Maria DiZio and her husband Tommaso came to Canada in the 1950s and settled in Timmins, Ontario, where many Italians found well-paying but often dangerous work in the mines. Tommaso lost his opportunity to work in the mines when his employers discovered he had health problems. Italian women in the 1950s were expected to stay home, but Maria knew she must find a way to help her family financially. She found work sewing skating costumes in Timmins. With the $25 that she earned for her first costume, she was able to pay the rent and feed her family for a month. In the decades to come, Maria would develop a thriving business sewing high couture wedding gowns.

Originally released by Susan Poizner, 2006. Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on May 07, 2015.

Long Road to Success (6:32); --Defying Tradition Roles (2:39); -- Maria finds Her Niche (4:42); -- Lessons for the Next Generation (3:53); -- Model of Success for the Community (4:54); .