Summer 2010 Serving the community since 1971 Villa Charities 3 newsletter June 10, 1940 . 70 years ago The Honourable Jason Kenney, Centre/Villa Charities. of the social history of Canada Minister of Citizenship, Immigration both at Columbus Centre and on A comprehensive inventory of and Multiculturalism, recently user-friendly multi-media on-line Villa Colombo 4 relevant print, audio, visual and approved Columbus Centre’s sites as education tools accessible electronic resources will be proposal to the Community by anyone in the world. collected and catalogued. In Historical Recognition Program, addition, personal memories of Share your family story – contact Citizenship and Multiculturalism the period will be preserved as a Canada to commemorate and resource database of video/oral educate about the internments that histories. occurred in 1940. Villa Colombo Vaughan Partnerships with the Multicultural Di Poce Centre 6 “Seventy years ago this past June, History Society of Ontario and Canadians of Italian origin were universities and institutions across interned as potential enemies of Canada will provide a national Canada,” states Columbus Centre perspective. The histories, any Chair Nick Sgro. “This important photos and artefacts collected, will project will study and promote form an exhibit area at Columbus understanding of our history and Centre. This significant project will knowledge about impacts on Centro Scuola 8 be the first stage in development individuals, families and of the Italian Canadian History communities.” Museum at Columbus Centre. The contribution of $916,000 from Families of internees, students and Lucy Di Pietro, Project Director, at Citizenship and Multiculturalism the general public will be able to 416-789-7011. Canada will be supplemented by access and come to know this part $160,000 from Columbus Report to Donors 9 In my own words… It’s one of the few dates I will never forget: I understood that some Italians in Canada could face June 10, 1940. problems once Canada declared war on Fascist Italy, I was working at my job sorting but how was I a threat to national security? mail at the Front Street post office, I came to Canada from Italy when I when two RCMP officers came VITA 13 was six years old, and one of my towards me, asked me my name, brothers was enlisted in the told me to pack my things and go Canadian service. with them to their office to get finger printed. My widowed mother was rather religious and assured me that I asked why, and they simply told things would turn out as “come Dio me that from that day on, I, vuole” (as God wants), but at the Antonietta Bassano, was officially Carrier Gallery 17 time, it was difficult seeing the considered an enemy alien. boys living on Claremont Street I was one of thousands of Italian being taken from their homes and Canadians slapped brought down to the CNE holding grounds. with that status. In my case, I was Toni Ciccarelli, circa 1940 considered an enemy of the state I remember one of my friends, Mrs. because I had volunteered at Casa Italia in the Orlando, telling me to hurry down Columbus Centre 18 kitchen. to the CNE and bring some clothing to her two sons, and their rosary beads. (Continued on Pg. 10) Villa Charities VILLA CHARITIES INC . BOARD OF GOVERNORS 40 years – 40 anni AERF Update PAST CHAIR Help us celebrate the 40th anniversary of Villa It has been over a year since the earthquake Dino Chiesa Charities! Next year we will mark this incredible struck L’Aquila, leaving hundreds dead and CHAIR milestone and we want you to be there with us. thousands of buildings destroyed or damaged. Nick Torchetti After active fundraising efforts by the Abruzzo “As we celebrate our achievements over the past VICE CHAIR Earthquake Relief Fund over the past year, and 40 years, we are also looking to the future to Nina Perfetto numerous visits to the effected areas in Italy, the ensure that the entire Villa Charities family REASURER board of trustees is reviewing projects and T continues to grow and share our passion with the Mark Di Vito proposals. community,” states Nick Torchetti, chair, Villa SECRETARY Charities. “I am pleased to announce that Villa An announcement on the approved project(s) will Aldo Cundari Charities board member Nina Perfetto will chair made in the coming months. GOVERNORS the 40th anniversary celebration committee. Nina “We thank the entire community for their support Nick Ametrano and the committee are already hard at work of our project over the past year and a half,” Paul Bottos preparing events and projects to commemorate, states Senator Con Di Nino, chair, Abruzzo Rudolph P. Bratty celebrate and push us to do more into the next Ken Cancellara Earthquake Relief Fund. “It is our duty to ensure generation.” Sam Ciccolini these funds are allocated to a project that meets Lisa Damiani Stay tuned for all the details on Villa Charities the needs and requirements of the CRA and the Lucia Favret anniversary celebration – get ready to board. Our volunteers are working diligently in Mario Giampietri commemorate, celebrate and donate! order to make this happen.” Robert Martella Edward Mancinelli Nick Manocchio Paul Mior Ken Cancellara: Lawyer to author Brian Narine Peter Santini On June 15, 2010, over 100 Cassels Brock, LLP, chief Nick Sgro people gathered at Columbus legal officer of Biovail Joseph Tanzola Centre for the Canadian book Corporation and executive Rina Tiberini launch of Ken Cancellara’s chairman of the Veridien Santo Veltri newest novel Finding Marco. Corporation, positions that Cancellara translated PRESIDENT & CEO In Finding Marco, a Pal Di Iulio expertly into his successful CEO of an auto protagonist’s experience in DIRECTOR OF FINANCE manufacturing company is his first novel, Finding Ugo Di Federico caught in a boardroom battle Marco. of right versus wrong. Unwilling to compromise the When not working on his AERF Tax ethics instilled in him by his next novel, Cancellara is Receipts Italian family, he returns to actively involved in a Thank you - his roots in Italy for a number of professional grazie to reevaluation of his life. organizations, including the everyone who Law Society of Upper donated to the Cancellara was born in Acerenza, an idyllic town in Canada, Advocates’ Society Abruzzo and the Canadian Bar Earthquake southern Italy. He immigrated Relief Fund. to Canada with his family at a Association. He is also a Official receipts young age and, armed with governor on the Villa for tax an innate ambition, followed Charities board of directors. purposes have a distinguished academic Proceeds from book sales been processed path. Cancellara received a and mailed. If will be donated to Villa juris doctorate degree from you have made Charities. To get your copy, a donation but the University of Toronto Law visit Columbus Centre or have not School and holds a master’s in call 416-789-7011. received your business law from York tax receipt, University and is the recipient please call us at of numerous honours. 416-789-7011. He served as managing partner and chairman of 2 x Villa Charities Newsletter Villa Charities Villa Charities Among fans at Café 500 Newsletter is a Excitement for the 2010 FIFA involved – including residents at with half of the proceeds going publication of World Cup spread fast through Villa Colombo and children from to the Foundation. Villa Charities Inc. Columbus Centre! Congratulations to © 2010 All rights reserved Hundreds of soccer NAME for having the fans representing best picks and most Editorial Committee numerous countries points! watched the highs and Sam Ciccolini Plans are already in the lows of one of the most works to support and Nick Manocchio popular tournaments in follow Canada for the the world. Paul Mior FIFA World Cup 2014 in Even after Italy’s Brazil. Nick Sgro disappointing Thank you, grazie, to elimination, fans kept Nick Torchetti everyone who joined us, coming back to Café cheered with us and 500 to continue sharing in the the Columbus Centre daycare. shared our passion. Villa Charities Inc. excitement and passion that President & CEO only soccer can deliver. The There was even a soccer pool entire Villa Charities family got organized by Villa Charities – Palmacchio (Pal) Di Iulio Communications & Marketing Coordinator Lori D'Amore Design and Production Coordination Giancarlo Piccin Layout In Memoriam: Brian Boyd Villa Charities Carlo Varone Foundation Executive Director The Villa Charities family remembers with fondness Carlo Varone who passed away this Laura Dal Bo past May. Mr Varone’s son, Toni Varone, currently sits on the Villa Foundation board and was a past chair of Villa Charities Inc. From Venice with love www.villacharities.com The entire Varone family has been great Columbus Centre is the place to be for foreign supporters of Villa Charities over the past 40 years. friends looking for work experience and to I his eulogy at his father’s funeral, Toni shared meet people in Toronto. This past June, Lara these fond words: Pasquali from Cà Foscari University in Venice volunteered at Villa Charities/Columbus Centre “It was the events of the war (World War II) in various ways – helping in the art gallery, that shaped my father’s character. Having assisting with the Foundation’s special events – suffered the tragic loss of family, he vowed to all while learning about the organization and make his immediate family the essence of his the vibrant Italian-Canadian community in being. He was devoted to his parents Antonio Toronto. Lara has returned to Venice with lots and Antionetta, and to his sisters Elvira, Maria, of fond memories of her time spent in our Pub #40013194 Return undeliverable Canadian Carmelina, Anita and Letizia.