By Tom RakocevicIn this month’s “My Story” column, I interview Mr. Dante Lerra who has lived in our community since buying a house here in 1966. Dante Lerra’s story will be familiar to many: the challenge of arriving in a new country, and the small miracles that can happen along the way. His success is a testament to the courage of many Downsview residents. Life in Italy right after the Second World War wasn’t easy. With few good jobs at hand, many young Italians were leaving their country in search of a better future.Dante was one of them.In 1953, and at the young age of 20, Dante was no stranger to travel having left his home to work in Switzerland and France. Unfortunately, the small jobs he found in other European countries were nothing to build a life around so he returned to work on his brother’s farm in Molise, Italy.Unsatisfied and restless, Dante began to consider a future outside of Europe. That same year and against the wishes of his family, he packed a small suitcase and crossed the ocean to try his luck in far away Brazil.The 19 day boat journey took Dante to a place that felt a million miles away.In the port of Santos, Dante learned that it would take 40 days for his papers to be cleared in order for him to find work. This was terrible news since he had only enough money for a week’s food and rent. Returning home wasn’t an option either because he couldn’t afford the ticket.“I’ll never forget that day.” Dante says in his kitchen here in our community. “I thought I had made the biggest mistake of my life. I had trouble even buying food - nobody could understand me!”As the sun was setting on that first day in Brazil, Dante sat there on his suitcase by the edge of the road. Feeling desperate and completely alone, he was lost in his thoughts and praying for an answer.As he was wiping tears from his eyes, he felt a hand on his shoulder, “Hey, Paisano! Come va?” Dante turned to see an older Italian man smiling at him.Today, Dante still feels the relief of meeting that man. “He cheered me up and took me out for a drink. He told me about an aluminum factory in another town where I could work without papers.”But it was a risk – what if the friendly stranger was wrong? Journeying deeper in this strange country could leave him even worse off.When Dante finally arrived at the factory, it was more of the same confusion. The secretary couldn’t understand him, but left her desk to find someone who could. “I waited for about half an hour and when she came back I had the shock of my life.” Dante smiled. “She came back with the General Manager, and I knew him! His name was Gabriele and we were friends in France many years ago when I worked there.”So Dante got the job, and started his new life. After four months, Dante found a better job in a road reconstruction company as a mechanic’s helper. Dante enjoyed his new job and gave it his all. After a year, Dante was called in to see the owner of the company. “I was really nervous,” says Dante, “I kept thinking, ‘what did I do?’”“Dante, I like you. You work hard, you never complain. Let me get right to it: I want you to go to school and become a full mechanic.” said the owner.Dante hesitated, “But sir, I don’t think you know my situation. I can’t afford to go to school, even if it’s free. I am here alone and I have no family to support me if I’m not working. I’m sorry, but I have to refuse your generous offer.”The owner looked at Dante for a long time, “Listen, Dante. I will pay you your full salary while you educate yourself. You come in and help out here and there until you finish, but you focus on your studies. When you are finished, you will come back and work for me as a diesel technician. You will travel from town to town where we are building roads and you will make sure the machines are working. So what do you say now?”Dante was speechless.Dante’s hard work and dedication was rewarded. He completed his education and got a huge promotion. As the company’s lead diesel technician he was well paid and lived an exciting life, travelling throughout Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Venezuela and always making sure the big machines were running smoothly.Hearing Dante’s story about his time in Brazil, I cannot help but wonder what would have happened if that friendly stranger hadn’t found him by the road that day. A little compassion at the right moment can bring great hope and even change a person’s life.So how did Dante come to Canada? Well, that is another story altogether; one you’llhave to ask Dante yourself if you have the pleasure of meeting him one day.