June 10 marks a sombre date for Canadians of Italian origin. On this day in 1940, as the Second World War was taking a turn for the worst, Canada declared war on Italy and declared Italians and Italian-Canadians living in Canada as “enemy aliens.”
Under the War Measures Act, over 600 Italians across Canada were sent to internments camps. Some remained there for years, without ever being charged with a crime or brought to trial. Thousands more were required to report to authorities on a regular basis.
Now, this relatively unknown history has been acknowledged by the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. On June 4, 2025, during an event attended by leaders of Italian community organizations from across Canada, the museum officially unveiled a display that commemorates the Italian-Canadians who were interned.
Trina Costantini-Powell’s grandfather, Giuseppe Costantini, was one of those men interned at Camp Petawawa in Ontario. Past president of the Ottawa chapter of the National Congress of Italian Canadians – and still an active community leader – Costantini-Powell admits that she is “content to a point” after attending the unveiling.
Earlier this year, Costantini-Powell got word that the “Italian Canadians as Enemy Aliens: Memories of World War II” exhibit at Villa Charities’ Columbus Centre in Toronto had been dismantled. The exhibit had been a fixture at the Centre’s Joseph D. Carrier Gallery since 2012, where it was supposed to be permanently housed. Instead, many of the artifacts and documents from the exhibit were donated to the Canadian War Museum.
“I am pleased to finally see a permanent exhibit on display at the Canadian War Museum, albeit I was a bit taken aback at how small it was in comparison to the large exhibit at Columbus Centre. I like the fact that at least it makes mention of this dark chapter in our Canadian history, and hopefully, it will provoke some discussion amongst those who see it,” Costantini-Powell comments.
The display is part of the “Canadian Experience Gallery 3: The Second World War” exhibit, one of the most visited galleries at the museum.
“The Trudeau apology in 2021, the anniversary year, the museum receiving internment artifacts from Villa Charities… These factors all played a role in choosing what the next addition to the Second World War exhibit floor would be,” explains Dr. Jeff Noakes, Second World War historian at the museum.
“This new display was unveiled six days before the 85th anniversary of the day when this all happened,” Noakes continues.
“This exhibition is not just a historical account, but a call to ensure that past injustices are never repeated. We are proud to have initiated this important national moment,” explains Gianni Leonetti, President of the National Federation of Canadian Italian Business and Professional Associations (CIBPA), who was – along with other community groups – instrumental in lobbying the museum to produce the display.
The display explains how the Canadian government’s War Measures Act of August of 1939 affected both the country and people’s lives, giving the government extensive powers to ban anything considered harmful to national security. It highlights the internment operations that this Act allowed.
The display features a painting by Vincenzo Poggi titled “Prisoner of War.” Poggi immigrated to Canada in 1929 and was later interned for his links to the International Press Service, a propaganda agency that supported Fascist Italy.
Also featured is a handcrafted letter opener made by Gabriele Di Maurizio during his time in an internment camp. The display explains that Di Maurizio “was likely interned because of his connection with the Order Sons of Italy, an organization of Italian- and Canadian-born members, and that was at times linked to fascism. Without his income, Di Maurizio’s wife and five children were left impoverished.”
Noakes explains that there were ongoing discussions with the Italian community on how the story could be told at the museum, and also about what was available for display.
“We have the story of Di Maurizio, his internment and how this causes problems for his family. The Poggi artwork was already in the museum’s collection. Villa Charities donated artifacts, photos and archival material to the museum. Now they are part of the museum’s permanent collection and the public has access to this material,” Noakes explains.
“Thinking back to what the families of the internees went through – it was not easy for any of them. I know most intimately my own family story as it relates to my grandfather Giuseppe Costantini, POW# 189. However, having worked on the internment issue since 2011, I am well aware of many stories from families that weave the same tale of men being separated from their wives, mothers, children etc., all the while being held without any charges laid, with many families not knowing, for weeks on end, where their loved ones were. Very sad that these men were treated without any justice offered in any way,” Costantini-Powell explains.
“It is utterly important that this real-life story of the internment be captured in our educational institutions and taught to the next generations. People seem to know of the Japanese internment question or multimillion dollar settlements to many held after 9/11 claiming injustice. So why not the Italians? The Italians helped build this country and many of our major cities. They were devoted citizens who ran and/or worked in small businesses and who encouraged their children to be Canadian like my father’s family,” she continues.
“There is still work to be done and I will continue to tell my story and that of others as I did at the June 4th unveiling ceremony.”
The Canadian War Museum is Canada’s national museum of military history. The museum traces its origins back to 1880, when it consisted primarily of a collection of militia artifacts. The museum opened at its new location on the LeBreton Flats site in downtown Ottawa on May 8, 2005. Since its opening, it has welcomed half a million visitors every year.
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