APA, Mary Romeo - Mary Romeo Apa was born in Sant'Ilario, Calabria in 1924 and came to Canada with her mother and brother Domenic in 1935, while her father, a tailor, worked in Toronto to bring the family over.
Her brother Joe was born in Toronto.
Mary was very skilled in the Italian language and many dialects and was recommended to the Toronto Courts where she began her very illustrious and notable long career as the first woman Italian Toronto interpreter.
She was unique and ahead of her time in a class of her own as an independent, dynamic and intelligent woman invaluable to the Italian community and both the Provincial and Supreme Courts.
During her career she was commissioned on two different occasions by the Canadian Government to interpret for two high profile cases in Southern Italy.
Her highest acknowledgement was the opportunity to become a Justice of the Peace, but she was unable to accept that honour due to family obligations.
Long after her retirement she continued to maintain the highest respect from many attorneys and judges who appreciated her outstanding long-term service to the Toronto Courts.
Mary's very expansive career and incredible legacy paved the way for the new generation of woman interpreters who were to follow after her.
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