Panoram Italia Toronto Dec/Jan 2016/2017 by Panoram Italia Magazine

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THE ITALIAN-CANADIAN MAGAZINE MAILED TO HOMES & BUSINESSES IN THE GREATER TORONTO AREA

LIVING ITALIAN STYLE

A FRESH LOOK AT

PANETTONE

UMBRIA ITALY’S GREEN HEART

COVER: JULIANA V DECEMBER/ JANUARY 2016-2017 • VOL.6 • NO.6

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DeRose

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECEMBER / JANUARY 2016-2017 Vol. 6 NO. 6 EDITORIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Amarcord. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Elio Madonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Words of Wisdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Air-travel changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Future Leader: Annamaria Perruccio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Eataly set for Toronto launch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Panettone’s evolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

LIFE & PEOPLE

Halifax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Ottawa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Quebec City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

ITALIANS IN CANADA

10 42

FASHION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 LIVING ITALIAN STYLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 VILLA CHARITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Exploring the green heart of Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Assisi and Cascia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Gubbio’s famous Christmas tree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Tasting Umbria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Umbrian recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Umbrian community in the GTA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER & EDITOR Tony Zara

EDITORIAL DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Adam Zara MANAGING EDITOR Rita Simonetta

Roberto Minervini . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Our Lady of Sorrows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Piero Greco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

SPORTS

NEWLYWEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

EDITOR-AT-LARGE Gabriel Riel-Salvatore

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Vittoria Zorfini

ART DEPARTMENT ART DIRECTION & GRAPHIC DESIGN David Ferreira

PHOTOGRAPHY Giulio Muratori Daniele Tomelleri

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Anthony Zara Gianpietro Nagliati-Bravi Fred Lamberti

UMBRIA

ARTS & CULTURE

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Pal Di Iulio

CONTRIBUTORS PROOFREADERS Rossana Bruzzone Valentina Basilicata

TRANSLATORS Claudia Buscemi Prestigiacomo Athena Mellor

WRITERS Graeme Carey • Erica Cupido • Sal Difalco • Daniela DiStefano Alessia Sara Domanico • Nora Fahmi • Beatrice Fantoni Sara Germanotta • Stephanie Grella • Marisa Iacobucci • Sarah Mastroianni Veronica Mastroianni • Romina Monaco • Paolo Patrito • Claudia Buscemi Prestigiacomo • Paul Salvatori • Loretta N. Di Vita 26 Duncan Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 2B9 Tel.: 1.844.ITALIA.1 or by e-mail at: info@panoramitalia.com Legal deposit - Bibliothèque nationale du Québec / National Library of Canada - ISSN: 1916-6389 Distribution par / by

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On the cover: Juliana V Photography by Giulio Muratori

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Panettone courtesy of: Lady York Foods

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EDITORIAL

Italians in Canada T

his upcoming July, Canada will celebrate its 150th anniversary as a nation. It’s as old as la bella Italia even though the Italian peninsula has a longer period of recorded history. Italians have been coming to Canada ever since Giovanni Caboto first landed on Canada’s eastern shores in 1497 claiming it for King Henry VII of England who sponsored his search for the northwest passage to Asia. Those who followed him from Italy were mostly adventurers, priests, soldiers, musicians, lovers and cooks. After 1880 and the Unification of Italy, the majority of immigrants were mostly from the hard-pressed south who came “per fare l’America.” They worked in the logging camps and built railroads from Montreal to Winnipeg. After 1914, Italian immigration slowed down due to the First World War, increased immigration restrictions, xenophobia, and the Italian Fascist government’s impediments. The Second World War marked a dark period for Italian-Canadians; hundreds were branded “enemy aliens” and interned as part of The War Measures Act of 1940. Changes came about during the 1950s, when Italians found work on farms, in mines and throughout the construction industry where they went on to build the infrastructure of Canada’s cities. Today, there are more than 1,500,000 Canadians with Italian roots, who have successfully integrated in a bilingual and multicultural society contributing to Canada. In 1992, then prime minister Brian Mulroney opined that “the first generation of Italians built Toronto, the second owns it!” How will the third and fourth generations identify themselves and what will they expect history to record? Canada is aging well and mellowing like fine Canadian wine. It has its own anthem, dollar and flag. Perhaps at 150, we can also start a respectful debate on the future of the monarchy in Canada, post Queen Elizabeth II, of course. My own family’s adventures in Canada began at Pier 21 on a damp December in 1956, when upon landing, my father exclaimed, “If I have to eat this bread in Canada, I’m going back to Italy. This is not pane. Not even a torta is as sweet and soft!” He, of course, was not the first Italian immigrant to make that observation before climbing on a cold, noisy and dirty train for the two-day trip to Toronto. The term “mangiacake” was coined to refer to our Canadian hosts and it remains a reference for soft, white, sliced bread that tastes like cake to Italians. Upon his arrival in Toronto, my father, along with many others, learned that contrary to popular myth, the sidewalks were not paved with gold. He and people like him had been brought in to dig ditches, pour concrete, build sidewalks, pour asphalt and pay their taxes. Today, 60 years later, Talia, my two-year-old granddaughter, speaks English, likes pizza and takes Italian and Mandarin language classes. My, how times have changed …for the better! Beginning with this issue, Panoram Italia will feature thriving Italian communities across Canada eager to share their stories. There will be reflections from Canadians of Italian heritage across this beautiful, bountiful land from Bonavista to Vancouver Island. I hope that you enjoy, learn and share these community stories with each other, but especially, with your children and grandchildren. And I hope that you send in photos that tell us your memories about crossing the Atlantic and of your family’s sacrificio, sudore and successo. We all have a story. Share yours with us.

Il prossimo luglio il Canada celebrerà il suo 150 ° anniversario come nazione. È antico come la Bella Italia, anche se la penisola mediterranea ha una storia più lunga. Gli italiani sono qui da quando Giovanni Caboto per primo sbarcò sulle coste orientali del Canada nel 1497, sostenuto dal re Enrico VII d'Inghilterra che ha sponsorizzato la sua ricerca per il passaggio a nord-ovest verso l'Asia. Coloro che lo seguivano dall’Italia erano per lo più avventurieri, preti, soldati, musicisti, amanti e cuochi. Dopo il 1880 e dopo l'Unità d'Italia, la maggior parte degli immigrati erano del sud, quest’ultimo versava in condizioni difficili, e venivano “per fare l’America”. Hanno lavorato nelle industrie e hanno costruito ferrovie da Montreal a Winnipeg. Dopo il 1914 l'immigrazione italiana ha subito un rallentamento con la prima guerra mondiale, a causa di maggiori restrizioni in materia di immigrazione, per problemi legati alla xenofobia, e, in seguito, a causa degli impedimenti del governo fascista italiano. La seconda guerra mondiale ha segnato un periodo buio per gli italocanadesi; centinaia sono stati considerati come “stranieri nemici” e quindi internati come previsto dalla legge Misure Act del 1940, in vigore durante la guerra. Il primo cambio di rotta si è registrato nel corso del 1950, quando gli italiani hanno trovato lavoro nelle aziende agricole, nelle miniere e in tutto il settore dell’edilizia, costruendo le infrastrutture delle città canadesi. Oggi ci sono più di 1.500.000 canadesi di origine italiana, integrati con successo in una società bilingue e multiculturale e che costituiscono un valore aggiunto per il Canada. Nel 1992, l'allora primo ministro Brian Mulroney ha sottolineato che “la prima generazione di italiani ha costruito Toronto, la seconda ora la possiede!” In cosa si identificano la terza e la quarta generazione e cosa pensano di lasciare alla storia? Il Canada, come il suo vino, invecchiando si addolcisce. Ha il suo inno, il suo dollaro e la propria bandiera. Forse a 150 anni possiamo anche iniziare un dibattito rispettoso sul futuro della monarchia da queste parti, dopo la regina Elisabetta II naturalmente. Le avventure della mia famiglia in Canada sono iniziate a Pier 21, in un umido dicembre del 1956 quando, dopo l'atterraggio, mio padre esclamò: “Se devo mangiare questo pane in Canada, me ne torno in Italia. Questo non è pane. Nemmeno una torta è così dolce e soffice!”. Naturalmente lui non fu il primo immigrato italiano a fare questa osservazione prima di salire su un treno freddo, rumoroso e sporco per il viaggio di due giorni a Toronto. Il termine “mangiacake” è stato coniato per riferirsi ai nostri amici canadesi e rimane un punto di riferimento per indicare il morbido pane bianco, che per gli italiani sono fette che sanno di torta. Al suo arrivo a Toronto, mio padre, insieme a molti altri, ha imparato che, contrariamente al mito popolare, i marciapiedi non erano lastricati d'oro. Lui e quelli come lui hanno dovuto scavare fossi, versare cemento, costruire marciapiedi e pagare le tasse. Oggi, 60 anni dopo, Talia, mio nipote di due anni, parla inglese, ama la pizza e prende lezioni di lingua italiana e mandarino. Come sono cambiati i tempi ... in meglio! A partire da qui, Panoram Italia racconterà delle fiorenti comunità italiane in tutto il Canada desiderose di condividere le loro storie. Ci saranno le riflessioni dei canadesi di origine italiana che vivono in questa terra meravigliosa e generosa, da Bonavista a Vancouver Island. Spero sarà un piacere conoscere e condividere queste storie di comunità con gli altri, ma soprattutto con i vostri figli e nipoti. Spero inoltre che vi venga voglia di inviarci le vostre foto per raccontare i vostri ricordi, il vostro viaggio attraverso l'Atlantico e il sacrificio della vostra famiglia, il sudore e il successo conquistato. Tutti noi abbiamo una storia. Condividete le vostre con noi.

Buon Natale, Felice e Prospero Anno Nuovo Pace e bene Pal Di Iulio, Associate Editor, Panoram Italia pal@panoramitalia.com 10

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LIFE & PEOPLE

AMACORD Christmas Memories Our first Christmas tree in 1960, adopting local traditions, and becoming proud owners of a new TV. Nick Travaglini, Toronto

MICBA’s Yuletide Cheer Our residents’ and family Christmas party is celebrated every year at the beginning of December. This party took place in December 2015. It was a special time for our residents to spend the afternoon with their loved ones. There were visits from carolers and Mr. and Mrs. Claus and we enjoyed plenty of delicious food as well as oven-roasted chestnuts. Mississauga Italian Canadian Benevolent Association, Mississauga

St. Fidelis Golden Age Club at Pier 21 In August, St. Fidelis Golden Age Club Toronto made a nostalgic visit to the Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax. The club is a socio/recreational group of more than 300 members established in 1984 mainly for seniors of Italian origin. We decided to purchase a plaque for the Wadih M. Fares Wall of Tribute at the Museum of Immigration. The plaque recognizes the contribution of the unsung heroes of the Italian community who came to Canada during the 1950s and ’60s, and despite many hardships, persevered and made positive contributions to their adopted country. Mary Chiaverina, Toronto

Oratinesi Nel Mondo The tower in Oratino, Campobasso, Molise overlooks my beloved paese and is the inspiration and anchor image for our newsletter, “Messaggero Oratinese.” I have been publishing it for the past 40 years for all Oratinesi who live around world. It was my way of remembering and keeping faith with my family and paesani so we could connect with each other and our roots in Oratino. In the early 1950s I immigrated to Port Colborne, Ontario where I worked, married, raised a family and retired. The newsletter, published with the love, patience and help of many paesani, was originally mailed to Oratinese families in Canada, the U.S., South America and Australia. Today, thanks to our website www.messaggerooratinese.com, our newsletter reaches the second generation much faster and helps us remember La Faglia, the celebratory fire made with canes in front of our Madre Chiesa each December 24. Buon Natale. Michele Iannadrea, Port Colborne

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LIFE & PEOPLE

Photography by Giulio Muratori

Elio Madonia with his wife Lena and their eight children and spouses. Standing from left: Lydia and David, Paul and Clara, John and Caroline, Tony and Bessie, Pina and Andy, Dan and Laurie. Seated: Colleen and Philip, Lucy and Philip.

Elio Madonia Community builder By Stephanie Grella

he walls of Elio Madonia’s Toronto home are covered in memorabilia that Limited, delivering soft drink brands to homes as well as supermarkets like Loblaws. tell the story of an accomplished man. Portraits of smiling family members Regardless of his business success, Madonia still managed to make time hang next to Madonia’s many achievements, including a letter from former for the community. He served as president of the Federazione di Associazioni prime minister Stephen Harper acknowledging the 1000th house Madonia built e Clubs Italiani, an organization aimed at integrating the small Italian clubs for impoverished families in the Dominican Republic. in Toronto, and he was the founding president of the Italian Canadian The 87-year-old businessman and philanthropist Benevolent Corporation in 1971 (renamed Villa has dedicated much of his life to contributing to Charities in 1994), responsible for promoting and buildcommunities in Canada and abroad, demonstrating the ing Villa Colombo in 1976. “The community became selfless reach of a lifelong volunteer. united and prospered,” Madonia says. “They were hard Born and raised in Corleone, Sicily, Madonia workers and they knew what they were doing.” initially planned on becoming a marine captain. But at Having achieved success both in his career and as a 18, he had a spiritual experience that altered the course community builder, Madonia took an early retirement of his life, leading him to become an Evangelical with his wife in 1988. While on a trip with friends in the Christian, much to the condemnation of his Roman Dominican Republic, the couple ended up in a povertyCatholic parents. “I was forced to leave home. I had no stricken area of Sosúa. Seeing 25 tiny family homes money, no job, no skills,” Madonia says. “I was out on without windows and open sewers on the side of the the street with no future.” road, Madonia and his wife immediately decided to But Madonia was given the opportunity for a new help. “As I was taking pictures, I started to feel upset life when his pastor, who had been an instrumental part with God. I thought, ‘Why do you allow these people to of the young man’s spiritual experience, shared live in such misery?’” Madonia recalls. “I felt a voice Madonia’s struggles with a church group in Ohio. Upon saying to me, ‘What about you? What are you going to hearing his story, three women offered to pay for do for these people?’” Madonia’s trip to Canada. “All they did was done out of Over almost 30 years, the couple has built 13 vilthe goodness of their hearts,” says Madonia, who was lages, about 1600 homes, eight schools housing 2000 determined to repay them. “They said, ‘No, if you want students, five medical clinics, 12 churches and three to pay us back, there’s only one way. If you meet people educational training facilities in the Dominican in need, do what we did.’” Republic. Workers there construct the homes, while Shortly after arriving in Canada in 1950, Madonia donations from Toronto have helped to finance the Elio Madonia started on this path of selfless acts by volunteering with labour and materials for many of these projects. the Canadian government to welcome Italian immigrants as they entered Canada. Humanitarian and student groups from Canada have also helped develop When immigration abated and Madonia was no longer needed, the government these villages. “They carry blocks, push wheelbarrows, paint windows and offered him a cheque for his services. Madonia refused it. The immigration officer doors. It’s a joint program where everybody wants to do something, not just then told Madonia about a job opportunity at Sun Life Financial. Madonia was give money,” Madonia says. “They want to meet the people they’re helping.” hired. Even though Madonia and his wife are both in their late eighties, the As a life insurance salesman, Madonia met a wide array of people in Toronto, couple remain active members of the New Life Christian Church in most notably two young men, Angelo Pirrello and Giuseppe Panacci, who Woodbridge. They enjoy spending time with their large family of eight delivered soft drinks around the city. After many discussions, Madonia and the children, 22 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, all while continuing men decided to join forces and start a soft drink company together in 1959; to visit the many communities they helped to improve in the Dominican Madonia would learn the business, and the men would finance the project. Republic. “We don’t know these people, they’re strangers. But when we’re The company, initially called Mio Brio, is now the popular soft drink Brio. As doing this for people, we’re actually doing this for Christ,” Madonia says. the business grew, the company eventually evolved into National Dry Company “We’re devoted people, and that’s what keeps us going.” PANORAMITALIA.COM

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Words of Wisdom

LIFE & PEOPLE

By Paul Salvatori

Name: Carmine Russo Occupation: Maintenance & Operations Manager City: Toronto (North York) The problem is society. People retreat in their homes, then you have television, Internet in every room. Nobody comes outside. But when my family came to Canada we were more on the street talking to people, you know? We went dancing with our friends. Things changed when everyone got computers and kids started playing videogames, not playing outside. To be happy, you’ve got to talk to people. You give them your ideas and they give you their ideas and you pass the time. See, it’s like Italians. You go to Italy today, everybody’s outside in the squares, especially old people. They get together, they play cards together. I’ve got three or four friends here and we play cards now and again. That’s nice, that’s happy, makes you happy.

Name: Cinzia Valletta Occupation: Diplomat at the Toronto Consulate General of Italy City: Toronto (North York) I love my job but sometimes it makes being part of a large community of friends difficult. I like people and socializing, but as a diplomat you’re expected to follow certain rules of behaviour. I can’t be overly personal with too many people. You have to respectfully mind what you say, how you act. You don’t want to compromise the good reputation of the Italian government. It’s almost like being an actor but an honest one. At the same time, I am human. I cannot always be neutral. It’s just a matter of knowing when it’s appropriate to open up – express my thoughts, feelings, the things that make friendships. It’s a bit of a risk but easy when it’s with someone I trust. That’s when I can be myself.

Name: Dario DeBenedictis Occupation: President & Owner of SD Enterprises City: Toronto (Concord) When you’re 18, who cares about friends? Who cares about family? There are a million of them; they come and go. As you get older that kind of changes. I noticed myself going, “Wow, I’m 48 and I have very few friends. My social circle is getting smaller.” So I’ve been trying to hook up with old friends again. And with family, all I look forward to now are holidays because I have kids, you know? I didn't think of that when I was 18, when I’d constantly get into fights with family. I’d say, “I don’t want to be here on Christmas. I want to be out partying.” There’s not a day now that I don’t think about family and friends. I want to spend time with them always.

Name: Diana Di Luca Occupation: Fixed Income Portfolio Strategist at RBC City: Toronto (Downtown) My friends and I definitely prioritize spending time together, even though we all have busy schedules. I think in general as people get older and start to settle down, it’s more of a challenge to stay connected. But with our group of friends, we’ve actually become closer over time, while still being focused on our careers, families and other commitments. When something great happens for any of us, we celebrate together, and we’re there for each other during the tough times. We’ve been through a lot together. I’m lucky to have an amazing family who I am very close with and who is always there for me. It’s so nice to have a great group of friends who have really become like family as well.

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LIFE & PEOPLE

Attention All Passengers Travelling Between Canada and Italy New security measures and fees could cramp your travel plans By Sara Germanotta

arianna Astone is a newlywed Italian-Canadian who is moving from Giorgio Taborri is the Counsellor for Emigration and Social Affairs at the Toronto to Bologna this year. The 37-year-old, who recently left her Italian Embassy in Ottawa. He says there are 98,756 dual citizens registered in job as an administrative assistant at a financial firm, is leaving to the embassy’s databases. “But take into account that many Italian citizens living join her new husband in Italy. Preparations for the big move have been going in Canada do not notify [the federal government] about their dual citizenship, on for quite a while, with Astone’s new husband and several Italian family therefore the number of dual citizens could be bigger,” he points out. “About members traveling to and from Italy over the past year. Travelling from Italy 130,000 is our estimate.” to Canada has usually been a fairly uncomplicated affair – no need for Visas Astone is a dual-citizen who regularly uses her Italian passport when travor special travel documents. But things have changed recently. elling to and from Italy. But trying to re-enter Canada with her Italian passport Last year, the federal government started implementing the electronic is no longer permitted under the new rules. This has left many travel agents travel authorization, or eTA, system. It requires scrambling to make sure their clients are all air passengers who come to Canada to enter informed about the recent changes to air their passports and other personal information travel regulations to Canada. The federal government’s onto an immigration department website. Leo Capece has been working as a Travellers who do not submit their information travel agent in Montreal for 27 years. He new air travel rules mean for pre-screening could be denied entry into the says the new rules are keeping him on his Canadians with dual-citizenship toes: “We need to check for updates every country. American travellers, however, are exempt from the new rules. can only board their flights with single day for every request we get in order While Astone admits she understands the to inform our clients properly. It’s an extra their Canadian passports. need for the federal government to increase safefunction to take care of for the ease of mind ty measures for air travellers, she says the new of our clients and part of what clients process is not without its complications: “When expect to get as a service when booking my husband travelled here in April the system worked very quickly and he got his through a travel consultant.” eTA clearance within 24 hours,” she explains. “But, when his sister and her fiancé Capece, 52, says many of his Italian clients are dual-citizens, and quite came, they filled out the online form and it took more than two weeks to get a a number of them travel using only their Italian passports. He says most of response. They were actually already in Canada when they received their eTA his clients are surprised to hear about the new requirements. “Often they will clearance. We were very lucky they did not get denied entry.” first say that the last time they travelled it wasn’t like this,” he says. Astone says the long wait to get clearance was quite stressful, especially Remi Lariviere is a spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and since there was the fear that her family members might get denied entry. She Citizenship Canada. He says the department has been doing its best to advise also feels the new protocol is a bit of a cash grab: “There is a $7 fee for each people with dual-citizenships about the new rules. But, if citizens were eTA application you make so I do feel that is a bit discriminatory, especially unaware of the rule changes and left the country with only their for people from countries that were previously allowed to visit without non-Canadian passport, this could pose a problem when they try to board being screened.” their flights home: “If Canadian dual citizens present a document other than The new rules Ottawa is rolling out are also having an impact on their passport after November 9, 2016, they may not be able to board their Canadians with dual-citizenships. As of September, Canadians who are returnflights. If this happens, there are no quick fixes to help the traveller get on his ing to Canada can only board their flights with their Canadian or her flight.” passports. According to the 2011 census, there are currently more than 900,000 Lariviere strongly encourages people with dual citizenships to renew or people who hold dual-citizenships in Canada. obtain a Canadian passport as soon as they can to avoid any complications. 16

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Graceful ambience • Exquisite food Unsurpassed commitment to service excellence The original Montecassino opened in 1975 in the heart of North Toronto. Today, a renovated and enlarged Montecassino hotel and event centre has not only stood the test of time, but has remained a constant for banquets, weddings, fundraising, conventions and political and community events. Our seasoned and professional staff are here to accommodate your catering needs and help plan any event to exceed the expectations of your guests, whether it's a business luncheon for 10 or an extravagant gala for 1000. 3710 Chesswood Dr, Downsview, ON. M3J 2W4 Phone: (416) 630-8100 • Fax: 416 636-0373

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Toronto DECEMBER / JANUARY 17-32_Layout 1 2016-12-05 10:32 AM Page 18

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Italian traditions and culture are an important part of my life and have played a significant role in shaping me as an individual.

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FUTURE LEADER

Vaughan lawyer moves ahead in leaps and bounds By Marisa Iacobucci hile most unsuspecting little girls can easily succumb to fairytale dreams of becoming princesses, Family Law lawyer Annamaria Perruccio, 29, was far too busy for tiaras. She heeded, instead, to her future call of litigation. “As a child, I would defend my younger sisters whenever they got into trouble or were being scolded by my parents. I distinctly remember a time when I was arguing contributory negligence on behalf of my sister and was insisting that it wasn’t her fault that she had broken the lamp in my family room. Instead, it was my parents’ fault for placing the lamp too close to the edge of the table,” recalls Perruccio, whose family lovingly nicknamed her “the little lawyer with backwards shoes” because of her childhood habit of wearing her shoes backwards. Perruccio, who grew up in Vaughan and now works for Sutherland Law in Vaughan, was always interested in law and languages. She pursued an undergraduate degree in Multidisciplinary Studies from Glendon College (York University), which allowed her to combine her interests in languages (Italian and French) and law. The trilingual Perruccio then went on to complete her Masters coursework through York’s Faculty of Environmental Studies, focusing on social environments, specifically, the discrimination faced by Italian-Canadians in Toronto after the Second World War. Her research was put on hold while she pursued a law degree at the University of Windsor, but she plans to complete it. For now, Perruccio is focused on practicing family law and is committed to assisting her clients during what might be the most challenging periods in their lives. “I am passionate about what I do – everything from the initial client meeting, to mediation, court attendances and the completion of a file. I love being able to find creative solutions to meet the individual needs of my clients,” she says. While the demands of her career keep Perruccio working long hours, she longs to spend time with her parents and her two younger sisters (Daniela, 28 and Alessandra, 25) even if that means sharing at least one meal together on weekends. Perruccio’s father was born in Argusto, Catanzaro in Calabria. Following in his brother’s footsteps, he immigrated to Canada in 1973 in search of a better life. Perruccio’s mother, also from a Calabrese background, was born and raised in Toronto.

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Perruccio’s Italian upbringing is something she is fiercely proud of. “Italian traditions and culture are an important part of my life and have played a significant role in shaping me as an individual. My strong work ethic is rooted in the values and morals my parents instilled in me at a young age.” Some of Perruccio’s fondest memories of growing up in an Italian family include always being surrounded by family, friends, and food of course.“Whether it was sitting around the lunch table on a Sunday afternoon, making sugo over the Labour Day weekend or buying an entire cantina full of panettone and visiting relatives at Christmas, Easter and other times, the love and laughter that filled my home cannot be understated,” she explains. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Perruccio was lucky enough to be able to study abroad at the University of Bologna for one of her Italian courses. Thus began her love affair with Italy. She found a reason to return every summer, while working as a supervisor and assistant teacher with the Centro Scuola e Cultura Italiana Summer Exchange Program in Italy for Canadian high school students. Besides her career and family, volunteer work is also very important to Perruccio. “I maintain my commitment to volunteerism as a mentor to youth and [am a] strong advocate and supporter of various organizations, such as Camp Oochigeas, Parkinson Canada and SickKids® Foundation,” she says. Perruccio is currently president and chair of La Rocca Memorial Society, a non-profit organization, whose mission includes inspiring volunteerism and engaging young people to become change makers in their communities. A past bursary recipient, Perruccio is living proof that the next generation can be encouraged to become involved and make a real difference in the lives of others. Her career, family life and volunteer work show no sign of slowing down anytime soon, just as Perruccio likes it. If she could give any advice to future leaders, it’s this: “Be true to who you are and never compromise your values or beliefs for anyone or anything. There is nothing greater than one’s integrity. Work hard and persevere in order to achieve your goals and never forget your roots and where you came from.”

Photography by Giulio Muratori

Annamaria Perruccio

Toronto DECEMBER / JANUARY 17-32_Layout 1 2016-12-05 10:32 AM Page 19

ADVERTORIAL

Respecting Tradition in a New Way By Loretta N. Di Vita

“T

ry it. You’ll looove it!” Frank Trimarchi says, holding up a bottle of velvety tomato sauce bearing the brand name La Regina Di San Marzano, doing so with such irrepressible persuasion, that I can barely wait to get to my kitchen and experience the mouthwatering qualities he describes. “It’s better than homemade!” he says. Hmm, that’s a big promise if this daughter of Italian-born parents has ever heard one. But I believe him because, as president of Vera Trima Import-Export Inc., with 50 years of experience in the food industry, an honest manner, an unfaltering professional reputation, and a self-admitted picky palate for fine Italian food, he is thoroughly convincing. I meet Trimarchi and vice president of sales and marketing, Tony Lallitto, at the Vera Trima office-warehouse in the east-end of Montreal, interviewing them in a brightly lit room lined with sample bags of imported pasta in every imaginable shape, bottles of glistening extra-virgin olive oil from Puglia, and chubby jars of antipasti-helpers like long-stalked artichokes and bright green Tuscan olives. It’s a veritable foodie’s dreamscape.

was impressed by their homestyle approach to production. “There were workers sitting, carefully cleaning and peeling fresh garlic by hand, just like a nonna would do in her kitchen lovingly preparing Sunday lunch for the family,” he remarks. The La Regina Di San Marzano [the queen of San Marzano] line of sauces reigns supreme among competing brands. It’s available in seven flavours: basil, Napoletana, tuna and olive, artichoke, Siciliana (with eggplant), or sassier choices, arrabbiata and puttanesca. And at $5.99 for a 680g bottle, it’s an affordable pantry stocker. The product is aimed at any Italian-food lover, but there’s a special shoutout going to younger Italian-Canadian grocery shoppers who want to maintain traditional family pasta dinners and don't have the time to execute the labourious preparation and cooking process that a good ragout requires. Like anyone occupying this hemisphere will agree, time is a luxury, and whatever extra time a family does have these days is reserved for recreational activities and not tedious stove-side duty.

It’s Friday, so Trimarchi and Lallitto are in casual attire, moving around the Are the importers worried that customers of Italian heritage will balk at the space with the enthusiasm of those who truly love their job. There’s activity idea of a store-bought sauce? Not at all. “It's about changing mentality,” Lallitto down the hallway in the staff kitchen. Some buddies have dropped in for a believes. There may be some who regard ready-made over made-from-scratch a midday meal. I’m invited to join them, kitchen cop-out – a cultural no-no (what as if I too were a longtime friend ringing would nonna say?), but considering that the doorbell at lunchtime. Lunch will homemakers rarely make their own have to wait, though, because Trimarchi pasta anymore, reaching for ready-toand Lallitto have much to say about use sauces of indisputable quality is an their imported line of La Regina Di San equally sensible, time-saving (and guiltMarzano ready-to-use tomato sauces. free) alternative. Trimarchi, who started working as As Vera Trima’s official taster, the a teenager in a neighbourhood grocery product passes Trimarchi’s own taste store three days after he immigrated in test and respect for tradition with 1951 from Messina to Montreal, has a flying colours. “On my first taste, it longstanding business relationship with immediately brought me back to the Italian company that produces La memories of my mother's and grandRegina Di San Marzano sauce. Since Tony Lallitto, Giovanni Pasculli, Vittoria Trimarchi, Gina Cassetta and Frank Trimarchi. mothers’ home meals. I have invited 2003, he has been importing the Italian many distributors, restaurant and supplier's San Marzano canned tomatoes – surely familiar to any Costco shopgrocery store owners, friends and family to sample it because their feedback ping devotee. After sampling the same supplier’s tomato sauce, and deeming it means everything to me.” The verdict? “Everyone thinks it's just as good as “excellent,” Trimarchi was determined to obtain Canadian exclusivity. At first nonna’s, and even better. No one who has tried it has had a single negative the company was hesitant, not wanting to agitate its U.S. customer, but comment,” he says. So confident is Trimarchi in the product’s authenticity, that Trimarchi was successful in sealing the deal. “Can’t you tell that I love food?” he invites shoppers to benchmark La Regina Di San Marzano sauce against their Trimarchi asks, chuckling and pointing to his waistline. The vital 80-year-old beloved family recipes. “They need only try it,” he says. Lallitto jokingly adds, golf enthusiast confesses that he doesn’t eat much pasta, though when he does, “And they will be jealous!” it must be topped with the best sugo. He may not be a ‘carbivore,’ but he certainProviding further testimony to its homemade goodness, Trimarchi says his ly knows what makes a food product extraordinary, and would never sell somefriend, Saverio (a tomato-worshipping, sauce-proud Neapolitan) was skeptical, thing that doesn't meet his own discerning standards. thinking it couldn’t possibly measure up to his own. After one mere sampling, While on the subject of standards, other competitors claim that their sauces he was converted, and now buys caseloads. And even the ultimate judge are indistinguishable from the homemade variety, but, according to Trimarchi and approves: “My Italian mother-in-law loves it!” Trimarchi exclaims. Lallitto, this is the only supplier they’ve encountered that doesn’t skimp on quality, deliciousness or love. “I went to San Marzano in the province of Salerno for one week, and watched our supplier produce the sauce,” says Trimarchi, “and I was amazed to see that they use only fresh, genuine ingredients. They buy extra-virgin olive oil from one particular source because it has that ‘special’ taste.” Moreover, he

www.veratrima.com

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Toronto DECEMBER / JANUARY 17-32_Layout 1 2016-12-05 10:32 AM Page 20

LIFE & PEOPLE

Eataly ready for first Canadian location

Artist conception of the upcoming Eataly Toronto store in Yorkville

Founder Oscar Farinetti talks about 2019 Toronto launch By Gianpietro Nagliati-Bravi

“I

’m very, very happy. I toured the location, it’s incredible, and the Eataly store will be wonderful,” Eataly founder Oscar Farinetti told Panoram Italia in an exclusive interview this past September. Farinetti had stopped off in Toronto to serve as keynote speaker of an international symposium on brand awareness and loyalty and also to foster the official opening of Eataly Toronto, which will be located in the renovated ManuLife Centre in Yorkville. He was there unofficially since he no longer has a formal role or position with Eataly, the company he started in 2003 after selling UniEuro (at the time the biggest consumer electronic retailer in Italy) for about 1 billion euros ($1.4 billion). “It’s a joint venture with the Weston family of Loblaws and Terroni,” Farinetti said about the Eataly Toronto store. “They are perfect for us; we need wonderful persons to develop strong local roots. I think we’ll do very well. Canada is wonderful: awesome, tidy, kind.” The store, which opens in 2019, will “focus on the evolution of our concept of ‘training room,’” Farinetti explained. “We are concentrating on the integration between the market and the ‘in-store-classroom’ as in our second megastore in New York that opened just a few months ago.” Eataly’s approach has always been to belong and to learn about food and produce. It was the focus of the company’s effort at Expo2015 in Milan and will be the keystone of the Toronto store. 20

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“It is a three-level store, where the level devoted to classes will become a true ‘food university’ with labs, classes, demos, hands-on seminars, to experience the love for the food ... it will have a big coffee shop dedicated to environmental sustainability: water, soil, air ... everything,” said Farinetti. There will be one big difference with other Eataly stores in the world. “We won’t be selling wine, however, we’ll be serving it. We will offer Italian wines only,” said Farinetti, who is also a winemaker in Alba, Piedmont, where he was born. “We are very happy to work with the LCBO; we already sell them wines. I hope,” he laughs, “that there will be an LCBO store as near as possible to Eataly Toronto.” In less than 15 years, Eataly has become a world phenomenon, a brand recognized by foodies everywhere. It’s not only because of the Italian quality on its shelves, but also for the rich food culture, knowledge about ingredients, produce and territory that Eataly contributes in spreading. “Our approach is based on humility,” Farinetti said. “To be humble means to know how to use primeval ingredients; to have this knowledge that comes from territory and traditions.” Eataly Toronto will contain Italian knowledge coupled with the best of local produce. “Semola, milk, meat, vegetables – we’ll buy everything here; they must be local,” said Farinetti. The store promises to be a wonder for the Toronto food lover.

Toronto DECEMBER / JANUARY 17-32_Layout 1 2016-12-05 10:32 AM Page 21

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Toronto DECEMBER / JANUARY 17-32_Layout 1 2016-12-05 10:32 AM Page 22

COVER STORY

From Pervasive Regift to Artisanal Creation Da onnipresente regalo riciclato a creazione artigianale By Sal Difalco

Panettone starts getting some respect

anettone, that moist, sweet, ubiquitous and often derided staple of the Christmas holidays, has been called “the Italian version of fruitcake.” Legendary talk show host Johnny Carson once joked that the worst Christmas gift is a fruitcake. “There is only one fruitcake in the entire world,” he quipped, “and people keep sending it to each other.” More than a few people, in Italy and abroad, have been guilty of regifting a panettone during the holidays; and anecdotal evidence exists of individual panettone circulating among families and friends for years, if not decades. But judging from the 100 million plus panettone sold worldwide each year, people aren’t regifting as often as rumoured. Clearly, more people are consuming it than ever. So is this somewhat beleaguered Italian Christmas constant finally getting respect? Reluctantly admitting to “picking out the dried fruit when I was a kid,” Marina Bertozzi, product developer for A. Bertozzi Importing in Toronto and daughter of its founder, Adriano, takes exception to any panettone denigrations. Her family, originally from Parma, has been importing panettone since 1952. Bertozzi points out that, joking aside, the genuine affection Italians have for panettone (which has been around in some form for centuries) runs deep and counterbalances any negative connotations. “It’s part of our culture,” Bertozzi says, “something we’ve brought over to Canada and shared with Canadians.” Unlike its denser and gooier cousin the fruitcake, and despite an inescapable kitschiness (the glare of panettone boxes stacked into pyramids comes to mind) the iconic confection is currently enjoying a revivification and unprecedented popularity, going both mainstream and global. And Canada has not been immune to panettone’s sweet and airy charms. Though it remains a cherished holiday fixture within Italian-Canadian households, it has also crept 22

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Il panettone comincia a guadagnare un certo rispetto panettone, alimento basilare delle festività natalizie, morbido, dolce, onnipresente e spesso deriso, è chiamato “torta di canditi all’italiana”. Una volta, il leggendario presentatore del talk show Johnny Carson ha scherzato sul fatto che la torta di canditi sarebbe il peggior regalo di Natale. “In tutto il mondo c’è solo una torta di canditi,” ha scherzato, “e la gente continua a passarsela.” Più di un paio di persone, in Italia e all’estero, sono colpevoli di aver riciclato un panettone durante le festività; esistono aneddoti di un singolo panettone circolato tra parenti e amici per anni, se non addirittura decenni. Ma a giudicare dagli oltre 100 milioni e passa di panettoni venduti ogni anno al mondo, le persone non devono riciclarlo così spesso come si vocifera. E, chiaramente, i suoi consumatori sono aumentati più che mai. È forse possibile che in qualche modo questa costante natalizia, italiana e bistrattata, stia finalmente ottenendo un qualche rispetto? Nell’ammettere con riluttanza di “aver scartato la frutta candita da bambina”, Marina Bertozzi, sviluppatore di prodotto per la A. Bertozzi Importing di Toronto, nonché figlia del fondatore Adriano, contesta ogni diffamazione verso il panettone. La sua famiglia, originaria di Parma, importa panettone dal 1952. Bertozzi sottolinea che, scherzi a parte, l’affetto genuino che gli italiani nutrono per il panettone, per certi aspetti in giro da secoli, è così radicato da controbilanciarne qualunque connotazione negativa. “Appartiene alla nostra cultura” afferma Bertozzi, “qualcosa che ci siamo portati dietro in Canada e condividiamo con i canadesi.” A differenza di sua cugina, la torta di canditi, più densa e appiccicaticcia, e nonostante un’inevitabile pacchianeria – vengono in mente le scatole in primo piano dei panettoni impilati a piramide – la confezione emblematica gode al

Toronto DECEMBER / JANUARY 17-32_Layout 1 2016-12-05 10:33 AM Page 23

LIFE & PEOPLE Photography by Daniele Tomelleri

Sandro Carpené, co-owner of Arte & Farina

Tis’ the Season for Panettone Your Christmas shopping list will undoubtedly include the tasty gift of panettone, so Panoram Italia has compiled a list to help you find the best of the season.

TORONTO Freshly baked: Sud Forno Bakery - 716 Queen Street West Forno Cultura - 609 King Street West

High-end selection imported from Italy: Lady York Foods - 2939 Dufferin Street Coppa’s Fresh Market - Various locations Glen Abbey Italian Bakery - 3770B Laird Road (Mississauga, ON) Bertozzi Importing - 2070 Codlin Crescent LaRose Specialty Foods - 327 Bronte St S (Milton, ON) Pusateri’s Fine Foods - Various locations Rustic Bakery - 315 Rustic Road Cataldi Supermarket - 140 Woodbridge Avenue (Vaughan, ON)

MONTREAL Freshly baked: Arte & Farina - 1256 Rue Ontario E

High-end selection imported from Italy: Le Richmond Marché Italien - 377 Rue Richmond Milano Fruiterie - 6862 Boul St-Laurent Berchicci Importing - 6205 Boul. Couture Favuzzi International Inc. - 65, Rue Du Port Royal Ouest Distributions Européennes Canada Inc. - 6615 Rue Jarry E Iris Imports - 9821 Avenue Lausanne

OTTAWA High-end selection imported from Italy: La Bottega Nicastro - 64 George Street

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Toronto DECEMBER / JANUARY 17-32_Layout 1 2016-12-05 10:33 AM Page 24

COVER STORY

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It’s still essentially a Christmas cake,” Sandro Carpene says, “but more and more it’s used for every conceivable festivity and occasion.

20th century Angelo Motta of Milan, whose name and products endure, rolled out the first industrial panettone. While assembly line panettone has predominated the market ever since, current demand for artisanal panettone, with wild deviations from the norm, has risen sharply. “And it’s not just for the Italian community,” Marina Bertozzi says, “and not just for the holidays.” She notes an increasing appetite for more decadent (and pricier) panettone varieties. “Recently,” she says, “we relaunched a private Milanese brand we introduced back in 1992, made with Madagascar vanilla and Siwa dates – all slow-food friendly – and hand-wrapped in Italian crepe paper.” “It’s still essentially a Christmas cake,” Sandro Carpené says, “but more and more it’s used for every conceivable festivity and occasion. We make it all year long, and sell artisanal and commercial brands throughout the year.” He concedes that panettone, of course, remains popular with Italians. “But a lot of other people are buying it,” he adds. “It’s a big seller with the Québécois.” Perhaps the refined handiwork and seductiveness of this new wave of panettone will forever turn the tide against serial regifting and fruitcake jokes. 24

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momento di una rinascita e popolarità senza precedenti, sia nei canali tradizionali che a livello globale. E il Canada non è immune al fascino dolce e leggero del panettone. Sebbene, durante le festività, rimanga ospite fisso gradito nelle case italo-canadesi, si è anche fatto strada nel più ampio panorama gustativo canadese, assumendo una propria dimensione locale. Sandro Carpené, comproprietario assieme a Mirko D’Agata di Arte & Farina, una pasticceria di Montreal specializzata nella produzione del panettone artigianale, prende sul serio il suo panettone. Carpené, emigrato da Bassano del Grappa in Veneto sei anni fa e che ha appreso la sua arte dallo stimato chef italiano Gualtiero Marchesi, prepara le sue squisitezze in loco, da Arte & Farina. “Il panettone artigianale tradizionale deve rispettare certi requisiti rigorosi,” spiega. “Le regole, stabilite a Milano, prevedono una durata sugli scaffali di 30 giorni, quantità di frutta, burro e dimensioni specifiche. Una farina importata dall’Italia chiamata “Manitoba”, preferita in Italia per il suo elevato contenuto di glutine, il quale assicura un prodotto leggero. Questo tipo di grano cresce solamente nei climi freddi. Di fatto, la migliore farina è qua, in Canada. Quindi non la importo.” Sebbene esistano diverse etimologie – che rievocano un povero panettiere di nome Toni, il Duca di Milano o suore munifiche – il termine “panettone” deriva dalla parola italiana “panetto”, un piccolo pan bauletto. Nonostante la sua ricetta semplice – acqua, farina, lievito di birra, burro e tuorli, uvetta, frutta candita e buccia d’arancia – il panettone ha una storia complessa e suggestiva risalente con ogni probabilità alle torte al miele dell’Impero romano. Ma l’attuale incarnazione del panettone si deve più alla Milano e alla Verona (luogo di nascita del pandoro) medievali, così come all’evoluzione dei tipi di pane arricchiti preparati in occasione delle festività religiose cristiane. La prima associazione attestata tra il panettone e il Natale appare negli scritti del 18esimo secolo di Pietro Verri, che lo chiama: “Pane di Tono” (torta fastosa). Nel dizionario Cherubini, milanese-italiano, del 1839, alla voce “panatton” o “panatton de Natal”, troviamo: “Un tipo di pane guarnito con burro, uova, zucchero e uva passa o sultanina.” Il primo riferimento al lievito di birra (che conferisce al panettone la sua

“

Si tratta essenzialmente di un dolce natalizio,” dice Sandro Carpené, “ma consumato sempre più spesso alla prima occasione o festività.

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into the larger Canadian gustatory landscape and taken on local dimensions of its own. Sandro Carpené, co-owner with Mirko D’Agata of Arte & Farina, a bakery in Montreal specializing in artisanal panettone, takes his panettone seriously. Carpené, who emigrated from Bassano del Grappa in Veneto six years ago, and learned his craft under esteemed Italian chef Gualtiero Marchesi, bakes his delectable creations on-site at Arte & Farina. “There are strict requirements for traditional artisanal panettone,” he explains. “Rules codified in Milan include a 30-day shelf life, specific dimensions, quantity of fruit and butter, and flour imported from Italy called Manitoba that’s favoured in Italy for its high gluten content, insuring a light product. This grain only grows in cold climates. Really, the best flour is here, in Canada. So I don’t import it.” Although alternative etymologies exist – invoking references to poor bakers named Toni, Dukes of Milan and munificent nuns – the word panettone comes from the Italian word panetto, meaning a small loaf cake. Despite its uncomplicated recipe – water, flour, yeast, butter, egg yolks, raisins, candied fruit and citrus rind – panettone has a tangled, picturesque history likely reaching back to the honeyed cakes of the Roman Empire. But the current panettone incarnation owes more to medieval Milan and Verona (birthplace of pandoro), as well as the evolution of enriched breads prepared for Christian religious feasts. The earliest recorded association of panettone with Christmas appears in the 18thcentury writings of Pietro Verri, who called it Pane di Tono (luxury cake). In Cherubini’s Milanese-Italian dictionary of 1839, under the entry Panatton o Panatton de Natal, we find: “A kind of bread garnished with butter, eggs, sugar and raisins or sultanas.” The first reference to yeast (which gives panettone its characteristic airiness) dates to 1853, in Giovanni Felice Luraschi’s Il nuovo cuoco Milanese economico, while candied fruit is first cited in Giovanni Vialardi’s Trattato di cucina, pasticceria moderna (1854). In the early

caratteristica leggerezza) risale al 1853, ne Il nuovo cuoco Milanese economico di Giovanni Felice Luraschi; mentre la frutta candita viene citata per la prima volta nel Trattato di cucina, pasticceria moderna (1854) di Giovanni Vialardi. Nei primi del 20esimo secolo Angelo Motta di Milano – il cui nome e i cui prodotti ancora perdurano – presentò il primo panettone industriale. Per quanto il panettone industriale predomini sul mercato sin d’allora, l’attuale richiesta per il panettone artigianale, con variazioni eccentriche rispetto alla norma, ha subito un’impennata. “E non si tratta solo della comunità italiana,” dice Marina Bertozzi, “né il prodotto è legato soltanto alle festività.” Osserva un debole crescente per le varianti del panettone più lussuriose (e care). “Di recente,” afferma, “abbiamo rilanciato un marchio privato milanese che avevamo introdotto nel 1992, fatto con vaniglia del Madagascar e datteri Siwa – presidi slow-food – e impacchettato a mano con carta crespa italiana.” “Si tratta essenzialmente di un dolce natalizio,” dice Sandro Carpené, “ma consumato sempre più spesso alla prima occasione o festività. Lo produciamo tutto l’anno e vendiamo sia marchi artigianali che industriali.” Riconosce che il panettone resta, di certo, benvoluto tra gli italiani. “Ma adesso lo comprano tanti altri,” aggiunge. “È un articolo di punta tra i quebecchesi.” Magari l’artigianalità e il fascino seduttivo di questa nuova ondata di panettone cambierà per sempre la sorte delle battute sul re-gifting e la torta ai canditi.

Toronto DECEMBER / JANUARY 17-32_Layout 1 2016-12-05 10:33 AM Page 25

ITALIANS IN CANADA

A Slice of Italy in Ottawa By Monica Fosado

ttawa’s Preston Street, one of the liveliest neighbourhoods in the city, is also the heart of the Italian community. All along Preston, you will stumble upon a few of its icons. From pizza at Roberto Pizzeria, to the impressive “Beer Bible” (the beer menu at Pub Italia); the gelato at Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana to the pastries at Simply Biscotti. You will hear Italian all around the neighbourhood, of course. Some businesses are owned or operated by Italian-Canadians who moved from Italy to set up in Ottawa decades ago. Closer to Parliement Hill, in the Byward Market district, is the beloved La Bottega Nicastro, a destination family-run grocery store that caters to nonnas and chefs alike. The immigration wave in Ottawa Tommasina Falsetto is part of the group of newcomers who made a new life in Ottawa during the Italian immigration wave to the city. The 90-year-old, who hails from Cleto in Cosenza, Calabria, arrived in Ottawa during the winter of 1950. She joined her husband, who had come a year earlier. The Falsetto family, like many other Italian immigrants to Ottawa ’50s and ’60s, settled mainly in the area known as Centretown West, on Preston, Booth and Rochester streets. For her first seven months, Falsetto and her family shared a crowded twobedroom house on Somerset (off of Preston) with seven other relatives, before buying what would be their own home for the next 18 years on Perkins street. While her husband worked as a cementing laborer, she helped from home renting out a room to Italian boarders (friends of the family) and spent the bulk of her time raising her four daughters. Because she was mostly at home and with Italian friends and family, Falsetto never learned proper English. While she understands it, she remembers memorizing phonetically all the words of the Oath of Allegiance for her citizenship ceremony with the help of her husband. She rolls her eyes as she laughs and repeats with a heavy Italian accent: “I swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada…” She is still laughing about this while her daughter Rosie, who is listening to her mom’s account, says, “But this is her home, for my mom. Here.” Building communities After the Second World War, Corrado Nicastro’s hometown of Cleto in Cosenza, Calabria, was left with a population of 3500 people. Employment and education were hard to come by. Some relatives living in Ottawa had come to visit Nicastro and his family

in Calabria and had spoken wonders of the city. Nicastro saw his chance. He arrived in Ottawa in 1971, when he was 21. “I came in the month of April and I found it very cold..! I said ‘why did I ever come here?!’” Nicastro began to adjust to life in the city. His English was not as strong as his French, so he enrolled in English as a Second Language classes. He eventually married and raised a family in his newfound home. After working in real estate, he owned and ran a record store on Somerset street for nine years. An innate entrepreneur, he also imported products from Italy for 15 years. For a decade until recently, he was the producer of a phonebook where Italian-Canadian families list themselves. The directory still exists and has its role. “Italians like to keep in touch,” Nicastro points out. Just like most of the Italian newcomers who immigrated to Ottawa during this wave of immigration, relied on relatives to establish community connections and join social circles. A place that became pivotal to him is the St. Anthony Soccer Club, on Preston and Young Streets. The time difference between Italy and Eastern Canada deemed it necessary to gather around a television on Saturday and Sunday mornings to watch the game. “Not everyone has a satellite to watch the games Sunday mornings,” says the calcio fan and supporter of Milan. The Soccer Club was and still is home to Italians who want to watch the games together while they have a drink and snacks. Another significant place for Italians in Ottawa is Madonna della Risurrezione, where families gather on weekends. The parish remains a contemporary social symbol tied to being Italian in the city. As Nicastro puts it, “People get married there, our kids got baptized there. We have that religious attachment. We are a religious culture.” What now? Paolo Bottiglia was born and raised in Ottawa, to parents that came from Italy as children. A paramedic for the City of Ottawa, he is trapped in this murky definition of his heritage. “When I am there (Italy), I am Canadian. And when I am here I am Italian.” He laughs as he acknowledges that this makes him always the outsider. While he understands Italian, he doesn’t speak it much these days. “I can get by,” he says. But at 30, he is now financially stable enough to travel to Italy more frequently than he ever did as a child. The importance of speaking Italian now has become more evident. “I’m working on my spare time to learn more,” he admits. PANORAMITALIA.COM

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ITALIANS IN CANADA

Halifax, Nova Scotia and the Italian Connection By Robert Buranello

alifax’s Pier 21 is the gateway through which many Italian immigrants The capital, Halifax, serves as the epicenter of Italian cultural activity in entered Canada and remains an important part of the Italian-Canadian the province. Of particular importance is the Italian Canadian Cultural collective memory. Association (ICCA) whose headquarters at 2629 Agricola Street is a focal This institution operated as the principle port of entry for Italians and other point of numerous cultural activities. It began its operations in the midimmigrants from 1928 to 1971. Since 1999, it has been known as the Canadian 1970s and has been going from strength to strength ever since. The ICCA Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. As the current institution’s documents attest, supports and sponsors numerous important Italian cultural initiatives in the during its years of operation as a port of entry, 471,940 Italians first touched Halifax area, including their famous Sunday dinners, oenological and Canadian soil in Halifax when they stepped off the ocean liners that carried them gastronomic appreciation classes, Italian language classes, and at least one across the Atlantic Ocean. These statistics make Italians the third largest ethnic important intergenerational social event every month. It also publishes a group to immigrate to Canada in those years. As a testament to that fact is the bilingual English/Italian newsletter, La Voce, begun in 1996. “We have bronze statue entitled The Emigrant by the Italian-Canadian artist Armando between 150 and 200 paid memberships but that includes family memberBarbon, which sits atop a marble base at the Halifax Seaport next to Pier 21. ships that can cover between 2 and 5 people,” says Federica Belluccini, Home to approximately 13,500 Italian-Canadians, Halifax services the Executive Council Member of the ICCA. “Our database indicates 280 memneeds of the Italian-Canadian community of all the Maritime provinces. berships.” She added that the institution provides an important focal point “Italians have an important history and a vibrant cultural life in Nova Scotia,” for the Italian community of the city because it is composed of members says Pier 21 Historian Jan Raska. “They first settled in the province in the latter whose roots are from every region. half of the nineteenth century to work in industry, mining, forestry, and fishing. Another fundamentally important element of the Italian cultural presence Most of the early arrivals were labourers who had been recruited to work in the in Halifax is the Italian Studies program at Dalhousie University, which was coal industry and steel plants. Others soon followed founded in 2001 under the umbrella of the French as merchants and shopkeepers looking for economic Department. Despite an auspicious start with the The Italian immigrant opportunity, predominantly in the province’s urban creation of a tenure-stream position, the Major was areas including Halifax and Sydney. Today, Italians community of Nova Scotia can eliminated in 2009 in favour of a Minor and limitedaccount for approximately 1.5% of the province’s term appointments for the Italian Studies faculty. therefore claim its beginnings population. Although the community remains small The program was saved thanks to the efforts of the in comparison to other parts of the country, Italians Faculty of Arts and Science at Dalhousie who date back to the 1600s. in Nova Scotia have preserved their history and culrealized the importance of this discipline, especially ture, and played a prominent role in the province’s since it is the only program of its kind in all of social, economic, and political life as workers, business owners, and proponents Atlantic Canada. For the academic year 2015-2016, the Dalhousie University of multiculturalism.” Italian Studies Program had 128 students enrolled in its courses. Although its Although dispersed in various pockets throughout the province, the capital dimensions are small, it is a passionate and dedicated group of faculty and city of Halifax has attracted significantly more Italians than any other part of the students whose excellent work reflects well on the whole community. province. According to Marilisa Benigno, Honourary Consul of Italy, Atlantic The Italian Embassy in Ottawa’s generous donations of beautiful books Region, “Due to the high number of Italians living here, there has always been a were distributed to the university students by Enrico Padula, the Consul need to have Consular services in Halifax, which serves Italians’ needs in the General of Italy in Montréal, who attended the Italian Studies Awards cereMaritime provinces. The Honourary Consul Position in the Atlantic provinces mony at Dalhousie University and recently invited the students in the Italian falls under the jurisdiction of the Montréal Consolato Generale d’Italia.” Studies program to participate in his program at Casa Padula in Salerno, Italy The Acadian roots of Nova Scotia are closely tied with the early modern (www.casapadula.it). The Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Italian explorers and cartographers like Giovanni da Verrazzano and Bolognini Montréal, Francesco D’Arelli, is expected to be the next guest of honour at Zaltieri. In fact, the latter famously referred to modern areas of Nova Scotia and Dalhousie University’s Italian Studies Program, perhaps even by this fall. New Brunswick as “L’Arcadia” in his 1566 Il disegno del discoperto de la nova With this very recent increase in momentum and enthusiasm, Chris Franza. This toponym would later be transformed into the French “L’Acadie.” Elson, Associate Professor and Chair of the French Department, related how When Samuel de Champlain and company arrived in the area, they also “Italian Studies constitute a very important part of our course offerings. The brought the first families with the surname Chiasson. As recent genealogical relationship between French and Italian is characterized by mutual respect research has indicated, those early Chiasson Acadians hail from the Italianand collaboration, and we are very pleased to see it thrive in Halifax.” speaking Swiss canton town in Ticino, called Chiasso, near Lake Como. The All of this bodes well for the Italian community of Halifax that, to Italian immigrant community of Nova Scotia can therefore claim its beginnings paraphrase the plaque in front of Armando Barbon’s The Emigrant, carries date back to the 1600s. on with “faith, and hope and hearts aflame.” 26

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ITALIANS IN CANADA

Quebec City’s Italians A hint of La Dolce Vita in the Old Capital By Gabriel Riel-Salvatore

hile it might be a bit of a stretch to speak of an Italian Community in Just like Luigi Leone, serendipity led Emilio Colarusso to Quebec City. Quebec City, per se, especially given the city’s reputation for Having first settled in Montreal, like most of his Italian compatriots, he discovered cultural and ethnic homogeneity, Panoram Italia has nevertheless Quebec City in the late 1950s and decided to take the leap. Upon seeing a ‘For Rent’ managed to find a handful of dyed-in-the-wool immigrants from the Belpaese sign in the window of a shop on St-Jean Boulevard, he seized the opportunity who set-up roots in the shadow of Château Frontenac in downtown Quebec City. to open a grocery store. Today, his Épicerie Européenne specialty grocery store has In fact, according to Canada's 2011 census, only 505 people spoke Italian been selling quality Italian products for over 50 years. at home in Quebec's national capital. Compare that to Montreal, where 76,540 “Before, there were more Italians who came to buy from us. Now many individuals claimed Italian as their mother tongue. Locating them among a of them have left or passed away... We were very few to begin with. Now it’s population exceeding half a million definitely brought to mind the old needlesvery different” he reflects. His son Gianni, who has now taken over the store, is less inclined to visit in-a-haystack cliché. So who are some of these Italians who settled in Quebec the Italian Club where his father spends every Sunday chatting with a handCity and came to swear allegiance to Bonhomme Carnaval? ful of old Italians in the language of Dante. Although he still considers From the outset it is worth remembering that the city does retain a European himself Italian, Gianni says he has no Italian friends within his cohort. “This character and is, in many ways, reminiscent of the Old Continent. For Luigi Leone, is what happens with all nationalities in Quebec, not just Italians; they end owner of Au Parmesan restaurant on Rue Saint-Louis near Château Frontenac, up assimilating and blending in” he remarks. Old Quebec’s historic charms were sufficient to Italians have always been well received inspire him to put down roots. As a waiter and Italians have always been well in Quebec. The closeness of the language inveterate globetrotter, Leone did a lot of movreceived in Quebec. The closeness and the warmth of both cultures probably ing around across the U.S. and Canada before account for a lot. Italians have tended to finally settling on Quebec City in the 1970s. of the language and the warmth integrate easily and have, for the most part, His restaurant, which celebrated its 40th of both cultures probably account founded successful businesses – a tribute to anniversary in 2014, has become an institution their impetuous character and work ethic. for lovers of Italian cuisine in Quebec. As for a lot. Still, it seems hard to imagine another colourful as Ali Baba’s cave, the place alone is generation of dyed-in-the-wool Italians flourishing here. “Back in the day, worth a visit, especially with its well-curated collection of decorative trinkets and Italian immigrants were mostly tradespeople and restaurant workers. Today, knickknacks, and its large selection of 4,000 handpicked bottles. despite the brain drain from the Belpaese, the current crop of young Italian Leone sees himself primarily as an ambassador of authentic Italian food. immigrants struggle to have their diplomas recognized and cannot easily The fact that his restaurant was awarded a plaque boasting the honourary desobtain the requisite work permits to really consider moving here,” explains ignation “Veri ristoranti italiani nel Mondo” stands as a satisfying consecration Riccardo Rossini, an Italian professor at Université de Laval and honourary of his efforts, especially for a man who worked so hard to promote traditional consul for Italy in Quebec City. Italian gastronomy in a part of the world that was relatively unaccustomed to it. Like all good Italians, those who settled in the Old Capital managed to “Of course we had to adapt our menus to meet the tastes of our customers, prosper by leveraging something of great value: the beauty of their culture. who weren’t necessarily interested in adopting the traditional formula of primo, And, even though Quebec City seems not to have satisfied the interests and secondo, etc. Here, pasta is a main course” explains Leone, who stops at aspirations of many Italian migrants, its charms are not lost on those who nothing to bolster authentic cuisine. A native of Parma, in Emilia-Romagna, he linger and visit often. brought along with him several culinary secrets, which he has skillfully A case in point is provided by Laura Sargentini, an Italian tourist living adapted to please the palate of his Quebecois patrons. Among their many in Belgium, in town to visit her son as he wraps up an exchange program in favourites are his fine prosciuttos and traditional balsamic vinegars. Agronomy at Université de Laval: “This is my third visit. I love this city and His restaurant is one where rigodon rhythms take a back seat to lively its peaceful atmosphere. I would not hesitate for one moment to send my tarantellas. Moreover, one of the restaurant’s rooms is dedicated to Ferrari F1 second son here too,” she asserts enthusiastically, adding that she would be racing and its famous Quebecois driver, Gilles Villeneuve – a fitting reminder delighted if her eldest chose to make Old Quebec his permanent new home. that Italy and Quebec often make a great team. 28

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FASHION

Puffed 2.

Choosing the perfect Winter jacket By Alessia Sara Domanico

inter coats are a must and while they can be a major investment for some and a seasonal splurge for others, they’ve become an undeniable commodity in the fashion industry. Montreal-based La Canadienne happens to be one of First Lady Sophie Trudeau’s personal faves. The 45-year-old company knows a thing or two about designing hot trends to protect you against the Canadian cold. Whether you opt for down-filled or shearling jackets, being bundled up has never been this stylish. The company prides itself on offering European-style footwear and accessories that are handcrafted in Canada using materials from Italy. When it comes to Italy, its current heavy hitters include the brands K-Way and Moncler. K-Way was originally founded in France in the 1960s. Marco Boglione, founder of BasicNet SpA (holding company of the Kappa brand) was able to breathe new life into this classic, making it an overnight sensation first in Italy and now across the globe. Their reversible 2-in-1 coats with that signature retro zipper in mustard and burnt orange for men, women and children are a hit and they’ve branched out into accessories as well. 30

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FASHION

6. 5.

7. On the banks of Lake Como you’ll find the king of winter coat couture: Moncler’s Chairman and CEO Remo Ruffini, who is basking in commercial glory. Moncler is another French story turned Italian, which despite a hefty price tag, has shoppers clambering to get a piece of the action. Their sculpted, ultra-lux coats are the stuff winter romps are made of, perfect for a VIP ski vacation or stepping out downtown for some mulled wine. Sporty, functional and chic, the high-end Peuterey and its more affordable sibling Geospirit, owned by G&P Net SpA based in Tuscany, is also a firm favourite known for both its lightweight puffer jacket models and slim mixed wool Montgomery coats. If it were a popularity contest then Colmar would most likely win out amongst the Italians. You can’t walk down a street without running into one of their superlight down jackets with their unmistakeable circular red badge on the sleeve. They’ve been around since 1923 and are still going strong.

L E G E N D 1. Moncler 2. Quartz Co. 3. Colmar 4. Colmar

5. K-Way 6. Moncler 7. La Canadienne

Helping you is what we do. Parliamo italiano

Domenic Salvadore Sales Representative

416-496-9220 647-966-4991 domenicsalvadore@royallepage.ca www.angelosol.com 624B Fleet Street, Toronto, ON, M5V 1B9

Royal LePage Terrequity Realty

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LIVING ITALIAN STYLE

Photography by Giulio Muratori

Makeup by Monica De Las Casas Rosati

Location: Cameo Kitchens

Elysia Circelli

Monica Iozzo

Nickname: Leelou, Ely Occupation: Publicist, Discovery Networks Canada Age: 32 Generation: Second Dad from: San Bartolomeo in Galdo, Benevento, Campania Mom from: Sant’Onofrio, Vibo Valentia, Calabria Raised in: Etobicoke Speaks: English and Italian

Nickname: Mon Occupation: Secondary Teacher Age: 30 Generation: First Dad from: Chiaravalle, Catanzaro, Calabria Mom from: Centrache, Catanzaro, Calabria Raised in: Chairavalle and Woodbridge Speaks: Italian and English

Who do you speak Italian to? My beautiful nonna Orsola, and my sweetheart neighbour Pierina Passion: Travel, fitness, and pop culture Goal in life: To continue travelling the world and go on an African safari! Your best dish: My homemade arugula, prosciutto and bocconcini pizza Best Italian neighhourhood: College Street Your favourite ItalianCanadian expression: “Hai fatto una buona jobba.” Main difference between first generation and second/third: Fluency in the Italian language Who is your role model? Sometimes we come across 32

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strong, influential people who leave a powerful impact on our lives. Luckily for me, I came across such a person from the very beginning of my journey in life – my mother. Do you identify as ItalianCanadian or Canadian-Italian? I stand proud to be a Canadian-Italian, because my grandparents immigrated to Canada to give us a better life. What does Panoram Italia represent to you? It represents an equal blend of both the Canadian and Italian heritage. Best memory growing up Italian-Canadian: Walking home from elementary school with my nonno Paolo and nonna Orsola.

Who do you speak Italian to? My relatives and my daughter Passion: Travelling Goal in life: To travel the world with my family What’s your typical lunch? Panino with capocollo and cheese Your best dish: My homemade pizza Best Italian neighhourhood: Woodbridge Your favourite ItalianCanadian expression: “Chi va con lo zoppo impara a zoppicare.” Main difference between first generation and second/third: Language fluency Who is your role model? Miuccia Prada

Most important family value: Supporting each other through good and bad times Do you identify as ItalianCanadian or Canadian-Italian? Italian-Canadian What does Panoram Italia represent to you? Sharing our Italian culture and values Best memory growing up Italian-Canadian: Making homemade pasta, tomato sauce, eggplants and sausages

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DESIGN

Light It Up The season’s latest lighting trends — direct from Italy

Artemide Alphabet of Light

By Alessia Sara Domanico

hether you’ve got a new home, a renovation or a simple refresh in the works, don’t leave the lighting decisions for last. Light installations can do wonders to enhance your space in ways that physical furniture and space cannot do alone. We’ve perused the latest lighting works from Italian heavy hitters Artemide, Flou and Oluce and picked out a few key styles to “illuminate” you for your next interior project. In terms of creative liberties, Artemide led the way during the world-famous Milan Design Week, during which designers and creatives flock to Italy’s fashion capital each year to see the latest and greatest new interior design trends. This year, Artemide showcased everything from giant lit up words to clusters of tiny colourful spotlights, teaming up with over a dozen creative partners including carmaker Mercedes Benz and veteran industrial designer Ross Lovegrove to bring some provocative new styles to the forefront. Artemide’s patented Ameluna design in collaboration with Mercedes Benz uses an innovative optoelectronic system that is integrated into a transparent frame. This is wrapped up by an aluminum band welded with the optics to support the LED light strip. The transparent body allows the light to be both directly and partially deflected. Chlorophilia 2 is the continuation of a collaboration with Ross Lovegrove that takes his signature approach to organic and fluid forms and uses them to create a light suspension appliance that, when switched on, unveils a contrast of delicate shades of light interacting with space. The suspended central body emits indirect light filtered and refracted by three clear surfaces, whose natural shape recalls the leaves of a plant. Flou is another design darling. It was founded in 1978 by Sicilian entrepreneur Rosario Messina and is sold through a number of independent retailers in Ontario and Quebec. Flou has arguably made its mark in lighting by creating collections that pair up perfectly with its furniture line. One particular design from Flou’s new Softwing collection grabbed our attention: the futuristic floor and table lamps that use bronzed or graphite colour metal together with a very particular large transparent smoked or bronzed LED glass ball. There is no need to fiddle with knobs to switch on the lamp; just stroke it gently with your finger or hand and let there be light! We’re also big fans of Flou’s mirror rimmed 34

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Artemide Ameluna

Artemide Chlorophilia

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DESIGN

Flou SOFTWING poltrona

Oluce atollo

lights that would be a dream to finish off any hallway entrance. Oluce, Italy’s oldest lighting design firm still in existence, continues to re-propose its iconic Atollo table lamps, which have become a cult piece in the world of interior design. This geometric table lamp gives off both direct and diffused light, is made of opaline blown Murano glass and comes with a dimmer. Another style that captured our fancy is Oluce’s Pin Stripe collection that recalls men’s tailoring, effectively bringing together two design greats from Italy. As described by Oluce’s representative, “Pin Stripe was created to be a family of Haute Joaillerie, where what counts is the essentiality of the design together with the sophistication of its finishes and materials. The black and white ‘pinstriped’ glass-like material in men’s suits is supported like a diamond by its setting.” Flou

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Villa Charities Unveils Bold Design for New Columbus Centre

Rendering produced by Caramel Inc.

Villa Charities Inc. and the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) have unveiled a bold, modern design proposal for the combined new Columbus Centre and Dante Alighieri Academy Catholic Secondary School. The design includes a dramatic, three-story glass façade along Lawrence Ave., at the existing Columbus Centre location, with state-of-the-art cultural, athletic, dining, educational and other facilities along with a new performing arts theatre. The design unveiling follows the joint submission of a Site Plan application to the City of Toronto in early November. The application marks a major milestone in the renaissance of the Columbus Centre, the cultural heart of the GTA’s Italian Canadian community. “Villa Charities has taken a major step in creating a modern and vibrant central piazza for Italian-Canadians and others wishing to explore Italian culture,” says Eligio Gaudio, President and CEO, Villa Charities Inc. “We are excited to build an iconic new home for our organization that will keep our Italian heritage shining brightly in the GTA for generations to come.” Gaudio added, “Partnering with the TCDSB in a combined facility opens new opportunities for Villa Charities to engage with the younger generation and thereby build a path to the future.”

A separate, exclusive-use section for the Columbus Centre will house improved space for Villa Charities’ art, dance, music, and culinary programs, fitness facilities, a restaurant and café, new event / banquet space, an art gallery, performing arts theatre and tenant space / administration offices. Key features include: • Major upgrades to fine arts, music and dance studios, and dramatically upgraded athletic facilities with state-of-the-art studios for spin, aerobic and other programs. • A contemporary culinary studio with digital learning technology, enabling live interaction with chef instructors in Italy and all over the world. • A street presence for Ristorante Boccaccio and the art gallery, which will front onto Lawrence Ave., with an outdoor patio dining area. • A modern glass façade that will bring natural light into the Columbus Centre’s cultural classrooms, with high ceilings. Renderings of the proposed Columbus Centre design are available to view online at www.villacharities.com.

In the meantime, it is business as usual at the Columbus Centre until late 2017 and approvals are in hand to begin the demolition of the existing facility. Interim facilities will be provided before and during the construction phase. Dante Alighieri Academy will remain open at its current location until the move to the new school.

“The initiation of the formal approval process today marks an exciting new chapter for our organization and the community we serve,” says Aldo Cundari, Chair, Villa Charities Inc. “By advancing Villa Charities’ mission of celebrating and promoting Italian heritage, culture, language, arts, food and family values, the new Columbus Centre will be a destination for Italian-Canadians across the GTA and for everyone wishing to share in our rich culture.”

New Columbus Centre to House Dramatically Enhanced Facilities

Open House

The new Columbus Centre will provide fully modernized facilities with programs similar to those provided now as well as new programs.

A joint Villa Charities/TCDSB Open House will be held at the Columbus Centre early in the New Year. Details will be announced at a later date.

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Central Italy Earthquake Relief Fund Passes $500,000 Mark Fund President Eligio Gaudio visits Italy to survey damage, assess needs

Scenes from earthquake-damaged Amatrice.

The Central Italy Earthquake Relief Fund (CIERF) has now surpassed $500,000 in donations received and pledged. Significant additional funds are being raised through ongoing donations and major fundraising events such as “Una Serata Esclusiva,” held on Nov. 12. Hosted by the Remo Ferri Group at Ferrari of Ontario, the event was an incredible success, featuring the best in Italian food, wine and high-end automobiles, and raised an estimated $400,000. Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V., was the guest of honour. Separately, on Nov. 18, IC Savings announced a $50,000 donation to CIERF on behalf of its credit union members and employees. CIERF plans to raise several million dollars to assist the hardest-hit communities in Umbria, Lazio and Marche to get back on their feet. Villa Charities and other CIERF organizers are reaching out to all Canadians to contribute to a legacy that will aid the towns and villages where many lives were lost, families destroyed and streets laid in ruin.

L to R: Eligio Gaudio with Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi and the Hon. Renata Polverini, Member of the Italian Parliament.

Eligio Gaudio, President of CIERF and President and CEO of Villa Charities Inc., recently toured the affected regions on behalf of CIERF, to survey the damage and assess the needs. His visit included meetings and tours with the Mayors of two of the hardest-hit communities, Amatrice and Norcia. “Having seen firsthand how deeply these communities have been affected, the need for a significant contribution that will have a lasting, positive and profound impact is more apparent to me than ever,” Gaudio said. Central Italy’s need for assistance has grown following other major tremors in the region, including a 6.6-magnitude earthquake in Marche and Umbria on Oct. 30 – the most powerful to hit Italy since 1980. We urge you to donate online at www.centralitalyearthquakerelieffund.com, or in person at the Columbus Centre, at any branch of IC Savings, or by contacting Jean Jarvis at jjarvis@villacharities.com. We also hope you will attend an upcoming fundraising event; listings are posted on the CIERF website.

Eligio Gaudio with the Hon. Renata Polverini, Member of the Italian Parliament, and members of an earthquake recovery crew during a recent visit to Norcia.

L to R: Remo Ferri, Sergio Marchionne and Sam Ciccolini at “Una Serata Esclusiva” fundraiser. PANORAMITALIA.COM

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Accomplished Leaders Make Ristorante Boccaccio “a Hidden Gem” When the Toronto Star praised Ristorante Boccaccio as “a hidden gem” in March, it was expressing what numerous diners have come to expect from the Columbus Centre’s fine dining restaurant. Ristorante Boccaccio is best known for authentic, simple Italian cooking and high quality, affordably-priced Italian wines served in beautifully renovated space.

Executive Chef Gino Marchetti

Celebrate the Holiday Season in style at Ristorante Boccaccio Ristorante Boccaccio is a popular venue for private Christmas season dining events and its annual New Year’s Eve dinner. Bookings are still available for pre-Christmas private lunches or dinners. This year’s New Year’s Eve dinner features a four-course meal with an appetizer, choice of pasta (truffle infused risotto or wild boar Bolognese), choice of main course (beef tenderloin or fish) and molten lava cake for dessert. The meal is priced at just $65 per person, with the first seating at 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Call 416-789-5555 to book your private event or New Year’s dinner.

As the restaurant’s popularity continues to grow, it’s time to praise the people behind its reputation for excellence, Executive Chef Gino Marchetti and Columbus Centre Director of Food and Beverage Sal Asmelash, who together lead an all-star kitchen and serving staff. Chef Marchetti is responsible for Ristorante Boccaccio’s simple and traditional, yet excellent cuisine. Since settling down at the Columbus Centre more than 28 years ago, he has continually updated the menu at Ristorante Boccaccio and Columbus Events Centre to highlight each season's freshest ingredients. Marchetti also channels his Italian heritage into the restaurant's popular theme nights, which feature the unique cuisine and wines of Italy’s regions. Classically trained at Italy's world renowned Villa Santa Maria culinary school in Abruzzo, Chef Marchetti sharpened his world-class culinary skills in restaurants throughout Europe and North America.

Save The Dates

Sal Asmelash is a relative newcomer to Ristorante Boccaccio, though she brings many years of experience in fine dining. It was her passion for food, wine and exceptional service that prompted Villa Charities President and CEO Eligio Gaudio to recruit her to the Columbus Centre in February. Sal is a third level sommelier who previously worked in several top Toronto restaurants and the prestigious private golf club The National Golf Club of Canada, where she managed a 17,000-bottle wine cellar, dining room and halfway house for almost eight years. While her education focused primarily on business management, her passion for customer service is what inspired her to pursue a career in restaurant and food services. Sal and Gino ensure that Ristorante Boccaccio continues to maintain its reputation for fine dining excellence daily for lunch and dinner, and at both private and special culinary events. See for yourself: call 416-789-5555 to book a table today. Sal Asmelash, Columbus Centre Director of Food and Beverage

UPCOMING EVENTS Ristorante Boccaccio

Joseph D. Carrier Gallery

Private Holiday Season functions New Year’s Eve dinner 416-789-5555

Studio Arts Exhibit: Dec. 8-Jan. 8 Tom McNeely: Dec. 8-Jan. 8 Susan Phillips: Dec. 8-Jan. 8 Christmas Studio Art Exhibit: Dec. 8-Jan.16 Miriam Melamed: Jan. 5-Feb. 6 Sami Suomalainen: Jan. 5-Feb. 6

Presepi (Nativity Scene) Display Columbus Centre Dec. 12-Jan. 10

Music & Art Winter Programs

Choice of activities March 13-17 Early bird registration: Jan. 16-27

Columbus Centre Aquatics Winter Programs

The Venetian Ball

Member registration: Dec. 6 Non-members: Dec. 8 In person only Info: 416-789-7011 x215

Thursday, June 22, 2017 Golf Classic

www.villacharities.com

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March Break Camp

Programs begin in January 416-789-7011 x244

Columbus Centre Athletics Winter Programs Member registration: Jan. 3 Non-members: Jan. 5 In person only Info: 416-789-7011 x229

March 30, 2017 Tickets & sponsorships now available 416-789-7011 x321

Save the Dates Giro Cycling Event – May 28, 2017 Villa Charities Golf Classic – June 22, 2017

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Â&#x2026;comes alive at The Venetian Ball in support of Villa Charities Thursday, March 30, 2017

Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building 255 Front Street West, Toronto

Cocktail Reception 6:30 pm Dinner 7:30 pm Live and Silent Auction Â&#x2022; Entertainment Â&#x2022; Black Tie Your Y our support suppor ensur ensures es tthat hat V Villa illa Charit Charities ies can cont continue inue to pr provide ovide its unique brand of high-qual ityy, cul high-quality, culturally turally sensit sensitive ive pr programs ograms and services to our community community.. To become a sponsor or to purchase individual tickets, please contact the visit villacharities.com

A Christmas Tradition Returns to Columbus Centre Christmas spirit will once again run through the Columbus Centre when the annual display of Presepi, traditional Nativity scenes, opens on Dec. 12. The exhibit, presented by Centro Scuola e Cultura Italiana, includes more than 35 Presepi of many styles and sizes from all over the world, including Bethlehem, Africa, the Americas and, of course, Italy, where the tradition began about 700 years ago. The display, which runs to Jan. 10, attracts many visitors each year including hundreds of Toronto-area students.

Wishing you the best of the 2016 Holiday Season and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

www.villacharities.com

This special section is published by Villa Charities. For more than 40 years across the GTA, Villa Charities has provided care for seniors and offered educational and cultural programs in music, dance, visual arts, culinary arts, athletics, and much more. The Villa Charities family includes Villa Colombo Services for Seniors in Toronto; Villa Colombo Vaughan; Caboto Terrace, Casa Del Zotto and Casa Abruzzo apartments for independent seniors; the Columbus Centre; and Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery. For more information, visit www.villacharities.com

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Photo by D. Gubert

A look at the plain surrounding the charming mountain-top village of Castelluccio

Spectacular Umbria Umbria spettacolare By Sarah Mastroianni

Exploring the green heart of Italy

ich with rolling verdant hills, imposing mountains and serene lakes, Umbria’s countryside does not disappoint. Neither does its long history, picturesque towns, culinary delights or traditional festivals. And although it’s the only region in Italy without any coastline or international borders, Umbria’s reputation for being the “green heart of Italy” has certainly secured it a spot in the hearts of those who visit. According to David Tordi, an Umbrian tour guide and co-owner at Teseotur and Orvietoviva, “Umbria is a perfect place for people who want to explore but also enjoy relaxing.” But this past August, Umbria’s quiet existence was shaken by the earthquake that rocked central Italy. While Umbria remained largely unscathed, the earthquake caused the deaths of nearly 300 people and injured countless more in the neighbouring regions of Lazio and Le Marche. “Those were moments of panic, where you do not know what do to and most of all you feel completely powerless,” Tordi says. “The whole community here was in shock for many days and daily life wasn’t functioning the right way.” Then, on October 30, the town of Norcia was hit by an earthquake that damaged the town hall and levelled the Basilica of St. Benedict, built atop the birthplace of the saint and father of monasticism. As Norcia heals and begins to rebuild, the region of Umbria stands as a shining example of perseverance and solidarity. And it remains, as proudly as ever, one of Italy’s less-travelled gems. Although it’s a relatively small region made up of only two provinces, the variety of foods, dialects and traditions is remarkable. “The Umbrians are also very proud of their heritage, which dates back way before the Roman times,” explains Tordi. 40

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Alla scoperta del cuore verde d’Italia

icca di verdi colline ondeggianti, di montagne imponenti e placidi laghi, la campagna umbra non delude. Né lo fanno la sua storia, le suggestive cittadine, le prelibatezze culinarie o i festival tradizionali. E per quanto sia l’unica regione d’Italia che non si trova ai confini politici o marittimi, la reputazione dell’Umbria di essere il “cuore verde d’Italia” le garantisce di certo un posticino nel cuore di coloro che la visitano. Secondo David Tordi, guida turistica umbra e comproprietario della Teseotour e di Orvietoviva: “L’Umbria è il luogo ideale per coloro che amano esplorare ma anche rilassarsi.” Ma lo scorso agosto, l’esistenza pacifica dell’Umbria è stata scossa dal terremoto che ha fatto tremare l’Italia centrale. Mentre l’Umbria è pressoché rimasta intatta, quel terremoto ha causato la morte di quasi 300 persone e numerosi feriti nelle regioni vicine di Lazio e Marche. “Sono stati momenti di panico, di quelli in cui non sai cosa fare e soprattutto di quelli in cui ti senti completamente impotente,” dice Tordi. “L’intera comunità locale è rimasta scioccata per giorni e nel quotidiano le cose non funzionavano più come di consueto.” Poi, il 30 ottobre, la città di Norcia è stata colpita da un terremoto che ne ha danneggiato le antiche mura ed ha raso al suolo la Basilica di San Benedetto, costruita sul luogo di nascita del santo nonché padre del monachesimo. Mentre Norcia è intenta a guarire e dà il via alla ricostruzione, la regione umbra resiste quale esempio eccezionale di perseveranza e solidarietà. E rimane, con orgoglio come sempre, una delle gemme meno visitate d’Italia. Sebbene rappresenti una regione piuttosto piccola con le sue due sole province, la varietà di cibi, di dialetti e di tradizioni è notevole.

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is remarkable.

From the initial civilizations of the Umbri – which date back to the second millennium BC and from which Umbria takes it name, to the Etruscans, and then the Romans – the history of Umbria is long and distinguished. Putting his tour guide expertise to good use, Tordi points out that visitors travelling to the region in the spring should not miss the town of Castelluccio di Norcia. Each year from May to June, the town comes to life with thousands of flowers of different varieties. For history buffs, there’s the charming medieval town of Gubbio, known for its

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Sebbene rappresenti una regione piuttosto piccola con le sue due sole province, la varietà di cibi, di dialetti e di tradizioni è notevole.

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Although it’s a relatively small region made up of only two provinces, the variety of foods, dialects and traditions

“Gli umbri sono inoltre molto fieri del proprio lascito, da ricondurre a prima dell’ epoca romana” spiega Tordi. Dalla prima civiltà degli Umbri – risalente al II millennio a.C. e dalla quale deriva il nome Umbria – fino agli Etruschi e successivamente ai Romani, quella dell’Umbria è una storia lunga e illustre. Facendo buon uso della propria competenza come guida, Tordi suggerisce ai turisti che visitano la regione in primavera di non perdersi la cittadina di Castelluccio di Norcia. Ogni anno da maggio a giugno, la cittadina riprende vitalità con migliaia di fiori di diverse varietà. Per gli appassionati di storia, c’è l’affascinante città medievale di Gubbio, nota per le sue ceramiche e per la sua Corsa dei Ceri – una

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Umbria is a perfect place for people who want to explore but also enjoy relaxing.

ceramics and its Corsa dei Ceri – a historic candle race through the streets. Heading south, visit Perugia, the capital city of the region and home to two universities: the Università degli Studi di Perugia and the Università per Stranieri di Perugia. It’s also the birthplace of the iconic Baci Perugina chocolate. Next, follow the road to Assisi, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi. Visit the impressive Basilica Papale di San Francesco d’Assisi and admire the surrounding countryside from different viewpoints throughout the city. Orvieto, known for its white wine and Gothic-style Duomo, is another not-to-be-missed stop on any Umbrian itinerary. It also hosts the winter editions of the Umbria Jazz Festival and the Umbria Folk Festival. Drinking in the scenery, devouring the sights and stopping in at a festival or two are all good ways to learn about the region, but in order to fully live an Umbrian experience, you must eat. “Italians in general firmly believe that eating well equals living well,” explains Tordi, and because of this, “Umbrians use an official festivity or event to have another wonderful party with incredible food and drinks.” He cites Orvieto’s Corpus Domini celebration as an example of an initially religious festival whose focus expands to include music and cuisine. “If an Italian eats a bad meal,” says Tordi, “that would be a bad day for sure.” Thanks to its abundance of locally grown or produced grapes, olives, farro, cinghiale or tartufo, it would be hard to eat a bad meal in Umbria. For a real taste of local specialties, Tordi suggests sampling the region’s soups, rabbit and wild boar dishes, as well as the torta al testo, which he describes as a “special type of focaccia.” With so much on offer – history, art, nature, food, wine and cultural events – it’s no mystery why Umbria is an attractive destination for Italians and tourists alike.

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L’Umbria è il luogo ideale per coloro che amano esplorare ma anche rilassarsi.

corsa con i ceri per le vie della città. Dirigendovi a sud, visitate Perugia, capoluogo della regione e sede di due università – l’Università di Perugia e l’Università per Stranieri di Perugia – nonché luogo di nascita degli emblematici Baci Perugina. Successivamente, proseguite in direzione di Assisi, patrimonio mondiale dell’UNESCO e città natale di San Francesco d’Assisi. Visitate la splendida Basilica Papale di San Francesco ed ammirate il paesaggio circostante dai diversi punti di osservazione della città. Orvieto, nota per il suo vino bianco e per il duomo in stile gotico, è un’altra tappa obbligata di qualunque itinerario umbro. Ospita anche le edizioni invernali dell’Umbria Jazz Festival e dell’Umbria Folk Festival. Lasciarsi assorbire dal panorama, far proprio il paesaggio e fare un salto a un paio di festival sono tutti modi eccellenti per conoscere la regione, ma per poter vivere appieno l’Umbria, bisogna mangiare. “Gli italiani, in genere, credono fermamente che mangiar bene voglia dire viver bene,” spiega Tordi, e per questo motivo: “Gli umbri “approfittano” di festività o eventi ufficiali per organizzare una bella festa a base di bevande ed ottimo cibo.” Cita la festa del Corpus Domini di Orvieto quale esempio di festività, originariamente religiosa, il cui fulcro si estende fino a includere musica e cucina. “Se un italiano non è soddisfatto di un pasto,” spiega Tordi, “di certo ciò gli manda a monte l’intera giornata.” Data l’abbondanza di uva, olive, farro, tartufo e cinghiali prodotti o allevati in loco, è poco probabile mangiare un pasto pessimo in Umbria. Per avere un assaggio reale delle specialità locali, Tordi suggerisce di assaporare le zuppe regionali, il coniglio e i piatti a base di cinghiale, così come la “torta al testo”, che descrive come “un tipo speciale di focaccia.” Con un’offerta così ampia – storia, arte, natura, cibo, vino ed eventi culturali – non è un mistero riuscire a capire perché l’Umbria rappresenti una destinazione seducente sia per gli italiani che per gli stranieri.

Photo by Giancarlo Belfiore

Perugia

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A Spiritual Journey Assisi and Cascia are home to two of Italyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beloved saints By Nora Fahmi

Assisi, home of St. Francis Perched on a hilltop, the enchanting town of Assisi, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the birthplace of one of Italyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s patron saints, St. Francis (the other is St. Catherine of Siena who was born in Siena, Tuscany). Assisi offers a myriad of reasons to be included in an Umbrian itinerary: spectacular views from many different points, the elegant Basilica of Santa Chiara and the Roman Temple of Minerva on Piazza del Comune, to name a few. Ultimately, the main reason to head to Assisi is all things St. Francis, especially the basilica named after him. Born into a wealthy family in 1181, St. Francis lived a privileged life until his year-long imprisonment during the war against Perugia in 1202. Following that episode, he undertook a path towards a life of poverty, and with time, gained enough followers to form the Franciscan Order. He was canonized two years after his death in 1228.

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Photo by Alfio Giannotti

very corner of Umbria offers its share of magic and beauty; some towns are known for their medieval architecture, while others are acclaimed for their breathtaking landscapes, culinary wonders and churches. The towns of Assisi and Cascia, almost untouched by time, continue to captivate visitors from all corners of the world. In addition to their historic importance, they are often the starting points of a great spiritual journey.

St. Francis Basilica, Assisi

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Through Umbria “The best way to fully appreciate the town’s special atmosphere is by exploring the little streets and alleyways before arriving to what I think is a true masterpiece: the St. Francis Basilica,” says Nila Halun, passionate sommelier and owner of Bibenda Assisi Wine Bar. “Believers and non-believers all have their reasons to fall in love with this basilica.” She also points out another magical place in the town – the quaint Via Nepis, once a place of meditation for St. Francis and the Franciscan friars. “Some say that their presence here is almost palpable,” Halun says.

Cascia, hometown of St. Rita High up in the mountainous southeast portion of Umbria, a little treasure can be found: Cascia. With just over 3,000 inhabitants, a slow pace of life, charm and friendliness characterize the place. Given its elevated position, it has no shortage of breathtakingly picturesque views. But Cascia is famous all over the world for being the birthplace of St. Rita.

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Photo courtesy of Fondazione Santa Rita da Cascia onlus

Christmas in Assisi St. Francis is credited for creating the first known presepio (nativity scene) in Greccio, south of Assisi, in 1220. It’s no surprise that Assisi becomes all lights and colours during the month of December with nativity scenes popping up in every nook and cranny. Merchants display their presepe in their windows; churches present their own as well. The essence of Christmas is truly captured with the life-size terracotta figures just outside of the St. Francis Basilica. Another not-to-miss event is the yearly exhibition of nativity scenes from around the world, which is organized by Porziuncola (a small church within the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels). December is also the time for Christmas markets, where artists, artisans and farmers of the region promote their products. The biggest markets are held in the squares of Piazza del Comune and Piazza Santa Chiara.

“Cascia is a purely religious destination, a place where people come specifically to admire the Basilica and Monastery of St. Rita,” says Paolo Sperini of Guide in Umbria, a sightseeing tour agency. St. Rita’s modest life, first as an abused young wife and later as an Augustinian nun, spans from 1381 till 1457. She is known as the “Saint of the Impossible,” due to the tremendous family and marital challenges she overcame, as well as the extreme difficulty she faced in being accepted in the convent after her husband’s violent assassination. Canonized centuries after her death, in 1900, St. Rita remains the patron saint of marriage difficulties and abuse victims. Today, the beautiful Basilica of Cascia houses the St. Rita shrine, one of the most visited in Italy. There lies her preserved body, which remains intact throughout the centuries. Following Cascia, Sperini says another mandatory stop on the Umbrian pilgrimage route is the nearby village of Roccaporena, the beloved saint’s birthplace. At Roccaporena stands the Sanctuary of St. Rita that can be visited throughout the year. Visitors are also welcome in the house in The Basilica and Monastery of St. Rita, Cascia which she was born.

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Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree Gubbio’s Christmas tree is outlined in coloured lights on the Monte Ingino, reaching up the slope of the mountain over a distance of 750 metres and covering an area of 30 square kilometres.

Small town of Gubbio boasts biggest in the world By Beatrice Fantoni

rees grow and change with time, but a particular Christmas tree in Gubbio has remained largely the same while the tourism industry around it has done the growing. Since 1981, this small town in the province of Perugia, Umbria, has celebrated the holiday season with a giant Christmas tree, outlined in coloured

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lights. Located on the Monte Ingino, the tree reaches up the slope of the mountain over a distance of 750 metres and covers an area of 30 square kilometres. “It’s a real challenge to make it happen. It requires a real commitment,” says Lucio Costantini, the president of the committee of volunteers who set up, take down and maintain the tree equipment each year.

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In 1991, the Gubbio Christmas tree set the Guinness World Record for world’s tallest Christmas tree.

The word has spread about the massive decoration, Costantini says, especially in recent years thanks to social media, which makes it very easy to raise the tree’s – and the town’s – profile. “In the last three or four years there’s been a true tourist season,” says Oderisi Nello Fiorucci, who is responsible for marketing and tourism for the municipality of Gubbio. “It’s tied uniquely to the tree.”

Photography courtesy of the Municipality of Gubbio

The star alone is 1,000 square metres, explains Costantini, an engineer by day who started out as a volunteer himself about six years ago. According to the committee’s website, about 200 lights make up the shape of the star, another 260 lights are strung up to draw the outline of the tree, and 270 more lights form the decorations. The volunteers lay 8,500 metres of cables to connect the lights up the mountain. The initiative is entirely non-profit, self-sustaining and volunteer-run. In 1991, it set the Guinness World Record for world’s tallest Christmas tree. Over the years, the tree has kept largely the same footprint, Costantini says, but updated equipment and the addition of more coloured lights are among the changes introduced over the decades. In fact, part of the electricity used to light the tree over the season (an estimated 35 kW) is now generated from photovoltaic cells installed on the roof of the committee’s headquarters. The tree is lit each December 7 with the help of a community leader or dignitary, and remains lit until at least the Epiphany. In the past, dignitaries such as Pope Francis and Italy’s President Giorgio Napolitano have “flipped the switch” remotely with the help of a tablet computer. But preparations begin three months before that, Costantini says. A group of about 50 volunteers spanning 18 to 84 years old work away at it every Sunday, he says, and even after the tree is lit, they’re the ones who make repairs and change light bulbs. The group estimates about 1,900 hours of work go into it each year. Once the season ends, the cables, bulbs and related equipment are stored in a warehouse where repairs can be made before the next lighting.

While Gubbio has a healthy tourist economy in the warmer months attracting tourists to its medieval sites and countryside, Christmas was a dead season tourism-wise until, slowly, the giant tree started drawing people to the city, he says. Holiday visitors hail primarily from Rome, Naples and Milan, Fiorucci says, but Gubbio also saw a notable increase in foreign tourists last Christmas. In all, there were roughly 25 per cent more visitors over the holiday period spanning December 2015 and January 2016 compared to the same time the previous year, Fiorucci says. Over time, the town and local businesses have launched wintertime activities to coincide with the tree’s season, including concerts, presepe displays, a skating rink in Piazza Grande, Christmas markets and children’s activities. “Every year there’s an added project,” he says. For example, for 2016, the new attraction is a Ferris wheel with a view of the mountain and the tree. The bed and breakfasts that used to shut down for the winter season are staying open thanks to demand, Fiorucci points out. There’s no shortage of support to keep the tree tradition alive after so many years, Costantini says. For him, it’s about the children, some of whom have grown up celebrating the holidays at the foot of the giant tree and who are sad to see the lights go out every January. “We dedicate ourselves to it for them as well,” he says. “To deprive them of this joy isn’t right.”

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Tasting Umbria Photography by Marianna Santoni 2016

Strangozzi al tartufo nero

Discovering the region’s culinary gems By Paolo Patrito

mbrian cuisine, as with almost every Italian region, uses quality raw materials to create simple yet flavourful recipes. The region’s farming tradition favours dishes based around vegetables, grains, pulses, game, salami, beef, veal, mutton, lamb, and predominately sheep’s cheese, given the prevalence of hills in the Umbrian landscape. Amongst the array of excellent produce, there are a few items not to be missed: extra-virgin olive oil made from Umbrian DOP olives, some of the best in Italy; Prosciutto di Norcia IGP, a highly prized meat that originates in Umbria; Monteleone di Spoleto DOP spelt flour; Castelluccio di Norcia IGP lentils, that grow on the karst plateaus in Monti Sibillini National Park; and finally, black truffle from Norcia, the highlight of many dishes due to its characteristic scent.

Antipasto misto umbro The Umbrian antipasto misto is a traditional appetizer that comprises a variety of foods of which the region is justifiably proud. It often includes

bruschetta, crostini (with chicken liver, for example), and cheese (pecorino, ricotta, caciotta). The highlight, however, is most certainly the cured meats – a centuries-old tradition in Norcia – particularly Prosciutto di Norcia IGP (always cut by hand), pork, Salame Corallina, coppa (air-cured pork meat), capicollo, wild boar sausage, and finally, the distinctive coglinioni di mulo. Strangozzi al tartufo nero Strangozzi, also known as stringozzi or ciriole depending on the area of origin, is a type of rectangular fresh pasta, made from wheat, durum or spelt flour and without the use of eggs. Typical of the Spoleto area, strangozzi is prepared all over Umbria and paired with a variety of sauces. An excellent dish is strangozzi with black truffle from Norcia, one of the most prized varieties of the famous tuber.

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Imbrecciata Spelt is the oldest grain cultivated by man, used since the Neolithic times. In Umbria, it is included in various recipes accompanied by other grains and pulses, which have always been at the heart of rural cuisine. Imbrecciata is typical of the Gubbio area and combines many Umbrian grains and pulses, as well as different types of beans and chickpeas. It also includes some nearly extinct pulses like roveja and cicerchia, all flavoured with extra-virgin olive oil, ham rind and broth. Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG This DOCG wine is produced exclusively in the Montefalco area and some neighbouring towns from 100% Sagrantino grapes. The wine has a good content of alcohol (minimum 13 per cent), an intense ruby red colour, a delicate aroma with hints of blackberry bramble, and a dry yet harmonious flavour. Before being consumed, it must age for 30 months, at least 12 of which should be in wooden barrels. It pairs particularly well with roasted red meats, game and aged cheeses, and generally with hardy meat-based dishes. Parmigiana di gobbi Cardoon is a vegetable that grows in winter, similar in shape to a curved celery and belonging to the same family as the artichoke. This vegetable is used to prepare a tasty recipe that can be served as a side dish or a main course, particularly in the Assisi area. In parmigiana di gobbi, the thistle leaves of the cardoon are boiled and fried in batter, then cut into strips and arranged in layers in a pan, alternating between cheese and meat ragù. It is then baked in the oven.

Perugina Chocolate Umbria and chocolate are synonymous, thanks to the fact that the region is home to the Perugina brand that created Baci, the iconic hazelnut chocolate containing a love note to add to the special experience. “There’s love and emotion behind a Baci, and so much history,” says Mike Cecere, co-owner of European Distributors. “People around the world recognize Perugina as a prestigious Italian brand.” And while Baci are still a favourite for chocolate lovers around the world, Perugina has introduced a 70 percent dark chocolate that is also enjoying sweet success. “It’s doing very well,” says Cecere, pointing out that the high rate of dark chocolate appeals to healthconscious modern consumers. “70 percent dark chocolate is very healthy,” he says. “It’s a powerful source of anti-oxidants.” Indeed, the nutritious aspect of dark chocolate has gained lots of traction in the past decade from the scientific and medical worlds confirming that cioccolato fondente has many health benefits from reducing cholesterol to improving circulation. And while the holidays are the season for all things chocolate, Cecere says the treat shouldn’t be limited to a few days out of the year. “You can enjoy Perugina 70 percent dark chocolate 12 months a year. It’s delicious, healthy and the Perugina brand is world-famous.”

Panpepato Panpepato is a typical dessert from the Terni area, prepared – according to tradition – from December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. It is enjoyed over the Christmas period and in the first few months of the New Year, as it can be conserved for a long period of time. The main ingredients of this medieval dessert are dried and candied fruit and spices mixed with flour and cocoa, baked in an oven (preferably wooden) in a round tin. Piccione ripieno alla umbra Particularly popular in the province of Perugia, this stuffed pigeon recipe uses a whole wild pigeon. The meat is stuffed with a paste made from stale bread, milk, sausage, ham, eggs, oil, grated cheese, garlic, parsley and spices. It is then cooked on a spit, preferably over a wooden fireplace. Piccione ripieno

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UMBRIA

Umbrian Comfort Food Minestra di farro ai funghi (serves 4)

Ingredients / Ingredienti • 2 litres vegetable stock / 2 litri di brodo vegetale • 1 sprig fresh rosemary / 1 rametto di rosmarino fresco • 1 celery stalk, diced / 1 gambo di sedano tagliato a dadini • 1 medium carrot, diced / 1 carota media tagliata a dadini • 2 shallots, chopped /2 scalogni tritati • 2 garlic cloves, chopped / 2 spicchi d’aglio tritati • ¼ cup olive oil, plus an additional 1 tbsp for drizzling / ¼ di tazza di olio d’oliva, più un’ulteriore aggiunta (un cucchiaio) • 50g dry porcini mushrooms, pre-soaked / 50 g di porcini secchi, lasciati in pre-ammollo • ½ lb small cremini mushrooms, sliced / ½ lb di piccoli funghi cremini tagliati • 100 g pancetta, diced / 100 g di pancetta, a cubetti • 250 grams farro semi-pearled, washed/rinsed / 250 g di farro semi-brillato, lavato/risciacquato • Fine sea salt / Sale marino fino • Fresh black pepper / Pepe nero fresco • Shaved parmigiano / Parmigiano grattugiato • Parsley, for garnish / Prezzemolo per guarnire

Instructions Warm up the vegetable stock. Tie a string around the rosemary sprig and place in stock. In the meantime, put olive oil in a large pasta pot and set at medium/high heat. Add the celery, carrot, shallots, garlic and pancetta. Cook for 5 minutes while mixing with a wooden spoon. Add porcini and cremini. Then mix in farro and toast for about 1 minute. Start adding stock, two ladles full at a time. Do not overstir. Cook the farro for approximately 30 minutes. Add stock only when needed. The farro is ready when it is al dente. Transfer to pasta or soup bowls. Season with salt, black pepper and shaved Parmigiano. Garnish with parsley.

Istruzioni Scaldare il brodo vegetale. Legare il rametto di rosmarino con una corda e lasciare da parte. Nel frattempo mettere l’olio in una grande pentola per la pasta e lasciarla a fuoco medio alto. Aggiungere il sedano, la carota, lo scalogno, l’aglio e la pancetta. Cuocere per 5 minuti, mescolare con un cucchiaio di legno. Aggiungere i porcini e i cremini. Quindi mescolare insieme il farro e il pane tostato per circa 1 minuto. Cominciare ad aggiungere due mestoli pieni per volta. Non agitare troppo. Cucinare il farro per circa 30 minuti. Aggiungere il brodo solo quando serve. Il farro è pronto quando è al dente. Versare il contenuto nelle ciotole per pasta o per zuppa. Condire con sale, pepe nero e Parmigiano grattugiato. Guarnire con il prezzemolo. 50

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UMBRIA

This winter and holiday season is the ideal time to warm up with Umbrian comfort dishes like minestra di farro ai funghi and the nutty sweetness of panpepato.

Ingredients / Ingredienti • 1 cup hazelnuts, chopped / 1 tazza di nocciole tritate • 1 cup blanched, almonds chopped / 1 tazza di mandorle sbollentate e tritate • 1 cup walnuts, chopped / 1 tazza di noci tritate

Questa stagione invernale e di vacanza è il momento ideale per riconfortardi con i piatti caldi umbri come la minestra di farro ai funghi o con la dolcezza della nocciola del panpepato.

• 1/2 cup salted shelled pistachios, chopped / 1/2 tazza di pistacchi saltati e tritati • 1 cup sultana raisins / 1 tazza di uvetta sultanina • 1 cup all purpose sifted flour / 1 tazza di farina setacciata • 150 g honey / 150 g di miele • 2 tablespoons water / 2 cucchiai di acqua

Panpepato

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon / 1 cucchiaino di cannella in polvere • ½ tsp black pepper / ½ cucchiaino di pepe nero

(serves 8-10)

• 1 tbsp dark cocoa powder / 1 cucchiaino di cacao nero in polvere • 150 g dark chocolate finely chopped / 150 g di cioccolato nero finemente tagliato • Icing sugar, for dusting / Una spolverata di zucchero a velo Instructions Preheat the oven to 325F. Place chopped nuts in a shallow baking pan and roast them in the oven for 10 minutes. Once the nuts are ready, place them in a large mixing bowl and add raisins,cinnamon, cocoa powder, black pepper and dark chocolate. Mix well with aspatula or wooden spoon. Place honey in a pot with water and boil until it starts to bubble. Then pourover nut mixture and combine well. Slowly add the flour to the nut mixture and continue mixing until you obtaina firm texture. Form into a large patty, making sure to not overwork the dough. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place patty on baking sheet. Bake for 35 minutes. After cooling, cut into slices. Dust with icing sugar and serve.

Istruzioni Preriscaldare il forno a 325F. Mettere le noci tritate in una teglia bassa e arrostirle in forno per 10 minuti.

Photography by Giulio Muratori

Una volta pronte versarle in una ciotola e aggiungere l’uvetta, la cannella, il cacao in polvere, il pepe nero e il cioccolato fondente. Mescolare bene il tutto con una spatola o con un cucchiaio di legno. Mettere in una pentola il miele con l’acqua fino a quando inizia a bollire. Aggiungere poi il composto preparato in precedenza e mescolare insieme. Aggiungere lentamente la farina e continuare a mescolare fino ad ottenere una consistenza compatta. Formare un grande tortino senza lavorare troppo la pasta. Foderare una teglia con carta da forno e infornare. Lasciare cuocere per 35 minuti.

Recipes prepared by Chef Massimo Bruno

Lasciare raffreddare e tagliare a fette. Spolverare con zucchero a velo e servire. PANORAMITALIA.COM

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UMBRIA

Gubbio

Claudia Buscemi Prestigiacomo

ercare umbri nella GTA è un po’ come cercare un ago in un pagliaio. Sono un tesoro raro, delle perle. Lo conferma Peter Maoloni, presidente dell’Associazione umbri dell’Ontario. “L’Umbria, in termini di numeri, viene adombrata dalle altre regioni. Escludendo gli immigrati degli ultimi dieci anni, si contano approssimativamente 700-1.000 persone di prima generazione” spiega. Esperti minatori, gli umbri hanno una storia fortemente legata all’industria estrattiva. “In Ontario hanno dunque prediletto le zone settentrionali di Sudbury, Thunder Bay e Sault Ste. Mary,” racconta Maoloni. “Se diamo un’occhiata al resto del mondo, li troviamo in Belgio, Francia e Gran Bretagna dove, dopo la Seconda guerra mondiale, ci fu una grande richiesta di minatori.” Maoloni, i cui nonni paterni erano umbri, è da sempre attivo all’interno dell’associazione. Prima di prendere il posto della madre Iole in qualità di presidente, si occupava della sezione giovanile, collaborando a stretto contatto con la Regione Umbria. Sebbene questa sezione non esista più, l’attenzione verso le nuove generazioni non è scemata. “Ad anni alterni, nel mese di agosto, grazie a un programma di quattro settimane sovvenzionato dalla Regione, mandiamo degli studenti all’Università degli Stranieri di Perugia per imparare la lingua e familiarizzare con la cultura italiana”, afferma Maoloni. Il fatto che gli attuali leader dell’associazione siano più giovani dei predecessori, favorirebbe l’attenzione rivolta alle nuove generazioni, secondo Maoloni. Ai predecessori, tuttavia, riconosce il merito di aver attirato l’attenzione sulla regione, incrementando così il numero dei soci. “Mia madre ha fatto un lavoro incredibile, portando il numero di iscritti a 180”, sottolinea. Riconosce che mantenere questo legame tra le nuove generazioni e l’Umbria, non serve solo per tutelare il patrimonio culturale, ma anche per la stessa sopravvivenza dell’associazione. “Direi che l’età media dei 180 soci si aggira sui quaranta anni. Siamo fortunati perché alcuni hanno figli piccolissimi e la loro presenza ci aiuta a mantenere la media relativamente bassa”, scherza Maoloni. “I genitori portano i figli agli eventi. Ciò rappresenta un ottimo segnale”, conclude. L’associazione parte dall’assunto che gli antichi usi e costumi portati oltreoceano dalle vecchie generazioni, in Italia si sono inevitabilmente evoluti. Da un lato dunque riconoscono la bellezza di poter ammirare oggi, attraverso i loro racconti e la loro voce, un quadro dell’Italia di allora; dall’altro, sentono l’esigenza di rappresentarne anche il mutamento. Due aspetti che per Maoloni non si annullano a vicenda ma convivono, offrendo dunque un’immagine preziosa. “Cerchiamo di creare un ponte tra le due generazioni partendo dalla convinzione che alcune tradizioni custodite dagli anziani vadano tramandate. Vuoi imparare a fare la salsiccia? Il vino? Te lo insegniamo.” Con l’aiuto di preziosi contatti nella Regione, contemporaneamente, 52

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presentiamo artisti, festival, eventi che catturano l’attenzione dei più giovani i quali, dinnanzi a una cultura reinventata, si incuriosiscono,” spiega Maoloni. “Si aprono a qualcosa che pur appartenendo alle vecchie generazioni, porta con sé del nuovo”. Ogni 18 mesi, l’Associazione organizza un viaggio in Italia – con particolare attenzione a itinerari umbri – facendo da guida a circa 40-50 persone, incuriosite dalle bellezze della regione. “Con lo stesso obiettivo si tiene mensilmente un incontro che apre le porte agli umbri ed agli amici dell’Umbria. Mangiamo piatti tipici – porchetta, salsicce, la crescia (pane non lievitato) – e ci intratteniamo per un paio di ore”. Per Amy Mischianti, esperta di viaggi ed eventi, l’Umbria è poesia. Non a caso, cita dei versi del poeta Giosuè Carducci: “Salve, Umbria verde, e tu del puro fonte nume Clitumno! Sento in cuor l’antica patria e aleggiarmi su l’accesa fronte gl’itali iddii.” Il padre, nato a Gubbio, è emigrato in Canada nel 1964. Incontrò l’amore il giorno stesso del suo arrivo e, pur avendo contemplato più volte un ritorno in Umbria, alla fine rimase a Toronto. “Mio padre aveva un senso della famiglia eccezionale. Grazie a questo ho avuto la fortuna di visitare l’Umbria in più di un’occasione”, spiega Mischianti. “Il viaggio da Gubbio a Fiumicino, al rientro in Canada, era sempre un fiume di lacrime. Come si fa a lasciare quella bellezza ancestrale, la sua natura, l’architettura, le tradizioni e soprattutto quel senso di orgoglio?” – chiede. Mischianti si definisce con fierezza “umbro-italiana” e spiega che se da un lato era meraviglioso crescere in Canada e frequentare una scuola ricca di diversità, dall’altro a casa si sentiva in Umbria, un po’ per la lingua parlata e un po’ per i profumi in cucina. Alimentare quel legame è stato naturale in casa Mischianti. Parlando del padre, infatti, sostiene: “Penso che per lui fosse rassicurante mantenere la lingua natia, mangiare i piatti dell’infanzia e circondarsi di amici provenienti dalla stessa regione. Nel farlo, inavvertitamente, ha trasmesso questo suo amore ai figli ed ai nipoti.” Essendo il padre membro dell’Associazione, da adolescente, Mischianti ha partecipato a molti eventi. Crescendo, ha dunque voluto tramandare il valore delle origini anche ai suoi figli. “Mi piacerebbe fargli apprezzare tutto, specialmente la semplicità della vita in Umbria, la gioia di preparare e condividere pasti semplici…” – racconta. Semplicità, poesia e natura sembrano essere tre parole chiave per Mischianti: “Assocerò per sempre l’Umbria alla mia infanzia ed ai meravigliosi ricordi di mia nonna in tutta la sua genuinità… Il “cuore verde d’Italia”, con i suoi paesaggi montagnosi, i cipressi e gli ulivi, rimarrà per sempre nel mio cuore.”

Photo by Alfio Giannotti

Umbria nella GTA

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ARTS & CULTURE

Italian Director Roberto Minervini Focuses Lens on America’s Margins By Claudia Buscemi Prestigiacomo Other Side there seems almost to be a “sociopolitical cry for help”; that of a marginalized society, abandoned in an ignored “place,” forgotten by the institutions and by their fellow citizens. “I knew from the beginning that I would make a political film because I knew the two realities: that of amphetamine, a political drug produced in northern Louisiana for well-documented political reasons during Reagan’s leadership; and that of the paramilitary units that carried out operations outside U.S. law, particularly in Central America. It is a film that also talks about racial hatred and violence, institutionally tolerated up until the ’60s,” Minervini tells us. In some ways, The Other Side recalls the characters of some Springsteen songs (“The Ghost of Tom Joad”) and, even before that, of literature and cinema: The Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck and the film version by John Ford. Indeed, after having mentioned his initial intention of involving Springsteen in his project, Minervini explains that for him it was about dealing with a new Depression, the effects of which have been devastating for some levels of the American social fabric. “Another problem is that today a working class doesn’t exist and it can no longer survive in America at an institutional level, Director Roberto Minervini although there is a social “blue collar” fabric that has been left to fend for itself,” he explains. His films are so powerful that they can be difficult to watch. They deal with abandonment, neglect, a need to pick up the pieces, children who – willingly or not – are not mere spectators. They depict a long stream of pain, poignant and silent, as well as violence and hope, life and death – all mixed together. Documenting such realities requires a particular sensitivity, but also a strength and balance. “My pain doesn’t allow me to remedy that of other’s. Before addressing these themes, I ask myself if my personal support system is able to deal with the emotional turmoil, because there will be repercussions,” he says. “I always film with my family. During and after the film, I turn to psychoanalysis to make sense of my role as a front-line observer. It is difficult to witness the suffering of others.” Photography by Felix Sanchez

irector Robert Minervini’s work is characterized by raw, sensitive and gritty storytelling that explores dark tales about the margins of America. His hybrid documentaries are renowned for the accuracy with which they present places and people, and the scope given to non-actors with a wide (if not total) margin for improvisation. “While people and places constitute the ‘documentary’ component, I think that the ‘fiction’ aspect derives primarily from the idea of wanting to tell something greater than the stories of characters,” he explains. “It also derives from the way in which I decide to film and edit it.” When Minervini was in town last June for the Toronto International Film Festival, the TIFF Bell Lightbox dedicated a retrospective to the film director, a native of Le Marche, who has been living in Texas for a number of years. As well as the so-called “Texas Trilogy” (The Passage, Low Tide and Stop The Pounding Heart), Minervini’s latest film, The Other Side, was also introduced. “I greatly respect the Toronto International Film Festival. They have supported my films for several years,” said Minervini. “I think that Toronto has a very sophisticated audience; you can introduce a cinematographic genre here that crosses historical definitions, such as fiction and documentary.” With an extremely sensitive gaze, Minervini succeeds brilliantly in highlighting the social component through the actions of his characters, without necessarily resorting to words. Low Tide is emblematic in this sense, where the hardship and suffering of a child in the face of indifference of the adults that surround him is never expressed verbally. A story that fixes its gaze on modern families who, obsessed with work or other commitments, constantly risk marginalizing their weakest components – children. “The film certainly refers to something that is close to my heart – the vulnerability of children – for whom love from their parents, who should protect them, is a matter of life or death.” While a physical and spiritual silence dominates Low Tide, in The

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ARTS & CULTURE

Our Lady of Sorrows Receives a Blessed Gift By Daniela DiStefano

very morning and night for the first week after the bronze doors were installed at Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church, Rev. Nino Cavoto found himself standing outside. “I had to go out there every day to look at them,” he says. “It was like standing in front of the Mona Lisa.” The pastor isn’t the only one in awe of the bronze doors framing the Bloor Street West entrance of the 76-year-old parish in Toronto’s Kingsway neighbourhood. Admirers from near and far have stopped to marvel at and take pictures of the spiritual, religious and theological depictions of the doors’ design since they were installed in June 2015. Doors have long played a symbolic role in the Catholic faith. In church buildings, the door represents Christ as the gateway on the path towards God. While bronze doors are a common fixture in some of the oldest churches in Italy and other parts of Europe, Canadian Catholics only got their first glimpse at these symbols of renewal when the Vatican gifted a bronze door to Cathedral-Basilica Notre-Dame de Québec to celebrate its 350th anniversary in 2013. “The story of our doors goes back 10 years,” says Cavoto, the parish priest at Our Lady of Sorrows since 2005. “Rev. Vito Marziliano, pastor at All Saints Parish and chair of the Sacred Art and Architecture of the Archdiocese of Toronto at the time, brought to my attention an Italian sculptor, Ernesto Lamagna, affiliated with the Pontifical Council for the Arts.” On a visit to Rome, Cavoto had the opportunity to meet Lamagna and learn about his bronze works, returning to Toronto inspired by the idea of commissioning Lamagna to create a work of art. Multiple discussions over the next few years led to the beginning of the bronze door project – a significant piece of art that would enhance the esthetic beauty already present in the church. Cavoto and Marziliano began approaching Catholics in the Archdiocese of Toronto and a donation committee was formed. The doors were to be a gift to the parish intended to be kept open during liturgical celebrations – such as mass, baptisms, marriages and funerals – to signify all are welcomed to join the parish family. “We knew it wouldn’t be difficult to find a number of art lovers to share the cost of the doors,” says Joseph Chiappetta, a long-time parishioner and one of the first committee members. “We came up with a group of 26 donors both from and outside the parish.” With the funds successfully raised and the approval of the Archdiocese of Toronto and its Sacred Art and Architecture Committee, Lamagna was officially commissioned to create a pair of bronze doors – the only ones of their kind in 54

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ARTS & CULTURE

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Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church’s bronze doors on Bloor Street West are the result of support from parishioners and donors.

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Canada. The next year was spent in close contact with the donor committee travelling from his studio in Rome to Toronto and the foundry in Verona to discuss measurements, sketches and installation. St. Michael the Archangel (patron saint of the Archdiocese of Toronto) was chosen for the exterior of the doors, accompanied by the Latin phrase ‘QUIS UT DEUS’ meaning ‘Who is like God’. Lamagna portrays the struggle between good and evil as The Archangel Michael comes from within the walls of the church, leading the community to go forth and combat the challenges and difficulties of everyday life. The inside of the doors feature the Blessed Mother to whom Our Lady of Sorrows is dedicated. On one side Mary is standing at the cross caressing the feet of crucified Jesus, and on the other side Jesus has been taken from the cross and put in his mother’s arms. The Latin phrase ‘VIDETE SI EST Celebrating the new bronze doors, from L to R: Roberto Chiotti, architect, Christian Bellini, engineer, Ernesto Lamagna, artist, Rev. Nino Cavoto, Our Lady of Sorrows pastor, David Perrera, theologian, Eddie Fidani, donor. DOLOR SICUT MEUS’, translated as ‘See if there is any sorrow like my sorrow’, is written. On January 9, 2016, the ceremonial opening and blessing of the bronze On installation day, Bloor Street West was reduced to one lane as a team doors took place by His Eminence Cardinal Thomas Collins, in conjunction directed by donor committee member Fred Alonzi took meticulous care to put with the Jubilee Year of Mercy. The donor plaque reads, “This church opens wide each of the 700-kilogram doors in place. “It was extremely fascinating to watch,” its doors, and bids you welcome.” says Eddie Fidani, donor committee member and long-time parishioner. “It was “It’s the most beautiful thing to see these doors here,” says Maria Di a major undertaking, but they did a masterful job. Anyone and everyone, Lorenzo, member of the donor committee. “It’s art that can be appreciated for whether they belong to a church or a mosque or synagogue are welcome to come generations to come, and I hope it will inspire other parishes.” enjoy the doors – that’s their purpose.”

Toronto DECEMBER / JANUARY 49-64_Layout 1 2016-12-05 10:36 AM Page 56

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SPORTS

Toronto Marlies’ Goalie Mentor

Piero Greco passes on life lessons behind the net By Graeme Carey

“I’d

always coached and helped out when I was still playing,” Toronto native Piero Greco says, and that passion turned into a career when he hung up his pads in 2002. As a goalie coach and consultant, his long list of former employers includes the Owen Sound Attack, the Barrie Colts, the Kitchener Rangers, Team Ontario U17 and the Italian National Team. His career reached a new high in 2013 when he was named the goalie coach for the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. He’s responsible for the development of all the netminders in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ farm system, including their East Coast Hockey League affiliate, the Orlando Solar Bears. And by all accounts, he’s done a great job. Todd Crocker of AHL On The Beat referred to him as “the hidden ingredient but one that makes the end results much better.” Thanks in large part to their goaltending, the Marlies finished with the best record in the AHL last season. Antoine Bibeau, the team’s main goalie, compiled a record of 28-9-1, and their backup, Garret Sparks, posted a .928 save percentage. But it was a team effort, as all eight goalies who suited up last year picked up at least one win and combined for 10 shutouts. But before he was a coach, Greco was a player himself – and a pretty good one. Thanks to his goaltending abilities and his Italian background, he was able to experience things that most hockey players never get to. After three years in the OHL, including a season and a half with the Toronto Marlboros, Greco moved to his parents’ homeland of Italy at the age of 22 to continue playing, with stints on teams throughout Italy Serie A, including Fiemme, Varese, Vipiteno and Renon. He was playing alongside fellow Italian-Canadians, so it wasn’t too much of a culture shock, but while the game was the same, the atmosphere was a little different. “The fans would sing throughout the games,” Greco remembers, describing a scene that sounds more like something you’d find at a football match. “There were even fireworks.” “It was good hockey and good money,” he continues. “I was playing against older guys, and even some NHL players.” One name he mentions is Jari Kurri, who spent a year in Italy in the midst of his career after his contract with the Oilers had expired. Between stints in Italy and Austria came a two-year stop in England, where Greco played for the Sheffield Steelers and led his team to a championship in 1997. He describes the hockey culture in the UK as being “similar to North America,” but still, it was a new experience. For example, “You had to get used to playing outside.” All told, Greco spent more than a decade playing hockey in Europe, including nine years in Italy. But his claim to Italy runs deeper than hockey. It’s also the place where he met his wife. And it’s also where he joined the army, because up until 2004, military service was mandatory in Italy. “They nabbed me my first year,” he says, and he had no choice but to join. “Otherwise I would have had to leave the country.” It’s not as bad as it sounds, though; he was still able to play hockey everyday, since he was on what he describes as “the sports side of the army,” what’s known as Corpi Sportivi Militari Italiani. In conjunction with his coaching and consulting work, Greco also has his own goalie school, which he opened in 2002. On top of teaching his students the fundamentals of the game (like proper butterfly technique, rebound control, recoveries, and good agility) he tries to teach them to “be respectful, to appre-

ciate what they have in life,” and, even more important than being good goalies, “to be good people.” If there’s one thing his time in Italy and his Italian upbringing taught him, it’s to have respect. “You had to respect people,” he says, a quality his father – who came to Canada as a teenager from Casalvieri, a small town not far from Rome – impressed upon him at an early age. Be it with professional players or young kids who hope to one day be professionals, Greco has a knack for getting the best out of his goalies. That’s why his coaching skills have been in such high demand, As he puts it, teams “know the dedication, hard work, and work ethic I expect and get out of my goalies.” And if things keep going the way they have been with the Marlies, he’ll continue to be in demand.

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Congratulations to our Newlyweds 2016

NEWLYWEDS

Rachel Clare Feldman & Carmine Niro August 13, 2016

Juliana D'Orso & Luciano Rossi May 28, 2016

Lisa Oliva & Dany Graziano September 27, 2016

Jennifer Santone & Riccardo Raso August 6, 2016

Amanda Di Zazzo & Gino Di Marco October 1, 2016

Kayla Giacomodonato & Peter Malynowsky October 1, 2016

Angelina Colombo & Peter Iacovozzi June 4, 2016

Pamela Lo Mascolo & Mathew Iannelli July 2, 2016

Vanessa Tana & Salvatore Cirillo November 14, 2015

Vanessa Marie Pietracupa & Maxime Proulx October 8, 2016

Tamara Ercole & Gennarino Amorosa May 28, 2016

Dina Rossi & Emanuel Da Silva June 4, 2016

Amanda Chilelli & Carlo Saggese September 3, 2016

Tanny Zanth Rocco & Michele Rocco August 20, 2016

Vanessa Zappitelli & Michael Maggiore October 8, 2016

Lina Maiolo & Stefano Giliati June 18, 2016

Marilyn Damato & Michael Colombo May 14, 2016

Stephanie Lopraino & Andre Junior Lyristis August 13, 2016

Melissa Dimitriadis & Alessandro Parrino August 20, 2016

Lisa Mazzoni & Joey Viviani July 2, 2016

Marta Ruivo & Anthony Pedicelli October 1, 2016

Elizabeth D'Amico & Daniel Spiridigliozzi September 17, 2016

Rosa Marra & Liborio Bobby Iuculano September 10, 2016

Erin Cronin & Jonathan Nardi October 8, 2016

Kelly Garcia & Jason Tedeschi October 8, 2016

Anissia Greco & Joey Sacco October 29, 2016

Miranda Serrecchia & Agostino Stricagnoli September 3, 2016

Sonia Romano & Bruno Morabito September 10, 2016

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Jennifer Tomeo & Anthony Marsillo October 8, 2016

Vanessa Rizzo Bourbonnais & Claudio Panetta June 11, 2016

Toronto DECEMBER / JANUARY 49-64_Layout 1 2016-12-05 10:36 AM Page 59

Auguri agli Sposi Novelli 2016

NEWLYWEDS

Antonella & Daniel Montanaro July 16, 2016

Sonia Ciranni & Fabio Coraci June 11, 2016

Sabrina Sgotto & Joseph Vecernik August 27, 2016

Maria Spada & Pietro Mottile September 17, 2016

Angelica & Brad November 5, 2016

Alessandra Labricciosa & Ryan Elliott July 29, 2016

Lauren Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Aversa & Jordan Kybartas August 20, 2016

Carrie Tate & Giancarlo Masciarelli September 17, 2016

Nicolangela Moscone & Bruno Simone May 7, 2016

Melissa Piacente & Denver Redman September 24, 2016

Liana Moscone & Danny Marques September 3, 2016

Lisa Naynudel & Giovanni Fiore August 28, 2016

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Toronto DECEMBER / JANUARY 49-64_Layout 1 2016-12-05 10:37 AM Page 60

EVENTS

Martin Short

Mike Tyson

Andrea Iervolino

William Baldwin

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Second Annual AMBI Gala Some of Hollywood’s most famous faces graced the red carpet at the Second Annual AMBI Gala – Cinema to Help the World. Presented by the AMBI Group and held September 7 at the RitzCarlton in downtown Toronto, the star-studded evening was emceed by comedian Martin Short. This exciting kick-off to TIFF, which attracted celebrities such as Danny Glover, Mike Tyson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Sorvino and William Baldwin, not only supported the film industry but also created awareness about social issues and raised funds for various charities. “AMBI is a film company that produces movies abroad, as well as here in local studios, and two of its movies premiered at TIFF,” Gala Chair, Sylvia Mantella, told guests. “Andrea Iervolino and Lady Monika Bacardi could have chosen any city, any country or any continent to base the AMBI Gala Foundation out of and they chose us. They chose Toronto,” she added, referring to the co-founders of the AMBI Group. This year’s event benefitted the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Toronto-based Children’s Aid Foundation and UforChange, which provides arts education to underprivileged youth. (Romina Monaco)

Donovan Bailey

Benoit Louis Vuitton

Photography by Giulio Muratori

Sylvia Mantella

Lady Monika Bacardi

Danny Glover

Arlene Dickinson

Pamela Anderson

Toronto DECEMBER / JANUARY 49-64_Layout 1 2016-12-05 10:37 AM Page 61

EVENTS Photography courtesy of The Albany Club

Lina Persichilli, Marcella and Joseph Tanzola, Sam and Donna Ciccolini

Con Di Nino being congratulated by Peter MacKay, former attorney general of Canada, upon receiving the Albany Club Honours Award

The Albany Club Honours Consiglio Di Nino On September 21,The Albany Club recognized retired senator Hon. Consiglio (Con ) Di Nino for his lifetime contribution to country, community, club and Conservative party. Although Di Nino is known for his more than 50 of service to the Italian-Canadian community, in attendance were friends from many other communities and political affiliations. The Albany Club, founded in 1882

Guests celebrating Con Di Nino’s Honours Award from the Albany Club with (seated from left) Hal Jackman, former lieutenant governor of Ontario and past Albany Club Award honoree, Con Di Nino, Peter MacKay, and Patrick Brown, MPP and Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader.

Meg Sintzel, president of the Albany Club

in support of Canada’s first prime minister John A. Macdonald, is a meeting place for leaders in Canada's business and conservative political spheres. Guest speakers included Peter MacKay, former attorney general and former minister of justice, Patrick Brown, MPP and Leader of the Opposition in Ontario, MPP Laurie Scott, along with Beverly Topping and Sam Ciccolini.

Peter MacKay, former attorney general of Canada, was a special guest speaker

For many years, Con Di Nino has been a strong supporter of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan community. PANORAMITALIA.COM

Toronto DECEMBER / JANUARY 49-64_Layout 1 2016-12-05 10:37 AM Page 62

EVENTS

Photography by Valeria Mitsubata

Emcee, Rick Campanelli

Jerry and Lenna Borean

Sergio Molella, Dina Molella, Mike Albo, Anna Albo

Hospice Vaughan’s Giving Thanks Gala

Frank Fazzari, Tony Romanelli, Mary Tatangelo

Vaughan’s philanthropic spirit was never more evident than at the Annual Giving Thanks Gala on October 14 where residents from across the city joined together to support end-of-life care. This year’s event helped raise funds to develop Hospice Vaughan, a visiting facility for persons coping with a life-threatening illness, into the community’s first-ever residential hospice. “Close to 1100 guests showed their support at the Gala by raising over $400,000,” said Mary Grace Tatangelo, President of the Hospice Vaughan Board of Directors. “These proceeds will help realize our vision of a state-of-the-art, 10 bed residential hospice and Palliative Care Centre of Excellence – an integral and essential part of Vaughan’s healthcare system.” The new facility will also include counselling and day programs for families as well as education on patient care. In addition to the funds raised at this event, the provincial government is also supporting the initiative with MPP Steven Del Duca’s recent announcement of a $1.05 million annual pledge to Hospice Vaughan for operational funding once construction is completed in the spring of 2019. (Romina Monaco)

Hospice Vaughan Board of Directors (left to right): Loreto Grimaldi, Director, Maria Tatangelo, Treasurer, Remo Niceforo, Director, Renata Rizzardi, Director, Dr. Vincent Maida, Director, Lucy Cardile, Secretary, Nick Angelotti, Director, Mary Grace Tatangelo, President, Maria Castro, Vice-President, John Amendola, Past President, Anna Venturo, Director

Robert Cappola, Joanne Giampaolo, Tito Giampaolo, Stephen Lecce

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Emcee Rick Campanelli, Hospice Vaughan Board of Directors President Mary Grace Tatangelo, Hospice Vaughan Executive Director Susan Patrino, Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua

Anita Carino, John Carino, Antonella Carogioiello, Steve Carogioiello

Toronto DECEMBER / JANUARY 49-64_Layout 1 2016-12-05 10:37 AM Page 63

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