Lo Stivale | |
Type: | Fortnightly newspaper |
Format: | Tabloid |
Foundation: | April 19, 1984 |
Ceased Publication: | Unknown |
Owners: | Lo Stivale Graphics, Ltd. |
Publisher: | Frank Longinotti |
Editor: | Ignazio Lobasso |
Headquarters: | Calgary, Alberta |
Price: | 25 cents |
Lo Stivale: Periodico d’informazione, Cultura e Sport per gli italiani dell’Alberta was an Italian-language newspaper published in Alberta.[1]
Canada’s first Italian newspaper dates to the late 19th Century; after 1950, Italian publications became increasingly common across the country.[2] Lo Stivale’s appearance in 1984 may be traced to the confluence of several notable developments in that province’s history. It coincided with a boom period for community newspapers in Canada;[3] with an economic explosion in Alberta;[4] with the centenary of the founding of the city of Calgary that year; with the 1981 Canadian census returns’ ranking of Alberta with the country’s fourth largest population of Italian origin;[5] and with the designation of Calgary in September 1981 as the locale for the 1988 Winter Olympics.[6]
Lo Stivale ("The Boot") was launched by Lo Stivale Graphics, Ltd., of Calgary on April 19, 1984. Written entirely in Italian, it was an independent, fee-based newspaper reaching "the Italian community of Calgary" every other Thursday,[7] covering news, culture and sports (including the local scene).
Lo Stivale initially had a staff of six, headed by publisher Frank Longinotti and Managing Editor Ignazio Lobasso. Lobasso had 12 years of newspaper experience with a Toronto Italian daily, and was also responsible for the graphics and design. The typesetting and camera work for at least the first 11 issues were output by The Jewish Star,[8] another Calgary community newspaper.
Lo Stivale’s "prima edizione" of 12 pages in a 6-column, tabloid-sized newspaper, used a single blue spot-color and consisted entirely of newly typeset material. It had an advertising content of approximately 33 percent. Graphically, the newspaper was characterized as "one of the prettiest ... European-style, and first-class."[8]
Initially the single-copy price was 65 cents, with subscriptions offered for periods of one year ($20) and two years ($36). By the sixth issue, photo-offset text material began to be used,[9] and by the eighth issue of publication the newspaper was granted a second-class mailing permit.[10] At that time, the single-copy price fell to 25 cents.[10]
There are few surviving copies of Lo Stivale, and it is not known when the newspaper ceased publication.