Scholarship funds are good, but the reason I'm involved passionately is that I feel we're unaware, sadly, of our total Canadian history, and in many cases, the Italian Canadian community across Canada is unaware. This will vary. In Montreal, they tend to be a little bit more passionate. In other parts of the country, they either did not know or have forgotten.
It is important to commemorate, record, and celebrate. It is important to make sure that it is in the history books at all levels, especially at the high-school level, because Canadians tend to drop their history early, sadly. By the time they get to university or beyond, many people in Canada don't know, as I didn't, about the Japanese issue, the Chinese issue, and the Italian Canadian issue.
What's most important is for all of us to feel part and parcel of having built.... I see the Italian Canadian community as either the last pioneers or the first immigrants. I think that's important. All of us, regardless of which group we come from, would like to see ourselves reflected in that mirror called history.
This program, CHRP, attempts and does that. Can it do more? More time, more money, and better people can always do a great job, but this is an attempt. It's a good start.