Josie Di Sciascio-Andrews lives in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. She is a poet, writer and French as a Second Language teacher.Born in Italy, she studied at the University of Toronto and later at Harvard University. She has published two previous works of poetry and has won numerous awards for her work including the Arborealis Anthology Prize, Winsome Words Anthology First Prize Winner and the Ontario Poetry Society Ultra Short Poem Contest.

This book captures the essence of what it means to be Italio-Canadian. It celebrates the Italian experience in Canada and the gifts we have brought to our chosen land. It filled me with pride for my rich heritage. -Rita Chiarelli, blues musician Multiculturalism and bilingualism are fine, as long as it is recognized that in the past adventurous people from Italy discovered and developed this land, and that in the present industrious people of Italian background continue to enrich this country through construction and creation...from arts and crafts to churches and concerts and cuisine and family life. 'John Robert Colombo, author and anthologist This book gives our cultural mosaic, a portal into an unbiased Canadian history. A well-researched and informative body of work, that sets records straight! My children will be reading a more poignant look into the contributions made by Italians on Canada. Dominic Mancuso, Canadian musician-- a Canadian of Italian heritage, I am deeply proud of both my country and the ethnic roots from which I came. How The Italians Created Canada is a welcome and comprehensive treatment of the historic and current contributions of both Italian immigrants and Italian-Canadians to the national mosaic. --Bob Lenarduzzi, president, Vancouver Whitecaps FC