Breaking Ground
The Hogg’s Hollow 46th Anniversary Memorial

On March 17, 1960, five immigrant workers were killed in the prime of their lives while constructing a watermain tunnel at Hogg’s Hollow (near Old York Mills Road and Yonge Street): Pasquale Allegrezza, Giovanni Battista Carriglio, Giovanni Fusillo, and brothers Alessandro and Guido Mantella. According to official reports, the untimely and tragic deaths of these men were the direct result of continuous safety violations.

The Hogg’s Hollow Disaster, as it has become known, stands as a woeful reminder of the widespread exploitation of workers, particularly immigrant workers, that existed during the early 1960s  -- a turbulent time for this city’s labour movement.

As a result of this event, workers across Ontario were mobilized to form stronger unions, and to organize around important industry safety issues. In response, the government announced a royal commission to study and modernize all worker safety regulations, paving the way for a modern labour act in Ontario.

In commemoration of this watershed event in the history of Canada’s labour movement, COSTI Immigrant Services formed a partnership with visual artist Laurie Swim to create Breaking Ground, a lasting tribute to the workers who lost their lives in the tragedy, and a public recognition of the contribution that immigrant workers have made to the development of this province.

Through Breaking Ground, many will come to know the truth about this tragic incident, and the story of the five young men, who, through their ultimate sacrifice, helped change the history of this province.

Today the unionized construction industry has come together with its partners to ensure a permanent home for the tribute quilt gets built.

We would all like to thank the Toronto Transit Commission for their generous donation of space in the York Mills Subway station and Costi Immigrant Services for their stewardship of this project all these years.  We also thank Councillor Joe Mihvec for being our Honorary Fundraising Chair.

Thank you to Marble Tile Local 31 for their donation of a terrazzo or marble base.  Thanks to DC46 and the Glaziers of Local 1819 for the quarterbacking all the glasswork.  Thank you also to Ellis Don for reviewing the drawings and offering help with hoarding for the project.

Also thank you to all the members who will volunteer on the construction through Community Builders, and a well deserved thank you to LIUNA Local 183 who have been the largest supporter of this project from the beginning.