Welch Company National Historic Event

Thunder Bay, Ontario
Former head office of the Welch Company, 77 South Court Street, Thunder Bay, Ontario (© Parks Canada / Parcs Canada, Michelle Cinanni, 2008)
View of former Office
(© Parks Canada / Parcs Canada, Michelle Cinanni, 2008)
Address : 132 South Algoma Street, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Recognition Statute: Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date: 2011-07-19
Dates:
  • 1895 to 1970 (Flourished)

Event, Person, Organization:
  • Veltri Brothers, Vincenzo, Giovanni  (Person)
Other Name(s):
  • Welch Company  (Designation Name)
  • R.F. Welch Company Limited  (Other Name)
Research Report Number: 2009-017

Importance: Founded by the Italian Veltri brothers; played a prominent role in the immigration of Italians to Canada through its work in labour recruitment

Plaque(s)


Existing plaque: near the Italian Cultural Centre main entrance, 132 South Algoma Street, Thunder Bay, Ontario

From the 1890s to the 1970s, this contracting firm founded by the Veltri brothers aided Italian immigration and built part of Canada’s transportation infrastructure. Headquartered in Thunder Bay and operating in six provinces, it recruited thousands of Italians and other immigrants for its railway construction and maintenance projects while breaking through prejudices within the business community. It advocated a more open immigration policy after the Second World War, contributing to the massive arrival of Italians. As a result of such efforts, Italian Canadian communities and cultural centres like this one flourished throughout the country.