Interview with Ann Dolson

Ann Dolson (née Martinello) is the daughter of internee, Felice Martiniello, and the sister of interviewee, Frank Martinello. The Martiniello family emigrated from Italy to Canada in the early to mid 1920s. Upon their arrival to Canada, the family last name was changed to “Martinello” from “Martiniello” due to an error on the landed immigrant card. Felice continued to use the original spelling of his family name, while the rest of his family adopted the new spelling. The Martinellos lived in Sydney, Nova Scotia but after the internment period moved to Hamilton, ON. In her interview Ann recalls an incident when her father went to Montreal for a meeting, which she says her mother believed as the reason for his internment. Ann does describe her father as being active in the community as an organizer. Ann also recounts the day her father was arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and the impact it had on her during a later incident when she feared her mother had also been taken. Ann says that her family was poor in Nova Scotia, but the situation improved with their move to Ontario. Ann speaks mostly about her childhood memories; the everyday activities she, her six other siblings, and their parents engaged in. She also talks about her marriage and family.