War Troubles
In June 1940, Arcangelo’s life took an unexpected turn. At the time, Montreal’s thriving Italian community centred around Casa d’Italia in what is now known as Petite Italie (Little Italy). In the mid-to-late 1930s, Casa d’Italia had become a political hub for right-wing Italian activists, hosting fundraisers, speeches, and social events[1]. Arcangelo and Adele were regular attendees, even participating in fundraising efforts for the Italian Red Cross during the Ethiopian Campaign[1,2].
This was a personal cause for many Italians from San Cassiano, whose relatives and friends had been sent to Ethiopia to serve during the war.
However, the Canadian government viewed these activities as subversive during an increasingly tense political climate. On June 10th, 1940[1]. Canadian authorities raided Casa d’Italia and arrested nearly 600 Italian-Canadians, many of whom were Canadian citizens, branding them “Enemy Aliens.” Arcangelo Nieri was among those detained.
Arcangelo’s prisoner file offers insights into his life in internment [2] :
At the time of his internment in 1940, Nieri and his wife lived at 6808 Louis-Hémon St. in Montreal. Nieri’s 21-year-old son, Marcel, was in the Canadian army. The younger son lived at home.
Nieri joined the Fascio Giovanni Luparini in 1937 and attended meetings until November 11, 1939. He was the fiduciary of the Montcalm branch of this organization. During the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, Nieri did not donate gold to the Italian Red Cross, but his wife did. However, during an interview with J.D. Hyndman, a judge appointed to review the cases of internees, Adele stated that she had not donated gold to Italy, but that her sister had. Adele attended social and charitable events held at the Casa d’Italia.
Marcel Nieri was a private in the Canadian Army. In September 1941, he was stationed at Training Camp No. 45 at Sorel, Quebec. He was given leave to return to Montreal each weekend to look after his father’s business – Nieri et Fils, located at 415 Notre Dame St. East – and the needs of his mother and brother. Unfortunately, the business suffered under Marcel’s direction. After Nieri’s release from the Fredericton Internment Camp, the business went bankrupt.
Arcangelo remained imprisoned until February 1943. Upon his release, he faced strict conditions: he was required to report monthly to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), could not change his residence or leave Montreal without their approval, and was prohibited from engaging in fascist activities or organisations[3]. The photo (right) shows Arcangelo Nieri in the top row, second from the left, during his imprisonment in Camp 70 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. A story about his fellow internee, Nicola Doganieri (first row, first from the left), and their time in Fredericton Internment Camp, was covered by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) in 2021, and can be found here.
What Happened to the Businesses?
For the original company, Bernardi & Nieri, the historical trail grows sparse between 1939 and 1945, likely due to the war. Aside from occasional advertisements in religious magazines and entries in city directories, much of the company’s activity during this tumultuous period remains undocumented. In July 1941, a notice in the Montreal newspaper Le Devoir announced a change in the company’s name—from Bernardi & Nieri to Nieri & Bernardi, with directors listed as Basile Bernardi and Lorenzo Nieri[3]. It is unclear why Basile and Lorenzo decided to change name of the company, but Arcangelo’s arrest and World War II’s onset could have significantly disrupted operations. Economic instability and material shortages during wartime likely exacerbated these difficulties.
Meanwhile, Arcangelo’s son, Marcel, tried valiantly to keep his father’s independent venture, Nieri et Fils, afloat. Marcel was serving as a private in the Canadian army but returned to Montreal every weekend to manage the business and care for his mother and younger brother[2]. Unfortunately, without Arcangelo’s guidance and expertise, Nieri et Fils struggled. By the time Arcangelo was released in 1942, the business was in financial disarray and eventually declared bankrupt[4].
Translated newspaper notice on the bankruptcy of Nieri et Fils
Notice to the creditors of the first meeting following the bankruptcy proceedings. In the matter of the bankruptcy of: ARCANGELO NIERI and MARCEL NIERI, operating under the trade name “NIERI & FILS,” statuaries, 415 Notre-Dame Street East, Montreal. Debtors.
Notice is hereby given that ARCANGELO NIERI and MARCEL NIERI, of the city of Montreal, made an assignment of their assets on December 5, 1941. The first meeting of creditors will be held on December 17, at 3 p.m., at the official Receiver’s office, located in the Justice Building, Chamber of Commerce Street, Montreal.
Creditors must submit their proofs of claim to participate in this meeting and may appoint inspectors and give instructions regarding the management of the bankruptcy estate. Failure to submit such claims will disqualify creditors from receiving dividends or payments.
Dated in Montreal, December 5, 1941.
JOSEPH-G. DUHAMEL, Trustee,
152 Notre-Dame East, Montreal, Quebec.
Despite this, the contributions of the Bernardi and Nieri families to Canada’s artistic and cultural history are undeniable. Their statues and religious figures remain scattered across the province of Quebec, still showcasing the legacy of San Cassiano artisans who carved out a place for themselves in a foreign land. The statue of the Virgin Mary I saw that snowy day is one such piece; its golden flowers and delicate details are a testament to the skill and determination of Lorenzo, Arcangelo, Basile, and their families.
![From: [4] Le Devoir (Dec 11th 1941) Loi de Faillite No. 278. Available from Bibliotheque et Archives Nationales du Quebec (BAnQ) at https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2804506?docsearchtext=nieri](https://sancassianoconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Skjermbilde-2024-12-23-kl.-17.09.27.png)
Sources
[1] The Columbus Centre (no date). Italian Canadians as Enemy Aliens: Memories of World War II – prints [accessed Dec 24th 1924]. Available from: https://www.italianheritage.ca/italian-canadians-as-enemy-aliens-memories-of-world-war-ii-prints/
[2] Library and Archives Canada, Custodian of Enemy Property: RG 117, Vol. 662, Internee File 4454, “Arcangelo Nieri.”.
[3] Le Devoir (Jul 3rd 1941) Nouvelles Raisons Sociales. Available from Bibliotheque et Archives Nationales du Quebec (BAnQ) athttps://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2804368?docsearchtext=bernardi%20nieri
[4] Le Devoir (Dec 11th 1941) Loi de Faillite No. 278. Available from Bibliotheque et Archives Nationales du Quebec (BAnQ) at https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2804506?docsearchtext=nieri
[5] Italian-Canadian Narratives Showcase. University of Guelph. Last accessed May 17, 2025. Available from: https://www.italianheritage.ca/italian-canadians-as-enemy-aliens-memories-of-world-war-ii-draft/tour-the-exhibit/timeline/
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