Tornado Project

Items

• Ricordo: Keeping Italian Culture Alive Through Memory and Family Values
  Sam Circelli is a member of the Italian Community of London. He has lived in Canada since 1954, when he and his family immigrated from Italy at the age of 7. He describes his memories of his childhood, his transition in coming to Canada and how he keeps his Italian Culture alive. Sam also touches on how he passes these values onto his children and how Italian Culture evolves over time
• Inter-generational Discussion on Cultural Evolution
  The portrait examines three generations of an Italian family and how the culture is passed on through these generations. We began by discussing the migration to Canada of my community partner’s father, how he felt in the first couple of days in Canada, and how he was able to maintain his cultural heritage while being in a foreign land. We discussed how Beverly’s father would cook Italian food, go to church and listen to Italian opera to immerse himself in his roots. Beverly then expressed the importance that her father placed on family, and how this is a core value that has been passed on to her children. She then told me a story about how every Sunday, her family still gets together in her house to have Sunday supper.
• Integrating Japanese Culture into Canada
  In this portrait, Keiko Yano talks about the different aspects of the Japanese culture being adapted to Canada such as Girl’s Day and tea ceremony. She explains her participation in the community and her wish to keep the culture alive within her daughters. Keiko’s daughter, Erika, then briefly explains why she continues to learn the Japanese language. After that Keiko’s husband, Chris, describes the significance of Buddhism practices to him and discusses the activeness of the Japanese community in London. The portrait then ends with Keiko expressing her renewal of self and deeper appreciation in the Japanese culture by coming to Canada.
• Cultural Connections: A Colombian's Journey to London
  In this video, we follow Alberto Alvarez as he journeys from Colombia to London. We will delve into his experience with being a new immigrant in Canada while also trying to understand what it is like to become part of a new culture/new community. Alberto then explains the process of reconnecting with his Colombian roots through the London community. Further, this project will seek to understand how culture and identity intertwine to create a distinct cultural identity that differs depending on who you are around at a specific point. Community Connections brings together music, image, and video to tell the story of a determined young man who grapples with his identity to become the bicultural community member he is today.
• Journey of an Arabic Migration with Loay
  Loay’s immigration story is a unique one in that he came from another multicultural region in Dubai, U.A.E. Once an 8-year-old boy when he immigrated, he is now a 20 year old student in the field of computer engineering. He explains that integration in Canada was also made easier by his parents as he was enrolled in Islamic elementary and secondary schools. However, he emphasizes how his life and experiences have changed since leaving the Islamic school system and attending Western University and Fanshawe College now.
• Aldo at the Marconi Club: A Portrait of Italian-Canadian Identity in London
  This portrait is based around Aldo, an Italian-Canadian member of the London community. Aldo visits the Marconi Club, an enduring and popular meeting place and events hall for Italians in London. We follow Aldo through different parts of the building, and learn a little about the club’s activities and how the Club has been important to Aldo in his life. Aldo then answers questions about his childhood, his Italian-Canadian identity, and his desire to maintain his Italian language proficiency.
• Home in Canada: Immigrant from Germany to Canada in 1980s
  Reinhild came from Chemnitz, Germany. She immigrated with her family to Canada in the 1980s. She taught mathematics in Western before. This video will introduce her immigrant process and the factors she thinks affect her integrated into Canada.
• Finding Home: The Waves of Life
  A story about the struggles and hardships that come with moving to multiple countries within a short time period. What does settling mean and where does one find home.