Interview with Hon. Dolores Holmes

The Honourable Dolores Holmes was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1929. Her father, Angelo Branca was also born in Vancouver, on Mount Sicker in 1903. Dolores Holmes followed in her father’s footsteps and became a lawyer at her dad’s firm after graduating from law school in 1952. The majority of this interview deals with her life in Vancouver: community dances, Catholic school, and the family grocery store. Dolores explains how her father Angelo proposed to her mother, Viola Millar. During World War II Angelo Branca helped the Italian Canadian community members who had family members interned. Dolores briefly explains the difficulties that the Pasqualini family faced during Santo Pasqualini’s internment. The end of the interview focuses on Dolores Holmes' marriage, her legal career, and her five children. She also explains that during the early part of World War II her father joined the Canadian reserves.