Paolo Renda was born in Cattolica Eraclea, Sicily, in 1939. His father Calogero was the brother-in-law of Vito Rizzuto, the father of Nicolo Rizzuto, and a member of the mafia. Both his father and Rizzuto moved to America in 1925 but Calogero returned to Sicily a couple of years later to be with his family. His son Paolo grew up in Sicily and became part of the Mafia in Cattolica Eraclea. He eventually immigrated to Montreal in 1958 and married Nicolo's daughter Maria, tightening the Renda-Rizzuto ties. His father Calogero also moved to Canada permanently and helped his son and Nicolo in building a criminal organization.