Oath and/or declaration of Roy Thomson, in support of Antonio and Leopoldo Mascioli, 1940

Oath and/or declaration of Roy Thomson, in support of Antonio (Tony) Mascioli and Leopoldo (Leo) Mascioli, July 1940. Typewritten, three pages.

The Mascioli brothers were both interned at Petawawa Internment Camp during World War II. According to Leo's granddaughter and Tony's grandniece, Joan McKinnon, Roy Thomson was one of the few friends who stood by when many others turned their back on the Mascioli family.

Here, Thomson writes:

I have been in the North Country since 1928, and actively established in Timmins and vicinity since 1933, and I have known Mr. Leo Mascioli personally during this whole period...From my business and other contacts with both Leo and Antonio Mascioli, I can vouch for their integrity, honesty, and community spirit...I also discussed conditions in Europe with Mr. Leo Mascioli and both of us were emphatically of the opinion that the actions of Hitler and Mussolini were detrimental to the world at large.

Under the DOCR (Defence of Canada Regulations), after 30 days, internees could formally object to their detention to an advisory committee appointed by the Minister of Justice. The Minister of Justice then appointed a judge to review the internee’s case. This meant an examination of the RCMP’s evidence against the internee, meetings with the internee, and interviews with witnesses who could attest to the internee’s character. After this, the judge either recommended an internee’s release or continued internment to the Minister of Justice.