in Canada in 1958 in construction as a general labourer for (Joe) Rosenburg, a store owner in downtown North Bay who was also the contractor responsible for building a number of apartment buildings along Clarence Avenue. While working on these apartments, he met Herve Gerolami, one of the subcontractors on that job, and took on work with him as well, eventually focusing on and becoming skilled in masonry work. When construction projects were slow in North Bay, he was sent to work in other cities such as Parry Sound and Petawawa. Giacinto also worked for Domenic Mascioli, who owned DOMA Construction, and for Steve Crea. In his many years of masonry work for these companies, Giacinto helped to build many homes and some landmark buildings in North Bay such as the Tilden Building on Main Street West, St. Hubert’s Catholic Elementary School, St Peters Church, an apartment building on Douglas St called the Tower, and Pete Palangio arena.

Spending the evenings watching movies in the Capitol Theatre, The Bay Theatre, and the Odeon Theatre in downtown North Bay was not just a way for Giacinto and his friends to pass some free time. Movies, dances, bowling, and other social events in the city were key to helping them learn English and get comfortable speaking their new language.

It was one of these social events in 1962 that Giacinto would eventually meet his wife Barbara (Salterio). Barbara had moved from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Ottawa, Ontario to live with her oldest sister Sheila Clayton. Sheila and her husband Robert (Bob) were both enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and when they were stationed to CFB North Bay in 1961, Barbara moved with them. Giacinto and Barbara were married December 28, 1963 at St. Rita’s Catholic Church, the church that served most of the Italian community during these early years. Their wedding reception was held at the Empire Hotel.

Over the next six years, Giacinto and Barbara welcomed four daughters – Michelina, Rita-Ann, Donata (Donna), and Carolina – into what was to become a very busy household. They moved from an apartment on O’Brien St, to a house on Second Ave, and then to their next home on Nightingale Dr in West Ferris. In November 1977, Giacinto decided to take a full-time job at St Joseph’s Hospital so he could provide for his family without the worry and uncertainty of seasonal work. He continued to take on masonry side work for a number of years and his handiwork was prominent in his own homes. In 1982 Giacinto built a house on Morin St and the family moved back into the area of the old Italian neighbourhood.

Throughout the celebrations with extended family of birthdays, life events, and holidays, enjoying many afternoons spent at the park and beach, endless hours of ringette, swimming at the Y, soccer, road trips to see family and their Italian friends in London ON, Giacinto and Barbara watched their family grow in the beautiful city of North Bay. In December 2024 they celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary. They are quick to acknowledge how happy they are to have their daughters, 8 of their 10 grandchildren, and all 7 of their great grandchildren living in North Bay. They have taught us the importance of family, instilled in us a strong work ethic, and lead by example so we would know that life challenges were not insurmountable. Giacinto celebrated his 91st birthday this past January and he marked his 67th year in Canada.

Giacinto Castrilli holds the honour of being the eldest member of the Davedi Club of North Bay. The Club has a long and rich history in North Bay – it kept the Italian community connected to each other for support as they navigated the challenges of settling into a new country and a new way of life and it provides the newest generation a chance to celebrate their roots and keep their Italian culture alive.