Panoram Italia - Summer 2021 by Panoram Italia Magazine

T H E I TA L I A N -C A N A DI A N M AG A Z I N E S U M M E R 2 02 1 | N O. 1 3 8

A look towards Euro 2020 Travel Revisit Italy Grand Tour style Ricette Hamburger piccante all’italiana Torrette di melanzane

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMER 2021 | NO.138

EDITORIAL

Un’estate azzurra

EDITORIAL

Friends with Benefits or Foul Intentions?

EURO 2020

25 30

Our Cover La nostra copertina

How Canadian, How Italian, Must I Be? Quanto canadese, quanto italiana devo essere?

The Azzurri’s path to Euro 2020 Il percorso degli Azzurri verso gli Euro 2020

Canada and the Beautiful Game Il Canada e il bel gioco

An Apology for the Internment of Italian-Canadians

Torindo “Tony” John Bisaro From Italian immigrant to fallen war hero

Nicholas Di Tempora Biography of a great Italian-Canadian entrepreneur Biografia di un grande imprenditore

Melissa De Genova Meet the Millennial elected to Vancouver City Council Incontro con la millennial eletta al consiglio della Città di Vancouver

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OLYMPICS

Canadian Olympic Athletes Draw on Common Italian Upbringing for Inspiration Gli atleti olimpici canadesi trovano ispirazione nelle origini italiane che li accomunano

LIVING ITALIAN STYLE

TRAVEL

Literary Footsteps “Asolando” with Robert Browning Impronte Letterarie “Asolando” con Robert Browning

PUBLISHER & EDITOR Tony Zara EXECUTIVE EDITOR Adam Zara ASSOCIATE EDITOR Pal Di Iulio

MANAGING EDITOR Gabriel Riel-Salvatore

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS Carole Gagliardi ITALIAN EDITOR Vittoria Zorfini

Romance, Beauty and Grand Tour Romanticismo, bellezza e Grand Tour

Tony Greco The Heart of Rock & Roll Il cuore del Rock & Roll

RECIPES

Spicy Italian-Style Burger Hamburger piccante all’italiana

LIVING ITALIAN STYLE PRODUCER Kayla-Marie Turriciano ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Anthony Zara

ART DEPARTMENT ART DIRECTION & GRAPHIC DESIGN

Dave Ferreira

Can Banquet Halls Bounce Back? Riusciranno le sale ricevimento a riprendersi dal Covid?

102

Sly Furino His Mother’s Smile Il sorriso di sua madre

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Staying Connected to the Motherland

TRAVEL EDITOR Silvana Longo

Traditions Must Be Upheld Le tradizioni vanno rispettate

EVENTS EDITOR Romina Monaco

Eggplant Parmigiana Towers Torrette di melanzane

PHOTOGRAPHY & ILLUSTRATION

Roberto Portolese • Mia Carnevale Vincenzo D’Alto • Luigi Pullano • Anthony D’Elia

EDITORIAL WRITERS

Gianna Patriarca • Laura Guzzo Anna Foschi Ciampolini Maureen Littlejohn • Dr. Stephen Fielding Dante Di Iulio • Anne Gafiuk Danila Di Croce • Nicola Sparano Alf De Blasis • Sara Germanotta PROOFREADING & TRANSLATION

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TRADUCTIONS/ TRADUZIONI

Claudia Prestigiacomo • Stefania Fenocchio Valentina Basilicata • Marie-Hélène L. Papillon Anders Jensen

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EDITORIAL

Un’Estate Azzurro It’s

June in Canada and, aside from warmer weather and roadwork, Italian Heritage Month is upon us. Similar to 2020’s edition, ItalianCanadians will not have as many opportunities to celebrate and commemorate their heritage as during Adam Zara pre-COVID times. Thankfully, in Executive Editor most cases, this summer will not be adamzara@panoramitalia.com the “summer of COVID 2.0.” With a sustained, successful vaccination rollout from coast to coast and the continuously dropping infection, hospitalization and death rates being reported daily, a semblance of normalcy seems closer to becoming a reality—hugging and kissing your nonni without putting their health at risk is within reach. However, there is a tradition that can surely lift our community’s collective spirit, depending on its outcome. Following an excruciatingly long, five-year wait, Azzurri fans around the globe can once more bite their nails in front of a television screen while 11 men in blue (or white) battle for glory. Euro 2020 (postponed to this June from last year) will see Italy go up against 23 other European nations as the team hopes to claim its first Euro trophy since 1968. We last cheered for the Italian national soccer team during the 2016 European Championships, until the Germans came out on top of an infamous quarterfinal penalty shootout. This time around, I look forward to introducing my five-yearold son Adriano, just an infant in 2016, to the beautiful game and showing him the emotions that come with it. His little jersey is ready to go, and I truly hope it will be the beginning of a lifetime of Azzurri highs, and inevitable lows, for him. My own awakening came as an eight-year-old in Italy during World Cup 1994, when Roberto Baggio had a profound effect on generations of fans. Until 2016, Italy played in World Cups and European championships every second summer like clockwork. One of the rare exceptions came in 2018 when the national team failed to qualify for the Russian World Cup at the hands of Sweden. It was a painful blow and a tearful national team farewell to Gianluigi Buffon, the Azzurri’s veteran keeper who gifted us with countless moments of joy for nearly two decades. An obvious difference from five years ago may be the inability to pack bars, cafes and restaurants as tightly as possible. We’ll need to be a little more discreet about watching the tournament, though Lord knows many of us will still be ducking out early from work to catch the games played in European time zones. Just don’t get caught at the office streaming the matches on your smart phones; take a sick day instead. With any luck, a few of us will be allowed to sit six feet apart on a Little Italy patio (terrasse if you’re from Montreal) cheering for the blue team while eating a Margherita. Don’t be surprised if a 45-minute half quota per patron is enforced. The impact of the pandemic and a half-decade without hundreds of patrons spilling out into the streets has definitely weighed heav-

giugno in Canada e quindi, a parte il caldo e i lavori stradali, c’è anche l’Italian Heritage Month. Un po’ come già accaduto per l’edizione del 2020, le occasioni per celebrare e commemorare il patrimonio culturale italo-canadese non saranno le stesse di quelle degli anni che hanno preceduto la pandemia. Tuttavia, e per fortuna, l’estate 2021 non sarà per molti versi quella del “Covid 2.0.” Grazie a un’intensa campagna vaccinale di successo da costa a costa, grazie inoltre al calo costante del tasso di infezioni, ricoveri e decessi riportati quotidianamente, sembra riavvicinarsi una parvenza di normalità, nonché la possibilità di riabbracciare e baciare i nonni senza che si corra alcun rischio. Ma vi è sicuramente una tradizione in grado di sollevare lo spirito dell’intera collettività, a seconda del risultato. Dopo un’estenuante attesa di cinque anni, i tifosi azzurri di tutto il mondo potranno tornare a trepidare davanti allo schermo del televisore, mentre undici uomini in azzurro (o in bianco) si batteranno per la gloria. UEFA Euro 2020, posticipato dall’anno scorso a giugno di quest’anno, vedrà disputare l‘Italia contro altre 23 nazioni europee per cercare di aggiudicarsi la sua prima coppa Europa dal 1968. L’ultima volta in cui abbiamo tifato per la nazionale di calcio italiana è stata nel 2016, fino al famigerato calcio di rigore che ha fatto guadagnare la vittoria dei quarti di finale ai tedeschi. Ciò che mi entusiasma di più questa volta è la possibilità di far conoscere a mio figlio Adriano, che oggi ha cinque anni ma che allora era solo un neonato, questo bellissimo sport e le emozioni che ne derivano. La sua magliettina è pronta e spero davvero che per lui sarà solo l’inizio di una lunga esperienza “azzurra” fatta di alti e inevitabili bassi. Il mio battesimo è avvenuto a otto anni in Italia e durante i Mondiali del 1994, quando Roberto Baggio segnò generazioni di tifosi. Fino al 2016, ogni due estati, l’Italia aveva sempre e puntualmente giocato sia ai Mondiali che agli Europei. Una delle rare eccezioni è stata quella del 2018, anno in cui la nazionale non è riuscita a qualificarsi ai Mondiali in Russia, per mano della Svezia. È stato un duro colpo con tanto di addio in lacrime della squadra nazionale a Gianluigi Buffon, portiere veterano degli Azzurri che per quasi vent’anni ci ha regalato innumerevoli momenti di gioia. Una differenza ovvia rispetto a cinque anni fa sarà l’impossibilità di riempire al massimo i locali, i bar e ristoranti. Dovremo fare un po’ più d’attenzione per guardare le partite, anche se lo sa il cielo quanti di noi sgattaioleranno prima fuori da lavoro per assistere alle partite mandate in onda con gli orari europei. Fate però attenzione a non farvi beccare in ufficio a guardare le partite sul cellulare; piuttosto, prendetevi un giorno di malattia. Con un po’ di fortuna, ad alcuni di noi sarà concesso di starcene seduti, a due metri di distanza gli uni dagli altri, in una terrazza di Little Italy (terrasse se siete di Montreal), a fare il tifo per gli Azzurri davanti a una pizza margherita. Non sorprendetevi se imporranno un massimo di 45 minuti a cliente. Come già accennato in questa rubrica, l’impatto della pandemia e l’assenza quinquennale di centinaia di clienti che si riversano per strada hanno certamente pesato sui vari locali e vecchi ritrovi di Little Italy. Mi vengono subito in mente Gatto Nero di College Street a Toronto o Caffè International ed Epoca di Boulevard Saint-Laurent

2006

2012

2006

2008

ily on several Little Italy institutions and longstanding hangouts as previously mentioned in this column. Gatto Nero on College Street in Toronto and Caffè International and Epoca on Boulevard Saint-Laurent in Montreal quickly come to mind. Let’s support the ones remaining whenever and however possible. Our Little Italies cannot truly even exist without them. As Dr. Stephen Fielding writes about on page 24, celebrations tied to international soccer tournaments have had a profound effect on our historic Italian-Canadian pride. It all began in 1982, when Canada first witnessed thousands of Italians flooding its cities following Italy’s third World Cup triumph. So mark June 20, Father’s Day, on your calendars. If the Azzurri make it past the group phase following their matchup with Wales that day, get in your cars, hop on your bikes or Vespas, ring your bells, honk your horns and wave the tricolore. It’s time for our cities to see what a true celebration looks like again. But please be responsible, and don’t do anything Dr. Fauci wouldn’t do.

a Montreal. Sosteniamo come e quando possibile quelli rimasti. Le nostre Little Italy non esisterebbero nemmeno se non fosse per loro. Come scrive il dottor Stephen Fielding a pagina 24, i festeggiamenti legati ai tornei internazionali di calcio hanno avuto un profondo effetto sul nostro orgoglio italo-canadese. Tutto è cominciato nel 1982 quando, al terzo trionfo dell’Italia ai Mondiali di calcio, il Canada ha visto per la prima volta migliaia di italiani riversarsi in città. Quindi, segnate sul calendario il 20 giugno, Festa del Papà. Quel giorno, se gli Azzurri supereranno la fase a gironi dopo la partita con il Galles, mettetevi in macchina, in sella alla bici o alla Vespa, suonate clacson, campanelli e trombe, e sventolate il tricolore. È giunto il momento di far vedere alle nostre città cosa vuol dire tornare a festeggiare come un tempo. Siate responsabili però e non fate nulla che il Dr. Fauci non farebbe, per favore!

Un abbraccio

Readers Comments

Please forward all letters of praise, criticism, agreement or disagreement to info@panoramitalia.com

EDITORIAL

Friends with Benefits or Foul Intentions? On Pal Di Iulio Associate Editor pal@panoramitalia.com

Saturday, April 3, 2021— Easter weekend—I felt ambushed by the Toronto Star’s front-page headline “Friends with benefits” along with mugshot-like photos of people I know, including one of Ontario Premier Doug Ford. It was a three-page feature story juxtaposed with diagrams showing their personal, corporate and political relationships, as well as more photos and charts. My first reaction was: “Oh! What happened now?” I read on with curiosity and dismay. For full disclosure, I should state that in my 40 years of community involvement I have met, dealt, dined and negotiated with most of these people. Moreover, they have donated to the charitable organization with which I worked. They were generally hardworking, opinionated men and successful developers whose families started out as immigrants in construction with a shovel, hammer and a pickup truck in the 1950s and 1960s. Since then, after taking the opportunity and risks that Canada offered, and due to strong economic downpours, we all got wet and they got rich. I know of their personal paesani relationships, as well as some business and political ones based on what I have read in the media— over and over again. I got along with all of them, although I liked some more than others. I have also been a subscriber and a regular reader of The Star for many years. The Star’s investigative journalism story is about a dozen developers, most of them of Italian descent. According to the article, these developers are apparently close to the provincial PC Party of Ontario and may be using their “connections” to promote development of land they own (about 3,300 acres) located along the again-proposed 50 km GTA West Transportation Corridor, or highway 413 from Vaughan to Milton, northwest of Toronto. I write “again-pro-

posed” because it was previously proposed, studied and rejected by the former Liberal government. I do not doubt that these and other developers and most corporations, when it comes to political lobbying and donations, cover and bet on all political parties—like a “trifecta” at a horse race. The highway route in question would run through forests, aquifers and rich agricultural lands, which has upset the strong local and downtown environmental lobby groups. The accusation is that, if approved, the highway will add value to the land, developers will subdivide, build more homes and get richer while the PC Party would benefit from more of their political donations. The developers bought the land mostly years ago when some local farmers cashed in and cashed out. As for the “influencers”, when political donations are made according to set rules, then donations are legal. If the rules governing political donations are not good or strong enough, then let the government change the rules or call in the appropriate authorities. This is not a Toronto-centric story. In Canada, especially in larger cities like Montreal and Vancouver, this development story started when Giovanni Caboto landed on the eastern shores and claimed the land for the English Crown. The First Nations inhabitants there at the time must have whispered: “Colonizers. Developers. There goes the neighbourhood!” And yes, their neighbourhood and lives changed forever. Since then, parcels of the discovered “free” land were awarded by the Crown to friends, soldiers and settlers who all acted as developers. Even the Canadian Pacific Railroad, the original steel trans-Canada highway, was developed by investors that received favourable development rights along its path from sea to sea.

EDITORIAL

Of course, we know the actual railroad was built by imported cheap labour and indentured servants, mostly Italians and other European immigrants from Montreal to Winnipeg as well as the Chinese looking for the Golden Mountain from Vancouver to Winnipeg. The Ukrainians and Jews took the train to get to the “Last Best West” and then the centre of Canada, Portage and Main in Winnipeg. But that is history. Back to The Star article that revealed nothing new that had not been known, written or speculated about before—information has been available through land registry documents. What bothered me about the article was the positioning of it on the front page on a special long weekend for maximum exposure, and that out of all the developers mentioned, eight were of Italian heritage and the others were partners with some of the eight. I cannot imagine that these are the only landowners and developers who may be lobbying the PC government. In fact, I know other groups who were not mentioned, let alone featured as a drawing card. I could accuse The Star of trading in innuendos, using Italian stereotypes or lack of cultural sensitivity. The mugshots and organizational charts look like something out of Time Magazine articles circa 1960. And how about the use of words like “connections”, “clans”, “families”, and “same village of origin”? I think the only word missing was “godfather,” although that would have been appropriate since some developers have acted as such through baptism. I do not doubt that the article is factually accurate with minor relationship detail mistakes because to those not culturally sensitive, some Italian last names all look alike. We should thank The Star for its investigative journalism in our free and democratic society. But what I question are its motives. I do not know enough about land development, the proposed highway or objections to it, and I am not in a position to support or oppose the realization of highway 413. My contadino (shepherd) family heritage tells me that green land is good for pasture, cultivation and leisure. My immigrant experience in the big city teaches me that the only way to alleviate a housing shortage is to build more affordable homes somewhere away from

“The mugshots and organizational charts look like something out of Time Magazine articles circa 1960. And how about the use of words like “connections”, “clans”, “families”, and “same village of origin”? I think the only word missing was “godfather.” my humble million-dollar plus casetta in Canada that so many cannot afford or find. Of course, one option is to stop immigration to the GTA, the heart of Canada’s economic engine. I do know enough, and have seen these types of stories before, to get a bad feeling and suspect foul intentions. This was neither the first, nor will it be the last of a long slew of sensationalized newspaper headlines aimed at Italian-Canadians in our local and national media. Avid readers will remember that Panoram Italia and the National Congress of Italian Canadians have historically called out the Montreal Gazette and Journal de Montréal (among others) for their lapses in judgement throughout the

years. I look forward to reading more of The Star’s (or other newspapers’) investigative journalism about people who do not have the blessing of vowels at the end of their names. I do not know if the write-bysmear on the community was aimed more at Premier Ford, the PC provincial government or the developers and their lobbyists mentioned. But somehow, I feel that the article, once again, tarnished the greater community. Let your voices be heard and letters to the editors be read in support of, or against, the proposed highway, but definitely against foul intentions. Pace, bene and plant tomatoes.

COVER

OUR COVER

LA NOSTRA COPERTINA

You may recognize Katya (left) and Adriana (right) Moser from Panoram Italia’s Summer 2020 Living Italian Style section. On the same day of their pre-pandemic photo shoot in February 2020, the sisters pulled on Azzurri jerseys and proudly waved the tricolore for what was supposed to be the Summer 2020 cover photo. Due to the postponement of the Euro 2020 tournament to June 2021, that cover was deferred to this issue. The Italian-Canadian sisters hail from Toronto; Katya, 27, just launched her online business named My Mia, and Adriana, 29, is a lawyer.

Dovreste riconoscere Katya (sinistra) e Adriana (destra) Moser dalla sezione Living Italian Style di Panoram Italia Summer 2020. Lo stesso giorno del loro photo shoot prepandemia, a febbraio 2020, le sorelle hanno indossato la maglia degli Azzurri e hanno sventolato fiere il tricolore per quella che doveva essere la copertina dell’estate 2020. A causa del rinvio degli Euro 2020 a giugno 2021, questa cover è stata messa da parte fino a questo numero. Le sorelle italocanadesi vengono da Toronto; Katya, 27 anni, ha appena lanciato il suo sito che si chiama My Mia, Adriana invece, 29 anni, è un’avvocatessa.

Photography: Anthony D’Elia | Makeup: Maureen Posadas | Italy Renaissance green jersey courtesy of Toronto Italians Calcio in Woodbridge, ON (www.tdotitalians.com)

GROUP A STADIO OLIMPICO ROMA JUNE 11 | 2021

TUR vs. ITA JUNE 16 | 2021

ITA vs. SUI

JUNE 20 | 2021

ITA vs. WAL

JULY 11 | 2021

FINAL MATCH Wembley Stadium

From Dark Times to Dark Horse The Azzurri’s path to Euro 2020

BY - D I DA N T E D I I U L I O

Dall’oscurità a potenziale sorpresa

Il percorso degli Azzurri verso gli Euro 2020

ovember 13, 2017. Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. With a nil-nil score against 10-man Sweden, Italy faces the chance to miss qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, a first in the nation’s history since 1958. Coach Giampiero Ventura asks 35-year-old defensive midfielder Daniele De Rossi to enter into the game to help score a goal. De Rossi is baffled by the request, given his age, position and the fact that Lorenzo Insigne, Napoli’s star player, sits two seats down from him on the bench. “We need to win, why not put on Lorenzo? Why not put on a striker?” he passionately exclaims. In the end, neither player entered and they still failed to qualify but perhaps no scene is more indicative of Italy’s futility in the past decade of football—desperately clinging onto vestiges of past glories instead of exploiting its young talent and focusing on the future. This is not a new story in Italian football, or Italy in general, but the 2010s were shockingly bad for the calcio-crazed nation. Serie A became a one-trick pony, with Juventus winning ninestraight scudetti. Not one European club championship was won despite the Bianconeri making two Champions League finals, losing both to the giants of Spain. Even with a trip to the Euro 2012 finals, the national team also fell to Spain, and it all culminated on that fateful night in 2017, missing out on the tournament they’ve won four times before. A new direction With the gloom of failure hanging over the peninsula, the Azzurri decided to learn from their mistakes and appoint Roberto Mancini as the new head coach just before Russia 2018 began in their absence. His mission was simple and clear: rebuild, regroup and focus on Euro 2020. By and large, he’s won everywhere—in Italy with Fiorentina, Lazio and Inter, in England with Manchester City, in Turkey with Galatasaray— and he’s managed some of the biggest egos and nurtured some of the best young talents in the game.

13 novembre 2017. Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Con uno 0-0 contro i 10 uomini della Svezia, l’Italia corre il rischio di non qualificarsi alla Coppa del Mondo del 2018 in Russia, la prima volta nella storia della nazione dal 1958. L’allenatore Giampiero Ventura chiede al centrocampista difensivo Daniele de Rossi, 35 anni, di entrare in campo e di dare una mano a segnare un goal. De Rossi è sorpreso dalla richiesta, considerati l’età, la posizione in campo e il fatto che a due posti di distanza siede in panchina Lorenzo Insigne, stella del Napoli. “Dobbiamo vincere, perché non fai entrare Lorenzo? Perché non metti un attaccante?” esclama con ardore. Alla fine, nessuno dei giocatori entrò e non riuscirono a qualificarsi lo stesso ma forse non c’è episodio più indicativo di questo dell’inutilità dell’Italia nel calcio dell’ultimo decennio – disperatamente aggrappata alle vestigia di glorie passate piuttosto che approfittare dei giovani talenti puntando al futuro. Non è una novità nella storia del calcio italiano, o dell’Italia in genere, ma i primi dieci anni del 2010 sono stati scandalosamente brutti per la nazione appassionata di calcio. La Serie A era diventata l’unica cosa buona grazie ai nove scudetti di fila vinti dalla Juventus. Non è stato vinto nessun campionato europeo per club, nonostante i Bianconeri siano arrivati due volte alle finali della Champions League, perdendo entrambe le volte con le giganti spagnole. Persino alle finali del Campionato Europeo del 2012, la nazionale è stata sconfitta dalla Spagna e tutto è finito quella fatidica sera del 2017, rimanendo esclusa da quel torneo vinto in passato quattro volte. Nuova direzione Sotto la minaccia di un fallimento incombente sulla penisola, gli Azzurri hanno deciso di imparare dai propri sbagli e di nominare Roberto Mancini come nuovo allenatore proprio prima che Russia 2018 iniziasse in loro assenza. La sua era una missione semplice e chiara: ricostruire, raggruppare e concentrarsi sugli Europei 2020. In linea di massima, ha vinto su tutti i fronti – in Italia con la Fiorentina, il Lazio e l’Inter; in Inghilterra con il Manchester City; in Turchia con il Galatasaray – ha gestito alcuni personaggi con un grande ego e tirato su alcuni dei migliori talenti dello sport.

Leonardo Bonucci

Roberto Mancini

Gianluigi Donnarumma

Federico Chiesa

Motivated to succeed and boasting an impressive core of young, exciting talent, Mancini has done an impeccable job during his three-year reign. Not only has he set a national record for most victories in a single calendar year, he currently boasts the second-best win ratio of any Italy manager who has coached for more than 10 games. Under “Mancio”, Italy qualified for Euro 2020 with a 100% record, winning 10 out of their 10 qualifiers and scoring 37 goals as they comfortably topped their group. This team has received widespread praise from several pundits, most remarkably from world cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi, who believes Mancini has “recovered the beautiful image of Italy’s football.” The COVID-19 pandemic put the world in lockdown and pushed back Euro 2020 a full year until June 2021. Italy has drawn Turkey, Wales and Switzerland in Group A and perhaps has benefitted from the development of certain youngsters with the extra year. Typically using a 4-3-3 system, this is one of the youngest, most exciting Italian teams in years. While at previous tournaments the old guard had outstayed their welcome, this is an Italy team characterized by a fearlessness of youth.

Determinato a riuscire e sfoggiando un incredibile nucleo di talenti giovani ed entusiasmanti, Mancini ha lavorato in modo impeccabile durante i suoi tre anni di regno. Non solo ha segnato il record nazionale per numero di vittorie in un solo anno, ma al momento attuale vanta anche il secondo migliore bilancio di vittorie di qualunque allenatore dell’Italia che abbia allenato per più di 10 partite. Sotto “Mancio”, l’Italia si è qualificata agli Euro 2020 con un record del 100%, vincendo 10 partite di qualificazione su 10 e segnando 37 goal, primeggiando facilmente nel proprio gruppo. Questa squadra ha ricevuto molti elogi da vari esperti, il più notevole quello dell’allenatore campione del mondo Marcello Lippi, il quale crede che Mancini abbia “ristabilito l’immagine bella del calcio italiano”. La pandemia determinata dal Covid-19 ha fermato il mondo facendo slittare Euro 2020 di un anno intero a giugno 2021. L’Italia ha pescato la Turchia, il Galles e la Svizzera nel gruppo A, e probabilmente ha beneficiato di quest’anno in più per la formazione di alcuni dei giovani. Usando tipicamente il 4-3-3, è una delle squadre italiane più giovani ed entusiasmanti degli ultimi anni. Mentre nei campionati precedenti la vecchia guardia si è trattenuta più del necessario, la nuova squadra dell’Italia è invece caratterizzata dall’audacia dei giovani.

At the back For the first time in two decades, Gianluigi Buffon will not be leading the line for the Azzurri. No worries though, as the country has a more than suitable heir in Milan’s 22-year-old keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Having improved every year since his debut at 16, he’s developed into one of the best keepers in the world and is ready to safeguard his team between the sticks. Mancini has maintained the team’s defensive solidity, conceding just four times in qualifying, but has focused on four-man line building up play from the back. With Juventus’ Giorgio Chiellini back from a year-long injury, look to see him start and play his last international tournament alongside his teammate and partner in crime, Leonardo Bonucci. They have the experience, confidence and chemistry to lead the new crop across the pitfalls of tournament play. They also have more than capable backups in Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni, Milan’s Alessio Romagnoli, Roma’s Gianluca Mancini and Lazio’s Francesco Acerbi. With fullbacks, Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) Alessandro Florenzi and Chelsea’s Emerson Palmieri have been the preferred favourites for Mancini throughout qualifying although Milan’s Davide Calabria, Roma’s Leonardo Spinazzola, Inter’s Matteo Darmian and Napoli’s Giovanni Di Lorenzo will be ready to usurp their places at a moment’s notice.

In difesa Per la prima volta in vent’anni, Gianluigi Buffon non sarà il capitano degli Azzurri. Niente paura però, dato che il paese ha trovato un più che degno erede nel 22enne Gianluigi Donnarumma, portiere del Milan. Migliorato di anno in anno sin dal suo esordio a 16 anni, è diventato uno dei migliori portieri al mondo ed è pronto a difendere tra i due pali la propria squadra. Mancini ha mantenuto la compattezza difensiva della squadra, concedendo solo quattro goal durante le qualificazioni, ma si è concentrato su una linea di quattro uomini che costruisce il gioco partendo da dietro. Con il rientro dello juventino Giorgio Chiellini, dopo un’assenza di un anno per infortunio, si spera di vederlo iniziare e giocare il suo ultimo torneo internazionale al fianco del suo compagno di squadra e di avventure, Leonardo Bonucci. Hanno l’esperienza, la confidenza e l’alchimia adatte ad aiutare le nuove generazioni a superare le insidie di un torneo. Hanno anche delle riserve più che degne nell’interista Alessandro Bastoni, nel milanista Alessio Romagnoli, nel romanista Gianluca Mancini, e nel laziale Francesco Acerbi. Nel ruolo di terzino, Alessandro Florenzi del Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) ed Emerson Palmieri del Chelsea sono stati i favoriti da Mancini nel corso delle qualificazioni, sebbene il milanista Davide Calabria, il romanista Leonardo Spinazzola, l’interista Matteo Darmian e il napoletano Giovanni Di Lorenzo sarebbero pronti ad usurpare il loro posto immediatamente.

In the middle A centrocampo This depth of midfield zest and talent Questo livello di energia e talento a centrohasn’t been seen in an Italian squad since campo non si vedeva in una squadra italiana perhaps the 90s. As a result, Mancini’s forse dagli anni ‘90. Di conseguenza, il midfield three is always balanced and centrocampo a tre di Mancini è sempre offers a delightful blend of qualibilanciato ed offre una deliziosa ties. Chelsea’s (Italian-Brazilian) miscela di qualità. L’italo-brasiliano Jorginho has been the preferred Jorginho, del Chelsea, è stato il deep-lying playmaker and regista preferito, solitamente is usually flanked by Inter’s affiancato dall’interista Nicolò Nicolo Barella and PSG’s Barella e da Marco Verratti del Marco Verratti. The 22-year-old PSG. Il ventiduenne Barella è Barella has been a revelation in stata una rivelazione in Serie A nelle Serie A for the past three seasons ultime tre stagioni, ed è diventato and has developed into arguably the indubbiamente il miglior centrocampista best Italian midfielder around. As he italiano in giro. Mentre ha aiutato l’Inter a helped lead Inter to a scudetto this year, vincere lo scudetto di quest’anno, il primo their first since 2010, look to him to be the dal 2010, consideratelo l’uomo decisivo Azzurri’s game-changer. Sassuolo’s Manuel degli Azzurri. Il sassolese Manuel Locatelli offre Lorenzo Insigne Locatelli offers a ton of energy in the middle, un sacco di energia a centrocampo, mentre il while Roma’s Lorenzo Pellegrini, Atalanta’s romanista Lorenzo Pellegrini, l’atalantino Matteo Matteo Pessina, Inter’s Stefano Sensi and perhaps 19-year-old Pessina, l’interista Stefano Sensi e, perché no, il diciannovenne Sandro Sandro Tonali, fit seamlessly into the system providing spark, Tonali, si integrano con continuità nel sistema, mettendo entusiasmo, vision and a direct eye for goal. visione del gioco e una propensione per il goal. Up front Averaging 3.7 goals per game in qualifying, Italy under Mancini have demonstrated their ability to find the net. Lazio’s Ciro Immobile was last season’s capocannoniere, but despite managing five goals in the Champions League this year, Immobile has not been a regular starter for his country, with Torino captain Andrea Belotti often favoured up front. The central strikers will need plenty of opportunities from their wingers to ensure a good return of goals. In the high-flying trident, the squad boasts a plethora of options to flank the central striker, most important being Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne and Juventus’ Federico Chiesa. With an extra year of development playing with Cristiano Ronaldo, Chiesa has really blossomed, blending pace and a tireless work ethic with a goal-scoring touch. He’s been the most pivotal player in Juventus’ lineup in the past six months, so look to him to be the engine of the team while Insigne will hope to continue his current goal-scoring form into the tournament. It’s unfortunate that Roma’s Nicola Zaniolo is officially out of contention due to injury. However, Sassuolo’s Domenico Berardi, Juventus’ Federico Bernardeschi, PSG’s Moise Kean and Roma’s Stephen El Shaarawy will round out the attack. And there is always the chance for some last-minute surprises. The natural downside to a team brimming with youth is a lack of experience. Nearly two-thirds of the squad that reached the quarterfinals at Euro 2016 are no longer in the international arena. This leaves a number of players heading to Euro 2020 for their maiden international tournament. With 11/1 odds, Italy are still the eighth-favourites and a dark horse to hoist the Henri Delaunay Trophy. Even with the odds stacked against them, Italy does not need a miracle. However, it’s good to know that the man who orchestrated the Miracle of Manchester is in their corner, leading the way.

Attacco Con una media di 3,7 gol a partita durante le qualificazioni, l’Italia di Mancini ha dimostrato la sua abilità nel trovare la rete. Il laziale Ciro Immobile è stato il capocannoniere della stagione scorsa, ma nonostante abbia segnato quest’anno cinque gol in Champions League, Immobile non è partito regolarmente da titolare per la sua nazionale, essendogli spesso favorito il capitano granata Andrea Belotti. I centravanti avranno bisogno di molte occasioni dalle loro ali, per assicurare un buon numero di goal. Nel tridente avanzato, il gruppo vanta una pletora di opzioni per affiancare il centravanti, le più importanti delle quali sono il capitano del Napoli Lorenzo Insigne e lo juventino Federico Chiesa. Con un anno in più di crescita giocando con Cristiano Ronaldo, Chiesa è veramente fiorito, unendo velocità a un’instancabile etica del lavoro con l’intuito per l’ultimo passaggio. Negli ultimi sei mesi è stato il giocatore più decisivo nella formazione juventina, quindi consideratelo come il motore della squadra mentre Insigne proverà a portare avanti la sua attuale abilità di segnare anche nel torneo. Purtroppo il romanista Nicola Zaniolo è ufficialmente fuori dalla contesa a causa di un infortunio. Comunque il sassolese Domenico Berardi, lo juventino Federico Bernardeschi, Moise Kean del PSG ed il romanista Stephen El Shaarawy completeranno l’attacco. E c’è sempre la possibilità di sorprese dell’ultimo minuto. Logicamente, il punto debole di una squadra piena di giovani sta nella mancanza di esperienza. I quasi due terzi del gruppo che hanno raggiunto i quarti di finale agli Europei 2016 non sono più nell’arena internazionale. Questo significa che Euro 2020 sarà per alcuni giocatori il loro battesimo in tornei internazionali. Con una probabilità di 11 contro 1, l’Italia rimane tra gli otto favoriti e il potenziale vincitore a sorpresa del trofeo Henri Delaunay. Nonostante le probabilità non giochino a favore, all’Italia non serve un miracolo. Comunque, è bello sapere che a guidarli ci sia l’artefice del Miracolo di Manchester.

Forza Azzurri! 22

Canada and the Beautiful Game How Soccer-Loving Italians Won Canadian Multiculturalism

Photo by Roberto Portolese

Il Canada e il bel gioco

BY - D I D R . S T E P H E N F I E L D I N G

In che modo l’amore degli italiani per il calcio ha raggiunto il multiculturalismo canadese

his UEFA European Championship will be exceptional even before the opening kickoff at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico. The expanded format features 24 qualifying countries and games taking place in 12 cities across the continent instead of one or two host countries. The enlarged line-up also means there will be a larger mosaic of communities closely following the action here in Canada and, if COVID-19 measures are lifted, celebrating their cultures and heritage in the streets. We often think of multiculturalism as a set of policies or a description of our cultural diversity. These are accurate descriptions, but multiculturalism should also be understood as a set of values: inclusion, recognition and celebration of citizens and communities for their cultural distinctiveness. This set of values played out for decades at the everyday level of immigrant sport and leisure. My PhD research revealed that soccer-loving European immigrants created a grassroots model of what I call “popular multiculturalism.” This started before the federal government, the City of Toronto, or the mainstream media embraced multiculturalism. There were thousands of European

Campionato europeo UEFA sarà eccezionale ancor prima del calcio di inizio allo Stadio Olimpico di Roma. Il formato allargato comprende 24 paesi qualificati e partite che si disputeranno in 12 città di tutto il continente piuttosto che in uno-due paesi ospitanti. Inoltre, la maggiore offerta implica un più ampio mosaico di comunità che in Canada seguiranno più da vicino il tutto e che – qualora vengano sospese le restrizioni dovute al Covid – si riverseranno in strada per celebrare la propria cultura e il patrimonio d’appartenenza. Spesso si pensa al multiculturalismo come a un insieme di regole o quale definizione della nostra diversità culturale. Pur trattandosi di descrizioni pertinenti, il multiculturalismo dovrebbe essere inteso come un insieme di valori: inclusione, riconoscimento, e celebrazione dei cittadini e delle loro comunità per la loro unicità culturale. Questo insieme di valori si è espresso per decenni quotidianamente sul piano dell’intrattenimento e dello sport tra gli immigrati. Il mio dottorato di ricerca ha rivelato che furono gli immigrati europei appassionati di calcio a dar vita a un modello di base di ciò che io chiamo multiculturalismo popolare. Ciò ebbe inizio ancor prima che il governo federale, la Città di Toronto, o i media principali si dedicassero al multiculturalismo. Erano migliaia gli immigrati europei che, assieme alle famiglie, giocavano a calcio, lo seguivano, lo

immigrants and their families who promuovevano e sostenevaplayed, watched, promoted and supno. Gli italo-canadesi ebbero ported soccer. And Italian-Canadians un ruolo determinante per played a leading role in the moveil movimento. Furono infatti ment. They were gamechangers in loro a segnare una svolta Canadian history. nella storia canadese. Today soccer has gone mainstream Oggi il calcio è supremo, and it evokes images of families, subsa di famiglia, di sobborghi urbs and SUV’s. But it wasn’t long e di SUV. Ma non è passato ago that the sight of someone waving molto tempo da quando il solo a foreign flag in the name of soccer— vedere qualcuno sventolare or merely playing the game—was una bandiera straniera in nome considered suspicious and undel calcio – o semplicemente Canadian. Soccer was an outsider giocare a calcio – era congame because immigrants brought siderato sospettoso e nonthe game with them, in comparison canadese. Rispetto a sport to homegrown North American coltivati in Nord America sports such as ice hockey, baseball, come l’hockey sul ghiaccio, basketball or gridiron football. Before il baseball, la pallacanestro the 1980s, critics in the mainstream o il football americano, il media commonly dismissed soccer calcio era un intruso perché a as an “immigrant obsession” and a portarselo con sé erano stati Italian soccer fans celebrating Italy’s victory of the 1982 World Cup sign of failed assimilation. Beat cops gli immigrati. Prima degli anni patrolled Italian enclaves to break up groups of men—often ‘80, i critici dei media principali liquidavano in genere il calcio come soccer fans—who were socializing on the sidewalks. “ossessione degli immigrati” e segno di mancata assimilazione. Le pattuglie Soccer in this country has always provided people with a perlustravano le aree italiane per “disperdere” i gruppi di uomini – spesso venue to assert and celebrate their cultural differences. The tifosi di calcio – che si intrattenevano sui marciapiedi. game was introduced by immigrants from Great Britain In questo paese, il calcio offre da sempre un ambiente in cui mettere in in the 1870s. British veterans of the First World War later mostra e celebrare le differenze culturali delle persone. Il gioco fu introdotto created an extensive network of professional leagues across dagli immigrati della Gran Bretagna del 1870. I veterani britannici della Prima southern Ontario. The teams distinguished themselves guerra mondiale crearono infatti un’ampia serie di leghe professionistiche in from one another with names and colours reflecting their tutto l’Ontario meridionale. Le squadre si distinguevano tra loro grazie a English, Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh heritage. The nomi che ne riflettevano le origini inglesi, scozzesi, nordirlandesi o gallesi. massive influx of immigrants from continental Europe after Il flusso imponente di immigrati dal continente europeo dopo la Seconda the Second World War outnumbered newcomers from guerra mondiale superò in numero quello della Gran Bretagna in un rapGreat Britain by a ratio of almost two to one. On the field, porto di quasi due a uno. Sul campo, la struttura calcistica costruita dai the soccer house that Brits built was taken over by new britannici passò nelle mani di nuove potenze rappresentanti i neo powerhouses representing newcomers from Ukraine, Hunimmigrati provenienti dall’Ucraina, dall’Ungheria, dalla Germania, dalla gary, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Croatia, Serbia, Malta, Grecia, dal Portogallo, dalla Croazia, dalla Serbia, da Malta, dalla Polonia Poland and especially Italy, the largest sending country e soprattutto dall’Italia, paese europeo da cui arrivavano in maggioranza. from continental Europe. What began as a collection of Ciò che era nato come una serie di squadre rappresentanti le diverse origini teams representing different origins in the British Isles britanniche si ingrandì diventando una piattaforma multilingue e multiexpanded into a multilingual and multicultural platform culturale in cui le varie comunità di immigrati interagivano. Nel panorama for immigrant community exchanges. On the Eastern calcistico del Canada orientale, per esempio, in quasi ogni squadra semiCanadian soccer scene, for example, almost every team in professionistica della Lega Nazionale Calcio, e della Lega Calcio di Toronto the semi-professional National Soccer League and amateur e del Distretto compariva un nome chiaramente etnico. Toronto & District Soccer League had an identifiably Il calcio era un elemento chiave di ciò che il poeta T.S. Eliot chiamerebbe ethnic name. “tutto uno stile di vita” degli immigrati europei del dopoguerra. Offriva loro Soccer was a key component of what the poet T.S. Eliot l’opportunità di mantenere un legame nostalgico con il paese d’origine, might call the postwar European immigrants’ “whole way crearsi nuovi rapporti interpersonali nella comunità, e celebrare la propria of life.” It provided them with an opportunity to mainunicità culturale all’interno della società canadese e poco familiare che tain a nostalgic connection to their original country, build li ospitava. “Per integrarsi, serve una sorta di equilibrio emotivo per colnew community relationships and celebrate their cultural legarsi a ciò che ci si è portati dietro – cucina, musica, e il proprio sport,” distinctiveness in an unfamiliar Canadian host society. “In afferma Umberto Manca, immigrato italiano andato in onda alla fine degli order to integrate, you need a sort of emotional balance to anni ‘60 come annunciatore per la stazione radiofonica multilingue CHIN connect with what you brought—your food, your music FM. Il calcio ha consentito loro di colmare il divario tra i paesi di origine e le and your sport,” says Umberto Manca, an Italian immigrant loro nuove vite in Canada. Inoltre, mise i neo immigrati in contatto con altre who hit the airwaves in the late 1960s as a broadcaster comunità di immigrati che stavano facendo lo stesso percorso. for CHIN FM multilingual station. Soccer helped bridge Era un gruppo giovane quello che arrivava dall’Europa del dopoguerra, the gap between people’s connections to the lands they con un’età media di 24,9 anni, e in stragrande maggioranza maschile fino departed and their new lives in Canada. It also brought all’inizio degli anni ‘70. Un’attività fisica come il calcio, che premiava sia le

capacità che l’impegno, faceva leva su un gruppo demografico di newcomers into contact with other immigrant communities going immigrati per lo più lavoratori manuali. A partire dalla fine degli through the same process. anni ‘40 fino agli anni ‘70, gli uomini si riunivano nei campetti di Postwar European arrivals were a youthful group, averaging only calcio, nei bar, dal barbiere, al ristorante e al lavoro con le radioline 24.9 years-old, and they were disproportionately male until the early a onde corte da cui potevano ascoltare i suoni distanti ma familiari, 1970s. A physical activity such as soccer that rewarded skill and hard provenienti dall’Europa, delle radiocronache del calcio professionistico. work appealed to this newcomer demographic with high numbers Era consueto per i neo immigrati fare amicizia, trovare lavoro e of manual workers. From the late 1940s to the 1970s, these men creare rapporti lavorativi durante questi incontri. Quella degli gathered at soccer parks, bars, barbershops, restaurants and busiappassionati di calcio era “una città nella città”, in cui gli immigrati nesses with shortwave radios, where they could hear the distant but – in particolare giovani – giocavano, guardavano, commentavano e familiar sounds of professional soccer broadcasts from Europe. It was ricordavano le partite man mano che si abituavano alle loro nuove common for newcomers to make friendships, find work and forge vite in Canada, cercando di business connections at these dare un senso alle proprie events. Soccer fandom was its “In order to integrate, you need a sort of esperienze. own “city within a city,” where emotional balance to connect with what you Dati la passione dei tifosi immigrants—especially young e il relativo isolamento del men—played, watched, discussed, brought—your food, your music and your sport.” Canada, il calcio locale divenne and remembered the games as un forum popolare di multithey adjusted their new lives in “Per integrarsi, serve una sorta di equilibrio culturalismo. Il gioco locale Canada and tried to make sense si alimentava delle rivalità tra of their experiences. emotivo per collegarsi a ciò che ci si è portati le comunità di immigrati, e Local soccer emerged as a dietro – cucina, musica, e il proprio sport.” rappresentava l’unica cosa grassroots forum of multiculturalpossibile per i tifosi prima ism because of the passion of its dell’avvento dei collegamenti via satellite o Internet con le partite fans and Canada’s relative isolation. The local game was driven by europee di primo livello. rivalries between immigrant communities, and it was the only viable Nonostante la popolarità del gioco e il suo ruolo centrale live option for fans before the advent of satellite and Internet connecnell’esperienza degli immigrati, il calcio era un modello improbations to European elite-level competition. bile di multiculturalismo popolare. Le squadre e le leghe avevano Despite the game’s popularity and central role in the immigrant difficoltà a rimanere a galla. I costi di gestione della squadra quasi experience, soccer was an unlikely model for popular multiculturalsempre superavano gli incassi; in genere, persino le squadre maeism. Teams and leagues struggled to keep afloat. Team operating stre con grandi tifoserie e incassi più alti, come il Toronto Italia FC, costs almost always exceeded revenues. Typically, even the ledgers of alla fine dell’anno chiudevano in perdita. Gli sponsor erano per lo teams with large fan bases and higher gate receipts, such as Toronto più piccole attività commerciali etniche, ed attirava poco i media Italia FC, reported a loss at the end of the year. The sponsorship base sportivi principali a meno che non scoppiasse una rissa durante una was largely limited to smaller ethnic businesses, and it attracted little partita. copy in the mainstream sports media unless a brawl broke out at one Con una svolta storica, il calcio passò dallo status di reietto a of the games. sfondare in un mercato poco sfruttato, in cui si fece avanti una In a twist of history, soccer’s pariah status made it an untapped nuova generazione di imprenditori della stampa, della radio e della market, and a new generation of entrepreneurs in print, radio and televisione intenzionati a raccoglierne i frutti. Gli italo-canadesi television media positioned themselves to reap its rewards. Italianfurono in prima linea nel settore, sfruttando al meglio il numero Canadians were at the forefront of the new industry, capitalizing on incredibile di tifosi e sviluppando tecnologie di telecomunicazione the sheer volume of soccer fans and emerging telecommunications che consentissero loro di metter su degli imperi mediatici. technologies to build their own media empires. Moreover, when the Ancor di più, quando alla fine degli anni ‘70 le leghe calcistiche local soccer leagues waned in popularity by the late 1970s, Toronto’s locali acquisirono popolarità e la tifoseria di Toronto si sintonizzò fan base tuned in to overseas international and league play, and sulle partite internazionali e di lega oltreoceano, grazie ai media started following new local medias such as Dan Iannuzzi of locali di impresari come Dan Iannuzzi del Corriere Canadese, Corriere Canadese, an Italian-language newspaper; Johnny Lombardi giornale in lingua italiana, Johnny Lombardi di CHIN Radio, la of CHIN Radio, the country’s first multilingual radio station; and prima stazione multilingue del paese, ed Emilio Mascia di TelelaEmilio Mascia of Telelatino, a pay-per-view channel featuring local tino, canale pay-per-view di programmi locali e d’oltreoceano in and overseas Spanish and Italian language programming, including lingua spagnola e italiana, compresa l’autorizzazione fino al 1982 exclusive control of World Cup soccer broadcasting rights until 1982. a trasmettere in esclusiva Mondiali di calcio. Situazione cambiata This changed only when the CBC, with the help of Labatt Brewsolo quando la CBC, in collaborazione con le Distillerie Labatt, fece eries, submitted a higher bid and began providing the signals and un’offerta d’appalto più alta e offrì il segnale televisivo. broadcasting live international soccer for the first time. Fu un evento in particolare a rivelarsi una dichiarazione di One event was an even louder proclamation of popular multiculmulticulturalismo ancor più forte di quella dei canali multilingue turalism than the Italian-Canadian magnates in multilingual media. dei magnati italo-canadesi. L’11 luglio 1982, l’Italia sconfisse la On July 11, 1982, Italy defeated West Germany and captured its first Germania dell’Ovest conquistando la sua prima Coppa del Mondo World Cup soccer title since the Great Depression, and 30,000 fans dai tempi della Grande Depressione e 30.000 tifosi riempirono le lined the streets of Rome to welcome the team back from host counstrade di Roma per accogliere la squadra che rientrava dalla Spagna, try Spain. In Toronto, by comparison, an estimated crowd of more paese ospitante. A Toronto, a confronto, una folla che si stima than 250,000 fans spilled out of homes and business onto St. Clair superiore a 250.000 tifosi si riversò dalle case e dai negozi su St. Avenue West, staging the largest public demonstration in the city to

date. An impromptu throng of street Clair Avenue West, dando vita alla più musicians played accordions, guitars, grande manifestazione pubblica in città drums or whatever they could get fino ad oggi. Una folla improvvisata di their hands on, while southern Italian musicisti di strada si mise a suonare fisarmen danced the tarantella and others moniche, chitarre, tamburi, o qualunque sang popular folksongs. cosa gli capitasse tra le mani; mentre tra Unlike local soccer fandom of the gli uomini dell’Italia meridionale c’era chi previous three decades, which was ballava la tarantella e chi cantava canti more about the immigrant settlefolcloristici. ment experience and involved mostly A differenza della tifoseria locale men, this party featured multiple dei trent’anni precedenti, che aveva generations of Italian-Canadians. più a che fare con l’esperienza Children and elderly men danced dell’insediamento degli immigrati e together while young parents pushed riguardava per lo più gli uomini, varie strollers through the maze of people. generazioni di italo-canadesi presero A columnist for The Globe and Mail parte a questi festeggiamenti. Bambini marvelled, “This Italian Woodstock che ballavano con gli anziani e neogeni[was] a spontaneous eruption of tori che si districavano con i passeggini Toronto Italia Football Club (1960s) entertainment and community [that] tra la folla. Un giornalista di The Globe had everything an urban designer’s handbook would prescribe, and Mail si meravigliò: “Questa Woodstock all’italiana [fu] un’eruzione except a permit.” spontanea di intrattenimento e senso della comunità [che] possedeva Italian soccer fans inspired Toronto’s other communities to tutti i dettami del libro di un urbanista, tranne che un’autorizzazione.” translate their own identity statements into street theatre. In a I tifosi di calcio italiani invogliarono le altre comunità di Toronto ritual repeated every World Cup and UEFA Euro Cup toura portare nel teatro della strada la propria affermazione di identità. nament after 1982, people from other enclaves with qualifyDopo il 1982, in un rituale ripetutosi ad ogni Campionato del Mondo ing teams “made like the Italians” and amassed on street and ed Europeo, le persone di altri gruppi le cui squadre si qualificavano sidewalks, blocked traffic, partied late into the night and choked “fecero come gli italiani”, ammassandosi per strada e sui marciapiedi, city motorways with flag-bearing caravans. These convoys were bloccando il traffico, facendo festa fino a tardi e imbottigliando le almost always making a stop in the traditional Italian neighbourautostrade con carovane di bandiere sventolanti. Convogli che quasi hoods of St. Clair Avenue West and College Street, where the sempre si fermavano nei tradizionali quartieri italiani di St.Clair Avenue largest crowds were gathered. West e College Street, dove si radunavano le folle più grandi. In Toronto’s post-1982 atmosphere of international soccer fanNell’atmosfera di Toronto post 1982 quale tifoseria calcistica interdom, Little Italies were the place to be, Italy was the team to beat nazionale, le Little Italy diventarono il punto di ritrovo, l’Italia era la and Italians were the fans to greet. On these strips, café and ressquadra da battere e gli italiani erano i tifosi da omaggiare. In queste taurant owners promoted their establishments as Toronto’s soccer zone, i proprietari di bar e ristoranti promossero i propri locali come fan headquarters, and by the 1994 World Cup, the throng of sede fissa per i tifosi di Toronto, e durante la Coppa del Mondo del visitors to St. Clair Avenue for each match numbered more than 1994 la folla di visitatori su St. Clair Avenue raggiunse più di 40.000 40,000 people. They were greeted with national flags festooned persone. Si veniva accolti da tende parasole addobbate con le bandiere from patio awnings and a ready supply of patriotic merchandise nazionali e una pronta fornitura di merchandising per fare il tifo alle to cheer their own side. Soon, multinational companies took proprie squadre. Presto, le multinazionali si resero conto della cornotice of the connection between Toronto’s traditional Italian relazione tra i quartieri tradizionalmente italiani di Toronto, il calcio e le neighbourhoods, soccer and multicultural exchanges. In 1998, interazioni multiculturali. Nel 1998, la Nike acquistò gli spazi pubbliciNike purchased advertising space on bus shelters along St. Clair tari delle fermate degli autobus lungo St. Clair Avenue West e College Avenue West and College Street to launch their first merchanper lanciare la sua prima collezione di merchandising all’interno del dising foray into the Canadian soccer market. mercato calcistico canadese. The story of soccer in Canada and of Italians’ leading role in La storia del calcio in Canada e del ruolo predominante degli making it a model of cultural diversity shows that multiculturitaliani nel farne un modello di diversità culturale mostra che il multiculalism has never been limited to the realms of politics, public turalismo non si è mai limitato solo al regno della politica, ai funzionari servants or mainstream media. But before and beyond these statali o ai media principali. Ma prima e al di là di queste trasformazioni, transformations, an everyday model of multiculturalism was un modello quotidiano di multiculturalismo si era venuto a creare tra created among those who watched, played and promoted soccer. coloro i quali seguivano e promuovevano il calcio o ci giocavano. A Theirs is the unexpected story of multiculturalism’s creation from loro si deve la storia inattesa della creazione del multiculturalismo dal the grassroots. Soccer weaved through the immigrant experience, basso. Il calcio ha intessuto l’esperienza migratoria, lo sviluppo delle the growth of immigrant institutions, the creation of multilingual istituzioni per gli immigrati, la creazione di media multilingue, e le manimedia and street-level expressions of ethnic pride. During the festazioni di orgoglio etnico a livello della strada. Durante la Coppa del 1998 World Cup tournament, a Toronto Star reporter boasted Mondo del 1998, un giornalista del Toronto Star disse fiero: that “no matter who wins…there’ll still be a whopping, flag-wav“Indipendentemente da chi vinca... non mancherà a Toronto una noting, horn-honking all-night victory party in Toronto.” For this tata di grandi festeggiamenti a base di bandiere sventolanti e clacson.” summer’s UEFA Euro Cup, the biggest party in multicultural Per il Campionato Europeo UEFA di quest’estate, i festeggiamenti Canada will be in Canada’s largest city. And it will be even bigger maggiori del Canada multiculturale si terranno nella città più grande del if Italy wins. paese. E qualora l’Italia dovesse vincere saranno ancor più grandi.

How Canadian, How Italian, Must I Be? B Y - D I G I A N N A PA T R I A R C A

Quanto canadese, quanto italiana devo essere?

Canada è casa mia da molto più tempo di quanto non lo sia stata l’Italia, dove ho vissuto i primi otto anni della mia vita. Dove mi colloco? Quanto sono canadese? Quanto italiana? Sebbene il mio nome sia il passaporto che mi segue ovunque, il mio passaporto legale è canadese. L’Italia si rifiuta di riconoscermi e mi ha chiuso le porte per la doppia cittadinanza. Nonostante io viva in Canada da quasi sei decenni, la mia identità nel mondo è sempre definita dalle vocali e dalle consonanti che compongono il mio nome. Quanto sono canadesi quelli di noi che hanno respirato per la prima volta sotto un cielo diverso, in paesaggi diversi, o la cui lingua ha assaporato una dolcezza diversa? Perché molti di noi sono ossessionatissimi dal mero ricordo della patria? È forse un tassello fuori posto o nascosto del puzzle della nostra vita che dobbiamo continuare a cercare per ricomporre nuovamente tutto? Nel decennio rivoluzionario della Beatlemania, degli hippy e del centenario del Canada, ero una ragazza di 16 anni. Prendevo la metropolitana che i nostri padri, fratelli e zii avevano appena costruito sotto Bloor Street, a Toronto, Ontario. Studiavo all’istituto commerciale St. Joseph, una piccola scuola con circa 300 ragazze, vicino a Bloor e Sherbourne Avenue. Ero una delle tante ragazze cattoliche immigrate e allevate per eccellere come centraliniste, segretarie, commesse, cassiere di banca e, sì, brave mogli – tutte opportunità congeniali per le ragazze di allora. Ce ne andavamo in giro confuse e felici, ben vestite nelle nostre divise di lana blu con i colletti bianchi, il papillon e delle comode scarpe nere, basse e allacciate. Dirimpetto alla nostra scuola c’era il Selby Hotel, dove si dice che Ernest Hemingway trascorresse tempo durante il periodo in cui viveva e lavorava a Toronto come giornalista. Essendo appassionata di letteratura e scrittrice amatoriale, ogni giorno, nel mio tragitto verso scuola, rendevo omaggio al Selby Hotel, dove immaginavo Hemingway sorseggiare whiskey o scotch in tutto il suo splendore romantico e virile, mentre prendeva appunti sui suoi taccuini. Nel piccolo istituto superiore cattolico ci insegnavano competenze che ci avrebbero formate per il futuro. Competenze oggi obsolete, tra cui la stenografia di Pitman, quella di cui sento maggiormente la mancanza. Ero bravissima in stenografia, linguaggio fatto di segni, linee ondulate e punti, da usare come codice segreto nei nostri diari. Venne fuori però che con la stenografia di Pitman non potevo scriverci poesie, quindi decisi di lasciare l’istituto commerciale St. Joseph. Non volevo essere indirizzata al settore commerciale e avevo pochissima intenzione di trovare marito. Volevo andare all’università. Le ragazze canadesi andavano all’università. Ed io ero in Canada. Andai a chiedere alla preside, donna e suora, il trasferimento in una scuola superiore che offrisse il quinto anno, all’epoca prerequisito per accedere all’università. Il profondo respiro della suora fece alzare e abbassare il crocifisso di metallo poggiato sulla rotondità del Illustration by Mia Carnevale

anada has been my home for much longer than Italy ever was, where I lived the first eight years of my life. Where do I belong? How Canadian am I? How Italian am I? My name is the passport I carry everywhere, but my legal passport is Canadian. Italy refuses to recognize me and has shut the window for dual citizenship. And although I have lived in Canada for almost six decades, my identity in the world is always defined by the vowels and consonants of my name. How Canadian are any of us who take our first breaths beneath different skies, different landscapes, taste a different sweetness on our tongues? Why are so many of us obsessed with a motherland that is simply memory? Is a piece of our life puzzle misplaced or hiding, and must we continue to look for it to put it all together again? In that revolutionary decade of Beatlemania, hippies and Canada’s Centennial year, I was a girl of 16. I rode the new subway freshly built by our fathers, brothers and uncles in the underground of Bloor Street, in Toronto, Ontario. I was a student at St. Joseph’s Commercial High School, a small school of about 300 girls located near Bloor and Sherbourne Avenue. I was one of many Catholic immigrant girls being groomed to excel as capable receptionists, secretaries, sales clerks, bank tellers and, yes, good wives—suitable options offered to girls back then. Off we went happily but confused, dressed in our polite blue, wool uniforms with white collars, bowties and sensible, black oxford shoes. Across the street from our high school was the Selby Hotel, where history claims Ernest Hemingway hung out when he lived in Toronto for a while working as a journalist. Being a lover of literature and an amateur writer, I greeted the Selby Hotel each day as I passed it on my way to school, imagining Hemingway in his romantic, manly glory gulping whiskey or scotch as he jotted down words in his notebooks. The little Catholic high school would teach us skills that would prepare us for our future. Skills that are now obsolete, Pitman shorthand being the one I am most nostalgic about. I was very good with Pitman shorthand, a language of strokes, wobbly lines and dots that provided a secret code in our diaries. As it turned out, I couldn’t write poetry in Pitman shorthand, so I decided I needed to leave St. Joseph’s Commercial High. I did not want to be streamed into a commercial future, and I had little intention of finding a husband. I wanted to go to university. Canadian girls went to university. I was in Canada. I approached my principal, a woman and a nun, for a

10X ZOOM MIRROR

SPONGE KITS

NANO TECH BRUSHES

FACIAL MIST SPRAY

transfer to a high school that offered grade 13, a requirement back suo petto, quasi come se Gesù non vi si sentisse a proprio agio. then to apply for university. Sister inhaled a deep breath, which raised Si appoggiò allo schienale, incrociò le braccia su Gesù e scosse la and lowered the metal crucifix on her round breasts, as if Jesus was testa. “Gi-o-vanna...cara...devo essere onesta. Insegno a ragazze uncomfortable being there. She sat back in her chair, folded her arms come te da moltissimo tempo. Non ce la farai mai.” Cinquanta over Jesus and shook her head.“Gi-o-vanna…my dear...I must be anni dopo, quelle parole ancora mi perseguitano. “Ragazze come honest with you. I have been teaching girls like you for a very long te.” Cercai corna, verruche, arti in più, un terzo seno. Non trovai time. You will never make it.” Fifty years later, the words still haunt nulla. me. “Girls like you.” I checked for horns, warts, extra limbs, a third Lo stesso anno, per il mio compleanno, mio padre mi regalò breast. Found none. una macchina da scrivere manuale Olivetti-Underwood presa al That same year, on my birthday, my father bought me an Olivettinegozio Mastrangelo’s Gifts di College Street. Aveva scoperto i Underwood manual typewriter from Mastrangelo’s Gifts on College miei quaderni pieni di poesie e storie sparpagliati sul comodino. Street. He had discovered my notebooks filled with poems and Penso che sapesse che le mie capacità dattilografiche non sarebstories lying about on the coffee table. I believe he knew my typing bero mai state usate per fare la segretaria, ma ero bravissima e would never be a skill used in secretarial work, but I was very good sapeva che la macchina da scrivere mi avrebbe incoraggiata a at it, and he knew the typewriter would encourage my writing. It scrivere. È stato probabilmente il miglior regalo che mi abbia mai was probably the greatest gift he ever gave me. “So, you want to be a fatto. “Allora, vuoi fare la scrittrice?” mi chiese una volta. “Non lo writer?” He once asked me. so, Pa’. Forse. Ancora non lo so cosa “I don’t know, Pa. Maybe. I voglio fare davvero.” “Lo sai che gli “it seems that this world cannot function unless don’t really know what I want italiani non leggono – ridacchiò – Sarai we are placed in very visible and divisive boxes” to do yet.” “You know Italians povera per tutta la vita”. La sua leggerezza don’t read.” He chuckled. “You mi sorprese, sapendo quanto fosse fiero “pare che il mondo non possa funzionare a meno are going to be broke all your della propria identità, di essere italiano e life.” I was a little surprised by di come avesse inculcato quell’orgoglio che non si venga inseriti in compartimenti ben his levity, knowing how proud in me e in mia sorella. “Siamo in Canada, definiti e separati tra loro.” he was of his identity, of being Pa’, e non scrivo per gli italiani. Anzi, scriItalian and how he instilled that pride in my sister and me. “We’re in vo per me.” Magari avessi conservato quella macchina da scrivere! Canada, Pa, and I don’t write for Italians. Actually, I write for me.” I Non so cosa significhi essere totalmente canadese. So come ci wish I had kept that typewriter. si sente ad essere di Toronto. Avendo vissuto in questa città per I don’t know what it means to be fully Canadian. I know what it tantissimo tempo. È una domanda che da scrittrice uso spesso feels like to be a Torontonian. Having lived in this city for so long. As come titolo di un capitolo che non giunge mai a conclusione. a writer, this is a question that is always the heading of some chapter Scrivere della vita è un tema universale, non una cosa italiana that never reaches a resolution. o canadese, ma pare che il mondo non possa funzionare a meno Writing about life is a universal theme, not an Italian or a Canache non si venga inseriti in compartimenti ben definiti e separati dian thing, but it seems that this world cannot function unless we tra loro. Un nome come il mio è facilmente etichettabile come forestiero, are placed in very visible and divisive boxes. A name such as mine is etichette queste che non ne rendono semplice l’inclusione negli easily labeled as foreign, and such labels will not allow easy inclusion elenchi tradizionali canadesi. Indipendentemente dal tempo visamong mainstream Canadian directories. Regardless of how long our suto in Canada, o nel mio caso, da quanto siamo bravi o pessimi lives have been lived in Canada, or in my case, whether we are good scrittori, ci sarà sempre una nota a piè di pagina. Immigrata, italoor bad writers, there is always the footnote. Immigrant, Italian-Canacanadese, donna, etnica, straniera, femminista. dian, Female, Ethnic, Foreign, Feminist. Prima di essere pubblicato, il mio primo libro (Donne italiane Before my first book (Italian Women and Other Tragedies) was ed altre tragedie) aveva spesso ricevuto il rifiuto dalle case editrici published, it often received rejection letters from Canadian publishcanadesi. “Il libro ci piace, è bello, ma è troppo etnico.” “Scrivi ers. “We like the work, it is good, but it is too ethnic.” “You write too troppo con una voce sola, puoi scrivere con un’altra voce?” Chi much in one voice, can you write in another voice?” Who isn’t ethnic non è etnico in Canada? Uno scrittore s’impegna tutta la vita per in Canada? A writer struggles a lifetime to find his/her voice. They trovare la propria voce. Ecco che te la rifiutano e ti chiedono di then refuse it and want you to write in another. trovarne un’altra. Recently my book of short fiction, All My Fallen Angelas, was Di recente, il mio libro di narrativa breve, All My Fallen Angelas, translated into Italian. The translator has not been able to secure an è stato tradotto in italiano. Il traduttore non è riuscito a trovare Italian publisher. My publisher in Toronto has informed me the folun editore italiano. Il mio editore a Toronto mi ha comunicato lowing is a constant reply from Italian publishing houses: “In Italy, cosa rispondono di solito le case editrici italiane: “In Italia, siamo we are interested in Canadian literature, but not Italian-Canadian interessati alla letteratura canadese, ma non alla letteratura italoliterature.” canadese.” I am neither Italian enough for Italy, nor Canadian enough for Non sono né abbastanza italiana per l’Italia né abbastanza Canada and not Italian-Canadian enough for either. Of course, this canadese per il Canada né tantomeno abbastanza italo-canadese per is my experience, and I am in no way speaking for anyone else. Papa entrambi. Ovviamente, questa è la mia esperienza e non mi esprimo may have hit on something back then, but I am glad he gave me that per gli altri. In un certo senso, papà ci avrà pure azzeccato allora, ma Olivetti-Underwood typewriter in the Centennial year. I think he sono grata che mi abbia regalato quella macchina da scrivere Olivettiwould have approved had he lived long enough to read my writing. Underwood per il Centenario. Penso che se fosse vissuto abbastanza He would be proud of the Italian-Canadian I am. Happy Birthday, per poterli leggere, i miei scritti gli sarebbero piaciuti. Sarebbe fiero Canada. dell’italo-canadese che sono. Buon compleanno, Canada.

BY - D I DA N I L A D I C R O C E

An Apology for the Internment of Italian-Canadians

talian-Canadians are often revered for their culture’s food, fashion and charismatic warmth. There is even a month dedicated to honour Italian heritage across Canada. However, this ethnic/cultural group was not always admired in this way. There is a dark period in the history of Italian-Canadians, one that described Italians as “enemy aliens,” and made them outcasts and the subject of ridicule. This period is known as the Italian-Canadian internment of 1940-1943; a chapter of our history that still remains open today. In the years leading up to the internment, Italy was becoming a revitalized country under the direction of Benito Mussolini. As he became revered by leaders around the world for bringing back order to the country, Italians living in Canada were able to bask in pride for their motherland. Filippo Salvatore, an Italian-Canadian and retired Italian studies professor at Concordia University, was one of the first to have written on the subject with his work, Fascism and the Italians in Montreal. He explains, “The majority of people at the time did not distinguish between being proud of being Italian and adhering to the propaganda with the fascist regime in Italy—in other words, being Italian meant, at one point, becoming an indirect, or unconscious supporter, of [Mussolini’s] fascist regime.” This obscurity is what changed the lives of hundreds of Italian-Canadians on June 10th, 1940 when Canada declared war on Italy in a retaliatory response to Italy’s allegiance with Germany and declaration of war on Great Britain and France. At the time, many Italians took part in cultural associations such as the Order of the Sons of Italy, which had branches in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia, and the Giulio Giordani Club, which

also spanned nationwide. While these clubs connected Italians to their heritage, “the associations were influenced by the dominant thought at the time, which was in favour of the Italian government—the fascist regime,” explains Salvatore. As such, once the war was announced in June, the RCMP used those associations to gain access to individuals in Italian communities. Ray Culos, authour and local historian of Vancouver’s society of Italians, explains, “The RCMP conducted their investigation and monitored these individuals who were a part of the associations. Some of the names of members were mentioned in the Italian press in Canada. Thus the RCMP picked up those publications and gained names of people who were potential fascists.” It didn’t help that some Italians had signed the Giulio Giordani membership cards, which stated: “I swear to execute without discussion the orders of il Duce and to serve with all my strength and if necessary, with my blood, the cause of the fascist revolution.” To make matters worse, Culos explains, “Those who had not yet gained their Canadian citizenship were deemed as a citizen who belonged to a belligerent country, thus they became candidates for confinement to a prisoner of war (POW) internment camp.” Within hours of the war declaration, the RCMP (under the Defence of Canada Regulations issued by the Government of Canada in 1939) apprehended hundreds of Italian-Canadians across Canada, many of them leaders in their respective communities. In total, approximately 31,000 Italian-Canadians were deemed enemy aliens, of which approximately 630 were taken away from their homes and families and interned in one of the four camps located in Petawawa, Ontario, St. Helen’s Island, Quebec, and two in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

“In those years there became two types of citizens, people of other origins and people of Italian origin. It didn’t matter if you were Canadian by birth or by choice, if you were of Italian heritage you became a threat to your own country.” It is important to note, as outlined by Culos that, “Upon being incarcerated, no detainee was ever charged with any crime or offence against Canada. Additionally, no ‘enemy alien’ was permitted to seek legal counsel.” While there were certainly some individuals who were involved in fascist activities, they were a small minority in comparison to the Italians whose allegiance remained to Canada. As such, many were wrongfully accused, as they were merely guilty by association, or simply doubted due to their last name. According to the 1990 National Congress of ItalianCanadians (NCIC) report A National Shame – The Internment of Italian Canadians, authored by former president of the association, Annamarie Castrilli, the 1941 Census of Canada documented that the population of Canada included 112,625 individuals with Italian origins. Of that group, more than half were born in Canada, while 41,942 were naturalized Canadian citizens. However, Salvatore says, “In those years there became two types of citizens, people of other origins and people of Italian origin. It didn’t matter if you were Canadian by birth or by choice, if you were of Italian heritage you became a threat to your own country.” Castrilli further explains in her 1990 NCIC report, “The Italian population became the target of government, police and public attacks. Many lost their jobs, were separated from their families, had their houses vandalized and their children traumatized. Their activities were restricted and their economic development was halted. They were classified as ‘enemy aliens,’ a designation which imposed many restrictions as to where people could travel and the kind of jobs they could perform. Every month, they had to report to the Registrar of Enemy Aliens for questioning. Their lives were dramatically and indelibly altered for the worse.” While Castilli’s report helped lead to an informal apology offered by then prime minister Brian Mulroney on November 4, 1990 at an NCIC dinner attended by a number of internees and many others affected by the internment ordeal, the Italian-Canadian community was still waiting for proper closure. The time for that occasion finally came this past May when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered a formal apology on behalf of the Government of Canada to the descendants of the families and the

Italian community across the country in regards to the internment. Roberto Colavecchio, current president of the NCIC (and someone who has witnessed various initiatives over the years for such an apology), was looking forward to the event and reflects on it’s imperative nature. “The importance of the apology in the House of Commons is that once it is written down on paper and it’s a part of history, it is there forever. It helps bring closure to this dark chapter for the history of Italian-Canadians for both the families of the internees and the community overall.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with the late Jackie Rosati

Remembering Private

Torindo ‘Tony’ John Bisaro

BY - D I A N N E G A F I U K

From Italian immigrant to fallen war hero

ount Bisaro, a peak located near Fernie, British Columbia, is named after Torindo John Bisaro, a young man, who like many Italian immigrants, mined coal in the Elk Valley before the Second World War. The following is the story of Torindo and his family. In the early 20th century, thousands of Italian men supplied inexpensive labour to Canadian industries like agriculture, construction, railway, forestry and mining. The intention of many of them was to send money home to their families. Some chose to remain in Canada. John Bisaro, from the Udine area of Italy, travelled to Canada in 1906, finding work as a farmhand in Saskatchewan. By 1911, John was a naturalized citizen. Three years later, he had title to a quarter section of land. John returned to Italy and married August Maria Marcon in 1920, bringing her back to his farm at Baldwinton, west of North Battleford.

In May 1925, John’s brother Francesco made a trip to Canada aboard the SS Minnedosa, third class, starting at Cherbourg, France. He arrived in Quebec City eight days later; his destination was John’s farm. Status: landed immigrant. Francesco decided to make Canada his home too. Late in the summer of 1927, Angela (Francesco’s wife), daughters Giuditta and Lydia, and only son Torindo travelled from Spilimbergo, Italy to Cherbourg, France, along with Egidio (a brother or cousin). On September 17, they boarded the SS Ausonia, bound for Quebec City. Listed as third class passengers, their tickets were prepaid by “Frank Bisaro, Esq. Michel, British Columbia.” Status: landed immigrants. The five members of the extended Bisaro family passed inspection in Quebec City. Making their way to the train station, they travelled across the Canadian Shield, over the Prairies, through the Alberta Foothills to the Rocky Mountains, pulling into Michel, British Columbia where they reunited with Frank. He brought them to the house provided to him by the mining company, where the Bisaro family made their home and became part of the coal mining community.

Despite having an “above average learning ability and fairly good appearance, no personality highlights, except a certain glumness, capable and fairly reliable type,” outlined in red, noted on his Personnel Selection Record were the instructions: “RESTRICTED TO NON-SENSITIVE UNIT ANYWHERE including OVERSEAS.” He was not to be employed in Coastal Defence areas, nor sent to Chilliwack, British Columbia. As part of his infantry training, he travelled to Vancouver, Nanaimo, Courtney and Prince George in British Columbia, as well as Camrose and Calgary, Alberta as a member of the No. 92 Platoon. Tony was transferred to the Oxford Rifles while in Courtney in August 1943, where he qualified as a driver Track Class III. The skills he learned on Uncle John’s farm were recognized. “In view of favourable report on this soldier...and relaxation aliens in HQA, the following is recommended Non-Sensitive Unit Canada Only.” In the fall of 1943, Italy surrendered to the Allies and later declared war on Germany. This changed Tony’s status and the Canadian Army needed more men. He was considered suitable to continue advanced training and received instruction in mountain warfare in the spring of 1944, preparing to be sent overseas. In April 1944, he became a full-fledged member of the Canadian Army, assigned service number K38606. He left Canada on May 25, 1944, arriving in the United Kingdom on June 2, 1944 and was in France by July 14, 1944. July 28, just two weeks later, Private Torindo John Bisaro (21)— member of the Black Watch, Royal Highlanders of Canada Regiment—was killed in action during the Battle of Normandy. In 1944, Uncle John and his family moved to Salmon Arm, British Columbia where they operated an orchard, keeping ownership of the farm in Saskatchewan. As next of kin, John was notified of his nephew’s death. In turn, John wrote to his brother Francesco, in Italy, telling him that Tony had been killed. John required assistance to fill out the Department of National Defence Estate forms and dictated the following, most likely to one of

By 1933, Frank experienced health issues, possibly due to coal dust or an injury at the mine. He and Angela decided to return to Italy with their now three daughters. However, nineyear-old Torindo stayed behind on Frank’s brother’s farm in Saskatchewan. Uncle John and Aunt Maria embraced Torindo as one of their own. He became known as Tony and attended Irene School with his five cousins, finishing school at age 15 in 1939. He went on to work on the family farm outside of Baldwinton. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, and by September 10, Canada declared war on Germany, supporting Britain. By June 10, 1940, the Canadian government officially designated Italian-Canadians as enemy aliens after Italian dictator Benito Mussolini joined Germany in their war against Britain and France. Tony was just 16. Young men in his community began to enlist in the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Still underage, Tony remained on his uncle’s farm. At the age of 19, Tony returned to Michel and the Elk Valley, where he was employed as a chute-loader in a mine for 11 months for Crow’s Nest Pass Coal Company, residing at the Northern Hotel in Fernie. On September 3, 1942, eager to be a part of the war effort, Tony attested in Fernie, British Columbia with the Non-Permanent Active Militia (NPAM) of Canada, 2nd Battalion, Rocky Mountain Rangers (RMR). He stood at 5 feet and 10 inches and weighed 155 pounds. His good health, blue eyes, black hair, dark complexion and scar on his lower forehead were all noted. Tony’s handwriting was neat and tidy on his documents. He listed softball and fishing as his preferred sports, but had little time for hobbies. He enjoyed reading Western stories and, like many of his peers, attended the occasional show and dance. Tony believed he was a naturalized Canadian citizen under his father’s papers, but because he was born in Italy and was the son of an Italian immigrant, he was unsure of his status since his parents and sisters had returned to Italy.

“In April 1944, he became a full-fledged member of the Canadian Army, assigned service number K38606.”

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he joined the Service. This was four years ago since he has been away from us and we do not know his personal affairs such as if he has insurance, a will, etc. Since then, the only times we have seen him is on his leaves and furloughs. His last intentions, before he left for overseas and the war was over, were to take over our farm in Baldwinton, Saskatchewan and settle down, as we have now retired and moved to Salmon Arm, British Columbia. Tony had left a will, written in Vancouver in February 1943, making John his sole beneficiary and left $200 in War Bonds in care of him. On August 12, 1945, John wrote to the Director of Records in Ottawa requesting the engraving on Tony’s headstone read: “In loving memory of Uncle, Aunt and Family.” He added, “Please write and let us know if photograph may be placed on headstone later on,” in the style of many Italian grave markers. Tony’s remains are buried at the Bretteville-Sur-Laize Military Cemetery in Calvados, France, grave 4, row B, plot 14. The inscription reads: TORINDO! QUANTO CI MANCHI INCONSOLABILI PREGANO MAMMA, PAPA E SORELLE. (TORINDO! HOW MUCH WE MISS YOU INCONSOLABLY. PRAYERS FROM MOM, DAD AND SISTERS.)

his daughters: The deceased Torindo John Bisaro was born in Italy and was there only five years. His parents then moved out to Michel, British Columbia from Italy for four years. When his parents went back to Italy, they left Torindo with us, not only as an uncle, but as a parent to him. He was only nine years of age at the time and he himself looked up to us as a father and mother and sisters, instead of relatives. We put him through school and when he began to get out to see the world, he went to Fernie, British Columbia where he had friends. He worked as a miner about a year before

In September 1945, Francesco, now in his mid-50s, wrote in Italian, asking for his son’s personal belongings: We are both, his mother and I, old and rather sickly. We were waiting for him and always thought to have his help in our last years. And now that we know that he will never come back to us, how can we live? The only big favour I’m asking you to do for me is this please. If possible, let us know the month and the day [our son] was killed and if we could have all the things that were found on him. They will be the only memories we will have of him. I am sure you will do this for us, so I thank you since now…I am very poor and sick so that I can’t work and the Italian government has never helped me because my son was serving in the Canadian Army, and never helps me now. Nobody helped me during the war. I am now asking you if the Canadian government could now help me with a pension. I ask you to inform me about that. I will be very grateful to you for all you can do for me.

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“Private Torindo ‘Tony’ John Bisaro’s well-maintained grave marker lies in a military cemetery in France, though whether his parents or members of his family ever visited is unknown.”

Two years later, in September 1947, Tony’s mother, Angela, wrote a letter to thank the Canadian Government for the photographs of the grave of her son and requested that his remains be reinterred in Italy. Her request was declined. “It is against the established policy to remove bodies once permanent burial has been made, and I am sorry that your request cannot be granted.” In March 1951, Francesco, wrote a letter to the Canadian Embassy in Rome asking for financial assistance to permit him to visit the grave of his son, explaining that he did not have the financial means to cover the expenses of the journey. His request was submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The department denied his request. This question has arisen time and again, but as far as can be ascertained the Government has given no formal consideration to providing financial assistance to those who wish to visit the graves of their loved ones. There is no existing authority under which Mr. Bisaro could be aided financially to meet the expenses of the journey he desires to make. As you know, the Canadian Legion have a pilgrimage or series of pilgrimages definitely in mind for some future time, but doubtless those who participate will have to pay their own way. Private Torindo ‘Tony’ John Bisaro was awarded the 1939-45 Star, France-Germany Star, War Medal and CVSM & Clasp. It is unknown if his uncle and aunt received these medals or if they were sent to his parents. Uncle John (1884-1972) and Aunt Maria (1897-1992) moved to Kamloops, British Columbia in 1960. Both are buried at the Hillside Cemetery. On the grounds of the Fernie Courthouse stands the Fernie Cenotaph with lists of men from communities in Elk Valley who gave their lives during the Second World War, alongside those from the First World War and the Korean War. Tony’s name is not among them, but he is not forgotten. His name is listed on the Honour Roll in the book The Blended Heritage, a compilation of Baldwinton area family histories. Private Torindo ‘Tony’ John Bisaro’s well-maintained grave marker lies in a military cemetery in France, though whether his parents or members of his family ever visited is unknown. A mountain near Fernie is named after him, one that has recently gained a great deal of attention because of the subterranean caves hiding beneath, so very apropos for a man who, like many of his Italian countrymen, worked the mines of the Elk Valley.

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Nicholas Di Tempora Biography of a great Italian-Canadian entrepreneur Carole Gagliardi carole.gagliardi@panoramitalia.com

“A

Se puoi sognarlo, puoi farlo Biografia di un grande imprenditore, italo-canadese

im for the sky and you shall reach the stars.” This was Nicholas (Nick) Di Tempora’s advice to recipients of scholarships from the Italian Canadian Business and Professional Association a few years ago. Throughout his entrepreneurial career, Di Tempora applied that very motto, seizing interesting opportunities along the way. The Italian-born businessman, who lived in Montreal for many years, now resides in Florida where the climate is milder and the politics more conducive to his pursuits. Di Tempora is the kind of man who assembles a life through serendipitous encounters and events. Formerly president and CEO of MAPEI Americas, he displays the characteristics shared by many great entrepreneurs, including tireless determination, a long-term vision and a view to closing deals. “I don’t smoke and have never done drugs; business is my drug!” From one opportunity to the next, and one chance meeting to the next, Di Tempora has built an impressive legacy. Was it all good luck? “I don’t believe so. I saw opportunities where others didn’t and I took risks.” The Capri hall in Montreal was the ambitious young man’s first acquisition. He was only 19 years-old. “I had no money but I had ideas and kept my word. It opened many doors for me, and I established friendships that endure to this day. I worked as a waiter at Casa Loma in the evening, but during the day I had no job. My parents would handle the hall while I sought out business opportunities. I am lucky to have only met people who were pleasant to do business with. I have never had problems with any partner, which makes things easier. It is important to know how to evaluate people— whether they are an employee, a life or a business partner—it makes all the difference.” Earlier in his life, Di Tempora had been on course to become a priest, a noble career for an ordinary son from Molise. “My family wasn’t wealthy, and I didn’t particularly enjoy schoolwork, so the priesthood was a safe option.” Fate decided otherwise, and an uncle, who had already settled in Montreal, sponsored the family’s trip to Canada. In Montreal, Di Tempora felt overwhelmed by abundance: “My uncle gave

“P

unta al cielo, raggiungerai le stelle”. È stato questo, qualche anno fa, il consiglio di Nicholas Di Tempora per i vincitori delle borse di studio dell’Associazione italo-canadese professionisti e imprenditori. Un concetto che Di Tempora ha messo in pratica durante l’intera carriera d’imprenditore, e che ha fatto sì che cogliesse le occasioni importanti profilatesi dinnanzi. L’uomo d’affari di origine italiana che ha vissuto a Montreal per molti anni, oggi risiede in Florida, dove il clima è più clemente e la politica più propensi alla realizzazione dei suoi progetti. Di Tempora è uno di quegli uomini che si sono fatti a forza di incontri e circostanze propizie. L’ex presidente e direttore generale della MAPEI Americas possiede il talento tipico dei grandi imprenditori, fatto di una determinazione indefessa, di una visione a lungo termine e del piacere indiscusso di portare a compimento i propri intenti. “Non fumo, non ho mai assunto droghe. Gli affari sono la mia droga!”. Di occasione in occasione, da un incontro all’altro, ha accumulato un patrimonio impressionante. Caso fortuito? “Non credo. Ho visto delle opportunità laddove gli altri non ne vedevano e ho corso il rischio”. Prima acquisizione per il giovane ambizioso: la sala Capri, a Montreal. Aveva 19 anni. “Non avevo soldi, ma avevo idee e ho sempre mantenuto la parola, il che mi ha aperto tante porte e creato dei legami d’amicizia che continuano ancor oggi. La sera facevo il cameriere a Casa Loma, ma di giorno non avevo un lavoro. I miei genitori si occupavano della sala ricevimenti mentre io andavo alla ricerca di occasioni imprenditoriali. Sono stato molto fortunato perché ne ho incontrate di persone con cui era piacevole fare affari. Non ho mai avuto problemi con i miei soci, il che ha reso il tutto più semplice. Bisogna saper valutare le persone, che si tratti di impiegati, di compagni di vita o d’affari: sta tutta là la differenza”. Eppure Di Tempora era destinato al sacerdozio, una buona opportunità per uno come lui, figlio di una famiglia modesta del Molise. “La mia famiglia non era ricca e io non ero particolarmente interessato allo studio: il sacerdozio era quindi un’opportunità sicura per il mio avvenire”. Il destino però sceglierà diversamente e la famiglia verrà richiamata da uno zio stabilitosi a Montreal, il quale ne sponsorizzerà il viaggio. A Montreal, Di Tempora scopre stupefatto la ricchezza: “Mio zio mi offrì una Coca-Cola, una bottiglia intera solo per me, non ci potevo credere. Mi sono innamorato immediatamente del paese”. Originario di Jelsi, Molise, Nicholas non ha conosciuto il padre prima dei sei anni. “Sono nato il 9 settembre del 1939; mio padre Giuseppe è partito in guerra prima della mia nascita. È stato fatto prigioniero ed è Traduction française à la page 106

me a Coke—a whole bottle! I couldn’t believe it. I immediately fell in love with this country.” Originally from Jelsi, Molise, Di Tempora only met his father when he was six. “I was born on September 9, 1939, and my father Giuseppe left for war before I was born. He was taken prisoner and interned in a Nazi concentration camp. He was a hard worker, but not a businessman. In Canada, he took a thousand different jobs. When I got my first car, he didn’t have one; I would drop him off and pick him up from his job. My mother Eleonora was also instrumental in my life. She taught me important values: hard work, honesty and, most importantly, the value of giving back. She would say to me: ‘You have two hands, one is for receiving, the other is for giving.’” In Quebec, Di Tempora built successful real estate projects but, by the late 1970s, he no longer felt the future was bright enough for him there. Besides, Di Tempora hated Canadian winters. “Doing business in Quebec had become difficult because of the political situation, but one cannot overlook that the United States offers 10 times more opportunities than does Canada. So, I moved to Arizona where I already had projects and business contacts.” In 1976, Di Tempora had the most fortuitous meeting of his career with Giorgio Squinzi, president of MAPEI-Italy (founded in 1937 by Rodolfo Squinzi, the company is a world leader in the manufacture of adhesives, sealants and chemicals for the construction industry). That encounter gave Di Tempora the urge to take on large international projects. “After a 30-minute conversation, we were partners, and yet, that meeting almost never took place. A minute earlier or later, we would never have met!” Building MAPEI-USA was an “incredible adventure, because before that, I had never even set a floor tile!” Di Tempora recalls. The business kept growing, making new acquisitions, and requiring more and more products and floor space. From 1984 to 2006, MAPEI’s growth across the Americas exploded by 1,000%. Di Tempora set himself to developing new markets in Latin America and Argentina, where he soon found similar success. In 2006, after 23 years with MAPEI Americas, Di Tempora stepped down as president and CEO and began focusing more on community involvement. He devoted the next five years to non-profit organizations in Quebec, making weekly trips back and forth from Montreal to his residence in Florida. He became president of the Santa Cabrini Hospital Foundation and a board member of Corporation de la Casa d’Italia, and got involved with many other charitable endeavours both in Quebec and in Florida. “It was time to give back to the community. One person cannot change the world, but might help lighten burdens on the poor.” Today, the retired businessman spends most of his time at his office at MAPEI’s facility in Deerfield Beach, Florida. “I don’t play golf. I don’t know how to do anything other than business. It’s my passion and my hobby.” He also devotes a lot of time to the Centre of Dreams and Hope—a Montreal organization offering therapeutic and recreational programs to children and adults with intellectual and/or physical disabilities—to which he has donated a building to house the non-profit organization. Di Tempora has been married to Yolanda Testa since 1968. He plans to visit his home in Tuscany as soon as doing so is deemed safe again.

stato internato in un campo di concentramento nazista. Non era un uomo d’affari, ma era un gran lavoratore. Arrivato in Canada, ha fatto mille lavori. Quando ho preso la mia prima macchina, lui non ne aveva, quindi lo accompagnavo al lavoro e andavo a riprenderlo. Mia madre, Eleonora, ha avuto un ruolo determinante nella mia vita. Mi ha trasmesso principi importanti come la dedizione al lavoro, l’onestà ma soprattutto l’importanza di essere generosi. Mi diceva: Hai due mani, una per ricevere e l’altra per dare”. In Quebec, Di Tempora concepisce e realizza con successo dei progetti immobiliari ma verso la fine degli anni ’70, racconta di aver avuto la netta impressione di essere arrivato a un punto in cui il proprio avvenire non sembrava più essere tanto brillante quanto desiderasse. Dice inoltre di detestare l’inverno canadese. “Fare affari in Quebec era diventato difficile a causa della situazione politica, ma non bisogna nemmeno dimenticare che gli Stati Uniti offrono dieci volte più occasioni del Canada. Ho dunque deciso di trasferirmi in Arizona, dove avevo già progetti e contatti di lavoro”. Nel 1976 fa l’incontro più decisivo di tutta la carriera con Giorgio Squinzi, presidente della MAPEI-Italia (fondata nel 1937 da Rodolfo Squinzi, il Gruppo MAPEI è oggi leader mondiale nella fabbricazione di adesivi, sigillanti e prodotti chimici per l’edilizia). È a quel punto che si concretizzerà il suo desiderio di sviluppare un progetto enorme di spessore internazionale. “Dopo 30 minuti di colloquio, eravamo soci ma mancava poco perché non ci incontrassimo: un minuto prima o dopo e non l’avrei incrociato!” racconta. Di tempora mette su la MAPEI USA, “un’avventura incredibile dato che prima di questo incontro non sapevo nemmeno come si installasse una mattonella!”. L’impresa non smette di crescere e di fare nuove acquisizioni, avendo quindi sempre più bisogno di spazio e nuovi prodotti. Dal 1984 al 2006, la crescita della MAPEI sul continente americano sale del 1000%. Di Tempora apre quindi a nuovi mercati, in America Latina e in Argentina, con altrettanto successo. Nel 2006, dopo 23 anni al centro della MAPEI Americas, Di Tempora si ritira dalle proprie funzioni di presidente e capo della direzione e comincia a farsi coinvolgere all’interno della comunità. Dedica i cinque anni successivi a organizzazioni senza scopo di lucro del Quebec, facendo settimanalmente la spola tra Montreal e la propria residenza in Florida. Diventerà presidente della Fondazione dell’Ospedale Santa Cabrini, membro del consiglio della Corporazione della Casa d’Italia e parteciperà a molte altre cause di beneficienza in Quebec e in Florida. “Era giunto il momento di dare qualcosa in cambio alla comunità. Una persona sola non può cambiare il mondo, ma può alleggerire il fardello dei più bisognosi”. Oggi, imprenditore in pensione, passa la maggior parte del tempo nel proprio ufficio all’interno degli impianti della MAPEI di Deerfield Beach, in Florida. “Non gioco a golf, non so far altro che occuparmi d’affari, è sia una passione che un passatempo” spiega. Di Tempora è sposato con Yolanda Testa dal 1968. Dedica inoltre molto tempo al Centre de rêves et d’espoir (Center of dreams and Hope), un’organizzazione di Montreal che offre programmi terapeutici e ricreativi a bambini e adulti con disabilità intellettive e/o fisiche, a cui ha donato un edificio per ospitare la Onlus. Conta di andare nella seconda casa in Toscana non appena la situazione sanitaria lo consentirà.

For a copy of Se puoi sognarlo, puoi farlo, Nicholas Di Tempora’s biography written by Simona Grillo, contact info@panoramitalia.com.

Per una copia di Se puoi sognarlo, puoi farlo, biografia di Nicholas Di Tempora scritta da Simona Gallo, scrivi a info@panoramitalia.com

Melissa De Genova Meet the Millennial elected to Vancouver City Council BY - D I A N N A F O S C H I C I A M P O L I N I

Incontro con la millennial eletta al consiglio della Città di Vancouver

elissa De Genova was the first Millennial elected to Vancouver City Council. She inherited her passion for civic engagement from her father Allan, a five-term City of Vancouver park board commissioner, but quickly set her own professional and political path. De Genova, who holds a degree in political science from Simon Fraser University, started her career in 2011 as a NonPartisan Association (NPA) park board commissioner and was then elected twice as an NPA city councillor in 2014 and 2018. She also works as director of development for the Vancouver Resource Society (a non-profit organization providing accessible housing for persons with disabilities) and is a vocal advocate for affordable housing, substance abuse prevention and treatment as well as seniors’ issues. De Genova comes from a well-known Vancouver pioneer family. Her grandfather, a stonemason from Casacalenda in Italy’s Molise region, built several iconic landmarks in Vancouver, including Hotel Vancouver. During the Second World War, her great-grandfather was interned as an “enemy alien” with 43 other Vancouver Italians. As a child, Melissa accompanied her father during his civic duties on weekends and extended hours. These family values motivated her to enter politics, but she also credits former Vancouver mayor Philip Owen (1993-2002)—a leader in the local and national debate to fight drug addiction—for inspiring her compassionate approach to the city’s endemic substance abuse problem. “There is still a stigma around substance users, but we need to give them choices, access to treatment, safe spaces

elissa De Genova è stata la prima millennial ad essere eletta al consiglio della Città di Vancouver. Ha ereditato la passione per l’impegno civico dal padre Allan, per cinque mandati sovrintendente ai parchi della Città di Vancouver, e presto ha impostato la propria carriera professionale e politica. La carriera di De Genova, laureata in scienze politiche all’Università Simon Fraser, è cominciata nel 2011 come commissaria dell’ente parchi per l’Associazione Indipendente (Non-Partisan Association – NPA), per poi essere eletta due volte come consigliera comunale dell’NPA nel 2014 e nel 2018. Lavora inoltre come direttrice dello sviluppo per la Vancouver Resources Society (un’organizzazione no-profit che offre alloggi accessibili alle persone con disabilità) e si batte apertamente in favore delle case popolari, della prevenzione e del trattamento dell’abuso di droghe, così come per le problematiche della terza età. De Genova viene da una famosa famiglia di pionieri di Vancouver. Il nonno, muratore di Casacalenda, Molise, costruì vari luoghi d’interesse di Vancouver, tra cui l’Hotel Vancouver. Durante la Seconda guerra mondiale, il suo bisnonno fu internato in quanto “nemico alieno” assieme ad altri 43 italiani di Vancouver. Da bambina, nei fine settimana e negli orari prolungati, Melissa accompagnava il padre durante i suoi impegni civili. A incoraggiarla a entrare in politica sono stati i valori della famiglia e l’ex sindaco di Vancouver Philip Owen (1993-2002) – leader nel dibattito locale e nazionale nella lotta contro la tossicodipendenza – a cui riconosce il merito di aver ispirato il suo approccio compassionevole verso la questione dell’abuso endemico di droghe in città. “C’è ancora un pregiudizio attorno ai tossicodipendenti, ma dobbiamo offrir loro delle alternative, l’accesso ai trattamenti, dei luoghi sicuri e siti di iniezione controllati” dichiara. “Dobbiamo lavorare insieme al governo e creare collabora-

and more safe-injection sites.” she states. “We need to work with the government and create partnerships in developing houses that are not just four walls, but foster a sense of community, like in some European models.” De Genova, who is married to a Vancouver Police Department officer and has a young daughter, made headlines when she successfully presented a motion to grant British Columbia veterans and serving members of the Canadian Forces free parking at city meters and lots. When the Standing Committee on City Finance and Services recommended granting the payment exemption only on Remembrance Day, she commented: “I will keep my word to veterans.” In November 2020, the council approved road tolls into downtown and Metro Vancouver Core to advance the city’s Climate Emergency Action. Newspapers reported that De Genova and three other councillors opposed the motion. “Vancouver is already one of the world’s least affordable cities, and a toll area would make it less affordable, hitting small businesses,” De Genova explained during our video interview. “Maybe a regional toll could be an option, but the best solution is to provide a better public transportation system and funding for the Broadway line. We need to support middle and low-income families. Climate action is important, but we must also consider affordability. When making decisions, we should consider all perspectives, think about vulnerable people and be aware of unintended consequences.” Being an owner of a marketing and event production company, De Genova acknowledges the economic impact of the pandemic and looks toward the future, crafting an ambitious proposal for recovery that includes bidding for the 2030 Olympics: “I am not so much an idealist that says it can happen tomorrow, but I am considering the opportunity. Before the pandemic, I submitted that Vancouver already has the infrastructure and could expect support from the provincial and federal government.” De Genova radiates enthusiasm and energy. “I won’t be afraid to stand up for the causes I believe in,” she asserts. “Being a city councillor is an honour, but entering political life was one of my hardest decisions. I asked myself: Should I run? I have a career; I have a family. But I can make a difference as a politician. I think of my daughter, and everything I do is about my goal of providing the younger generations with more opportunities, to encourage more women to become active in politics.” Families are the focus of her political action; she advocates for extended-hour affordable childcare centres to support parents who work non-traditional work schedules. Politician, feminist, entrepreneur, wife, and proud mom, De Genova is also molto simpatica, the kind of down to earth person you would invite for coffee like an old friend, but when she takes a stance is a force to be reckoned with.

zioni nello sviluppo di alloggi che non abbiano solo quattro mura, ma che trasmettano un senso di comunità, sulla scia di alcuni modelli europei.” De Genova, sposata con un ufficiale del dipartimento di polizia di Vancouver e madre di una bambina, fece notizia quando presentò con successo una mozione per garantire ai veterani della Columbia Britannica e alle persone in servizio nelle Forze canadesi il parcheggio gratuito nelle zone cittadine con parchimetro e nelle aree di parcheggio. Quando il Comitato Permanente Responsabile della Finanza e dei Servizi urbani raccomandò di garantirne l’esenzione solo durante Remembrance Day, il suo commento fu: “Manterrò la parola data ai veterani.” A novembre 2020, il consiglio ha approvato il pedaggio in centro e che Metro Vancouver Core portasse avanti il Piano di Emergenza Climatica (Climate Emergency Action) della città. I quotidiani hanno riportato che De Genova ed altri tre consiglieri si erano opposti alla mozione. “Vancouver è già una delle città meno economiche al mondo, e una zona a pedaggio la renderebbe ancor meno abbordabile, e sarebbe una batosta per i piccoli commercianti,” ha spiegato De Genova durante una videointervista “Possibilmente il pedaggio regionale è un’opzione, ma la migliore soluzione è quella di investire su un miglior sistema di trasporti pubblici e sulla linea Broadway. Dobbiamo offrire sostegno alle famiglie con reddito medio-basso. L’azione climatica è importante, ma dobbiamo anche tenere in considerazione la convenienza. Quando si prendono delle decisioni, si dovrebbero considerare tutte le prospettive, pensare alle persone vulnerabili ed essere coscienti delle conseguenze indesiderate.” Essendo proprietaria di un’impresa di marketing e produzione eventi, De Genova riconosce l’impatto economico scaturito dalla pandemia e guarda al futuro, pianificando un’ambiziosa proposta di ripresa che comprende anche una candidatura alle Olimpiadi del 2030: “Non sono così idealista da dire che sia fattibile immediatamente, ma sto valutando l’opportunità. Prima della pandemia, ho suggerito che a Vancouver ci sono già le infrastrutture e che ci si potrebbe aspettare il sostegno dei governi provinciale e federale.” De Genova trasmette entusiasmo ed energia. “Non avrò mai timore di battermi per le cause in cui credo,” sostiene. “È un onore essere consigliera comunale anche se entrare in politica è stata una delle decisioni più sofferte. Mi sono chiesta: “È il caso che mi candidi? Ho una carriera, una famiglia. So, però, di poter fare la differenza in politica. Penso a mia figlia e tutto quello che faccio ha come obiettivo quello di offrire maggiori opportunità alle nuove generazioni e di spronare più donne a partecipare al dibattito politico.” Al centro della sua azione politica c’è la famiglia; si batte per l’apertura di nidi più economici e con un orario prolungato per agevolare i genitori con turni di lavoro non tradizionali. Politica, femminista, imprenditrice, moglie e madre orgogliosa, De Genova è molto simpatica, una persona alla mano – di quelle che invitereste per un caffè – ma anche da non sottovalutare quando prende posizione.

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icture this: you’re designing your dream home. You’ve taken everything into account—layout, kitchen, bathroom, landscaping and wall colour. But how much thought have you put into your windows and doors? Windows and doors are a key component of a home, and the place where most heat is lost, leading to bigger energy bills. Yet consumers don’t tend to scrutinize the purchase very much, according to Sandra D’Andrea and Imre Mate, owners of NeuFenster. NeuFenster sells premium windows and doors designed and manufactured in Europe in adherence with European energy standards. Compared to what’s standard on the North American market, this can make for big energy savings over the lifetime of a home. “North American manufacturers haven’t evolved much in terms of technology over the past 40 years, and most high-end homes in Canada have very poor quality doors and windows,” says Mate. “A premium window will offer more comfort, more security and even more architectural options when designing a home.”

temperature will be 19 degrees Celsius, which allows for total comfort all year round, without overheating issues in the summer, and condensation and convection issues inside the home during the winter months. “From a homeowners perspective, this can open up a lot of options,” says D’Andrea. “The more constant temperature of NeuFenster windows gives you options like the freedom to place furniture next to a window and not worry about being cold in the winter. From a design perspective, our products can cover a bigger surface area with fewer divisions, which can also mean more clean lines and more visible light inside the home.” Their products are available in UPVC, aluminum or wood-aluminum with an array of styles, from the traditional to the modern, and with customizable colour and finish options like floor-to-ceiling windows and integrated, automated blinds and shutter systems. Security features include a standard seven-point locking system, anti-theft protection, sensors, motorization and child safety locks. All windows have premium sound insulation (as low as 47dB) for increased comfort against irritants like parties, wildlife, traffic and outdoor machinery.

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Efficiency meets sustainability In addition to default 48mm triple glazing in windows and up to 56mm glazing for the lift and slide systems, all of NeuFenster’s models are also Passive House suitable and most of them are Passive House certified. Passive House is a voluntary energy efficiency standard that reduces a building’s ecological footprint and results in ultra-low energy buildings that require little energy for space heating or cooling. All products are also designed with more than a 50-year lifespan, ensuring that comfort, security and energy savings last for generations.

Tilt and turn technology NeuFenster offers tilt and turn windows and lift and slide doors, popular in Europe for their flexible functionality. Tilt and turn windows can be opened fully inwards for easier cleaning. However, when Motorized blinds available with the handle is rotated upsmart home connectivity ward, the bottom locks into place and the sash tilts inwards, providing draft-free ventilation. They also offer better security than traditional windows due to their more robust construction and seven-point locking systems, which prevent the window from being pulled open from the exterior.

“A premium window will offer more comfort, more security and even more architectural options when designing a home.”

Opening the door to something new The relationship between NeuFenster and Internorm began in 2015. For D’Andrea and Mate, the choice to introduce Internorm products to the Canadian market was an obvious one. The brand has a large footprint in Europe with over 1,300 dealers, as well as industry-leading technology and a global reputation going back 90 years. The company’s three state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and 1,900 employees can produce 6,000 windows and doors a day in their factories in Austria. This also allows them to consistently respect delivery dates despite fluctuations in demand. “There was a huge underserved market for premium windows and doors in Canada,” says D’Andrea. “There are people out there building state-of-the-art homes and then installing windows whose fundamental technology hasn’t changed since the 1980s. We felt we needed to address their needs.” The push for more sustainable and energy-friendly options was also a big draw, and homeowners, architects and builders are seeing the difference Internorm products can make in a home. NeuFenster’s team of certified experts can service customers across Canada with installation and maintenance and can also work with architects and designers to integrate their products into new homes. The just-in-time production of their supplier in Austria and sophisticated logistics planning means that NeuFenster can offer lead times with almost guaranteed certainty. The company also has proud Italian roots. D’Andrea comes from an Italian-Canadian background, and some of their products are also manufactured in Italy.

See video of motorized blinds For more information, the team encourages people to get in touch with them directly or visit their showrooms in Montreal and Toronto. Their team of professionals will walk them through their options and help them make an educated decision.

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OLYMPICS

Canadian Olympic Athletes Draw on Common Italian Upbringing for Inspiration

BY - D I

ALF DE BLASIS

Gli atleti olimpici canadesi trovano ispirazione nelle origini italiane che li accomunano

elite athletes, Malinka Montanaro, Matteo Dal Cin and Sara Villani have all achieved significant personal milestones in their careers through their unwavering desire and commitment to their respective sports. These three young Canadians are all on divergent career paths, with Montanaro on the verge of representing the Maple Leaf at the Tokyo Olympics, Villani destined for the next Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022 and Dal Cin beginning to excel in his chosen professional racing career. They also share a common upbringing, as they are all childrens of Italian parents, who have instilled in them a respect for family, a love for traditions and an appreciation for the lifestyle we all hold dear to our hearts.

li atleti professionisti Malinka Montanaro, Matteo Dal Cin e Sara Villani hanno tutti raggiunto traguardi personali notevoli grazie a una forza di volontà e a un impegno indefessi. I percorsi delle carriere dei tre giovani canadesi sono al momento diversi: Montanaro in procinto di rappresentare la Foglia d’acero (il Canada) alle Olimpiadi di Tokyo, Villani destinata a partecipare alle Olimpiadi invernali di Pechino del 2022 e Dal Cin che comincia ad eccellere nel ciclismo professionistico. Tutti accomunati inoltre dalle loro origini: figli di italiani che hanno instillato in loro il senso della famiglia, l’amore per le tradizioni e il gusto per quello stile di vita che ci sta tanto a cuore.

Malinka Montanaro Fencing / scherma When she stepped off the plane in her hometown of Montreal on her return from an Olympic preliminary competition in Hungary in early March, 2020, Canadian epee fencer and Olympic Games hopeful Montanaro had no idea how dramatically her life would change in the weeks and months that followed. Just days after her return, Montanaro would be diagnosed with COVID-19. She was virtually bedridden for a month, suffering from the common symptoms of the virus: cough, fever, headache, runny nose and a general overall malaise. The otherwise healthy 26-year-old would eventually fight

Appena sbarcata dall’aereo atterrato a Montreal, sua città natale, di ritorno da una gara olimpica preliminare tenutasi in Ungheria all’inizio di marzo 2020, la Montanaro schermitrice canadese, pretendente ai Giochi olimpici, non aveva alcuna idea di come la sua vita sarebbe cambiata drasticamente nelle settimane e mesi a venire. Pochi giorni dopo il rientro, Montanaro ha ricevuto una diagnosi di Covid-19. Si è ritrovata a letto praticamente per un mese, colpita dai sintomi comuni del virus: tosse, febbre, mal di testa, congestione nasale e un malessere generalizzato. Seppur la 26enne, altrimenti di sana costituzione, sia riuscita infine a sconfiggere l’infezione, in piena primavera, periodo in cui di solito

Photos courtesy Devin Manky Photography

off the infection but, at the height of spring, when she would normally be traveling from one event to the next, Montanaro found herself trying to occupy her time as the virus brought all sports and competition around the world to a halt. Eventually she was allowed to begin individual workouts and, later, group sessions at Montreal’s National Training Centre at the Olympic Stadium. But as she was slowly resuming her training regimen, she had to confront another social illness—racial injustice. Montanaro is biracial, the daughter of an Ivorian father and Italian mother, and she had never been very vocal in regards to race discrimination. But the worldwide racial protests in the wake of the George Floyd murder moved her in a way she had never experienced. “I’m someone that keeps a lot of things inside,” she reveals. “But something about this movement hit me differently. It unlocked a part of me that’s always been closed to reacting. I cried every day just reading the news and seeing what was happening. I asked myself, ‘why is this happening now?’” Montanaro admitted she had experienced racism herself many times at school, in her sport, on the street, in different countries. She felt compelled to involve herself in the discussion. “I should use my platform better,” she states. “I should do a better job. I had been avoiding it for too long. I’m proud of my skin colour and to represent my sport around the world. I was the only person of colour on the national fencing team and I had never realized it before because we were considered all equal.” The 2019-20 season was a difficult one for Montanaro. Even before the pandemic, she had been struggling with personal issues, her performance suffered and her world ranking plummeted. But the downtime was beneficial because it allowed her to reset her values and rethink her goals. “This was the best thing for me,” she says of the opportunity to come home. “I wasn’t at my best and the time off allowed me to a be a better version of myself. Being home with my family removed all the stress I was feeling. Obviously making the (Tokyo) Olympics is my goal so I hope I can stay in the same state of mind (this) season.” The time spent with her family during the lockdown was important to Montanaro. She had always been very family oriented. Her mother is originally from Milano and, since childhood, she had infused in her daughter a love for the Italian culture, the language, the cuisine. Montanaro is worldly and eloquently trilingual. She lives and trains in Paris, she has Italian roots but she loves coming home to Montreal where her family provides the stabilizing influence she craves.

avrebbe viaggiato molto tra un evento e l’altro, si è ritrovata a cercare di tenersi occupata mentre il virus imponeva a tutto il mondo la sospensione di tutti gli eventi e le gare sportive. Infine, le è stato concesso inizialmente di riprendere gli allenamenti individuali e successivamente anche quelli di gruppo al National Training Centre dello stadio olimpico di Montreal. Mentre lentamente riprendeva i ritmi di allenamento, si è ritrovata a dover affrontare un’altra malattia sociale – l’ingiustizia razziale. Malinka è birazziale, figlia di padre ivoriano e madre italiana, e non si era mai espressa del tutto riguardo alla discriminazione razziale. Tuttavia, le proteste razziali di tutto il mondo seguite all’omicidio di George Floyd le hanno suscitato un qualcosa mai provato prima. “Sono una persona molto riservata,” rivela. “Ma qualcosa di quel movimento mi ha colpita in modo diverso. Ha sbloccato una parte di me che ha sempre evitato di reagire. Bastava che leggessi le notizie o vedessi cosa stava accadendo per piangere ogni giorno. Mi sono chiesta perché stia accadendo adesso. Montanaro ha ammesso di avere subito molte volte il razzismo a scuola, nello sport, per strada, in altri paesi. Si è sentita in dovere di partecipare in modo più attivo alla discussione. “Dovrei usare meglio la mia notorietà,” afferma. “Dovrei fare di più. Ho evitato di farlo per troppo tempo. Sono fiera del colore della mia pelle e di rappresentare il mio sport in tutto il mondo. Ero l’unica persona di colore nella squadra nazionale di scherma e non me ne ero mai resa conto perché eravamo considerate tutte uguali.” La stagione 2019-20 è stata difficile per Montanaro. Ancor prima della pandemia, a causa di alcune difficoltà personali, la sua prestazione ne ha risentito e la posizione in classifica è precipitata. Ma il riposo forzato è stato benefico perché le ha consentito di resettare i propri valori e di rivalutare i propri obiettivi. “È stato ottimo per me,” dice riguardo all’opportunità di rientrare a casa. Non ero al massimo e la pausa mi ha consentito di migliorarmi. Stare a casa in famiglia mi ha fatto scaricare lo stress di dosso. È ovvio che il mio obiettivo è di farcela alle Olimpiadi (di Tokyo), per cui spero di riuscire a mantenere questo stato mentale durante la stagione.” Il periodo trascorso in famiglia durante il confinamento è stato importante per lei. La famiglia è sempre stata molto centrale per l’atleta. La madre è originaria di Milano e sin da piccola le ha trasmesso un profondo amore per la cultura, la lingua e la cucina italiana. Montanaro è colta e perfettamente trilingue. Vive e si allena a Parigi, ha radici italiane ma le piace tornare a casa a Montreal dove la sua famiglia le offre quella stabilità di cui ha tanta voglia.

OLYMPICS

Matteo Dal Cin Cycling / ciclismo Family is also at the core of cyclist Matteo Dal Cin’s success. Born into a sporting family, he is a third generation cyclist, who inherited a love for the bicycle from his grandfather and father, an accomplished racer in his own right. Born in Ottawa, Dal Cin started entering races in his hometown when he was a teenager. One of the city’s most prestigious events is the Preston Street Criterium, which is staged every year through the streets of the capital city’s Little Italy. “It’s part of Italian festival week every summer,” he says. “My dad and my nonno would help organize it and I’ve participated many times. It’s extra special for me because it’s put on by the Italian community in Ottawa.” Dal Cin’s rise through the ranks of Canadian cycling began at the 2013 Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, QC, where he won a gold medal in the individual time trial and a silver in the road race. In the years that followed, he would join a strong international cycling team and reel off a number of important wins, from a national road championship in his hometown to the Tour de Beauce in Quebec to the Redlands Classic in California, one of the most prestigious bike races in the United States. Dal Cin, now 30, had been pretty lucky throughout his career in avoiding any serious injury. But just before the conclusion of the 2019 season, adversity struck when he fell in a crash and suffered a serious concussion. “It was odd and it was hard,” he recalls of the injury. “At times, I couldn’t have the lights on. I wasn’t feeling good at all. You’re just waiting. One day you feel pretty good and you go for a ride and push it a little bit, but it was like one step forward, two steps back.” Dal Cin was fortunate the concussion occurred right at the end of the racing season so there was no pressure from the team to have to rush back. “I was able to take my time during the off season and play it very safe,” he says. The 2020 season represented an opportunity to come back stronger and be a force on his Rally Cycling team. It had begun reasonably well for him with early races in Saudi Arabia, France and Spain. Then, by early March, the pandemic struck and Dal Cin was forced

Anche per Matteo Dal Cin la famiglia è il fulcro del proprio successo. Nato in una famiglia di sportivi, è un ciclista di terza generazione che ha ereditato il proprio amore per la bicicletta dal nonno e dal padre, corridore ciclista affermato di suo. Nato a Ottawa, ha cominciato a gareggiare nella propria città da adolescente. Uno degli eventi più prestigiosi della città è il Preston Street Criterium, organizzato ogni anno nelle strade della Little Italy della capitale. “Rientra nella settimana del festival italiano di ogni anno,” spiega. “Mio padre e mio nonno contribuivano ad organizzarlo e ho partecipato molte volte. Mi sta particolarmente a cuore perché organizzato dalla comunità italiana di Ottawa.” La scalata di Dal Cin delle classifiche canadesi è cominciata nel 2013 in occasione dei Giochi estivi di Sherbrooke, Quebec, nei quali si è aggiudicato la medaglia d’oro nella prova cronometrata individuale e l’argento nella gara su strada. Negli anni successivi, è entrato a far parte di una squadra ciclistica internazionale con cui ha collezionato una serie di vittorie importanti, da un campionato nazionale su strada nella propria città al Tour de Beauce in Quebec alla Redlands Classic in California, una delle gare ciclistiche più prestigiose degli Stati Uniti. Dal Cin, 30 anni, era stato abbastanza fortunato da non subire gravi infortuni nel corso della propria carriera. Tuttavia, poco prima della fine della stagione del 2019, è stato colpito dalla sfortuna cadendo in uno scontro e riportando un importante trauma cranico. “È stato strano e difficile,” ricorda. “A volte, non potevo nemmeno tenere la luce accesa. Non mi sentivo per niente bene. Stai lì ad aspettare. Un giorno ti senti abbastanza bene, vai a fare un giro in bici e ti sforzi un po’ e poi fai un passo avanti e due passi indietro.” Dal Cin ha avuto la fortuna di subire il trauma cranico alla fine della stagione delle gare potendo così risparmiarsi la pressione della squadra per rimettersi in fretta. “Ho potuto concedermi tempo durante la pausa ed andarci piano,” spiega. La stagione del 2020 rappresentava un’opportunità per ritornare più forte ed essere una potenza all’interno della squadra Rally

OLYMPICS to come home to Ottawa. “I was really looking forward to races that would have started in late March,” he recalls. “The one-day races in France with rolling terrain are what suit me best. That was my first objective for the year.” But COVID-19 suspended the world cycling schedule and he found himself riding a training bike during quarantine. He did virtual tours indoors and went outdoors for socially distanced rides whenever possible. Eventually, Dal Cin rejoined his team when a limited schedule resumed in late summer. “You try and make strides every year to become stronger in all facets of your sport,” he says of his ultimate objective in cycling. “My family has been incredibly supportive. Cycling is a sport where you develop a bit later than hockey for example. A lot of guys hit their best at age 30. “I was fortunate there was no pressure from my family to stop racing,” he continues. “My parents and family provided me with all the opportunities. They provided all the equipment and the races that would aid in my development to get me to this point.” Dal Cin is hoping for a gradual return to normalcy during the 2021 season, a year that will hopefully include a top-level event in Italy. “It would be something special,” he remarks. “It’s on my bucket list to do a proper pro event there and really experience the epicenter of cycling culture for me as a pro athlete. We’d have to bring a computer to my nonno and live stream it for him. He’d be over the moon!”

Cycling. Era cominciata abbastanza bene per lui durante le prime gare in Arabia Saudita, Francia e Spagna. Poi, all’inizio di marzo, è cominciata la pandemia e Dal Cin è stato costretto a ritornare a casa a Ottawa. “Aspettavo con trepidazione le gare che sarebbero cominciate a fine marzo,” ricorda. “Le gare di un giorno in Francia su percorso ondulato sono quelle in cui rendo meglio. Erano proprio quelle il mio obiettivo dell’anno.” Il Covid-19 però ha sospeso il calendario del ciclismo mondiale e Dal Cin si è ritrovato a passare la quarantena su una cyclette. Ha fatto tour virtuali al chiuso e, quando possibile, si è allenato in gruppo all’aperto, mantenendo le distanze di sicurezza. E poi, a fine estate, è rientrato in squadra con un programma limitato. “Ogni anno ci provi e fai progressi per potenziare tutti gli aspetti della tua disciplina,” dice riguardo al suo obiettivo massimo nel ciclismo. “La mia famiglia mi sostiene tantissimo. Il ciclismo è uno sport in cui si cresce un po’ più tardi rispetto all’hockey, per esempio. Molti ragazzi raggiungono il massimo a 30 anni” racconta. “Ho avuto la fortuna di non avere una famiglia che premesse affinché smettessi di gareggiare,” precisa. “I miei genitori e la mia famiglia mi hanno offerto molte opportunità. Mi hanno messo a disposizione tutta l’attrezzatura e le gare in grado di farmi evolvere fino a questo punto.” Dal Cin spera in un ritorno graduale alla normalità durante la stagione del 2021, un anno che, si spera, comprenda uno dei massimi eventi in Italia. “Sarebbe fantastico,” commenta. “Nella mia lista dei desideri c’è quello di partecipare a un vero evento professionistico e di poter quindi vivere in prima persona, da atleta professionale, l’esperienza nell’epicentro della cultura ciclistica. Dovremmo portare un computer a mio nonno di modo che possa assistere alla trasmissione live. Sarebbe al settimo cielo!”.

Portrait courtesy Sam Wiebe; action shots courtesy Ethan

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OLYMPICS

Sara Villani Bobsleigh / BOB

Sara Villani era considerata una “bambina selvaggia” perché, da piccola, si buttava in piscina senza nemmeno saper nuotare. È stato proprio quel suo coraggio a spingere la madre a iscriverla a ginnastica. Nata a Brampton, Ontario, si è dedicata per sei anni alla ginnastica al livello agonistico prima di perdere interesse per questo sport in adolescenza e passare all’atletica leggera. Piuttosto che selezionare una disciplina specifica all’interno di questo sport, Villani ha scelto l’eptathlon, una combinazione di sette discipline diverse. Ha predominato talmente tanto in occasione di quell’evento sportivo multidisciplinare da vincere il titolo nazionale junior e gareggiare ai Giochi giovanili panamericani. “Mi ha offerto l’opportunità di fare mostra del mio atletismo,” dice della propria passione per l’eptathlon. “Anche quando gareggiavo come ginnasta, partecipavo a quattro eventi diversi. Ho capito che quando mi concentravo troppo su una sola disciplina, mi facevo coinvolgere troppo inficiando così la prestazione.” Villani, 24 anni, trova da sempre facile dedicarsi contemporaneamente a vari ruoli. Studente-atleta all’Università Western Ontario, ha scelto di frequentare un doppia magistrale in Psicologia e Tanatologia – lo studio del lutto e del dolore. Per Villani, trovare un buon equilibrio tra sport e studio è un’abitudine che risale al periodo della ginnastica.“Per me rientrava tutto nella mia quotidianità,” ammette. “Mi è stato inculcato sin da piccola che bisogna saper gestire bene il tempo ed essere ben organizzati.” Non ci si sorprende quindi che Villani sia passata a un’altra sfida, dedicandosi a un altro sport, il bob. Ha attirato l’attenzione degli organizzatori sportivi quando ha gareggiato e vinto un evento a livello olimpionico chiamato RBC Training Ground. La combinazione di flessibilità, forza e resistenza la rendevano una candidata ideale per la versione a due di questo sport, motivo per cui è stata invitata a una scuola di pilotaggio. Tuttavia, dopo aver visto gli atleti dello slittino sfrecciare sulla pista, la paura ha prevalso e ha scelto di diventare piuttosto un frenatore. Sebbene si sia schiantata durante la sua primissima discesa, Villani ha continuato a farlo, gareggiando quindi in vari eventi internazionali

Portraits courtesy Dave Holland; Action shot courtesy IBSF

Sara Villani was considered a “wild child” because, when she was little, she would jump in the pool without knowing how to swim. It was this fearlessness that prompted her mother to enroll her in gymnastics. The Brampton, ON native spent six years as a competitive gymnast before she outgrew the sport in her teens and transitioned to track and field. Rather than select an individual event within the sport, Villani chose heptathlon, which combines seven separate disciplines. She was so dominant in that multi sport event that she won a junior national title and competed at the Pan Am Youth Games. “It enabled me to show off my athleticism,” she says of her fondness for the heptathlon. “When I competed in gymnastics, I was in four different events too. I found that when I focused on one event too much, I would become too involved and it would hinder my performance.” Villani, 24, has always been comfortable taking on multiple roles at the same time. As a student athlete at the University of Western Ontario, she chose to pursue a double major in Psychology and Thanatology – the study of bereavement and grief. Balancing athletics and academics is something that has just become a habit for Villani going back to her early days in gymnastics.“For me it was just part of a routine,” she says. “It was instilled in me pretty early that you need to have good time management skills and be organized.” So it comes as no surprise that Villani has now moved on to another challenge, transitioning to yet another sport, bobsleigh. She first came to the winter sport organizers’ attention when she competed in and won an Olympic level performance event called the RBC Training Ground. Her combination of flexibility, strength and endurance made her a prime candidate for the twoman version of the sport and she was invited to a piloting school. But after watching luge athletes fly down the course, nerves got the better of her and she chose to become a brakeman instead. While she suffered a crash on her very first run, Villani stuck with it and eventually competed in various international

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OLYMPICS events during the 2019-20 season, including a strong third place finish at Park City in Utah. Villani’s athletic season was just ending as COVID-19 encroached across the globe and shut down all sporting activity. So while competitions weren’t impacted, the pandemic did stunt her off-season training program. “Not being able to go to the gym is huge,” she admits. “There are negative consequences, especially in a sport where you rely heavily on power, speed and explosiveness.” But Villani did manage to work on her running technique, used dumbbells for her power lifting exercises and learned how to ensure her recovery is on par with a normal routine. Since she is preparing for the Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022, she has the benefit of time to continue to make strides and improve her technique in the sport. Like Dal Cin and Montanaro, Villani credits her family with all the success she has achieved in her athletic career. “I’m very lucky my family has been supportive of me in sports and shaped me to be a balanced individual,” she remarks. “My parents always wanted me to finish my education before committing to bobsleigh.” Away from her athletic life, Villani also devotes time to children through teaching—gymnastics and English—and she also volunteers her time as a camp counselor. “Working with young children is really fulfilling,” she states. “Being able to teach them and see that light in their eyes when they finally get a skill or understand a word is really refreshing.” Villani is also an ambassador for Fast & Female, an organization that provides girls with opportunities to stay involved in sports when they’re older.

durante la stagione 2019-20, aggiudicandosi persino un bel terzo posto a Park City nello Utah. La stagione atletica di Villani era appena terminata quando il Covid-19 si è propagato in tutto il mondo interrompendo qualunque attività sportiva. Seppur le sue gare non ne siano state intaccate, la pandemia ha impedito gli allenamenti fuori stagione. “Non poter andare in palestra è pesante,” ammette. “Le conseguenze sono negative, soprattutto trattandosi di uno sport che dipende tantissimo dalla potenza, dalla velocità e dall’esplosività.” Villani però è riuscita a lavorare alla propria tecnica di gara, ha usato i manubri per gli esercizi di sollevamento e si è assicurata che il periodo di recupero fosse allo stesso livello della routine classica. Dato che si sta preparando per le Olimpiadi invernali di Pechino del 2022, ha il tempo dalla sua per continuare a fare progressi e migliorare la propria tecnica sportiva. Come Dal Cin e Montanaro, Villani riconosce il merito dei traguardi raggiunti nella propria carriera sportiva alla famiglia. “Sono fortunatissima ad avere una famiglia che mi sostiene nello sport e che mi ha reso una persona equilibrata, precisa.“I miei genitori hanno sempre voluto che completassi gli studi prima di dedicarmi al bob.” Quando non impegnata con lo sport, Villani dedica anche del tempo ai bambini insegnando – ginnastica e inglese – e facendo volontariato come istruttrice di un campo. “È molto gratificante lavorare con i bambini,” afferma. “Poter insegnar loro e vedere il modo in cui gli si illumina lo sguardo quando riescono a fare qualcosa o quando capiscono una parola fa stare bene.” Villani è anche ambasciatrice per Fast & Female, un’organizzazione che offre alle ragazze l’opportunità di continuare a dedicarsi allo sport una volta cresciute.

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LIVINGITALIANSTYLE AMANDA GAGLIANO

Makeup artist: Vanessa Davis

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Nickname: Mandy Occupation: Lawyer Age: 25 Generation: Third Dad’s side from: Siculiana (Agrigento), Sicily Mom’s side from: Cattolica Eraclea (Agrigento), Sicily Raised in: Montreal Speaks: English, Italian, French What would someone be surprised to know about you? I’m an entrepreneur in the making, currently designing a “success planner” for individuals to plan out their goals and track their process to succeed. Tracking my goals and working on them in an orderly fashion helped me accomplish my academic, entrepreneurial and professional aspirations. If this worked for me, there’s no reason why it can’t help others! What’s the best thing about being Italian-Canadian? Going to Montreal’s Little Italy for a slice of pizza and socializing with my fellow Italian-Canadians. It’s such a heartwarming feeling! What’s an Italian tradition you want to carry on? Baking the famous Italian three-colour rainbow cake and bingolati with my future grandchildren, like I do with my nonna, while listening to the Italian radio station.

What Italian stereotype do you completely live up to? Italians are loud and speak with their hands; I am totally guilty of this. What movie title best describes your life and why? She’s the Man. In the face of adversity, challenges and society’s prevalent gender norms, if you adopt the right mindset and find your inner strength to persevere, then there is little beyond your reach. Ultimately, I believe that obstacles are inevitable, but you always get what you work for. You just have to believe in yourself and block out the noise. Favourite Italian expression and why: “Mi voglio fare la croce”. It’s the funniest thing to witness my nonna’s facial expression change when something upsets her as she yells out “mi voglio fare la croce” while making the sign of the cross on her chest.

BRANDON BRINI

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Nickname: Bello Brini Occupation: Researcher at CBC Sports Toronto Age: 23 Generation: Third Dad’s side from: Sepino (Campobasso), Molise Mom’s side from: Castelpetroso (Isernia), Molise Raised in: Montreal Speaks: English, French, Italian, Spanish What would someone be surprised to know about you? I read a lot of philosophy books; I am very interested in how the mind works. What’s the best thing about being Italian-Canadian? I have the opportunity to carry a wonderful heritage with me wherever I go, learning and applying the three C’s to my life in the process: calcio, cucina & cultura. What’s an Italian tradition you want to carry on? Calcio is a huge part of any Italian’s life. July 9, 2006 changed my world forever. Since then, my nonno, father and I watch every World Cup or Euro match together. I will make sure to do the same with my son and grandson. What Italian stereotype do you completely live up to? I say “ciao” to everyone, to the point where I even have “Ciao Bella” tattooed on my arm. What movie title best describes your life and why? Catch Me If You Can because I’m always one step ahead! Favourite Italian expression and why: “Mizzica gualio’” because it’s very versatile. You can use it for any emotional reaction you have.

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MARISSA ANTONELLA ROBERTO

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Nickname: MRob/Nella/Risser Occupation: Host of Digital SportsCentre at TSN, Esports consultant and LIVE event host/interviewer Age: Old enough Generation: Third Dad from: Roseto (Foggia), Puglia Mom’s from: Casacalenda and Larino (Campobasso), Molise Raised in: Saskatoon Speaks: English What would someone be surprised to know about you? I definitely lay it all out there on social media, so I’m not sure what would be surprising at this point. What you’ll find is that I love video games, teaching people about esports, I have a wildly unhealthy obsession with chips, and I am trying to master the One Wheel this summer. What’s the best thing about being Italian-Canadian? It’s the best of both worlds, although my nonna won’t spend money on real maple syrup. I LOVE being Canadian and sharing my Italian traditions with the many different cultures that exist here in Toronto. We are blessed here to learn, share and find similarities between ours and others’ ethnicities. What’s an Italian tradition you want to carry on? Everything Christmas (except panettone). Zeppole, the feast of the seven fishes and playing tombola with my family. I’m also a BIG fan of aperitivi. What Italian stereotype do you completely live up to? Talking with my hands. I never thought it was a problem until I got a gig with a company (that will not be named), and the field producer asked if I could stop moving my hands so much while doing interviews. I told her it was physically impossible— I use them to talk. What movie title best describes your life and why? Dazed and Confused. Amazing movie, but this title describes a lot of us in life—just doing our best to get by and be kind, confused by those who choose not to do the same. Favourite Italian expression and why: “Sono molto lieta di fare la sua conoscenza.” Learn this phrase and impress any Italian you meet. (Just back away slowly if this is the only Italian you master. You’ll set the bar too high and will only disappoint people from here on out.)

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MATTEO CAPRIO Nickname: Matt Occupation: Web designer/content creator Age: 34 Generation: Third Dad’s side from: Aquino (Frosinone), Lazio Mom’s side from: Tretto (Vicenza), Veneto Raised in: France Speaks: French, Italian What would someone be surprised to know about you? Tout le monde pense que je suis réservé et sérieux alors que je suis un vrai clown avec ma famille et mes amis. What’s the best thing about being Italian-Canadian? Pouvoir vivre à l’Italienne dans un pays chaleureux et multiculturel. What’s an Italian tradition you want to carry on? La famille avant tout. Je vis au Canada sans ma famille qui est en Europe alors je veux transmettre à ma fille de cinq ans les valeurs et l’importance de la

famille. What Italian stereotype do you completely live up to? J’adore les belles voitures rouges (Ferrari). What movie title best describes your life and why? Confession d’une accro au shopping. Addict au shopping, j’ai beaucoup trop de vêtements. Il m’arrive parfois d’acheter en double une pièce que j’aime et je collectionne les sneakers et les maillots de la Squadra Azzurra. Favourite Italian expression and why: “Chi va piano va sano e va lontano.” C’est ma nonna qui me l’a apprise. Elle me fait penser à elle. En temps que père de famille, je vis à 100 à l’heure, alors parfois j’ai besoin de me rappeler de cette expression pour ralentir et profiter de moment simple en famille.

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Literary Footsteps “Asolando” with Robert Browning

Silvana Longo Travel Editor

Impronte Letterarie “Asolando” con Robert Browning

ho is planning to go to Italy this summer? How many of us will actually resume our previous much-takenfor-granted summer vacations to il bel paese this year? We are at the doorstep of quite possibly a second consecutive summer hiatus from Italy—unless you’re fine with quarantining and COVID tests, then buon viaggio. For the rest of us, international travel depends on the success of the vaccine rollout, and whether both Canada and Italy will have a handle on the situation before we can indulge the fantasy of a tricolore reunion. Rest assured, once I do get clearance to fly again, I am not settling for a brief visit next time. I am prolonging my stay so I can truly savour the experience and take in as much beauty as I can stand. Thanks to remote working, that prospect is tenable. The idea of the long stay and this unrelenting desire to return made me reflect upon the many artists and writers over the past few centuries who were incredibly inspired and forever changed by their visits to Italy. It was this deep appreciation that spurred the editorial theme in the summer issue. A country that was discovered and loved by foreigners long before it even was a unified country. A place that touches the hearts of many and who long to return. Following the tracks of these literary giants is one of the ways we can continue our long-distance love affair with the country right now. Contributor Maureen Littlejohn takes on the ambitious topic of the Grand Tour era, which took place from the mid-17th century until the end of the 18th century. The outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars brought the Grand Tour to an end but it then saw a brief revival in the early 19th century after peace was restored in Europe.

Riflessioni di una giornalista di viaggi chiusa in casa

hi ha in programma di andare in Italia quest’estate? Quanti tra noi, quest’anno, potranno davvero riprendere a fare ciò che un tempo davamo per scontato, ossia una vacanza nel bel paese? Per la seconda volta consecutiva, siamo alle soglie di una molto probabile sospensione dall’Italia – a meno che fare la quarantena e il test Covid non vi vada bene, nel qual caso buon viaggio. Per noi altri, prima di poter abbandonarci al sogno di un ricongiungimento “tricolore”, i viaggi all’estero dipenderanno dal successo della campagna vaccinale, e dalla capacità di gestione sia del Canada che dell’Italia. Vi garantisco che questa volta, ricevuto il benestare per i voli, non ho intenzione di fermarmi per una breve visita. Prolungherò il soggiorno così da poter davvero assaporare l’esperienza e godermi tutta la bellezza di cui sono capace. Il lavoro da remoto la rende una prospettiva realizzabile. L’idea di un lungo soggiorno e l’implacabile desiderio di ritornare mi hanno fatto riflettere sui tanti artisti e scrittori che negli ultimi secoli ne hanno tratto un’ispirazione incredibile, e il cui viaggio in Italia li ha profondamente cambiati. Alla base del tema editoriale del numero estivo, vi è proprio questa riflessione profonda. Un paese scoperto e amato dagli stranieri ancor prima che venisse unificato. Un luogo che tocca il cuore di molti che desiderano tornarvi. In questo momento, mettersi sulle tracce di questi giganti della letteratura, rappresenta un modo per alimentare la nostra storia d’amore con il paese. La collaboratrice Maureen Littlejohn affronta l’argomento ambizioso dell’era del Grand Tour, compiuto dalla metà del XVII secolo fino alla fine del XVIII. Lo scoppio delle guerre napoleoniche lo interruppero per poi farlo riprendere brevemente, tornata la pace in Europa, all’inizio del XIX secolo. Tuttavia, per nostra fortuna, con l’avvento della

Duino castle image courtesy of Friuli Venezia Giulia tourism office

Musings of a grounded Travel Editor

Duino Castle, near Trieste is where poet Rainer Maria Rilke began writing the Duino Elegies in 1912.

With the advent of the railways though, visiting Europe ceased to be the sole privilege of the elite—thankfully, for the rest of us. Post Grand Tour, the draw of Italy spoke to many prominent writers of the 19th and 20th century—from James Joyce in Trieste, Rainer Maria Rilke in Duino and Hemingway who left his mark throughout the country—we can’t begin to cover all of them in any exhaustive manner. Instead, I chose to focus on one particular English poet who left his indelible mark on an enchanting town in the region of Veneto.

ferrovia, visitare l’Europa smise di essere privilegio esclusivo dell’élite. Nel dopo Grand Tour, l’attrazione per l’Italia si diffuse tra così tanti scrittori prominenti del XIX e del XX secolo – da James Joyce a Trieste, Rainer Maria Rilke a Duino a Hemingway le cui tracce si trovano dappertutto nel paese – che non ci è possibile trattare di tutti in modo esaustivo. Ho deciso dunque di concentrarmi in particolare su un poeta inglese che ha segnato in modo indelebile un meraviglioso paesino veneto.

“Open my heart and inside you will see / Graved inside of it, ‘Italy’.” “Aprite il mio cuore e all’interno vi troverete /inciso ‘Italia’.” - Robert Browning

Aerial view of the village of Asolo

The eternal return

Defined by Italian poet Giosuè Carducci as the city of a hundred horizons, Asolo is one of the most picturesque towns in Italy. The centro storico is contained within ancient walls that branch off from the 12th century fortress. There are testimonies of its 1,000-yearold history at every turn. Asolo was a key location in the Venetian Republic and the town was ruled by Venetian Caterina Cornaro, formerly Queen of Cyprus, for 20 years until 1509. Perched in the rolling Asolan hills, the town was a destination for poets, writers, artists and travellers who found inspiration and harmony as well as history and culture in the town. English poet Robert Browning was no exception. Asolo was always a magical place for him. Besides being transfixed by its beauty and historical richness, it was where he first got a clear sense of the immensity of the poetic challenge ahead of him. It was here where Browning overcame his writer’s block and, subsequently, went from being a largely unrecognized writer to one of England’s most celebrated Victorian writers. His narrative poem Pippa Passes (1841) provoked controversy for its portrayal of a young peasant girl’s movements through the streets of Asolo. Yet Browning’s boldest writing about Asolo came in his prologue from Asolando, published the day he died on December 12, 1889. In the town, the memory of the enamoured poet continues to this day. Interestingly, the bicentenary of his birth had been largely overlooked in his native Britain but was celebrated with a festival

L’eterno ritorno Definita dal poeta italiano Giosuè Carducci “la città dai cento orizzonti”, Asolo è una delle cittadine più pittoresche d’Italia. Il suo centro storico è racchiuso all’interno delle antiche mura che si diramano dal castello del XII secolo. Ad ogni angolo non mancano testimonianze dei suoi 1000 anni. Asolo offrì una posizione chiave alla Repubblica di Venezia e per 20 anni, fino al 1509, venne governata dalla veneziana Caterina Cornaro, ex regina di Cipro. Arroccata in cima ai colli asolani, la cittadina fu meta di poeti, scrittori, artisti e viaggiatori che vi trovarono ispirazione e armonia, oltre che storia e cultura. Il poeta inglese Robert Browning non fece eccezione. Asolo fu sempre per lui un luogo magico. Oltre ad esserne ammaliato dalla bellezza e dalla ricchezza storica, fu qui che ebbe per la prima volta una chiara visione dell’impresa poetica che lo attendeva. Fu qui che Browning riuscì a superare il blocco creativo passando, di conseguenza, dall’essere uno scrittore pressoché sconosciuto a uno dei poeti vittoriani più decantati. Il suo poema narrativo Pippa passa (1841) provocò delle controversie a causa del ritratto dei movimenti di una giovane filatrice attraverso le strade di Asolo. Tuttavia, lo scritto più audace di Browning su Asolo apparve nel prologo di Asolando, pubblicato il giorno della sua morte avvenuta il 12 dicembre 1889. In città, il ricordo del poeta innamorato continua ancor oggi. Curiosamente, a settembre del 2012 si è celebrato ad Asolo il bicentenario della sua nascita che, invece, era stato pressoché ignorato in Gran Bretagna, paese natale. Durante il festival, il suo lascito è stato passato

TRAVEL in Asolo in September 2012. His legacy was explored through poetry readings and presentations during the festival. Four years later, in 2016, members of the London Browning Society attended a cultural meeting and visited Asolo. These commemorative events were organized by Vittorio Zaglia, whose knowledge of Browning’s works and time in Asolo is profound. Considering Browning had only visited Asolo three separate times in his entire life, the legend fervently lives on. Under Zaglia’s tutelage, let’s revisit the steps of this literary giant. “The poet visited Asolo the first time in 1838, when he was only 26. He went to study with Italian tutor Angelo Cerutti, as he had been fascinated by Dante’s Divine Comedy, with a keen interest in troubadour Sordello Da Gioito. This particular study, and first time in the town in his life, inspired his work, Sordello,” says Zaglia. The road to paradise He arrived in Trieste via a merchant ship from England and went on to Venice. He travelled to the charming town of Castelfranco in a carriage and continued the tour on foot. After a long walk from Castelfranco and Bassano, his first glimpse of Asolo was from the Rocca, the medieval fortress which stands on top of Monte Ricco. “This view made him understand he had to change his way of conceiving poetry, giving a social meaning to what he was writing. This is the reason why he wrote Pippa Passes, which gave him the sense of a new way of writing,” informs Zaglia. In 1841, Browning publishes Pippa Passes, inspired by his first visit in Asolo. It takes place in La Torricella, which is one of the towers of the castle dedicated to the Queen Caterina Cornaro. In 1846, Browning secretly married the poet, Elizabeth Barret. They went to live in Italy just a few days later, leaving their families behind in England forever. He and his wife spent his entire married life mainly in Florence with stints in Pisa, Siena and Rome, until she died in 1861 at the age of 55 in Florence. Shortly after her death, Browning returned to London with his only son, Pen, who was 12 years old. Even abroad, Browning became fascinated with the art and cultural environment of Italy and would later describe the country as his university. “It is quite curious to say that he never took his wife to Asolo, probably because his love for this town was too intimate. He came back only 40 years after his first visit, in 1878, together with his sister Sarianna. And he experienced the same powerful emotions as in his youth, mainly when he climbed to the Rocca, where he could find the same echo he had heard so many years before,” recounts Zaglia. “I used to dream of seeing Asolo in the distance, making vain attempts to reach it,” Robert Browning told his sister of this one recurring dream which did not cease until his return decades later.

in rassegna attraverso letture delle sue poesie e presentazioni. Nel 2016, quattro anni dopo, hanno partecipato all’incontro culturale di Asolo esponenti della Società Browning di Londra. Questi eventi commemorativi sono stati organizzati da Vittorio Zaglia, grande conoscitore delle opere e del periodo di Browning ad Asolo. Nonostante Browning abbia visitato Asolo tre volte in tutto nella sua vita, la leggenda continua con entusiasmo. Rivisitiamo le varie tappe del gigante della letteratura con l’ausilio di Zaglia. “La prima volta del poeta ad Asolo fu nel 1838, a soli 26 anni. Andò a studiare con un precettore italiano, Angelo Cerruti, poiché affascinato dalla Divina Commedia di Dante, e profondamente interessato al trovatore Sordello Da Gioito. Questi studi in particolare, e la sua prima volta in città, ispirarono per l’appunto la sua opera Sordello,” afferma Zaglia. Rotta verso il paradiso Arrivò a Trieste con una nave mercantile dall’Inghilterra e proseguì per Venezia. Viaggiò verso l’affascinante cittadina di Castelfranco in carrozza, quindi proseguì il viaggio a piedi. Dopo una lunga camminata da Castelfranco e Bassano, vide il primo scorcio di Asolo dalla Rocca, il castello medievale che si erge in cima a Monte Riccio. “Questa visione gli fece capire che doveva cambiare modo di fare poesia, conferendo ai suoi scritti una valenza sociale. È questa la ragione per cui scrisse Pippa La Torricella passa, che gli fece percepire un nuovo modo di scrivere,” informa Zaglia. Nel 1841, Browning pubblica Pippa passa, ispirato dalla sua prima visita di Asolo. Si svolge nella Torricella, una delle torri del castello dedicato alla regina Caterina Cornaro. Nel 1846, Browning sposò in segreto la poetessa Elizabeth Barret. Andarono a vivere in Italia pochi giorni dopo, lasciando le rispettive famiglie per sempre in Inghilterra. Lui e la moglie trascorsero l’intera vita coniugale per lo più a Firenze con soggiorni a Pisa, Siena e Roma, finché lei morì a Firenze nel 1861 all’età di 55 anni. Poco dopo la sua morte, Browning ritornò a Londra con il suo unico figlio, Pen, ai tempi dodicenne. Persino dall’estero, Browning fu affascinato dall’arte e dall’ambiente culturale dell’Italia, definita più tardi come la sua università. “È piuttosto curioso dover dire che non portò mai la moglie ad Asolo, forse perché il suo amore per la cittadina era troppo intimo. Vi ritornò solo 40 dopo la prima visita, nel 1878, assieme alla sorella Sarianna. Provò le stesse emozioni potenti vissute da giovane, soprattutto quando salì alla Rocca, dove poté ritrovare la stessa eco udita molti anni prima,” racconta Zaglia. “Sognavo di vedere Asolo in lontananza, e di tentare invano di raggiungerla,” disse Robert Browning alla sorella di questo sogno ricorrente che mai si interruppe fino al suo ritorno decenni dopo.

TRAVEL They lodged at the Hotel Aquila D’Oro, which Zaglia confirms no longer exists. He eventually purchased Casa Tabacchi in the town centre in Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi on what used to be called Borgonovello. The town changed the name to Via Roberto Browning in May of 1912 in honour of the poet’s 100th birthday.

Alloggiarono all’Hotel Aquila D’oro, che Zaglia conferma non esistere più. Infine, acquistò Casa Tabacchi in centro, in Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi, in quella che un tempo era chiamata Borgonovello. La cittadina ne ha cambiato il nome in via Roberto Browning nel maggio 1912 in onore del centesimo compleanno del poeta.

Via Browning is the main street in Asolo

“I was right to fall in love with this place 50 years ago, was I not? We outlive some places, people, and things that charmed us in our youth but the loveliness of this is no disappointment; it is even more beautiful to me now than then.”

“Avevo ragione d’innamorarmi di questo luogo 50 anni fa, no? Sopravviviamo a posti, persone e cose che ci hanno ammaliati in gioventù e tuttavia la loro piacevolezza non delude; mi sembra addirittura ancor più bella oggi d’allora.”

- From Browning in Asolo written by Katherine C. Bronson. In 1880, Browning met Katherine De Kay Bronson in Venice, and they became close friends. She hosted him in her home in Venice many times. In 1889, Browning suggested she buy a house in Asolo, which is now called Casa La Mura. “The relationship with Katherine Bronson certainly is a romantic one, and this is the reason why he dedicated his last literary work Asolando to his friend,” says Zaglia. Bronson once wrote: “Robert, never tired of gazing from the Loggia of La Mura at the view over the plain, and of pointing out sites he had kept clear in his mind while writing Sordello and Pippa Passes.” “Robert was a great walker and used to walk to Possagno, Antonio Canova’s house, Maser and visit the Villa Barbaro, built by Andrea Palladio and frescoed by Veronese, San Zenone Alberico’s castle and Bassano,” says Zaglia.

Nel 1880, Browning conobbe Katherine De Kay a Venezia, e i due divennero molto amici. Lei lo ospitò molte volte nella sua casa di Venezia. Nel 1889, Browning le consigliò di acquistare una casa ad Asolo, oggi chiamata Casa La Mura. “Il rapporto con Katherine Bronson fu certamente romantico, motivo per cui dedicò all’amica la sua ultima opera letteraria Asolando,” spiega Zaglia. Una volta, Bronson scrisse: “Robert, non si stancava mai di ammirare dalla Loggia di La Mura il panorama della pianura, e di indicare luoghi che aveva mantenuto vividi in mente durante la stesura di Sordello e Pippa passa.” “A Robert piaceva tantissimo camminare ed era solito recarsi a piedi a Possagno, casa di Antonio Canova, a Maser per visitare Villa Barbaro, costruita da Andrea Palladio e con affreschi di Veronese, al castello di San Zenone Alberico, e a Bassano,” afferma Zaglia.

TRAVEL

La Rocca in Asolo, Veneto

Photos of Asolo comune courtesy of: Luciano Vettorato, Associazione Asolando, Aldo Pavan, La Torricella, Cesare Gerolimetto Asolo Comune: Archivio fotografico della regione Veneto

The last visit to Asolo In 1889, Browning went to stay with his son Pen, by now a painter, and his wife in Venice at Ca’ Rezzonico. On December 12, he received news that his last volume of poetry, Asolando, had sold out on the same day it was published. He told his son he was more than satisfied and died a few hours later. He was 77 years old. After Browning’s death in 1889, his son began living in Asolo, where he bought and resold many old palaces (Villa Scotti Pasini, Villa Belvedere, Casa Duse) to rich English or American people, starting the Anglo-Saxon colony in Asolo. “Robert’s wish was to purchase La Torricella and transform it into a school for the youth in the town. He did not fulfil this wish as he died before the local government approved it. But in 1893, the tower that Browning called Pippa’s Tower was bought by Pen Browning, Robert’s son,” says Zaglia. To honour his father’s wish, La Torricella became the site of the school of Antico Ricamo (embroidery) that same year.

L’ultima volta ad Asolo Nel 1889, Browning andò a stare dal figlio Pen, oramai pittore, e dalla moglie di questi a Venezia a Ca’ Rezzonico. Il 12 dicembre, ricevette la notizia che il suo ultimo volume di poesie, Asolando, aveva venduto tutte le copie lo stesso giorno della sua pubblicazione. Disse al figlio di essere più che soddisfatto per poi morire poche ore più tardi. Aveva 77 anni. Dopo la morte di Browning avvenuta nel 1889, il figlio di questi cominciò a vivere ad Asolo, dove acquistò e rivendette molti palazzi antichi (Villa Scotti Pasini, Villa Belvedere, Casa Duse) a ricchi americani e inglesi, dando vita a una colonia anglosassone ad Asolo. “Il desiderio di Robert era quello di acquistare La Torricella e di trasformarla in una scuola per i giovani del posto. Non riuscì a realizzare questo desiderio poiché morì prima che il governo locale glielo approvasse. Ma nel 1893, la torre che Browning chiamò la Torre di Pippa fu acquistata da Pen Browning, il figlio di Robert,” spiega Zaglia. Per onorare il desiderio del padre, lo stesso anno, La Torricella divenne la sede della scuola dell’Antico ricamo.

Big love This concludes the literary scrapbook tour of Robert Browning’s time in Asolo. Revisiting the places, people and events that inspired and influenced a writer who dearly loved Italy, who wrote about it and was forever transformed by the experience. It is heartwarming to know that centuries later, the love affair between writer and host country is reciprocated with tributes that honour and echo his presence in the places he once dwelled. After all, a mutual love and admiration is the best kind of love.

Grande amore Con questo si conclude l’album di ritagli letterari del periodo di Robert Browning ad Asolo. La rivisitazione dei luoghi, delle persone e degli eventi che ispirarono e influenzarono uno scrittore che amò profondamente l’Italia, di cui scrisse e la cui esperienza lo trasformò per sempre. È commovente sapere che a distanza di secoli, l’amore tra lo scrittore e il paese che lo ospitò venga ricambiato con tributi che ne onorano e ne fanno riecheggiare la presenza nei luoghi in cui visse. Dopo tutto, l’affetto e l’ammirazione reciproci sono la migliore espressione d’amore.

TRAVEL

Romance, Beauty

and the Grand Tour

How visiting Italy fueled some of the world’s finest writers

Romanticismo, bellezza e Grand Tour BY - D I M AU R E E N L I T T L E J O H N

In che modo visitare l’Italia ispirò alcuni dei migliori scrittori al mondo

xpanding your horizons, taking a gap year, searching for a personal Eat, Pray, Love experience. Whatever you want to call it, extended sojourns to find yourself are not unique to the 21st century. Exploratory expeditions to become a more rounded person have been happening for hundreds of years, but they really exploded in the 18th and 19th centuries when it became de rigeur for those with means to take the Grand Tour. Originally, the Grand Tour was a sort of coming-of-age ritual for wealthy young men. Often from England, they would set out with a head full of classical teachings and an eagerness to see where these fabled stories took place. The destinations were Paris, Italy and sometimes Greece.

llargare i propri orizzonti, prendersi un anno sabbatico, andare alla ricerca di un’esperienza alla Mangia, Prega, Ama. Comunque li chiamiate, i lunghi viaggi alla ricerca di se stessi non sono esclusiva del XXI secolo. Le spedizioni esplorative a completamento della propria formazione si fanno da centinaia di anni, ma fu nei secoli XVIII e XIX che conobbero un vero exploit grazie al Grand Tour, di rigore per le persone che potevano permetterselo. In origine, il Grand Tour rappresentava una sorta di rito d’iniziazione per i giovani benestanti. Provenienti spesso dall’Inghilterra, partivano con la testa piena di dettami della cultura classica e il grande desiderio di visitare i posti in cui Traduction française à la page 106

Notte Luminara in Pisa

“Scions of aristocratic families went out to discover the beauty and art of continental Europe,” explains Sebastiano Bazzichetto, a Venetian professor who leads an online University of Toronto course covering the Grand Tour this fall called The Italian Hours. In particular, Italy was a magnet for those who wanted to see the paintings, sculptures and historic monuments they had only read about. “It was a centre of power and seat of the Roman Catholic church. In the 17th century, popes were paying artists such as Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Michelangelo to create works in religious sites such as the Sistine Chapel. People on the Grand Tour wanted to come and admire the art and boast about it when they got home,” explains Bazzichetto. As we dream of travelling again after the pandemic, one way to approach a personal Grand Tour is to follow in the footsteps of some of the literary giants who planted Italy firmly in the public’s imagination. One writer who was deeply moved by his Italian experience was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who wrote a popular account of this travel from 1786-1788. He dared go where none of the other Grand Tourists ventured. “To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything,” he famously wrote. If you go to the ruins at Segesta with a copy of Goethe’s Italian Journey in your hands, you’ll be standing where he did. Scan the Greek and Roman ruins and you just might feel a fiery spark of awe, just as he did.

avevano avuto luogo quelle storie leggendarie. Le mete erano Parigi, l’Italia e talvolta la Grecia. “I rampolli delle famiglie aristocratiche partivano alla scoperta delle bellezze e dell’arte del continente europeo,” spiega Sebastiano Bazzichetto, professore veneziano che tiene un corso online all’Università di Toronto sul Grand Tour chiamato The Italian Hours. In particolare, l’Italia era un magnete per coloro i quali volevano ammirare dipinti, sculture e monumenti storici di cui avevano letto. “Era il centro del potere e sede della Chiesa Cattolica Romana. Nel XVII secolo, i papi pagavano artisti come Gian Lorenzo Bernini e Michelangelo per abbellire i luoghi di culto con opere come la Cappella Sistina. I viaggiatori del Grand Tour vi si recavano per ammirare le opere d’arte così poi da vantarsene una volta rientrati in patria,” spiega Bazzichetto. Mentre sogniamo di poter tornare a viaggiare una volta finita la pandemia, un modo per dar vita a una sorta di Grand Tour personale è quello di seguire le orme di alcuni dei giganti che hanno inculcato l’Italia nell’immaginario collettivo. Uno scrittore profondamente commosso dalla propria esperienza in Italia fu Wolfgang von Goethe, il quale scrisse un popolare resoconto del suo viaggio avvenuto tra il 1786 e il 1788. Osò andare laddove nessuno dei viaggiatori del Grand Tour aveva osato avventurarsi. “Non è possibile formarsi un’idea giusta dell’Italia senza aver visto la Sicilia: qui sta la chiave di tutto,” scrisse notoriamente. Se vi recate alle rovine di Segesta con una copia del Viaggio in Italia di Goethe, vi ritroverete esattamente dove si ritrovò lui. Scrutate le rovine greche e romane e sentirete la stessa scintilla ardente di stupore che egli avvertì.

TRAVEL

A plaque dedicated to Shelley in Piazza della Stazione marks the spot where Palazzo Marini once stood

For Romantic poets such as Lord Byron and Percy Shelley, the landscape and cultural environment of Italy compelled a personal quest. “They took a journey within themselves that triggered a reflection of who they were. Italy represented a muse that gave them different fruits. They were deeply moved and shaken. It was impossible for them to go back to the state of their souls before,” says Bazzichetto. Lord Byron lived in Italy from 1816-1823, ostensibly to escape a number of scandals surrounding debt and affairs, often with married women. In Venice, he lived in the Mocenigo Palace on the Grand Canal. At the Doge’s Palace, he spied the bridge that leads to the prisons and immortalized it in his narrative poem: Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. If you go to the Ponte dei Sospiri at sunrise, take along a copy of the poem. Breathe deeply and, as you read his words, you can almost feel the same dream-like compulsion that must have driven him to write: I stood in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs,/A palace and a prison on each hand:/I saw from out the wave her structures rise/As from the stroke of the enchanter’s wand:/A thousand years their cloudy wings expand/Around me, and a dying Glory smiles/O’er the far times, when many a subject land/Looked to the wingéd Lion’s marble piles,/Where Venice sate in state, throned on her hundred isles! In 1819 he moved to Ravenna where he wrote the first five cantos of Don Juan. But the real reason he went was to be near 18-year-old Teresa Gamba Guiccioli, who eventually left her rich, elderly husband for him. You can see evidence of their love affair if you go to the Classense Library where letters and locks of their hair are on display. In Pisa, Byron finished cantos 6-12 of Don Juan. His home amidst the elegant, decaying plazas and palaces of the Lung’Arno drew literati friends including Percy and Mary Shelley. Percy once wrote that in one of Byron’s Italian abodes (he had a few over the years) were “ten horses, eight enormous

Per i poeti del Romanticismo come Lord Byron e Percy Shelley, il paesaggio e l’ambiente culturale dell’Italia obbligavano a una ricerca personale. “Fecero un viaggio dentro se stessi che li spinse all’introspezione. L’Italia era una musa che offriva loro vari frutti. Ne furono profondamente commossi e scossi. Fu impossibile per loro ritornare allo stato dell’anima,” afferma Bazzichetto. Lord Byron visse in Italia dal 1816 al 1823, a quanto pare per sfuggire a una serie di scandali dovuti a debiti e relazioni amorose, spesso con donne sposate. A Venezia, visse a Palazzo Mocenigo, sul Canal Grande. Dal Palazzo del Doge, osservò il ponte che conduceva alle prigioni, immortalandolo nel suo poema narrativo: Il pellegrinaggio del giovane Aroldo (Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage). Se vi recate al Ponte dei Sospiri all’alba, portatevi dietro una copia del poema. Respirate profondamente e, leggendone le parole, potrete avvertire la stessa pulsione onirica che lo spinse a scrivere: Fui a Venezia sul Ponte dei Sospiri, /un palazzo da un lato e una prigione dall’altro:/Vidi i suoi edifici innalzarsi dalle onde/Come al tocco della bacchetta di un mago:/ Mille anni stendono attorno a me le loro ali nebulose, e una Gloria morente sorride/ dei tempi che furono, quando molte terre soggiogate/volgevano lo sguardo alle moli marmoree del Leone alato,/laddove Venezia sedeva nella sua pompa, troneggiante sulle sue cento isole! Nel 1819 si trasferì a Ravenna dove scrisse il primo dei cinque canti del Don Giovanni. Ma il vero motivo per cui vi si recò fu per stare vicino alla diciottenne Teresa Gamba Guiccioli, la quale successivamente per lui lasciò l’anziano e ricco marito. Testimonianze della loro storia d’amore le troverete alla Biblioteca Classense dove sono esposte le loro lettere e ciocche di capelli. A Pisa, Byron finì i canti 6-12 del Don Giovanni. La sua casa, circondata da eleganti piazze e palazzi sul Lungarno attirò amici letterati come Percy e Mary Shelley. Percy scrisse una volta che in una delle residenze di Byron (ne cambiò varie nel corso degli anni) c’erano “dieci cavalli, otto cani enormi, tre scimmie, cinque gatti, un’aquila, un corvo e un falco; i quali, ad eccezione dei cavalli, girovagavano tutti per casa.”

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TRAVEL dogs, three monkeys, five cats, an eagle, a crow, and a falcon; and all these, except the horses, walk about the house.” The Shelleys, like Byron, came to Italy as social exiles. Their messy affair upset both of their families and drove Percy’s first wife to commit suicide. Travelling the country extensively from 1818 to 1823, they lived briefly in Venice, Naples, Florence and Pisa. Percy finished Prometheus Unbound while in Rome and the tragedy The Cenci while living in Livorno. Mary wrote autobiographical novel Matilda and Valperga, a historical novel, during their time in Italy. Her most famous work, Frankenstein was written earlier while she and Percy were in Switzerland, but she named Doctor Frankenstein’s birthplace as Naples. Pisa and its Lung’Arno was a favourite spot for Percy, and he gathered a society of writers and intellectuals while living there, including Byron. He and Byron were known for their daily target-shooting practice that took them outside the city limits. Today, Rome is where Shelley, Byron and the poet John Keats continue to live through a collection of books, writings and busts. The Keats-Shelley House Museum opened in 1909 and is located at the foot of the Spanish Steps. Hoping to improve his health rather than pursue a muse, Keats arrived in Italy in 1820. He moved into the home at 26 Piazza de Spagna and died there of tuberculosis a year later. Ironically, he did not meet Byron or Shelley during this time in Rome, a city which had given them all such creative inspiration. For Romantic poetry lovers, no trip to Rome is complete without a trip to the Protestant cemetery. Shelley, who died in a boating accident two years after Keats, is buried here. So is Keats, whose gravestone reads: “Here lies one whose name was writ in water.” Today, Italy still draws those on a quest for the holy grail of beauty and meaning. Follow the course of these literary visionaries (once it is safe) and you might just find it.

I Shelley, come Byron, vennero in Italia come esiliati. La loro relazione complicata sconvolse le famiglie di entrambi, portando la prima moglie di Percy a suicidarsi. Viaggiando tantissimo attraverso il paese dal 1818 al 1823, vissero brevemente a Venezia, a Napoli, a Firenze e a Pisa. Percy finì il a Roma e la tragedia I Cenci a Livorno. Durante la loro permanenza in Italia, Mary scrisse il racconto autobiografico Matilda, e il romanzo storico Valperga. La sua opera più famosa, Frankenstein, fu scritta quando lei e Percy si trovavano in Svizzera, ma chiamò Napoli il luogo di nascita del Dottor Frankeistein. Pisa e il suo Lungarno furono il posto preferito di Percy che, durante la propria permanenza, vi mise su una società di scrittori e intellettuali, di cui faceva parte anche Byron. Era risaputo che i due andassero ogni giorno a fare tiro al bersaglio fuori città. Oggi, Roma è il luogo in cui Shelley, Byron e il poeta John Keats continuano a vivere attraverso una collezione di libri, scritti e busti. Il Keats-Shelley Memorial House aprì nel 1909 e si trova ai piedi della scalinata di Piazza di Spagna. Nella speranza di migliorare il proprio stato di salute, e non perché ispirato da una musa, Keats arrivò in Italia nel 1820. Si trasferì in una casa situata al numero 26 di Piazza di Spagna e vi morì di tubercolosi un anno più tardi. Ironia della sorte, non incontrò né Byron né Shelley durante la sua permanenza a Roma, città che aveva ispirato tantissimo i tre. Per gli amanti della poesia romantica, un viaggio a Roma non può considerarsi completo senza una visita al cimitero protestante. Shelley, che morì in un incidente in barca due anni dopo Keats, è sepolto qui. Lo stesso dicasi per Keats, sulla cui lapide si legge: “Qui giace un uomo il cui nome fu scritto nell’acqua”. Ancor oggi, l’Italia attira a sé coloro che vanno alla ricerca del sacro Graal della bellezza e del significato. Seguite gli itinerari dei nostri letterati visionari (una volta che sarà possibile) e magari lo troverete.

Lungarno inspired both Byron and Shelley

Other Writers Inspired by Journeys in Italy Altri scrittori che hanno tratto ispirazione dai loro viaggi in Italia:

Photography by Guido Bettini

Samuel Boswell: Boswell on the Grand Tour: Italy, Corsica, and France (1765-1766) George Sands: Consuelo (1842) William Wordsworth; Poems, Chiefly of Early and Late Years, “Memorials of a tour in Italy” (1842) Mark Twain: Innocents Abroad (1869) Henry James: Daisy Miller (1878); Portrait of a Lady (1881); Wings of the Dove (1902); Italian Hours (1909) E.M. Forster: Room with a View (1908) Ernest Hemingway: A Farewell to Arms (1929)

RECIPES

Recipes & photography by

Gabriel Riel-Salvatore Managing Editor g.salvatore@panoramitalia.com

Spicy Italian-Style Burger Hamburger piccante all’italiana

his Italian-inspired burger is made with a classic polpette mix and served with spicy mayo. Offered as a meal on its own, it calls for large, oversized buns. Packed with flavour and always juicy, even when cooked until well-done, this bad boy is a trustworthy secret weapon for your grilling parties.

amburger all’italiana realizzato a partire dall’impasto per le classiche polpette e accompagnato da una maionese piccante. In quanto pietanza a sé, richiede un panino per hamburger gigante. Pezzo forte gustosissimo e sempre succoso, anche quando ben cotto, sarà l’arma segreta fidata per le vostre grigliate.

Ingredients / Ingredienti Serves / Porzioni: 4-6

bomba Calabrese (spicy Calabrian pepper spread) / bomba Calabrese (crema spalmabile piccante calabrese) mayonnaise/ maionese scamorza cheese / fette di scamorza hamburger buns, toasted / panini per hamburger, tostati butter / burro sundried tomatoes / pomodoro secco ripe tomatoes / pomodori maturi button mushrooms / funghi bottone onion / cipolla white sandwich bread, crusts removed, cut into small pieces / pancarré bianco, senza crosta, tagliato a pezzettini milk / latte egg / uovo 85% lean ground beef / 85% di tritato di manzo magro 85% lean pork / 85% di maiale magro freshly ground black pepper / pepe nero appena macinato salt or garlic salt / sale o sale all’aglio steak spice / spezie per bistecca

. . . . ¼ cup (optional) / tazza (facoltativa) .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ....

¼ cup / tazza 4-6 slices / fette 4-6 20 g 100 g finely sliced / tagliato finemente 2 cut in rounds / tagliati a fette rotonde 250 g finely sliced / tagliati finemente 1 ½ (1 finely sliced and ½ finely minced) / (1 affettata finemente e ½ tritata finemente) 2 slices (or 100 g dry breadcrumbs) / 2 pezzi (in alternativa, 100 g di pangrattato) ⅓ cup / tazza 1 500 g 250 g to taste / quanto basta to taste / quanto basta to taste (optional) / quanto basta (facoltative)

RECIPES

Preparation / Preparazione • In a small bowl, combine the Bomba Calabrese with mayonnaise and mix well.

• In una ciotolina, mescolare bene la Bomba Calabrese e la maionese.

• Preheat a grill pan. Sauté mushrooms with onion slices. Set aside once nicely coloured and caramelized.

• Preriscaldare una padella. Saltare i funghi e le fette di cipolla. Quando si saranno dorati e caramellati, mettere da parte.

• Preheat the grill to high heat.

• Preriscaldare la griglia a fiamma alta.

• In a large bowl, mash the bread (or breadcrumbs) and milk together with a fork until it forms a chunky paste.

• In una grande insalatiera, bagnate la mollica di pane (o il pangrattato) nel latte e schiacciatela finché si formerà un impasto cremoso.

• Break the meat up with your hands and add the egg and minced onion. Season with garlic salt, pepper and steak spice to taste. Mix everything together until just combined. Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and form balls. Flatten the balls into 2 cm thick patties about 10-12 cm across.

• Lavorare la carne con le mani, aggiungendo l’uovo e la cipolla tritata. Condire con il sale all’aglio, il pepe e le spezie da bistecca a piacimento. Mescolare il tutto finché ben amalgamato. Dividere il composto in sei porzioni e formare delle polpette. Appiattire le polpette in dischi di 2 cm di spessore e 10-12 cm di diametro.

• Oil the grilling grates. Grill the burgers, covered, until nicely browned on the first side, 2 to 4 minutes. Flip burgers and continue cooking. Top the patties with scamorza slices until the cheese is melted, about 3 minutes longer or until desired doneness is reached.

• Oliare la griglia. Piastrare gli hamburger, coperti, fino a quando il primo lato risulterà ben rosolato, 2-4 minuti. Girare gli hamburger e lasciar cuocere. Guarnire gli hamburger con le fette di scamorza lasciando che si sciolga, per altri 3 minuti o finché si sarà raggiunta la cottura di gradimento.

• While the meat is cooking, toast the buns on the cooler side of the grill or in the oven, adding a little butter inside and on top of the buns.

• Mentre la carne è a cuocere, scaldare i panini sulla parte più fredda della griglia o nel forno, aggiungendo del burro sia nella parte interna che in quella esterna.

• Spread the spicy mayo inside both halves of the buns. Top with meat patties and add the sautéed mushrooms, sundried tomatoes and fresh tomatoes before serving.

• Spalmare la maionese piccante nelle due metà dei panini. Guarnire gli hamburger con i funghi saltati, il pomodoro secco e le fette di pomodoro fresco prima di servire.

RECIPES

Eggplant Parmigiana Towers Torrette di melanzane

s an alternative to traditional eggplant parmigiana, these single-serving eggplant towers are a wonderful summer meal. They are a much easier, quicker and lighter version of the hearty traditional dish, because the eggplants are grilled, not fried. Served hot or cold, this vertical rendition of the parmigiana is sure to impress your guests.

ome alternativa alla classica parmigiana, le Torrette di melanzane scomposte in monoporzione, sono ottime da servire come primo piatto estivo. Si tratta della versione decisamente più facile, veloce e leggera della più corposa ricetta tradizionale perché le melanzane non vengano fritte ma grigliate. Ottima anche da servire fredda, questa versione “in verticale” della parmigiana, sarà senz’altro di grande effetto con i vostri ospiti.

Ingredients / Ingredienti For 8 Towers / Per 8 Torrette

large eggplants / melanzane grandi . . . .

tomato sauce or Baby Roma (Datterino) tomatoes / passata di pomodoro o pomodorini datterini . . . .

400 g

mozzarella or scamorza / mozzarella o scamorza . . . .

200 g

grated Parmigiano Reggiano / Parmigiano Reggiano grattugiato . . . . garlic clove, halved / spicchio d’aglio . . . . oregano / origano . . . .

60 g 1 25 g

basil leaves / foglie di basilico salt and black pepper / sale e pepe nero . . . . extra virgin olive oil / olio extravergine di oliva

to taste / quanto basta

RECIPES

Preparation / Preparazione • Preheat oven to 200°C (392°F). Meanwhile, sauté garlic in a pan over medium heat. Stir in the tomato sauce with some salt and a pinch of oregano. Cook approximately 15 minutes.

• Accendere il forno a 200°. Nel frattempo aggiungere l’aglio tagliato a metà in una padella e friggere a fuoco medio. Versare la passata di pomodoro, salare e aggiungere un pizzico di origano. Cuocere per 15 minuti circa.

• While the sauce is cooking, cut the eggplants into rounds, approximately 1.5 cm (or just short of 5/8 inches) thick. Let them “sweat” by sprinkling salt over each slice, then stack them in a colander and let them rest for 10-15 minutes. Pat dry with paper towels. Grill the eggplant rounds on both sides in a nonstick pan or grill, 4 minutes on each side.

• Mentre la salsa cuoce, tagliare le melanzane a rondelle spesse circa 1,5 cm. Spurgare le melanzane con il sale, cospargendo ogni fetta di melanzana di sale grosso e sistematele una sopra l’altra in uno scolapasta per circa 10-15 minuti. Asciugarle poi con della carta assorbente. Grigliare le fette di melanzana su una griglia antiaderente o sulla brace da entrambe i lati, 4 minuti per ogni lato.

• Meanwhile, shred the mozzarella, put it in a colander and let it drain. Set the eggplant rounds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and season with salt and pepper.

• Intanto tagliare a pezzetti la mozzarella e metterla in un colapasta a sgocciolare. Disporre le fette di melanzane all’interno di una teglia rivestita di carta forno, salare e pepare.

• When the tomato sauce is ready, add a drizzle of oil and season the eggplant rounds. Top the centre of each eggplant round with two tablespoons of tomato sauce and garnish with a leaf of basil.

• Quando la passata sarà pronta, aggiungere un filo d’olio e condire le fette. Versare due cucchiai di salsa al centro di ogni fetta e guarnire con una foglie di basilico.

• Cut the scamorza cheese into slices and place on top of the tomato sauce. Place a second slice of eggplant on top and cover the entire surface with tomato sauce and some shredded mozzarella. Sprinkle generously with Parmigiano Reggiano. • Bake for about 25 minutes or until the mozzarella melts. Let cool. Garnish the eggplant towers with fresh thyme before serving.

• Tagliare la scamorza a fette e adagiarle sulla passata di pomodoro. Coprire con un’altra fetta di melanzana e cospargere tutta la superficie con la passata di pomodoro e pezzetti di mozzarella. Spolverizzare con abbondante parmigiano reggiano. • Cuocere in forno preriscaldato a 200° per circa 25 minuti o fino a quando la mozzarella si scioglie. Lasciare intiepidire. Guarnire le Torrette di melanzane con del timo fresco e servire.

Traditions Must Be Upheld Le tradizioni vanno rispettate The formula for getting rid of malocchio (evil eye) found in Toronto B Y - D I N I C K S PA R A N O

La formula per cacciare il malocchio ritrovata a Toronto

“C

incu foru chi ti vittunu, quattru foru chi ti ducchiaru, tri foru chi ti luvaru u Patri, u Figghiu, u Spiritu Santu e la Santissima Trinità, si avi u malocchio a mari mi sinni va. Fora malocchio intra Maria, fora malocchio intra Maria, fora malocchio intra Maria, fora malocchio intra Maria.” (“Five were the people who saw you; four were the people who glared at you; three were the people who took the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit and the Sacred Trinity away from you. If you’re cursed with the evil eye, to the sea it will go. Evil eye out, Mother Mary in; evil eye out, Mother Mary in; evil eye out, Mother Mary in.”) These are the first few lines of an ancient invocation that was found handwritten on a prayer card belonging to an old woman from Calabria who was taken by COVID-19. As far as we know this is the first time—if not in all of Italy, then at least in Toronto—that a meticulously handwritten formula for getting rid of the evil eye has been found. The note’s age is unknown, but it’s clear that it must be very old, possibly dating back to a century ago or more. It is plausible that it arrived in Canada on one of the ships that landed at glorious Pier 21. The nonnina—who kept it in her prayer book and was honouring a centuries-old tradition— had received it from her mother, and she would entrust it to her daughter when the moment to help people cursed by envious and ill-intentioned people would come. “My nonna taught me,” said an Italian-Canadian woman from Toronto, now in her forties. “I was 16 and I was curious to understand what this evil eye was, and why it mattered so much to my grandmother and her two sisters. It was Christmas Eve; we were home alone. The others were at church. She told me the prayer would work only if handed down on Christmas night, a few minutes before the birth of Baby Jesus. She had to repeat the words a few times. She spoke Calabrese dialect, and I couldn’t understand her much. But I memorized the lines and promised I would never give them away

“C

incu foru chi ti vittunu, quattru foru chi ti ducchiaru, tri foru chi ti luvaru u Patri, u Figghiu, u Spiritu Santu e la Santissima Trinità, si avi u malocchio a mari mi sinni va. Fora malocchio intra Maria, fora malocchio intra Maria, fora malocchio intra Maria, fora malocchio intra Maria”. Sono le prime frasi di un’antichissima invocazione, ritrovata scritta a mano tra i santini di un’anziana signora calabrese che il Covid ha portato via. Per quanto ne sappiamo è la prima volta, almeno a Toronto ma forse anche in Italia, che una formula per togliere il malocchio venga ritrovata scarabocchiata laboriosamente a mano. Sul foglietto non c’è data, ma è chiaro che deve avere molti anni, forse un secolo o più. È presumibile che abbia raggiunto il Canada su una delle navi approdate al glorioso Pier 21. La nonnina che lo aveva nel suo libro di preghiere seguiva una secolare tradizione: lo aveva ricevuto dalla madre e lo avrebbe trasmesso alla figlia quando fosse giunto il momento di affidarle il compito di aiutare le persone prese di mira da invidiosi e malintenzionati. “Mi ha insegnato la nonna - racconta una donna italocanadese di Toronto oggi sulla quarantina - avevo sedici anni, ero curiosa di capire cosa fosse questo ‘evil eye’ cui la nonna e le sue due sorelle davano tanta importanza. Era la vigilia di Natale, in casa c’eravamo solo io e lei. Gli altri erano andati a messa. Mi disse che la preghiera avrebbe funzionato soltanto se fosse stata tramandata la sera di Natale, qualche minuto prima della nascita del Bambino. Mi ripete più volte le parole, parlava calabrese e io la capivo poco. Ma imparai le frasi a memoria, promettendo che non le avrei mai rivelate a nessuno, altrimenti avrei perso il potere di scacciare il maleficio”. C’è chi non ci crede che esistono persone in grado di inviare, di proposito ma anche inconsciamente, delle onde mentali malefiche nella testa di un soggetto, maschio o femmina che sia. In molti, specialmente donne, sono però convintissime dell’esistenza di questo maleficio e si assicurano che le nuove generazioni continuino a com-

to anybody, otherwise I would lose the power to cast the curse off.” Some people don’t believe there are those who can, on purpose or involuntarily, send bad vibes to someone. However, many others, particularly women, truly believe the curse exists and want to be sure new generations keep fighting it. It’s common knowledge that people in Canada continue to make wine, soppressata and tomato sauce following methods invented in Italy and eventually exported all over the world by those who left the peninsula. The formula for removing the evil eye is also a tradition, one less common but of equal importance as the tradition of making maccheroni—the key element of Italian cuisine. The meaning of the word malocchio actually means evil eye, a malicious glare that radiates hatred and resentment and gives someone bad luck. It is believed the most common symptoms of evil eye are: nausea, loss of appetite, headaches, general work or love-related misfortune and odd coincidences. Malocchio also means iettatura, or jinx. For many people, it’s just superstition. People have believed in the power of evil eyes since the dawn of time. In the Bible, for example, we read, “And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David.” Is it just a coincidence? No, it’s the ever-recurring cycles of human history. Even before that grandmother from Calabria read the incantation from her prayer card, the Babylonians, the Jews, the Greeks (who called it alexiana) and the Romans (who called it fascinum) believed in the power of the evil eye. No matter what you call it, the very peculiar and specific procedures to diagnose and cast off the curse have been passed down through generations. Variations in the rituals will generally depend on the region you are from and the customs of the so-called guaritori (healers). The ritual of oil is certainly the one most used for understanding if a person is a victim of the evil eye. You fill the bottom of a dish with water, follow specific rituals and then pour in some drops of olive oil. As the drops hit the water, they will create different shapes that will let you know if the person has indeed received the evil eye, if it happened recently or a long time ago and even how strong the curse is. The person who executes the ritual is also able to tell if the curse comes from a woman or a man, depending on how many times they yawn while praying. The woman who left the card with the formula would recite the spell over the phone, along with her two sisters. Sometimes the verdict was unanimous, other times it was not. In the latter case, the majority would win. The prayers to Saint Cyprian or Saint Michael the Archangel, who defeated the Devil, are often used in southern Italy to get rid of evil eye, which can be cast on both people and things. Although most people are sceptical about the evil eye, they still remain cautious. Perhaps being cautious means doing our best to ensure the tradition of getting rid of the evil eye endures in our community, like the tradition of making wine, soppressata and tomato sauce.

batterlo. È risaputo che in Canada vino, soppressate e passata di pomodoro si continuano a produrre seguendo i metodi inventati in Italia e portati in tutto il mondo da coloro che hanno lasciato, volenti o dolenti, lo Stivale. La formula per togliere il malocchio è una tradizione, più piccola, ma forse ugualmente importante, come quella dei maccheroni fatti in casa. Il significato della parola malocchio deriva proprio dalla “mala occhiata” ovvero da uno sguardo malevolo che trasmette odio e rancore, portando mala sorte in una persona. I sintomi più diffusi sono: nausea e difficoltà nel mangiare, mal di testa, sfortuna in termini generali sia nel lavoro che nei sentimenti, coincidenze negative davvero strane. Il malocchio significa anche iettatura. Per molti si tratta di una superstizione. Tanto per esser più chiari, nel potere malefico degli occhi ci credevano dalla notte dei tempi. Nella Bibbia, per esempio, è scritto: “Saul da quel giorno guardò Davide di malocchio”. Coincidenza? Nossignori, si tratta di corsi e ricorsi storici. Prima della nonna calabrese nel malocchio ci avevano creduto i Babilonesi, gli Ebrei, i Greci (che la chiamavano alexiana) e i Romani (per i quali era fascinum). Comunque lo si chiami ci sono procedure, alquanto curiose e generalmente molto simili tra di loro, tramandate da generazioni per diagnosticare e anche eliminare questa maledizione. Le varianti dei riti dipendono generalmente dalle zone in cui ci si trova e dalle abitudini dei cosiddetti “guaritori”, che possono essere uno o tre. Il rito dell’olio è senz’altro il metodo più usato per capire se una persona ha il malocchio. Si riempie un piatto fondo con dell’acqua, si esegue un rituale ben preciso e si versano nel piatto alcune gocce di olio di oliva. Man mano che le gocce cadono nell’acqua prenderanno forme diverse che faranno capire se la persona è stata vittima di questa iettatura, se il fatto è recente o di lunga data e anche l’entità della maledizione. Chi compie il rituale è anche in grado di capire se chi l’ha lanciato è una donna o un uomo a seconda di quando sbadiglia durante la recita. La nonna che ha lasciato il biglietto con la formula recitava l’incantesimo per telefono, con le sue due sorelle. A volte il verdetto era unanime, a volta no. In questo caso vinceva chi aveva avuto due voti. Nel sud Italia spesso sono utilizzate le preghiere di San Cipriano e quella dedicata a San Michele Arcangelo, colui che sconfisse il demonio, per liberarsi dal malocchio che può essere a carico di una persona, ma anche di cose. Sebbene la maggior parte delle persone siano scettiche riguardo al malocchio, rimangono comunque prudenti. Una di queste precauzioni è fare il possibile affinché anche la tradizione di “cacciare” il malocchio resti nella nostra comunità, come il vino, la soppressata e la salsa di pomodoro.

BY - D I S A R A G E R M A N O T TA

Tony Greco, owner of Kitts Musique

Il cuore del Rock & Roll

a quiet, unassuming duplex on Jean-Talon Street, in the heart of Saint-Leonard, a predominantly Italian borough in Montreal’s east end, is where you’ll find Kitts Musique. Stepping into Kitts is like taking a trip back in time; there’s a functional rotary pay phone by the front door, the walls are decorated with posters and album covers, and there’s a wire coat hanger dangling from a retro wrought iron chandelier with a sign that reads “We love our customers.” Behind the counter is Tony Greco. If you’re a regular at Kitts and Tony knows you’ll be stopping by, he’ll likely have a hot coffee waiting for you when you walk in. Greco opened Kitts Musique, which is named after his wife’s native country of Saint Kitts and Nevis, in 1985. After years playing bass in various bands on the Montreal wedding circuit, Greco felt there was a need for a music store in the city’s east end. “The 1980s were a peak time for music, there were lots of bands being formed, the hair bands were hot and so I thought I’d take a chance and see what happens. Thirty-six years later, I’m still here.” Greco is pretty humble and self-effacing about his success, but as many of his clients will attest, the secret to Kitts’ longevity goes far beyond supplying local musicians with guitars and strings. Franco Contrino started hanging out at Kitts Musique when he was a teenager in the mid-1980s. Contrino was in a band called Outskirts and he attended Laurier MacDonald High School, just down the street from Kitts Musique. He remembers getting so excited when he found out a music store would be opening in the neighbourhood. “At the time, if we wanted to check out a guitar we had to take the bus downtown to the big city stores. As young Italians, we always felt out of our element in those stores,” explains the 51 year old. “It felt good to have a store that catered to us as young Italian-Canadian teenagers, a place to call our own.” Mario Biferali, who played guitar in a group called Krystal, also found a home at Kitts Musique. The two bands would often share a rehearsal space in the basement of the shop. “As teenagers, a lot of times, when we used to go to music stores they would always tell us not to touch the instruments, or ask if we had money or were serious buyers. It was a very cold ex-

Kitts Musique si trova in una palazzina a due piani, tranquilla e senza pretese, di Jean-Talon Street, nel cuore di SaintLeonard, borgo prevalentemente italiano della zona est di Montreal. Una volta entrati al Kitts, sembra di viaggiare indietro nel tempo; accanto all’ingresso, c’è un telefono pubblico a rotella ancora funzionante, a decorare le pareti ci sono poster e copertine di dischi e su una gruccia in metallo appesa a un lampadario vintage in ferro battuto, vi è un cartello che dice “Amiamo i nostri clienti”. Dietro il bancone troviamo Tony Greco. Se siete clienti abituali del Kitts, e se Tony sa che passate da qui, è molto probabile che vi accolga all’ingresso con un caffè caldo. Greco ha inaugurato il Kitts Musique, il cui nome viene da Saint Kitts e Nevis, paese d’origine della moglie, nel 1985. Dopo anni a suonare il basso nel circuito dei matrimoni di Montreal, Greco sentì l’esigenza di un negozio di musica nella zona est della città. “Gli anni ‘80 sono stati il periodo migliore per la musica: si formavano molti gruppi, andavano di moda le hair band, per cui pensai di provarci e vedere cosa sarebbe successo. Eccomi qui, trentasei anni dopo”. Greco è piuttosto modesto e schivo riguardo al proprio successo; tuttavia, come attestano molti dei suoi clienti, il segreto della longevità del Kitts va al di là dell’offerta di chitarre e strumenti a corda per i musicisti del posto. Franco Contrino cominciò a frequentare il Kitts Musique da adolescente, a metà degli anni ‘80. Contrino faceva parte di un gruppo chiamato Outskirts e frequentava la scuola superiore Laurier MacDonald, poco distante dal Kitts Musique. Ricorda l’entusiasmo provato nell’apprendere che avrebbero aperto un negozio di musica nel quartiere. “All’epoca, se volevamo dare un’occhiata a una chitarra dovevamo prendere l’autobus e andare nei grandi negozi in centro. Lì, noi ragazzi italiani, ci sentivamo sempre fuori posto,” spiega il cinquantunenne. “Era bello che ci fosse un negozio dedicato alle esigenze di noi giovani italo-canadesi, un posto che sentissimo nostro.” Anche per Mario Biferali, che suonava la chitarra in un gruppo chiamato Krystal, il Kitts Musique era come una casa. Spesso, i due gruppi si dividevano parte dello scantinato del negozio per fare le prove. “Tante volte, quando da adolescenti andavamo nei negozi di musica ci dicevano puntualmente di non toccare, ci chiedevano se

Photos by Vincenzo D’Alto

The Heart of Rock & Roll

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perience,” says Biferali. “With avessimo i soldi o se avessimo davTony it wasn’t like that; he’d let vero intenzione di comprare. Era semus try stuff and hang out.” pre un’esperienza molto asettica,” In the 80s and 90s, Kitts ricorda. “Con Tony non era così, lui Musique became a regular ci faceva provare le cose e ci lasciava haunt for many young musibazzicare.” cians in the neighbourhood. Negli anni ‘80 e ‘90, il Kitts divenne When the lunch bell rang at un ritrovo fisso per i giovani musicisti nearby Laurier MacDonald del quartiere. Greco ricorda che, al High, Greco remembers his suono della campanella della vicina shop filling up with teenagers scuola Laurier MacDonald, il negozio eager to check out his latest si riempiva di adolescenti curiosi di wares. He knew they probably dare un’occhiata alle ultimissime noweren’t going to buy anything, vità. Sapeva che probabilmente non but he welcomed them anyway. avrebbero comprato nulla, ma li acco“They were young kids, maybe glieva ugualmente. “Erano ragazzini, they were having a hard time magari se la passavano male a casa Kitts Musique Musical Instrument Store at home, their parents would e i genitori gli stavano addosso. Gli be on their back. I gave them a coffee, a place to be where they offrivo il caffè e un posto in cui sentirsi al sicuro. A volte bastava una felt safe. Sometimes just a kind word was enough to get them sola parola gentile per rimetterli in sesto.” back on track.” Greco ordinava addirittura la pizza per gli habitué che amavano freGreco would even order pizza for all the regulars who liked to quentare il negozio nel fine settimana: “Il sabato mangiavamo pizza, drop into the store on the weekend. “We always have pizza on era una nostra tradizione. Li devi fare mangiare, no?” ride il 66enne. Saturdays; that’s our tradition. You have to feed them, right?” Biferali ricorda che il sabato pomeriggio prendeva l’autobus 32 per laughs the 66 year-old. andare a bazzicare al Kitts Musique. “Invece di andarcene in un bar Biferali remembers taking the number 32 bus on Saturday o nelle sale giochi, ce ne andavamo da Tony. Quindi, per tutti quelli afternoons to hang out at Kitts Musique. “Instead of going to a come noi che non rientravano in un gruppo, che non erano atletici, bar or playing arcades, we went to Tony’s. So, for all of us who ecco che avevamo infine trovato la nostra cricca,” racconta. “Quando didn’t fit in, who weren’t jocks, we had our own gang now,” says si cresce a Saint-Leonard o a Montreal nord, è importante trovarsi Biferali. “When you grow up in Saint-Leonard or Montrealsubito una passione per tenersi fuori dai guai. Tony ha alimentato North, you need to find your passion early on to stay out of la nostra passione per la musica e così facendo ha probabilmente trouble. Tony nurtured our passion for music and probably cambiato il corso della vita di molti di noi.” changed the course of a lot of lives.” Biferali e Contrino raccontano che, quando i clienti si esibivano When his clients perform at local venues, Biferali and Contrino nei vari locali, tra il pubblico si vedeva sempre la faccia sorridente di say you can always count on seeing Tony’s smiling face in the Tony. Quando andavano in giro, addirittura, gli faceva recapitare in audience. He’s even sent care packages filled with guitar strings hotel pacchetti regalo pieni di corde per la chitarra e altri prodotti and other essentials to their hotels when they were on the road. essenziali. Una delle pareti del Kitts è decorata con cartoline inviate nel One of the walls at Kitts is lined with postcards Greco has received corso degli anni a Greco dai musicisti in tournée. Pare che ognuno from touring musicians over the years. Everyone seems to have abbia una storia da raccontare su chiamate d’emergenza a Tony stories to tell about making emergency calls to Tony because per via di un amplificatore scoppiato a un’ora dal concerto, pertheir amplifier blew one hour before a show, or they needed an ché serviva una chitarra acustica o qualcuno che sponsorizzasse le acoustic guitar or someone to sponsor their t-shirts. “Tony is like magliette. “Tony è come il padrino del rock and roll,” dice Contrino. our godfather of rock and roll,” says Contrino. “He taught us “Ci ha insegnato molto sulla chitarra, ci ha sempre tirato fuori dai about guitars, he always bailed us out and he often did it for free guai, spesso gratis perché sapeva che eravamo giovani musicisti e because he knew we were young musicians and probably couldn’t probabilmente non potevamo permettercelo. Molto di quello che ho afford it. A lot of what I learned about music and life comes imparato sulla musica e la vita viene da quegli anni cruciali trascorsi down to those pivotal years in Tony’s shop.” nel negozio di Tony.” Dominic Cifarelli is a local singer and guitar player who Dominic Cifarelli è un cantante e chitarrista del posto che ha started hanging out a Kitts Musique in the mid-1990s. He says cominciato a frequentare il Kitts Musique a metà degli anni ‘90. Dice he still pops in to visit Greco at least once a week. Cifarelli says di andare ancora a trovare Greco almeno una volta alla settimana. Greco is like a favourite uncle who’s always ready with a cup of Cifarelli dice che Greco è come lo zio preferito, sempre pronto a ofcoffee and a friendly ear. “When I was down and out and I didn’t frirti un caffè e ad ascoltarti. “Quando ero squattrinato e non avevo have much money, he gave me a place to rehearse my music and molti soldi, mi offriva un posto in cui fare le prove e molte altre cose so many things for free because he knew I couldn’t afford it. I’ve gratis perché sapeva che non potevo permettermele. Non ho mai never seen anybody that generous.” conosciuto altri così generosi.” For his part, Greco is pretty humble about the role he’s played Dal canto suo, Greco si mostra umile riguardo al ruolo giocato in the lives and careers of the many musicians who have walked nella vita e nella carriera di molti musicisti che hanno frequentato il through his door. “I’ve gotten a great, great life out of it. They’ve suo negozio. “Ci ho guadagnato una vita fantastica. Mi hanno dato given me more than they actually know. I go to their shows and molto più di quanto si rendano conto. Assisto ai loro spettacoli e mi I’m so proud of them. I’m very thankful that they believe in me inorgoglisco. Sono profondamente grato per la loro fiducia in me e and that I’ve made a mark on them.” per aver lasciato un segno nella loro vita.”

Can Banquet Halls Bounce Back?

BY - D I L AU RA G U Z Z O

Riusciranno le sale ricevimento a riprendersi dal Covid?

It’s

Adapting to the new normal

pretty safe to say that 2020 derailed many dream wedding plans. COVID-19 restrictions banned large gatherings in almost every province, leaving couples no option but to wait it out or to scale back their celebrations significantly—at least by traditional Italian wedding standards. For an industry that relies almost solely on large gatherings, banquet halls and event venues have felt the sting of these restrictions more keenly than others. “The whole industry has suffered,” says Vince Morena, owner of Plaza PMG in Montreal, which includes venues such as Plaza Volare, Plaza Vogue and Plaza Centre-Ville. “From limousine drivers to dressmakers to jewellers—they’re all devastated.” Morena’s 11 properties have sat empty with no events for nearly a year and a half, and he’s had to let staff go. In addition to the loss of revenue, there is also the uncertainty of just when his halls will be allowed to reopen, which has meant juggling cancellations and rescheduling

Alla ricerca di modi per adeguarsi alla nuova normalità

ossiamo dire che il 2020 ha fatto deragliare l’organizzazione del matrimonio da sogno di molti. Le restrizioni legate al Covid hanno proibito i grandi assembramenti nella maggioranza delle province, senza lasciare alle coppie altra scelta se non quella di posticipare o ridurre di molto il ricevimento, quantomeno per gli standard dei matrimoni italiani. Quindi, trattandosi di un settore che dipende quasi esclusivamente da grandi assembramenti, le sale ricevimento ed eventi hanno sofferto più di altri le restrizioni legate alle crisi. “Ne ha risentito l’intero settore,” afferma Vince Morena, proprietario di Plaza PMG a Montreal, che comprende sale come Plaza Volare, Plaza Vogue e Plaza Centre-Ville. “Dagli autisti delle limousine ai sarti ai gioiellieri, sono tutti devastati.” Le 10 proprietà di Morena ferme da quasi un anno e mezzo, lo hanno costretto a licenziare il personale. Alla perdita di incassi si va ad aggiungere inoltre l’incertezza su quando gli sarà concesso di riaprire le sale, il che comporta doversi districare tra disdette e cambiamenti di data – in certi casi, più volte per lo stesso matrimonio. Come la maggior parte delle persone, anche lui non vede l’ora

events—sometimes multiple times for the same wedding. Like most people, he is eager for the pandemic to subside so he can get his operations up and running again, not just for himself and his staff, but so his guests can also enjoy a long-awaited sense of celebration. “People want to feel good about dressing up and going out again,” he says. “They want to be wined and dined. These are the rewards of life.” Saying “I don’t” to weddings Casa Loma, Toronto in 2020-2021 A recent study in Ontario estimates the loss in revenues for the wedding industry in the province at $780 million. And while the report paints an optimistic picture for the future—2022 is forecast to be a record year thanks to pentup demand—hall owners and operators who will be lucky enough to still have a business by then are left biding their time. Nick Di Donato runs Liberty Group in Toronto, which operates the famous Casa Loma and Liberty Grand, as well as a number of restaurants. With events grinding to a halt in the GTA, he has had to lay off hundreds of employees. His restaurants have managed to continue some business thanks to takeout and patio service, but otherwise his operations have been virtually shuttered. “This has been the most difficult time in my life with respect to our business,” he says. One of the hardest parts of the pandemic has been finding a way to ensure the long-term sustainability of the business with little or no government support. Even with the few smaller events he was able to host in 2020, it still has not been enough. “Doing an event for 50 people costs more than not doing it at all when you factor in the cost to open up the space and bring in employees,” he says. Federal and provincial programs have largely benefitted workers or landlords, leaving his business in the cold when it comes to subsidies. “There are other costs involved in maintaining the business,” he says. “You don’t just shut down, lock up and come back next year.” Nuptials in a post-COVID world With vaccine campaigns ramping up and the end to long lockdowns in sight, many banquet hall owners have hope their events can resume in 2021, but they also admit that COVID has changed people’s expectations with regards to social distancing and sanitary measures. It has also made some people skittish about large gatherings, leading hall owners to start thinking about what post-pandemic weddings could look like. At the Montecassino Place Hotel and Events Venue, which has locations in Toronto and Vaughan, owner Toni Varone has spent most of 2020 planning for the new normal. Since he owns the buildings in which his halls operate, and didn’t have the burden of rent to worry about, he was

che la pandemia si riduca così da rimettere tutto in moto, non solo per se stesso e il suo personale, ma anche per gli ospiti che potranno così godersi una tanto attesa atmosfera di festa. “Le persone hanno voglia di mettersi in tiro e di tornare a uscire,” spiega. “Vogliono che le si inviti a cena. Sono queste le cose belle della vita.” 2020-2021: i matrimoni del “no” Uno studio recente condotto in Ontario ha stimato che la perdita di fatturato nel settore dei matrimoni della provincia corrisponde a 780 milioni di dollari. Sebbene il rapporto dipinga un quadro ottimistico per il futuro – si prevede un 2022 da record per via dell’impennata della richiesta – i proprietari delle sale da ricevimento e gli operatori del settore che saranno abbastanza fortunati da essere ancora in affari per allora, al momento possono solo aspettare. Nick Di Donato gestisce il Liberty Group di Toronto che, in aggiunta a vari ristoranti, comprende le famose Casa Loma e Liberty Grand. Il blocco totale degli eventi nella GTA lo ha costretto a licenziare centinaia di impiegati. I suoi ristoranti sono riusciti a rimanere in parte attivi grazie al servizio da asporto e alle terrazze all’esterno ma, al di là di questo, le attività sono praticamente ferme. “È il periodo più difficile della mia vita dal punto di vista lavorativo” sostiene. Una delle cose più difficili della pandemia è stata trovare un modo per assicurare una certa continuità a lungo termine all’azienda, nonostante il sostegno irrisorio se non nullo del governo. Non bastano nemmeno i pochi piccoli eventi organizzati nel 2020. “Mettere su un evento per 50 persone costa più di non farne del tutto, se si considerano i costi di apertura del locale e del personale” sottolinea. I programmi federali e provinciali hanno abbondantemente sostenuto lavoratori e locatori, lasciando le attività commerciali scoperte in termini di sussidi. “Ci sono altri costi impliciti in un’attività,” aggiunge. “Non è che chiudi, sigilli e ritorni dopo un anno.” I matrimoni del post-Covid Grazie all’intensificazione della campagna vaccinale e alla fine di questo lungo lockdown all’orizzonte, molti proprietari di sale di ricevimento sperano di riprendere a fare eventi nel 2021. Tuttavia, riconoscono che il Covid ha fatto sì che le aspettative delle persone riguardo al distanziamento sociale e alle misure sanitarie cambiassero. Inoltre, alcuni non si sentono a proprio agio in mezzo a grandi assembramenti, cosa che porta i proprietari delle sale di ricevimento a riflettere sulle modalità d’organizzazione dei matrimoni dopo la pandemia. Toni Varone, proprietario del Montecassino Place Hotel e dell’Events Venue, con sedi a Toronto e a Vaughan, ha trascorso gran parte del 2020 a pianificare in previsione della nuova realtà. Essendo proprietario degli immobili in cui si svolgono i ricevimenti, e non dovendo preoccuparsi del peso dell’affitto, era nella posizione di poter cominciare ad apportare qualche modifica. “Abbiamo rinnovato tantissimo la cucina per aggiungere più stazioni di pulizia delle

in a position to be able to start making some adjustments. “We did a major renovation of our kitchen to include more dishwashing stations and better social distancing. We’ll also be doing more training with our staff on safety protocols,” he says. The same goes for Pino Nicosia, who manages marketing for the soon-to-be-opened Westbury Ballroom in Montreal. While most halls are struggling for survival, Nicosia and the team are busy planning the opening of a new, luxury event space. He says the fact that the venue has yet to open works to their advantage. With no events to postpone, he and the team can work on developing proper social distancing protocols and position the space as another option for the backlog of couples looking for a place to celebrate their special day. “We already Plaza PMG, Montreal have lots of confirmed, signed bookings for next year,” he says. He is also seeing firsthand how the pandemic has affected couples who have lost out on other bookings. “Couples are scrutinizing the contract like I’ve never seen before. They want to make sure they won’t lose their money before signing.” To help ease couples’ fears, the Westbury contract includes a clause protecting them from any change in government guidelines. Most hall owners agree that since people are social creatures, events will eventually resume but with certain changes. Food will need to be served individually, meaning the lavish antipasto bars will be a thing of the past. Tables may need greater spacing, which means rooms will have to accommodate fewer guests until the pandemic is fully behind us.

stoviglie e facilitare il distanziamento fisico. Inoltre, abbiamo integrato la formazione del personale riguardo ai protocolli di sicurezza” racconta. Lo stesso dicasi per Pino Nicosia, che si occupa del marketing della Westbury Ballroom, che verrà presto inaugurata a Montreal. Mentre molte sale lottano per la sopravvivenza, Nicosia e la sua squadra sono impegnati a pianificare l’apertura di questo nuovo spazio eventi di lusso. Sostiene che il fatto che il locale non sia stato ancora aperto gioca a loro favore. Non essendoci eventi da posticipare, assieme al suo personale può dedicarsi all’elaborazione di protocolli di distanziamento sociale idonei e alla distribuzione degli spazi per le numerose coppie in attesa di poter trovare un posto in cui celebrare il proprio evento speciale. “Abbiamo già molte prenotazioni confermate per l’anno prossimo” afferma. Inoltre, vede con i propri occhi l’impatto che la pandemia ha avuto sulle coppie che ci hanno rimesso con altre prenotazioni. “Le coppie analizzano il contratto come non mai. Prima di firmare, vogliono essere certe di non rimetterci economicamente”. Per aiutare ad alleggerire i timori delle coppie, il contratto del Westbury comprende una clausola che li tutela da qualunque cambiamento inerente alle linee guida del governo. La maggioranza dei proprietari delle sale di ricevimento concorda sul fatto che data la natura sociale degli esseri umani, gli eventi alla fine riprenderanno seppur con certi cambiamenti. Le portate dovranno essere servite individualmente, vale a dire che i sontuosi tavoli degli antipasti dei matrimoni che furono, saranno cose del passato. Ci sarà bisogno di più spazio per i tavoli, il che significa che nelle varie sale potranno esserci meno ospiti finché non ci saremo lasciati la pandemia del tutto alle spalle.

The new cost of doing business The owners acknowledge these new measures are necessary—but they also come at a cost. They require more staff, more training, more protective equipment and better sanitization measures, just to name a few. On top of these, the cost of food, especially products imported from Italy, has also increased. “I hope people won’t look at the industry as big business trying to make money,” says Di Donato. “These are independent family businesses working hard. I hope we can work together with clients to get to the other side of this.” Despite the current difficulties, owners are looking forward to brighter days ahead, as people look forward to socializing with friends and family. “The real challenge begins when we reopen again,” says Varone. “It’s going to be the Roaring Twenties all over again!”

I nuovi costi del settore I proprietari riconoscono la necessità di queste nuove misure, le quali però implicano a loro volta un costo. Richiedono più personale, più formazione, maggiori attrezzature protettive e migliori servizi di sanificazione, solo per citarne alcuni. In tutto questo, crescerà anche il costo degli alimenti, soprattutto dei prodotti importati dall’Italia. “Spero che le persone non considereranno il settore come una grande macchina fabbrica soldi,” afferma Di Donato. “Si tratta di aziende a conduzione familiare che si danno molto da fare. Spero che riusciremo a lavorare assieme ai clienti per trovare una soluzione”. Nonostante le attuali difficoltà e considerata la gran voglia delle persone di incontrare parenti e amici, i proprietari non vedono l’ora che torni il sereno. “La vera sfida comincerà quando riapriremo,” sostiene Varone. “Ritorneremo ai ruggenti anni ’20!”.

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His Mother’s Smile BY - D I A DA M Z A RA

Il sorriso di sua madre

inger, musician and songwriter Sly Furino is a familiar face if you’ve ever been to a wedding, gala or corporate event in and around Montreal in the past quarter century. His SophistOccasion Showband had been booked solid, until the wedding and event industry began to turn upside down in March of 2020. “Last year was a write-off for my industry and it seems like 2021 won’t be looking any brighter,” says Furino. “I am hoping for better times ahead for everyone, but I’m afraid that for a large 10-piece band like mine, and others in the industry, it will be a while before we can perform again for very large weddings and corporate galas.” As with far too many families during the pandemic, tragedy struck Furino’s early on. “My mother passed away, aged 82, in a senior residence on April 9, 2020, during the first lockdown,” he says. “While my family did get a chance to give my mother a funeral, we were only allowed to have 10 immediate family members attend the mass and only two could actually witness her being placed in the mausoleum. I was not one of them.” His forced hiatus from live performances and the loss of his mother, led Furino to focus his energy on a different kind of project. “I spent the past 4 months creating a short film/ music video. It helped distract me from the financial and mental stresses of what we are all living today. Most importantly, it was a way of finally saying goodbye to my mother, since I did not get a chance to mourn her.” Furino’s tribute especially hits home for anyone who has lost a loved one, under any circumstance, during the past year. Here’s hoping he, and all of his colleagues can get back to what they love doing as soon as humanly possible. On YouTube, search for Your Smile by Sly Furino

cantante, musicista e cantautore Sly Furino è un volto familiare se siete mai stati a un matrimonio, un gala o un evento aziendale a Montreal e dintorni nell’ultimo quarto di secolo. Il suo SophistOccasion Showband era sempre pieno di prenotazioni su cui poter contare, fino a quando il settore dei matrimoni e degli eventi non è stato messo sottosopra nel marzo del 2020. “L’anno scorso è stato un decremento per il mio settore e sembra che il 2021 non sembrerà più brillante” spiega Furino. “Spero in tempi migliori per tutti, ma temo che per una grande band di 10 elementi come la mia e altri nel settore, ci vorrà del tempo prima che sia possibile esibirci di nuovo per matrimoni molto grandi e gala aziendali.” Come nel caso di troppe famiglie durante la pandemia, la tragedia ha colpito presto anche quella di Furino. “Mia madre è morta, all’età di 82 anni, in una residenza per anziani il 9 aprile 2020, durante il primo lockdown” racconta. “Anche se la mia famiglia ha avuto la possibilità di dare a mia madre un funerale, ci è stato permesso di avere solo 10 membri diretti della famiglia alla messa e solo due hanno potuto effettivamente assistere alla sua collocazione nel mausoleo. Io non ero uno di loro.” La sua interruzione forzata dalle esibizioni dal vivo e la perdita della madre, ha portato Furino a concentrare le sue energie su un diverso tipo di progetto. “Ho passato gli ultimi 4 mesi a creare un cortometraggio / video musicale. Mi ha aiutato a distrarmi dallo stress finanziario e mentale di ciò che stiamo vivendo oggi. Soprattutto, è stato un modo per dire finalmente addio a mia madre, dal momento che non ho avuto la possibilità di piangerla.” Il tributo di Furino colpisce soprattutto chi ha perso una persona cara, in qualsiasi circostanza, durante lo scorso anno. Speriamo che lui e tutti i suoi colleghi possano tornare a fare ciò che amano il prima possibile. Su YouTube, cerca Your Smile di Sly Furino

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EVENTS

Romina Monaco Events Editor romina@panoramitalia.com

Staying Connected to the Motherland

It’s

been over a year since the pandemic swept across the globe. While being temporarily on hold waiting for normal life to resume again, I’ve kept the lines of communication going with family and friends, many of whom happen to be part of Toronto’s Italian community. Conversations involve the daily woes of this crisis, including how much we miss our culturally-based film festivals, culinary extravaganzas, award nights, art installations and Italian Heritage Month gatherings—events that unite, inspire and keep our community strong. This nostalgia isn’t the least bit unusual. But what does surprise me is the large number of people who have told me how much they miss their Italian vacations (postponed due to COVID-19) and how they usually travel to Italy on a regular basis. Why such a desire to go back to a country when so much of its merchandise, food products and culture (as a whole) can be found right here on our shores? I was so intrigued that I asked the following question to my network of second, third and fourth generation Italian-Canadians on social media: “Why do you keep travelling to Italy?” The survey resulted in an interesting array of answers and, in turn, sparked a memory of an incident that took place in my early twenties while visiting my grandparents, who lived in a picturesque village called Artegna, in the Alpine foothills of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia. This was also the home of my maternal ancestors and a place to which I’d been travelling since I was an infant. While in my bedroom one morning, I heard Nonno Sergio’s voice through the open window. Looking down into the courtyard, I saw my grandfather at the gate holding a map and giving directions, in French, to a young family standing by a car with Marseille licence plates. It wasn’t unusual for him to speak French since he was born and raised in Nice, France, but I was puzzled as to who these people were. He later explained, “Stanno cercando le loro radici.” They were looking for their roots and, although they carried the same surname as our family, these French travellers stemmed from a different branch residing in the village. According to my grandfather, searching for one’s roots was becoming a common occurrence, and it dawned on me how fortunate I was to know where I came from. As an immigrant, I understood my own reasons for returning to my land of origin. I was born in the old country (rare for Italian-Canadians of my generation) and it just seemed like the natural thing to do. My family relocated to Toronto permanently in the early 1970s from my father’s hometown on Lago Maggiore in Lombardia—my birthplace. I took a hiatus from Italy between 1977 and 1984, returning solo when I was 13 years-old. I’ll never forget the horror on my grandmother’s face when she realized my Italian language skills had all but dissipated, and that English had become my primary and only language. It was a complete and disastrous communication breakdown with mortifying moments for a traditional woman, who had to introduce a grandchild who couldn’t say per favore or buona giornata. To please her and to be

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“According to my grandfather, searching for one’s roots was becoming a common occurrence, and it dawned on me how fortunate I was to know where I came from.” able to have a basic conversation, I began learning the language with the help of university textbooks and friends and family my age sending snail mail across the Atlantic written in Italian. These relationships flourished through my ability to write and eventually speak in Italian, and were the launching pad to new adventures and a deep love and respect for my heritage. Travelling to Italy became a spiritual odyssey as important to me as the air I breathed. My Italian adventures span decades with carefree evenings dining al fresco with old friends, who still fondly refer to me as La Canadese. We’d sing along to the tunes of Battisti into the early hours of the morning and, over the years, rallied together at concerts, beer festivals in the Alps, le sagre di Ferragosto and other events such as the scrumptious prosciutto festivals of San Daniele and Parma. A two-week wine tour in Tuscany and a wedding in an ancient church overlooking Chianti vineyards are etched in my mind forever. Then we have the more unexpected surprises like the time I sat on a smoldering beach in Panarea, Sicily with my husband’s cousins and noticed ancient steps leading up a steep nearby cliff. I asked, “Andiamo a vedere?” Despite having to deal with delirium due to the heat, all was worthwhile when we reached the top and stumbled upon a Bronze Age settlement thousands of years old. Other treasured family memories include my cousin and I helping my eccentric godfather, Fulvio, hunt for ancient gold with a metal detector around his property, which was once the site of a legendary battle between the Romans and a local Celtic tribe. Who does that? A trip down memory lane always brings a smile to my face, but the incredible number and types of responses I received from Italian-Canadians is proof that there is a deeper connection to Italy, other than just visiting popular tourist attractions. The most prevalent answers were, “I feel I’ve come home” or “connecting to my parents’ family and friends” and “hearing stories and learning about my family history.” Coming in second was, “the food.” I found this answer interesting, and my theory is that the taste of food and its aromas can recall specific memories of our childhood. In third were Italian history, culture and the beautiful landscape. Some of the more thought-provoking include, “It’s my identity and a sense of belonging” and “I feel it in my DNA,” with the most touching being, “I lost my parents quite young, and when I’m in Italy I feel closer to them.” These statements could explain why ancestral DNA kits are all the rage today. Traditions trickling down each generation provide a glimpse into the past, and our community events assist in keeping these customs alive. However, Italy is the keeper of our individual and collective story. Each visit offers a piece or two of the puzzle, as we put it all together, until we finally see the image of who we really are.

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Leonardo Da Vinci Academy back at Columbus Centre

The Leonardo Da Vinci Academy (LDVD) returned to Columbus Centre, Toronto, and opened its doors to students, parents and staff on February 17, 2021. Founded in 1984, the study of the Italian language and culture is the feature that distinguishes the private school. Children are exposed to a rich Italian language and culture in a manner and degree that is exceptional in Canada. Features of the new campus include a renovated wellequipped gym, classrooms with modern whiteboards as well as a music room. LDVD will also have access to the Centre’s swimming pool, outdoor space and its Rotonda will serve as the assembly hall.

TRADUCTIONS / TRADUZIONI Page 44

Nicholas Di Tempora

Se puoi sognarlo, puoi farlo Biographie d’un grand entrepreneur italo-canadien par Carole Gagliardi

«V

isez le ciel, vous atteindrez les étoiles » : c’est le conseil de Nicholas Di Tempora aux récipiendaires de bourses d’études de l’Association des gens d’affaires et des professionnels italo-canadiens (CIBPA) il y a quelques années. Cette devise, Di Tempora l’a appliquée tout au long de sa carrière d’entrepreneur et a su saisir les occasions intéressantes qui se présentaient à lui. L’homme d’affaires d’origine italienne qui a vécu à Montréal de nombreuses années réside maintenant en Floride, où le climat est plus clément et la politique, plus propice à la réalisation de ses projets. Di Tempora est de ces hommes qui se sont bâtis au fur et à mesure de rencontres et de circonstances opportunes. L’ex-président-directeur général de Mapei Americas a ce talent caractéristique des grands entrepreneurs, fait d’une infatigable détermination, d’une vision à long terme et d’un plaisir incontestable à conclure des ententes. « Je ne fume pas, je n’ai jamais pris de drogue, faire des affaires, c’est ma drogue à moi ! » D’une occasion à l’autre, d’une rencontre à l’autre, il a bâti un impressionnant patrimoine. Fruit du hasard ? « Je n’y crois pas : j’ai vu des occasions à saisir là où d’autres n’en voyaient pas et j’ai pris des risques. » Première acquisition pour le jeune homme ambitieux : la salle Capri, à Montréal. Il avait 19 ans. « Je n’avais pas d’argent, mais j’avais des idées et j’ai toujours tenu parole, cela m’a ouvert beaucoup de portes et a créé des liens d’amitié qui perdurent encore aujourd’hui. Le soir, j’étais serveur au Casa Loma, mais le jour, je n’avais pas d’emploi. Mes parents se sont occupés de la salle de réception pendant que je cherchais des occasions d’affaires. J’ai eu beaucoup de chance, car je n’ai rencontré que des gens avec qui faire des affaires était agréable. Je n’ai jamais eu de problèmes avec mes partenaires, et cela a rendu les choses plus faciles. Il faut savoir évaluer les gens, qu’il s’agisse d’un employé ou d’un partenaire de vie ou d’affaires : cela fait toute la différence. » Nicholas Di Tempora se dirigeait pourtant vers la prêtrise, une option noble pour quelqu’un comme lui, fils de simples habitants du Molise. « Ma famille n’était pas riche et je n’aimais pas particulièrement les

études : la prêtrise était donc une option sûre pour mon avenir. » Mais le destin en décidera autrement, et la famille sera appelée par un oncle établi à Montréal, qui parrainera leur voyage. À Montréal, Nicholas découvre l’abondance avec stupéfaction : « Mon oncle m’a offert un Coca-Cola, la bouteille entière était pour moi, je n’y croyais pas. J’ai tout de suite aimé ce pays. » Originaire de Jelsi, dans le Molise, Nicholas Di Tempora n’a connu son père qu’à l’âge de six ans. « Je suis né le 9 septembre 1939, mon père, Giuseppe, est parti à la guerre avant ma naissance. Il a été fait prisonnier et a été interné dans un camp de concentration nazi. Il n’était pas un homme d’affaires, mais c’était un grand travailleur. Arrivé au Canada, il a fait mille métiers. J’ai eu ma première voiture, alors qu’il n’en avait pas, j’allais le déposer et le chercher au travail. Ma mère, Eleonora, a joué un rôle déterminant dans ma vie. Elle m’a transmis des principes importants, l’ardeur au travail, l’honnêteté et, surtout, l’importance de redonner. Elle me disait : “Tu as deux mains, l’une est pour recevoir, l’autre, pour donner.” » Au Québec, Di Tempora conçoit et réalise des projets immobiliers avec succès, mais vers la fin des années 70, il raconte qu’il avait la nette impression d’être arrivé à un point où son avenir ne lui semblait plus aussi brillant qu’il le souhaitait. De plus, il dit détester l’hiver canadien. « Faire des affaires au Québec était devenu difficile à cause de la situation politique, mais il ne faut pas oublier que les États-Unis offrent 10 fois plus d’occasions que le Canada. J’ai donc décidé de déménager en Arizona, là où j’avais déjà des projets et des contacts d’affaires. » En 1976, il fait la rencontre la plus décisive de toute sa carrière, avec Giorgio Squinzi, président de Mapei-Italie (Fondé en 1937 par Rodolfo Squinzi, le Groupe MAPEI est aujourd’hui le chef de file mondial dans la fabrication d’adhésifs, de mastics et de produits chimiques pour l’industrie de la construction). C’est à ce moment que se concrétisera son désir de développer un très grand projet d’envergure internationale. « Après 30 minutes d’entretien, nous étions associés, mais notre rencontre a failli ne pas avoir lieu : une minute plus tôt ou plus tard et je ne le croisais pas ! » Di Tempora monte MAPEI USA, « une incroyable aventure, car avant cette rencontre, je ne savais même pas comment installer une tuile ! » L’entreprise ne cesse de croître et de faire de nouvelles acquisitions, nécessitant de plus en plus de superficie et de nouveaux produits. De 1984 à 2006, la croissance de Mapei sur le continent américain bondit de 1 000 %. Di Tempora développe ensuite de nouveaux marchés, en Amérique latine et en Argentine, avec tout

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autant de succès. En 2006, après 23 ans au sein de Mapei Americas, Nick Di Tempora se retire de ses fonctions de président et chef de la direction et entreprend de s’impliquer dans sa communauté. Il consacre les cinq années suivantes à des organismes à but non lucratif du Québec, faisant des allersretours hebdomadaires entre Montréal et sa résidence en Floride. Il deviendra président de la Fondation de l’Hôpital Santa Cabrini et membre du conseil de la Corporation de la Casa d’Italia, et participera à de nombreuses autres causes caritatives au Québec et en Floride. « Le temps était venu de redonner à ma communauté. Une seule personne ne peut pas changer le monde, mais elle peut alléger le fardeau des plus démunis. » Aujourd’hui, l’homme d’affaires à la retraite passe le plus clair de son temps à son bureau dans les installations de Mapei de Deerfield Beach, en Floride. « Je ne joue pas au golf, je ne sais rien faire d’autre que de brasser des affaires, c’est ma passion et mon passe-temps. » Il consacre également beaucoup de temps au Centre de rêves et d’espoir (Center of dreams and Hope), une organisation montréalaise qui offre des programmes thérapeutiques et récréatifs aux enfants et adultes ayant une déficience intellectuelle et/ou physique, à qui il a fait don d’un immeuble pour y loger l’organisme sans but lucratif. Nick Di Tempora est marié à Yolanda Testa, qu’il a épousée en 1968. Il compte se rendre à sa résidence en Toscane dès que la situation sanitaire le permettra. Pour obtenir un exemplaire de Se puoi sognarlo, puoi farlo, biographie de Nick Di Tempora écrite par Simona Grillo, s’adresser à info@panoramitalia.com

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Romance, beauté et Grand Tour Visiter l’Italie a inspiré certains des plus grands écrivains du monde. par Maureen Littlejohn

largir ses horizons, prendre une année sabbatique, rechercher une expérience personnelle à la Mange, prie, aime (Eat Pray Love) : quelle que soit la raison invoquée, faire un séjour prolongé loin de chez soi pour se retrouver n’est pas une activité propre au 21e siècle. Les expéditions exploratoires

visant à rendre une personne plus complète s’organisent depuis des centaines d’années. Cela dit, la popularité de ce type de voyages a vraiment explosé aux 18e et 19e siècles, quand ils sont devenus de rigueur pour ceux qui avaient les moyens de faire ce qu’on appelait alors « le Grand Tour ». À l’origine, le Grand Tour était une sorte de rituel de passage à l’âge adulte pour les jeunes hommes riches, souvent Anglais. Ils partaient la tête pleine d’enseignements classiques avec un ardent désir de voir les lieux où s’étaient déroulées les histoires légendaires qu’ils avaient étudiées. Leurs destinations étaient Paris, l’Italie et parfois la Grèce. « Des descendants de familles aristocratiques allaient découvrir la beauté et l’art de l’Europe continentale », explique Sebastiano Bazzichetto, un professeur vénitien de l’Université de Toronto qui dirige un cours en ligne sur le Grand Tour appelé « The Italian Hours ». L’Italie, en particulier, agissait comme un aimant pour ceux qui voulaient admirer les peintures, les sculptures et les monuments historiques dont ils avaient tant entendu parler. « C’était un centre de pouvoir et le siège de l’Église catholique romaine. Au 17e siècle, les papes payaient des artistes comme Gian Lorenzo Bernini et Michel-Ange pour créer des œuvres dans des sites religieux tels que la chapelle Sixtine. Les voyageurs du Grand Tour voulaient aller admirer l’art et s’en vanter une fois rentrés chez eux », explique Bazzichetto. Alors que nous rêvons de recommencer à voyager après la pandémie, l’une des façons d’aborder un Grand Tour personnel pourrait être de suivre les traces de certains des géants de la littérature qui ont solidement ancré l’Italie dans l’imaginaire collectif. Un des écrivains ayant été profondément émus par son expérience italienne est Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, qui a écrit un récit populaire de ses voyages dans le Bel Paese de 1786 à 1788. Il osa même aller là où aucun des adeptes du Grand Tour ne daignait s’aventurer. « Avoir vu l’Italie sans avoir vu la Sicile, ce n’est pas avoir vu l’Italie du tout, car la Sicile est la clé de tout », a-t-il écrit. Si vous vous rendez dans les ruines de Ségeste avec un exemplaire du Voyage en Italie de Goethe entre les mains, vous pourrez le suivre à la trace. Scrutez les ruines grecques et romaines et, tout comme lui, vous pourriez rester éblouis par la beauté des lieux. Pour les poètes romantiques tels que Lord Byron et Percy Shelley, le paysage et l’environnement culturel de l’Italie étaient propices à entreprendre une quête personnelle. « Ils ont fait un voyage introspectif qui les a amenés à réfléchir à ce qu’ils étaient vraiment. L’Italie représentait une muse qui a

nourri leur âme et les a laissés profondément émus et secoués. Après cette expérience, il leur était impossible de revenir à leur état d’âme antérieur », explique Bazzichetto. Lord Byron a vécu en Italie de 1816 à 1823, apparemment pour échapper à un certain nombre de scandales liés à des dettes et à des liaisons, souvent avec des femmes mariées. À Venise, il a vécu au palais Mocenigo, sur le Grand Canal. Au Palais des Doges, il a aperçu le pont qui mène aux prisons et l’a immortalisé dans son poème narratif Le Pèlerinage de Childe Harold. Si vous vous rendez au pont des Soupirs au lever du soleil, emportez un exemplaire de ce poème avec vous. Respirez profondément et, en le lisant, vous pourrez presque ressentir la même compulsion onirique qui a poussé Byron à l’écrire : J’étais dans Venise, sur le pont des Soupirs, un palais d’un côté et une prison de l’autre ; j’en voyais les monuments s’élever du sein des vagues, comme par la baguette d’un enchanteur. Des milliers d’années étendent autour de moi leurs ailes sombres, et une gloire mourante sourit sur ces temps éloignés, où plus d’une contrée sujette admirait les monuments de marbre du lion ailé, lorsque Venise; assise dans sa gloire, avait placé son trône sur ses cent îles ! En 1819, Lord Byron s’installe à Ravenne, où il écrit les cinq premiers chants de Don Juan. Mais la vraie raison qui le pousse à s’y rendre est Teresa Gamba Guiccioli, 18 ans, qui laissera finalement pour lui son mari riche et âgé. On peut voir des preuves de leur histoire d’amour à la bibliothèque Classense de Ravenne, où sont exposées des lettres et des mèches de leurs cheveux. À Pise, Byron termine les chants 6 à 12 de Don Juan. Sa maison, sise au milieu des places et des palais élégants du Lung’Arno, attire des amis et des gens de lettres, tels que Percy et Mary Shelley. Percy a écrit un jour que dans l’une des demeures italiennes de Byron (il en avait accumulé quelquesunes au fil des ans) se trouvaient « dix chevaux, huit énormes chiens, trois singes, cinq chats, un aigle, un corbeau et un faucon ; et tout ce beau monde, sauf les chevaux, se promène dans la maison ». Les Shelley, comme Byron, sont arrivés en l’Italie en tant qu’exilés sociaux. Leur liaison houleuse a bouleversé leurs deux familles et a conduit la première femme de Percy à se suicider. Voyageant intensivement dans le pays de 1818 à 1823, ils vécurent brièvement à Venise, à Naples, à Florence et à Pise. Percy a terminé Prométhée délivré à Rome et la tragédie The Cenci alors qu’il

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vivait à Livourne. Mary a écrit le roman autobiographique Matilda et le roman historique Valperga pendant leur séjour en Italie. Son œuvre la plus célèbre, Frankenstein, a été écrite plus tôt alors qu’elle et Percy étaient en Suisse, mais elle a choisi Naples comme lieu de naissance du docteur Frankenstein. Pise et son Lung’Arno était l’endroit préféré de Percy. Il y a même créé une société d’écrivains et d’intellectuels dont Byron faisait partie. Byron et lui étaient connus pour leur pratique quotidienne de tir à la cible qu’ils pratiquaient aux abords de la ville. Aujourd’hui, à Rome, Shelley, Byron et le poète John Keats continuent de vivre à travers une collection de livres, d’écrits et de bustes. La Maison Keats-Shelley, un musée situé au pied de la place d’Espagne, a ouvert ses portes en 1909. Dans l’espoir d’améliorer sa santé plutôt que de poursuivre une muse, Keats arriva quant à lui en Italie en 1820. Il emménagea dans la maison du 26, place d’Espagne et y mourut de la tuberculose un an plus tard. Ironiquement, il n’a rencontré ni Byron ni Shelley pendant ce temps passé à Rome, une ville qui les a immensément inspirés. Pour les amateurs de poésie romantique, aucun voyage à Rome n’est complet sans une visite au cimetière protestant. Shelley, décédé dans un accident de bateau deux ans après Keats, y est enterré. Il en va de même de Keats, dont la pierre tombale se lit comme suit : « Voici celui dont le nom a été écrit dans l’eau. » Aujourd’hui, l’Italie attire toujours ceux qui sont en quête du Saint-Graal de la beauté et du sens de la vie. Suivez le parcours de ces visionnaires littéraires et vous pourriez, vous aussi, succomber à son charme légendaire.

D’autres écrivains inspirés par leurs voyages en Italie Samuel Boswell : Boswell sur le Grand Tour : Italie, Corse et France, (1765-1766) George Sands : Consuelo (1843) William Wordsworth : poèmes, principalement des premières et des dernières années, « Mémoriaux d’une tournée en Italie » (1842) Mark Twain : Le Voyage des innocents (1869) Henry James : Daisy Miller (1878); Portrait de femme (1881); Les Ailes de la colombe (1902); Heures italiennes (1909) E. M. Forster : Avec vue sur l’Arno (1908) Ernest Hemingway : L’adieu aux armes (1929)

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