Panoram Italia Toronto June/July 2014

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

JUNE / JULY 2014 Vol. 4 NO. 3 PUBLISHER’S NOTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 EDITORIAL Flags and Identities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

EXECUTIVE LIFE & PEOPLE The Picture that Told the Whole Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 A Step Back in Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Future Leaders – Carly and Charlsie Agro . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

PUBLISHER AND EDITOR Tony Zara

EDITORIAL

WORLD CUP 2014

28 36

Time for World Cup in Toronto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 All in One Rhythm Towards the World Cup . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Ultimate Azzurri Fan – Rocco Falsano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Ultimate Azzurri Fan – Paul Macchione . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Ultimate Azzurri Fan – Rocchino Perrotto . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Where to Watch the Azzurri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Victory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Gennaro Gattuso’s World Cup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 20 Years to Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 World Cup Match Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 What Kind of Soccer Fan Are You? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

FOOD World Cup Bruschette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 The Winning Mix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Filippo Salvatore

DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Adam Zara MONTREAL WEB MANAGER MANAGING EDITOR Gabriel Riel-Salvatore Gabriel Riel-Salvatore TORONTO MANAGING EDITOR Rita Simonetta

PROOFREADER Aurelie Ptito

ART DEPARTMENT ART DIRECTION David Ferreira

PHOTOGRAPHY Gregory Varano Michel Ostaszewski

GRAPHIC DESIGN David Ferreira

MAKEUP Desi Varano

LIVING ITALIAN STYLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

ADVERTISING

FASHION National Pride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

VICE PRESIDENT MARKETING & SALES TORONTO Earl Weiner

VILLA CHARITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Gabe Palummo

ITALIAN BRAZIL “Merica, Merica” – The Italian journey in Brazil . . . . . . . . . 46 Samba italiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Born in Brazil, Rooted in Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Italian Cuisine with a Brazilian Twist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Eating Italian Style in Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Parlemo Talian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

READERS’ COMMENTS RE: Italian-Canadian Diet: To Your Heath – Italian Cuisine, April/May 2014 Thank you for the articles about food and the Mediterranean diet. I was very moved by them. When I was a new immigrant to Toronto (arriving through Pier 21 with my mother and older sister) and in public school, views on Italian food and diet were governed by “Canadian” norms. I remember the notes sent home, in English of course, advising my parents to stop feeding me pasta because it was bad for me.

That was the early sixties. […] Your articles stirred these food memories and affected me very personally.

The realities of raising a family while working fulltime modified my cooking and diet for some time.

Without time to stop at the grocery store for fresh ingredients daily or every other day, I succumbed to prepared foods and quick meals. Nonetheless fresh fruit and bread were staples in my household and on weekends I took more time to prepare family dinners.

Today I still make my own pasta and biscotti, only ever use fresh ingredients and have successfully incorporated indigenous foods into my cooking (squash lasagna anyone?). My sisters and I “make tomatoes” every year and it has become a family event that our children participate in willingly. I make Easter bread with my kids yearly (starting with 20 eggs plus another 20 for decoration). These are the things I remember

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about being Italian […] the ubiquitous smell of family, love and fresh food, otherwise known as the Mediterranean diet.

CONTRIBUTORS Fabio Petosa • Dante Di Iulio• Sarah Mastroianni• Romina Monaco Lucy Screnci• Mark A. De Luca• Claudia Buscemi Prestigiacomo Alessia Sara Domanico• Daniela DiStefano• Tony Marinaro Rebecca Alberico• Sal Difalco• Beatrice Fantoni• Amanda Fulginiti

26 Duncan Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 2B9 Tel.: 1.800.775.9428 I Fax: 416.438.3188 or by e-mail at: info@panoramitalia.com Legal deposit - Bibliothèque nationale du Québec / National Library of Canada - ISSN: 1916-6389

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RE: Italian-Canadian Diet: Food Culture Shock, April/May 2014 Thank you so much for the gift that you have given my family. The cover picture that was included in April’s edition article Food Culture Shock is of my family! I became so emotional when I saw my dad with his huge smile laughing and my mother holding my younger sister Silvana. My mother looks exactly like her that it can be mistaken for her. My parents had told us that this picture was taken. My sister Silvana searched for 8 hours at the archives when visiting Pier 21 with no luck. She was not able to find it, but with your help the picture has found us. Pictures do say a thousand words. It is so rewarding to see their expression, as they were embracing a new life in a new land with their five daughters in tow. WOW! My parents were always proud to be Canadian, in addition to being Italian. This picture says it all. We are here Canada with oranges and panini just in case.

Thank you from the Barbieri Family.

RE: Italian-Canadian Diet: Food Culture Shock, April/May 2014 I was reading the April/May 2014 edition of Panoram Italia this morning and I wanted to send you this email to tell you how much I enjoy the magazine, the content, the illustrations/photos and the touch. I look forward to each new edition. Thank you for a great job in publishing a magazine that, as an Italian-Canadian, I can relate to 100%

Pina Barbieri Trimarchi

Livia Marcone

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

World Cup Fever Brings Back Great Memories

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tifosi. Once the game was won, we all abandoned our choice seats in our favourite Italian bars, which were reserved for the entire tournament, and took to the streets. Now we were all equal. We were brothers and sisters and we were proud. We hugged and kissed until we could no more. We waved out flags for what seemed like forever, parading them all over the city. We did not want this to end.

“

No matter where we were living across our great land, we all took out our tricolore and waved it proudly for all to see.

We were no longer afraid to say we were Italian in Canada.

We had come of age.

“

T

hough I was born in Italy, my first cherished memory of actually paying attention to soccer was the 1982 World Cup. Italy hadn’t won a world cup since 1938 and we, as Italian immigrants, mostly did not follow soccer as it was not broadcast on TV and we were more preoccupied with carving out our piece of Canada. The previous 30 years had been marked by the great migration from Italy through Pier 21 and years of hard work and sacrifici, as our parents would say, would follow. Soon we were able to buy our first home, establish businesses, educate our children and see a real positive difference in our lives. Our parents even indulged in a Chevrolet or a Buick if they were a little better off. The Cadillacs and Lincolns were reserved for those who had “made it” or the so-called spacconi!

Up until then, we preferred to live our lives very low key. Our immigrant insecurities did not permit us to exhale.

By the time the 80’s came around we, as a community, were beginning to believe we belonged. The second generation were now becoming adults, got married, and had children. They were the first canadesi. When Paolo Rossi led the Azzurri to victory with a 6-goal performance in the 1982 World Cup, we were all ready to have our coming out party. No matter where we were living across our great land, we all took out our tricolore and waved it proudly for all to see. We were no longer afraid to say we were Italian in Canada. We had come of age.

Italian-Canadians would not have to wait another 44 years to experience victory, however. The 2006 title win was just as, if not more, satisfying. There is nothing like waving our beautiful flag and singing our amazing national anthem to bring out the Italian in us. It was all made possible thanks to an Azzurri team led by Buffon, Cannavaro, Toni, Totti, and Materazzi who managed to enrage Zidane, to the point where the French captain headbutted him.

The 5-3 victory in penalty kicks was not only a great triumph for us but also sweet revenge for the last minute loss we suffered against France in Euro 2000.

Little Italies from coast to coast were buzzing with hundreds of thousands of

The 2014 World Cup will be contested in Brazil, a country which accepted millions of Italians in the last century. In fact, there are over 30 million Brazilians of Italian ancestry. Can you imagine Italy playing Brazil for the cup?

This has the potential to make it the best Final ever.

As always, no one is willing to give Italy much of a chance at victory. But we know better. This is Buffon’s, and perhaps Pirlo’s, last World Cup and I have to believe that Balotelli and company will have an extra incentive to bring the cup back to Italy. Let’s take out our trusted flags and let us all brush up on our Inno di Mameli so that we can be the 12th man in. Viva l’Italia.

Tony Zara, Publisher

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EDITORIAL

Flags and Identities By

the time you will read the following words, the World Cup of Soccer will be underway in Brazil. The Italian national team, the Azzurri, will be competing against some of the best teams in the world and are in the running to win their fifth world title – only Brazil has so far done better than

By Filippo Salvatore Italy with five titles. For obvious reasons, the ideal Final would be Italy versus Brazil. If it happens, and the chances although slim are there, it will be a memorable, historical experience the whole world will remember. Let us wish the Azzurri well and let us hope that they will make us proud once more.

Calcio, the most popular sport on the planet, every four years (or two years if you watch the European Championships), has the power to rekindle the italianità of the over 60 million residents of the Belpaese and of the other 70 or so of Italian ancestry found all over the world. Which team will Italian-Brazilians cheer for? Brazil is the country where the highest number of people of Italian origin live – about 30 million according to unofficial estimates. Fare il tifo for them will be a complicated affair. Will they choose the yellow and green flag of Brazil or will they wave the green, white and red tricolore of Italy?

Italians, as a rule, are not very nationalistic and tend to be overcritical of their own country. Yet, a goal scored in the opposing team’s net makes them shout, feel proud, wave the tricolore and honk their car or motorino horns like crazy. The same happens to members of the communities of Italian origin spread around the world. Let us take our country, Canada, as an example. Why does the whole family feel the overwhelming urge to openly show support for the Azzurri? Why do mothers buy blue t-shirts for their children? Why do teenagers paint their faces green, white and red?

There are many reasons to explain the craze that surrounds world soccer tournaments and sports in general. Sports possess the magic quality of creating a collective feeling of belonging and define a country’s identity. Do you remember how proud each one of us felt when the Canadian Olympic Hockey team beat the USA in Vancouver and won the Gold medal?

The public’s identification with athletes goes way back: just think to the Olympic Games in ancient Greece; the gladiators in imperial Rome or the jousts between knights in medieval and renaissance Europe. Athletes embody and

glorify physical prowess and strong will. They are the expression of the latent human desire to excel. Unconsciously, therefore, each one of us identifies with them. It must be part of human nature, because this psychological transfer has occurred and continues to occur in every civilization and on every continent.

Just think of the high esteem the samurai enjoyed in Japan.

Let us go back to the World Cup of Soccer in Brazil. Italy traditionally does not perform well at the beginning, but if it manages to overcome the first hurdles and qualifies for the quarter finals, its true worth and class will emerge. Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and every town in Canada where there is an Italian community is ready to participate, to suffer, to be elated, to shout, to cry, and to wave the Italian flag.

The tricolore becomes the tangible sign of a deeply felt desire to belong, to be proud. Undeniably, we as Canadians of Italian origin owe our allegiance to our country of birth or of adoption first and foremost. And yet there is an unquenchable thirst in us to let the rest of society know there is an Italian component in our identity. We identify with the eleven men running on a pitch chasing a round ball, because they are an extension of our hybrid identity. We see them as part of what we are deep down. If the Azzurri perform well, they satisfy our desire to perform well and to be appreciated. Wearing a blue shirt and waving the flag of Italy is a need we cannot do away with.

Athletes, like movie stars, singers, top models or teachers, are role models we need. They fulfill the role of extending our feelings and of nurturing our dreams. That is why we identify with them.

Let me take this opportunity to invite our communities in Canada to support the Azzurri and to show our colours. It is a splendid occasion to remind ourselves that our forefathers came from an illustrious tradition. If Italy does well, let us celebrate with joy, but without violence. Police officers in Toronto or Montreal or any other Canadian city have been positively surprised to notice how contagiously merry huge crowds of celebrating fans could be and how peacefully they can behave. Let us keep up this good tradition. Violence should have no place on the playing field, in the stadium and in the cities where the soccer tournament is taking place and around the world where fans gather.

Through the centuries, sportsmanship has been an expression of physical strength and elevation of the human spirit. Let us leave it at that.

PA N O R A M I TA L I A . C O M

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LIFE & PEOPLE

Barbieri family 2014

Photography by Gregory Varano

The Picture that Told the Whole Story GTA family discovers essential link to their past in Panoram Italia

By Rita Simonetta he eyes focus on a young girl at the centre of this black and white photograph. She is nine years old. Her wide, bright eyes stare at the camera with curiosity, confusion and anticipation. She and her parents and four sisters are immigrants from Italy; they are part of the exodus of Italian newcomers who came to Canada in the 1950s and 1960s. A few feet away from her stands her father with his suitcase open in front of a customs officer. The suitcase is filled with loaves of bread, which he had packed in the hopes of sustaining his wife and family of five daughters during their long journey by ship and train to this new country. But it was also an attempt to hold on to a part of life he had just left behind, in order to give his family a better future.

The photograph accompanied an article in the April/May 2014 edition of Panoram Italia entitled “Food Culture Shock,” which focused on the cultural and culinary learning curves Italian immigrants had to face when they arrived in Canada. The photo, taken by photographer Ken Elliott, was simply entitled “Unidentified Customers Officer with family, 1963.” It was obtained from a pictorial collection archived by the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

No names were attached to the faces in the photograph. No one knew who they were. Not until Panoram Italia published the picture. Maria Barbieri Oliva happened to leaf through a copy of the magazine where she discovered the 49-year-old photograph of herself and her family: her father Giuseppe Barbieri, mother Maria Barbieri, sisters Nancy, Pina, Silvana, as well as Tina, the nine-year-old girl with the bright, wide eyes at the centre of the photograph. (Nina would be born years later in Canada.)

The photo was taken in July 1965 when the Barbieri family, who hails from Vibo Valentia, Calabria, arrived at Pier 21 on the S.S. Queen Anna

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Maria ship. “My emotions took over and I started to cry,” Tina Barbieri recalls when she saw the photograph. “I felt astonished and in such high spirits, thinking how incredible it was that we found our picture with the suitcase…I told all that I encountered about my amazing experience. While I was describing the image I became emotional, in particular when I was describing what was in the image: my dad, my mom and my sisters arriving at Canadian customs. Our first steps on Canadian soil. I would like to thank Panoram Italian for publishing this heartwarming story, which is part of our

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Unidentified Customs Officer with the Barbieri family, 1963. Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 (DI2013.1362.4).

Italian-Canadian history. The image coming to us alive after so many years is priceless. My family is forever thankful.”

Nancy Virdo excitedly shared the news with her two young grandchildren who were enthralled with the story of their nonna’s journey to Canada and the photograph she finally found after all these years. “Even for them it’s a gift,” she said. “There are no pictures of us as children,” added Silvana Barbieri, “so it’s wonderful for the grandchildren to see their grandmothers so many years ago.”

Nina Barbieri Capano says that as a mother of two children, she considers the photograph a testament to the sacrifices her mother and father made. “It is very humbling for me to remember what my parents did for us, and I am very grateful to them.” “We talked about this picture for so many years,” said Maria Barbieri Oliva. “And in our memory there was a picture somewhere.”

And for their 85-year-old mother Maria Barbieri, seeing the photograph rekindled many emotions. “It was very difficult to come here with five children. When we arrived it was like we were in another world. But we did the best we could.”

For as long as they could remember, the six sisters had listened to their father, Giuseppe Barbieri, tell them the story about this elusive picture, which documented their journey to Canada. But despite research efforts and search-finding missions that three of the sisters each made to the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, the photograph was never found. And it soon became the stuff of legend in the Barbieri family.

And although the sisters wish their father, who passed away 11 years ago, was still around to witness the discovery, they are happy they are able to make good on the promise their father had made that there existed a photograph somewhere out there, which signified a link to their past, roots and identity.

But more was to come. Sister Pina Barbieri Trimarchi, who took on the role of family researcher, found another five photographs of her family on Pier 21’s online pictorial collection, all of which document the family’s arrival through various stages including the exhausting train ride. As the sisters would later learn, timing had everything to do with the surprise finds: it wasn’t until 2013 that photographer Ken Elliott donated the pictures to the museum.

Trimarchi got in touch with Panoram Italia magazine, as well as the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, helping the organization verify the information in its database. “[Trimarchi’s] email was perfectly timed as we were just wrapping up the detailed cataloging of Ken Elliott’s photographs,” said Jennifer Hevenor, the Collection Manager at the museum. “Within a day of her submitting the information we were able to update the records to include these new details.”

“We are delighted that the Barbieri family saw the article and took the time to contact Panoram Italia with their story,” said Marie Chapman, CEO at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. “We always enjoy when Alumni of Pier 21 spot themselves in photos in our collections as it helps bring life to the stories behind the images.”

July 2015 will mark the family’s 50th anniversary of their immigration to Canada, and they hope to celebrate by taking a family trip to visit Pier 21.

“The picture allows us to remember where we came from,” said Pina Barbieri Trimarchi, “and to look forward to where we’re going.”

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LIFE & PEOPLE

By Rebecca Alberico

A Step Back in Time

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he North American dream, glorious and free; during the period of the Second World War it was the single glimmer of hope in the eyes of many immigrants who would eventually risk it all to make the trek from their respective countries to Canada. With the desire to share their stories of perseverance and leave behind an inspirational legacy, members of the Concord West Seniors Club collaborated to publish a book of over 30 emotionally riveting memoirs. As a testament to the past, present and future generations, A Note of Hope launched May 4. Compiling and translating the memoirs was made possible in part by funding from New Horizons for Seniors Program on behalf of the Federal Government.

Teresa Panezutti didn’t need words to express how proud she was of the finished product; the light in her eyes said it all as she spoke about the year long process that had finally paid off.

As one of the coordinating volunteers for the project and a Concord West Seniors Club member herself, a humble Panezutti was eager to thank all those who made it possible. The club enlisted the help of numerous volunteers, including Andy Cluff ’s grade twelve English students at Loretto Abbey Catholic High School, who generously edited the translated copy.

“We got a chance to connect the youth and seniors, and they were so honoured and enthusiastic about it,” said Panezutti. “We’re bringing together the second and even third generations in this book, and that’s what it’s really about.”

The journey from impoverished small towns and struggling governments to a new beginning was a long and trying road for most. Although the right choice was obvious, for the late Aldo Cologna it was a bittersweet goodbye as he left his hometown of Castelfondo, Trento, Italy in 1965. “You could not give me what I was looking for then; I was forced to leave. You knew I did so with a heavy heart,” he confesses, in a poem entitled My Town.

Recollecting some of their darkest days for the first time in years, many seniors who contributed their stories admitted quitting would have been easy, but hope in providing a brighter future for their families is what kept them holding on.

“When I first heard of my father’s memoir, I didn’t understand why he was writing it or for whom. It was not until his death that I realized that the stories were not for him but for us,” said Cologna’s son Boris. “It’s through his words and memories that I have come to better understand him and the values that he instilled on us.”

After their father passed away, Boris and his brother Stefano took what their father had written, filled in the gaps and shared the heartfelt memoir. “Our father was very proud of who he was and where he came from, and he wanted us to remember,” said Stefano.

The Colognas weren’t the only family members inspired by the courage and sacrifices of their loved one. Elyse Calvi, granddaughter of the late George Fiorelli, wrote a memoir on his behalf that she had completed years earlier, which she was encouraged to share with the club.

The close bond Calvi shared with her grandfather is unmistakable as a rush of emotion pulses through her words, “He was someone who genuinely enjoyed his life, and he lived with no regrets. He always made the most of every situation that he was in, and I think that was present in every story that he told me.”

“If we tell our children and grandchildren they may forget, but if it’s written down, the memory will live on,” said Julie Seeman, who immigrated from what was then Yugoslavia to Toronto in 1955. The country was under German occupation during the Second World War and Seeman’s family lost everything. “That was the most difficult time of my life,” she recalled.

She and her husband George both understood that hope was a necessity in life. After George became a certified grain mill builder, jobs were scarce in Germany and he was willing to move anywhere. With little money he gathered whatever wood he could find and built a trunk. Inside he created separate compartments for his handmade tools and another compartment for his mechanical tools. This trunk, along with another filled with his clothes, travelled with him from Germany to Chile and to George’s final destination in Canada in 1957. Seeman had the trunk transported to the West Concord Seniors Club for the book launch, and guests were speechless. “People stood around him for hours, as he proudly explained everything in the trunk,” said Panezutti.

The trunk is one of the few psychical reminders of George’s past that remains. Like the trunk, the members of the Concord West Senior Club started from nothing, withstood the trials and tribulations of a long journey and eventually reached prosperity. The beautifully embellished 300-page memoir imparts an abundant amount of life lessons, and offers a true note of hope to generations to come.

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FUTURE LEADER

Photography by Gregory Varano

Doing Double Duty Charlsie and Carly Agro

By Daniela DiStefano ou might catch yourself doing a double take next time you’re watching CBC News. One minute the reporter may be live in studio with the latest from the world of sports, and the next you’ll see her out on location covering a breaking story on the streets of Toronto.

It might seem like the magic of television is responsible for this speedy switch, when in fact, it’s actually two twin sister reporters, Carly and Charlsie Agro, both broadcast journalists working at CBC News in Toronto.

“We often get confused for each other by viewers and people we’ve interviewed,” says Charlsie Agro, videojournalist at CBC Toronto.

“We really didn’t plan this; it just happened serendipitously,” says Carly Agro, sports host and reporter with CBC Sports.

As a teen growing up in Burlington, Charlsie’s curiosity lead her to call up the editor of the Burlington Post newspaper to job shadow. “That’s when the journalism bug first bit me,” she says.

She then received a scholarship from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and was off to play NCAA division one field hockey while earning her English degree and interning at NBC. “Covering breaking news and feeling the excitement of being the first to break a story totally opened my eyes to the power of journalism,” says Charlsie. “I knew it was the career I wanted to pursue.”

In the meantime, her twin Carly was attending the University of Maryland at Baltimore County on a scholarship for NCAA division one soccer with the intent on writing her LSATs and heading to law school. In Carly’s senior year she interned with the local Baltimore television station and had the chance to interview a baseball rookie with the Orioles. “That’s when I realized sports journalism was perfect for me,” she says. “It came natural and because I played sports I was relatable and could get the best interview reaction from the athletes.”

Soon after, the twins were back in Ontario attending the Journalism and New Media program at Sheridan College together. After graduation they moved west with Charlsie working in Victoria, B.C. and then Edmonton for CityTV, and Carly in Alberta and Saskatchewan covering sports for CTV. When CBC Windsor came calling, Charlsie returned to Ontario to cover some of the biggest stories in the region such as elections and the Via Rail train

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derailment in Burlington, and she was then hired by CBC Toronto to join the weekend news team. Then came a job posting for a sports journalist. “When I saw the posting I told Carly right away,” says Charlsie. “It was such an incredible experience working with the CBC team, and I told her this was the place she wanted to be.”

“I’m really lucky to have my best friend, not to mention sister, a few floors away or sometimes just around the corner,” says Carly, who now lives downtown Toronto and has reported for Hockey Night in Canada and live from the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. “I’ve called her at her desk when I’ve had a tough day and I know she’s done the same.”

The sisters, both 29, credit the strong family values and work ethic instilled by their parents Cathy and Charles, and their grandfather John for their close relationship and career perseverance. “Our Nonno was the son of Sicilian immigrants and was one of the first Italians to start a law firm in Hamilton,” says Charlsie, who visited Italy last summer for the first time on her honeymoon.

“They worked so hard to build this life for us here.”

“I remember no matter how busy we were with activities, school and sports our mom always made sure we ate dinner as a family,” says Carly, who would like to visit her family’s hometown of Racalmuto, Sicily, in the near future. “We may not get to see each other as often now, but everyone’s just a phone call away.

I can always count on them.”

The sisters can most definitely count on their family as well as friends to eagerly follow their stories every day whether they’re first to the scene reporting on a shooting, or the first to interview a Team Canada Olympic athlete after winning gold. “Seeing us on TV is just the icing on the cake,” says Carly. “They know better than anyone the sacrifices we made to get where we are, and they’re proud our hard work is paying off.”

“To me getting to share stories is very humbling, and what I enjoy the most is when people share with me their deeply personal moments that I can share with an audience” says Charlsie.

“I genuinely hope I’m always enjoying what I’m doing and telling the best stories I possibly can,” says Carly.

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Time for World Cup in Toronto Tempo di Mondiali a Toronto Photography by Gregory Varano Special thanks to Cafe Diplomatico

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By Sarah Mastroianni

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he anticipation is building. The excitement is growing. Summer has finally arrived in Toronto and with it comes the highlight of the year for soccer fans everywhere: the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The World Cup, which occurs once every four years, is being held this year from June 12 to July 13 in various cities across Brazil. Italy’s blue-and-white-shirted Azzurri will of course be there in full force, backed by passionate fans watching, cheering and hoping for an Italian triumph from all corners of the globe. Toronto, as it so happens, is one of these corners.

“The World Cup is always an exciting event,” states Toronto City Councillor Anthony Perruzza, an avid soccer fan who is looking forward to the World Cup and both the atmospheric and economic boost it will bring to the city. “Come June, this city, as many other cities around the planet, is seized by the event that will be taking place.”

In anticipation of the big event, preparations of all kinds are being made on many levels. This includes preparations by Toronto Police. Constable Jenifferjit Sidhu, a Media Relations Officer, assures that “during the World Cup there will be increased officer presence on foot patrol throughout various parts of the city, such as Little Italy.” Businesses or establishments that are expecting large or unruly crowds may also opt to hire paid duty police officers for security, crowd control or traffic control, notes Sidhu.

At Café Diplomatico on College Street, Rocco Mastrangelo Jr. has been making preparations of a different kind for months. “For each World Cup […] The Dip has been branded as soccer headquarters,” he says. This year, he’s sure it’ll be no different. “Almost every European or South American country’s fans come to watch the games here. Italy’s first game is against England (June 14), so it’s going to be absolutely crazy,” he predicts.

Although the city of Toronto doesn’t keep any official records regarding the amount of extra revenue generated by large sporting events such as the World Cup, many merchants, especially if they cater to the soccer-watching crowd, can expect to see their sales go up.

Thirty-two teams are competing for the title of World Champion, so it won’t just be Azzurri fans biting their nails and checking scores for the month.

Being the multicultural city that it is, Toronto is home to supporters of every team in the running.

Alyshahn Kara, a Toronto-based sales engineer, remembers fondly the World Cup finals in 2010 between Spain and the Netherlands. “It was an incredible atmosphere,” he says. “People had their faces painted, were lined up around the block to get into bars.”

Fortunately for him, he was cheering for the winning team: Spain. Somewhat unfortunately, he found himself watching the final match with friends at a Dutch bakery downtown. “It was an interesting atmosphere,” he says of being one of the only Spain fans in the place. “Spain scored and the whole place went silent.”

Of course, Kara is wholeheartedly looking forward to what this year’s World Cup will bring. “People get really amped and excited,” he says. “I think Toronto’s going to be absolutely electric for the entire month.”

But it’s this electricity that could become worrisome for the city of Toronto. In other cities around the world, celebrations and team rivalries sometimes get out of hand, causing damage to both people and property.

“Because we’re in a multicultural city […] we get to keep our traditions and play them out,” says Mastrangelo. “That little competition from nation to nation happens within our city.”

Perruzza, however, is not concerned. “You can get nearly a million Italians congregating on St. Clair and it happens peacefully,” he says of celebrations for Italy’s previous wins, “with a lot of great fanfare, love and affection.” He also states that rather than team or cultural rivalries getting out of hand, in Toronto, “it’s really all an extended community. It’s beautiful to see the city as a microcosm of the world.”

Congregation, togetherness and cultural pride seem to be prominent themes that surround the World Cup for fans of all ages. “Sometimes I’ll stay home and watch the games with my dad and nonno,” says Zachary Rosvelti, a grade 12 student at Oakwood Collegiate Institute and self-proclaimed “crazy soccer fan.”

“Soccer is a sport that really unites people and that’s why most Italians just love it.”

Nicola Barbieri, a third year student at York University has similar feelings, describing soccer as “a sport of passion”. “It’s [the World Cup] a huge burst of excitement,” he says. “It’s a way for Italians as a whole to come together for this one month and join all of our forces and support our team.”

Barbieri also finds it fascinating that rivalries between Italian teams take a backseat to cheering on the Azzurri during the World Cup. “There are strong rivalries between Napoli, Juve, Inter, Roma, etc., but everybody drops their rivalries for that one month. People band together.”

Whether it’s cheering on their favourite team at a local bar, or partaking in a bit of flag-waving national rivalry, Toronto soccer fans are dressed and ready for the competition. Who will win the World Cup remains uncertain, but one thing you can bet on is the city’s soccer spirit.

WORLD CUP 2014

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resce la trepidazione. Aumenta la frenesia. L’estate è finalmente arrivata qui a Toronto e con essa l’evento dell’anno per i tifosi di calcio in ogni dove: il Campionato Mondiale di calcio 2014.

I Mondiali, che si disputano ogni quattro anni, quest’anno si terranno dal 12 giugno al 13 luglio in varie città del Brasile. La nazionale italiana degli Azzurri, con maglietta bianca e azzurra, ovviamente sarà lì a tutta forza, sostenuta da fan appassionati che la guarderanno, faranno il tifo e auspicheranno a un trionfo dell’Italia da tutti gli angoli del mondo. Si dà il caso che Toronto sia uno di questi.

“Il campionato del mondo è sempre un evento entusiasmante,” afferma l’assessore della Città di Toronto Antonio Perruzza, fervido appassionato di calcio che non vede l’ora che arrivino i Mondiali, sia per la spinta economica che per l’atmosfera che porteranno in città. “Arrivato giugno, questa città, come molte altre del pianeta, sarà catturata dagli eventi che si terranno.”

In attesa del grande evento, vi sono preparativi di ogni genere e ad ogni livello. Ciò include l’organizzazione della polizia di Toronto. L’agente Jenifferjit Sidhu, responsabile dei rapporti con la stampa, assicura che “durante i Mondiali verrà incrementata la presenza di polizia a piedi in diverse zone della città, come ad esempio Little Italy.” “Negozi e locali che si aspettano folle grandi o indisciplinate possono inoltre optare per l’impiego di ufficiali di polizia per la sicurezza, il controllo del traffico e della folla,” ha fatto notare Sidhu.

Al Café Diplomatico su College Street, Rocco Mastrangelo Jr. da mesi si dedica a preparativi di ogni genere. “Ad ogni Mondiale […] il Dip è considerato il quartier generale del calcio,” ha detto. Quest’anno, di certo non sarà diverso. “Quasi tutti i tifosi europei o sudamericani vengono a guardare le partite qui. La prima partita dell’Italia è contro l’Inghilterra (il 14 giugno), per cui sarà follia pura,” prevede.

Sebbene la città di Toronto non prenda ufficialmente nota del fatturato aggiuntivo generato da grandi eventi sportivi quali i Mondiali, molti commercianti, soprattutto quelli che organizzano il catering per gli spettatori di calcio, possono aspettarsi un incremento delle proprie vendite.

Trentadue squadre gareggiano per il titolo di Campione del mondo, per cui non ci saranno solo i tifosi degli Azzurri a mordersi le unghie e a controllare punteggi durante il mese. Essendo la città multiculturale che è, Toronto è casa di tifosi di ogni squadra in campionato.

Alyshahn Kara, funzionario tecnico commerciale con base a Toronto, ricorda affettuosamente la finale dei Mondiali nel 2010 tra Spagna e Olanda. “C’era un’atmosfera incredibile,” dice. “Le persone avevano i volti dipinti, aspettavano in fila, attorno all’isolato, di entrare nei locali.”

Fortunatamente per lui, tifava per la squadra vincente: la Spagna. In un certo senso sfortunatamente, si ritrovò a guardare la finale con gli amici in un panificio olandese del centro. “C’era un non so che d’interessante,” ha detto nell’essere pressoché l’unico sostenitore della Spagna sul posto. “La Spagna ha segnato e in tutto il locale è sceso il silenzio.”

Di certo, Kara non vede l’ora con tutto il cuore di sapere cosa ci porterà il campionato del mondo quest’anno. “La gente si scalda ed elettrizza sul serio durante i Mondiali,” afferma. “Penso che Toronto sarà davvero effervescente per tutto il mese.”

Ma è proprio questo entusiasmo a risultare in qualche modo preoccupante per Toronto. In altre città del mondo, i festeggiamenti e le rivalità tra le tifoserie qualche volta sfuggono di mano, provocando danni a cose e persone. “Poiché ci troviamo in una città multiculturale […] manteniamo le nostre tradizioni e le tiriamo fuori,” dice Mastrangelo. “Quel piccolo antagonismo tra nazioni è presente all’interno della nostra città.”

Perruzza, tuttavia, non è preoccupato. “Ti puoi ritrovare un milione di italiani riuniti su St.Clair e tutto avviene pacificamente,” dice, raccontando di festeggiamenti per vittorie precedenti dell’Italia, “con un grande strombazzare, amore e affetto.” Afferma inoltre che, piuttosto che rivalità tra squadre o gruppi culturali che sfuggono di mano, a Toronto, “c’è in realtà una comunità estesa. È bello considerare la città come un microcosmo del mondo.”

L’aggregazione, la solidarietà e l’orgoglio culturale sembrano essere caratteristiche predominanti dei Mondiali per i tifosi di tutte le età. “Qualche volta rimango a casa a guardare la TV con mio padre e mio nonno,” afferma Zachary Rosvelti, studente della quarta superiore allo Oakwood Collegiate Institute autoproclamatosi “tifoso sfegatato.” “Il calcio è uno sport che davvero accomuna le persone e le fa riunire. Questo è il motivo per cui molti italiani lo amano.”

Nicola Barbieri, studente al terzo anno della York University prova sentimenti simili, e descrive il calcio come uno “sport di passione”. “Sono [i Mondiali] un’esplosione di frenesia,” afferma. “Per gli Italiani sono l’occasione per aggregarsi come un tutt’uno durante il mese, riunire tutte le forze e tifare per la nostra squadra.”

Barbieri trova inoltre affascinante come le rivalità tra le varie squadre italiane passino in secondo piano per tifare gli Azzurri durante il Campionato del mondo.

“C’è una grande competizione tra Napoli, Juve, Inter, Roma, etc…, ma tutti la mettono da parte durante quel mese. Le persone uniscono le loro forze.

Che sia per fare il tifo per la propria squadra del cuore in un bar locale, o per prendere parte a un po’ di rivalità campanilistica nazionale, i tifosi di calcio di Toronto sono abbigliati e pronti per la gara. Rimane l’incertezza su chi vincerà il Campionato del mondo, ma una cosa certa è lo spirito calcistico che aleggia in città.

(Traduzione Claudia Prestigiacomo)

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All in One Rhythm Brazil’s Hulk and Italy’s Mattia De Sciglio

Towards the

By Dante Di Iulio

June 12, the best athletes in the world’s most popular sport will assemble in Brazil for soccer’s most important tournament. It will be a powerful, uplifting tribute to the “beautiful game” that Brazilians have helped shape for decades, and the global showcasing of a rising global power in Latin America. Two hundred and seven teams began the qualifying process in 2012, and only 32 remain, as they move “all in one rhythm” (the official slogan for the games) to be crowned World Cup Champions at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã stadium on July 13.

Group A pits Brazil against Mexico, Cameroon and Croatia. While the Samba Kings seem like a lock to lead the group, led by Thiago Silva and the glittering Neymar, the battle for second is between a Luka Modric-led Croatia and Chicharito’s Mexico.

Cameroon will look to play spoiler but their familiarity with Brazil’s humid temperatures could work to their advantage in a relatively straightforward group.

Spain’s international form has resulted in the greatest run from a national squad in history, taking

On

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two Euro Cups and a World Cup in six short years.

Although their golden generation has aged and taken a slight dip in form, La Furia Roja can never be taken lightly. Group B begins with a replay of the 2010 Final against the Netherlands while Arturo Vidal’s dangerous Chile battles Australia’s Socceroos. This is widely considered the Group of Death (along with Groups D & G) and will definitely provide some footballing fireworks early on.

The injury of Monaco’s Radamel Falcao has seriously hindered Colombia’s chances to go far in Brazil. During qualification, Colombia was the hottest team in South America, boasting a number of Serie A regulars and producing a wonderful brand of attacking football. Without their talisman, the pressure falls to Juan Cuadrado and Fredy Guarin to lead against a tricky Japan, a powerful Côte d’Ivoire and the always plucky Greece.

Group D pits Italy alongside England, Uruguay, and Costa Rica in a quasi-group of death, as far as the high-flying Uruguayans and desultory England are concerned. This will be no walk in the park for the Italians especially witnessing Luis

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WORLD CUP 2014 last World Cup performance. Andrea Pirlo will be dictating the play for the Azzurri and when he’s on his game, he’s nearly impossible to stop. The veteran’s poise, composure and experience on the pitch are spectacles to behold and based on recent form, he’s likely to score a free kick or two under the Brazilian sun. Perennial bad boy Mario Balotelli will have all eyes on him again this tournament spearheading the attack. Depending on their group outcome, the Italians will likely face Brazil or Spain in the quarter-finals, leaving a somewhat reserved outlook on their hopes for a fifth World Cup trophy.

France has underperformed since the 2006 final but their relatively simple group with Switzerland, Honduras and Ecuador provide them a straightforward route to the round of 16.

Didier Deschamps has an excellent rapport with his players. With the world-class talents of Franck Ribery, Karim Benzema and Juventus’ Paul Pogba, Les Bleus are a team that can slip under the radar.

After underperforming in South Africa, everyone is looking at Lionel Messi to reproduce his Barcelona form for the Albiceleste. With help from Aguero, Higuain and Lavezzi, Argentina is hoping to spite their Brazilian rivals on home soil.

They shouldn’t struggle against Group F opponents Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran and Nigeria; however, their fragile defense may haunt them during the latter stages.

Germany has been a bit of a mystery to oddsmakers over the past few international tournaments. Consistency is never the problem for the Germans, winning is. Cristiano Ronaldo’s heroics took Portugal to the World Cup, and you can count he’ll be at his best in Brazil to progress into the next round. Throw in the spirited Americans lead by Toronto FC’s Michael Bradley and the hard-running Black Stars of Ghana and you get a group that will have oddsmakers scratching their heads on who will advance to the next round.

World Cup Suarez’s record year with Liverpool and Edinson Cavani’s predilection for Italian defenders. England has definitely improved since their last meeting with the Italians, with Jack Wilshere and Daniel Sturridge looking to exploit the Azzurri on the flanks and counterattack. Costa Rica rounds out the group hoping to steal points from their counterparts. Chances of upsets and fluky results loom large on the horizon for Group D. Cesare Prandelli can be criticized for his squad selection, friendly records and inconsistency but you cannot argue with his results during his four-year tenure. Undefeated during Euro 2012 qualifiers, Finalists at Euro 2012, ThirdPlace at the Confederation’s Cup and an undefeated qualification heading to Brazil. Only the silverware is missing. Prandelli’s problems lay in his wealth of options in attack and midfield, causing an ever-changing formation between the 4-3-3, 43-1-2 or 3-5-2, resulting in lack of fluidity in his team’s play.

Captain Gigi Buffon will provide the calming influence between the posts in what will be his

Belgium, who last qualified for the World Cup back in 2002, has been the talk of European soccer over the past two years. Captained by Vincent Kompany and spearheaded by Eden Hazard, the Belgians can make moules-frites out of Algeria and South Korea, with Fabio Capello’s Russia progressing as well. They may be too inexperienced to go all the way, but the Rode Duivels are a potential dark horse to upset some of the favourites in the knockout stages.

Home soil always brings on extra pressure but as witnessed at last year’s Confederation’s Cup, the climate and fan support worked to the Brazilians’ favour, allowing them to take the tournament with a resounding victory against current World Cup titleholder Spain. But history is not on Brazil’s side as the winner of the Confederation’s Cup winner has never won the ensuing World Cup. Rules are meant to be broken, but if history does serve correct, there is room for one of the other 31 qualified teams to make their mark and achieve their dream of hoisting the World Cup. PA N O R A M I TA L I A . C O M

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By Daniela Di Stefano

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occo Falsano’s love story with soccer began 30 years ago in the backyard of his parent’s Mississauga home. “My father would try to get me to kick the ball to him, and to entertain me he would kick it up in the air,” says Falsano. “I would look for it in the sky and laugh. Some of his less precise kicks ended up in the neighbour’s yard.”

At 7 when he and his family moved to Bari (Italy) he played soccer in the streets of the small town of Triggiano with garage doors as nets, much to the dismay of his neighbours who would tire of the ruckus. “In elementary school I used to sit in the back of the class and instead of paying attention to my maestra, I would draw renditions of the previous Sunday’s goals or saves,” he recalls.

Now 34 and living in Vaughan, Falsano plays for and manages a soccer team, writes a soccer blog and makes guest appearances on 100.7 FM’s Soccer City Show. When June 12 rolls around, he’s most looking forward to the nerves that will precede the big games, and the vibrant atmosphere in Toronto’s bars, cafes and streets.

Ultimate Azzurri Fan

Rocco Falsano

Pre-game ritual “I go to great lengths not to wear anything to do with soccer or my team,” he says. “Since I wore Italy gear for the first game of the 1994 World Cup versus the Republic of Ireland and we lost.”

Lucky charm “When my daughter was 3 we started a tradition that at every goal I would throw her up in the air,” says Falsano, whose daughter is now 6. “It cements our bond and gives her a positive association with soccer – like the one my father built with me in our backyard 30 years before.”

Proudest moment Falsano says reminiscing about witnessing Italy’s World Cup victory celebrations in Toronto in 2006 still sends chills down his spine.

“I fondly remember the flags, the music and the utter joy of all the men and women, young and old that filled the streets,” he says. “For days, weeks and even months after the win I remember walking in my neighbourhood and still seeing Italy flags hung proudly outside the houses, row on row.”

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Italo, Ester & Eligio Paris

Biggest heartbreak Like any fan of the nazionale, there are burning losses Falsano is begrudged to remember, the top being Italy’s loss to France in the 2000 Euro Final. “Italy was leading until the last minute of additional time, and after tying it the French came back and scored again in overtime to end the game in sudden death. That to me is the most burning loss.”

It’s in our blood...

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Ultimate Azzurri Fan

WORLD CUP 2014

Paul Macchione

By Daniela Di Stefano

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aul Macchione was born to be an Azzurri fan. During the 1982 World Cup, his father sat in front of the television and announced that his first-born son would be named after the next Azzurri player to score for the team. On November 3, 1983, a baby boy was born and named after Paolo Rossi. “Every time we sit down as a family to watch a Euro Cup or a World Cup match the story gets told by relatives,” says Macchione.

It would of course be fitting that one of Macchione’s earliest childhood memories is playing soccer. “I was three years old when I was enrolled in house league. I’ve always followed soccer and have been playing it regularly these past few years in a men’s league.”

Thirty years after that name-deciding goal was scored by the Azzurri, Macchione traveled to Poland to cheer on the team at the 2012 Euro Cup. “Being in the stadium is unbelievable, and the collective roar of the fans at an international soccer match is far superior to that of any other event,” he says. “It was a three-week party, adventure and cultural experience whereby I got to see a beautiful country and support my team while meeting people from all over the world that shared my excitement for the game. I’ll be doing it again in France in 2016!”

Pre-game ritual When game day rolls around Macchione is sure to wear the Azzurri team colours and read up on the players, the game formation and any news about injuries or details pertaining to the match. “I can’t say I have a preferred place to watch the game, but I like to be surrounded by other passionate fans,” says Macchione. “Their reaction – hopefully elation – can be almost as entertaining as the match itself.”

Proudest moment The proudest and most memorable moment for Macchione as with many Azzurri fans was watching the 2006 World Cup with family and friends. “The semi-final game was so exciting from Fabio Grosso’s goal to another beautiful performance from the legend Alessandro Del Piero,” he says. “The tournament win brought tears to my grandfather’s eye, which was a sight to see, and our whole group leaped for joy.”

Biggest heartbreak “Though he’s a legend to be honoured, Baggio’s penalty kick miss in 1994 against Brazil in the final will always be the biggest sore spot,” says Macchione. “It was especially hard to take as a kid.”

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By Beatrice Fantoni

Ultimate Azzurri Fan

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Rocchino Perrotto

aised in a soccer-loving household, Rocchino Perrotto hasn't missed a World Cup since 1982. “It’s almost a goal to watch literally every single game,” Perrotto says.

The Toronto-area real estate agent started kicking a soccer ball around with his father when he was two, joined a league when he started grade school and, now in his forties, plays every week.

And Perrotto is a dedicated follower of soccer all over the world – he’s a Toronto FC season ticket holder and a big fan of Arsenal and Napoli. But when it’s World Cup time, it’s Italy.

“Italy’s always the underdog,” he says, comparing the Azzurri to teams like Brazil’s or Germany’s. “When you watch the Italians, you suffer through the game,” he says. “You hang on to every shot, every goal, every free kick, every foul.”

Perrotto says he thinks some of the best years were the ones when the Azzurri had their backs against the wall and the world had low expectations, like in 1982 or 2006, when Italian soccer was mired in match fixing scandals. But they brought home the trophy.

It is kind of paradoxical, he admits, that something so important to him can cause so much anguish, but it’s not unlike the way Italians are in general – arguing and shouting only to come together in the end.

Pre-game ritual It’s become a tradition for Perrotto and his father to watch the Azzurri play from the comfort of home rather than at the bar, usually with a simple plate of salumi and cheese instead of flags and noisemakers. After all, it was his father who fostered this love for the game in him, he says. “It’s one of the bonds that we have.”

Arch-rivalry Die-hard fans like him still want to even out the score with Brazil, which holds five World Cup titles to Italy’s four. “I really have this feeling that fate is going to come into play,” Perrotto says, picturing an Italy-Brazil final in this year’s competition. He doesn’t pretend to know the outcome, he says, but – ever the optimist – he has his hunches. “I really hope we’re able to conjure something up.”

Proudest moment Interestingly, it’s not a final that Perrotto calls his proudest moment, but rather the 2006 semi-final against Germany. Germany had a stellar team that year, Perrotto says, so seeing Italy win that match was a triumph. Whenever he’s feeling down, he’ll watch the 10-minute highlight video on YouTube to cheer himself up. “I still get shivers down my spine when that first goal goes in.”

Biggest heartbreak More than 10 years later, Perrotto still has a bone to pick with the referee in the second round match between Italy and South Korea in 2002. “On the field,” he says, “We were the better team.”

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WORLD CUP 2014

WHERE TO WATCH THE AZZURRI Best spots to catch the 2014 WORLD CUP! Il Gatto Nero 720 College St., Toronto, ON TV screens: 6 HD and 1 HD 100” screen Best dish: Pizza Outdoor facility capacity: 100 Indoor seating capacity: 104 Reservations: (416) 536-3132 www.ilgattonero.ca

Lago Cafe & Pizzeria 10 Strada Drive, Woodbridge, ON TV screens: 2 HD and 2 jumbo screens Best dish: Fried fish, steak, pasta and pizza Indoor seating capacity: 149 Reservations: (905)856-0440 Special prices for the World Cup

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Dimmi Bar & Trattoria 140 Woodbridge Ave, Vaughan, ON TV screens: 2 HD and 1 large outdoor screen Best dish: Pizza Rustica “Dimmi Style” Featuring World Cup Sponsored Brazilian Beer Xingu Indoor seating capacity: 68 Terrace capacity: 57 Reservations: (905) 605-8775 www.dimmibar.com

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Toronto JUNE-JULY 17-32_Layout 1 14-05-30 9:44 AM Page 25

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PA N O R A M I TA L I A . C O M

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WORLD CUP 2014

Victory Looking back at how two key World Cup celebrations in 1982 and 2006 impacted Italians in Toronto and Montreal

By Sal Difalco

W

Photography by Joseph Michael Howarth

ith Brazil poised to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the beautiful game will once again take centre stage for soccer fans and tifosi around the world. Expectations for this year’s Azzurri squad may be subdued, but the Italians have been known to pull a few surprises in the past.

Both the 1982 and 2006 World Cup winning teams staggered into the tournaments as unlikely champions. And while people of Italian origins around the world will be holding their collective breath in anticipation of a fifth World Cup title, for Italian-Canadians in particular, who fondly recall the 1982 and 2006 victory parties, it may represent yet another moment to take to the streets in numbers and proudly celebrate their cultural roots.

Massive street celebrations following major sporting events are a commonplace nowadays, but back in 1982, when hundreds of thousands of jubilant Italian-Canadians took to the streets of Toronto and Montreal, waving Italian flags and dancing and partying till dawn, Canada had never seen anything like it. When the CBC, for the first time in Canadian television, broadcasted the second phase of the 1982 World Cup live, many Italian-Canadians were glued to their sets. Italy defeated much-favoured Argentina 2-1.

“That’s when the flag-waving and the honking started,” recalls Sam Perri, a Toronto resident and soccer enthusiast, who was 22 at the time and living near College Street, in the heart of Little Italy. “The whole neighborhood was buzzing. Then Italy upset Brazil and more people came out and it just got louder and louder.”

Italy went on to crush the West Germans 3-1 in the final, and the rest, as they say, is history. Italian-Canadians across the country took to the streets, some 300,000 in Toronto alone. And no one stopped them: the riot 26

PA N O R A M I TA L I A . C O M

police were not called in, barricades weren’t erected. Shouldering their way unobstructed into the Canadian public domain in such robust numbers gave the entire community a much-needed boost of confidence. It also introduced an entire generation of immigrants and their children to each other.

When asked what Italy’s 1982 World Cup victory meant for Italians in Toronto, Carmine Raviele, proprietor of Il Gatto Nero, a College Street fixture since 1960, cannot hide his emotion. “It changed everything,” he says with a wistful smile. “The city changed, we changed.” Raviele observes that before the 1982 World Cup celebrations in Toronto, the Italian community had been modest and reserved. “It had never been easy for us here. We worked hard and kept our mouths shut to gain respect and equal-footing in this country. Winning was a vindication of our culture and our people, and a moment to vent a lot of pent up feeling.”

Luciano Nocente, 55, a Montreal resident, points out that before the ’82 World Cup, Italians in Montreal had been ghettoized to some extent and perhaps unjustly stereotyped. “You know, all that mafia stuff. And Italians kept to themselves for the most part. If you were Italian, you dealt with Italians. But I think 1982 helped change the perception of Italians, and opened things up, culturally speaking. We came out of our shells as it were. And I mean, who knew there were so many of us?”

It’s safe to say the 1982 World Cup celebrations represented a watershed moment in Italian-Canadian history, and a coming out party for a community that had run the gamut of Canadian immigrant reality. It ignited a new way of demonstrating nationalism and sportsmanship. “Think about those Blue Jays celebrations,” Raviele says. “It was because of 1982.”

“

Toronto JUNE-JULY 17-32_Layout 1 14-05-30 9:46 AM Page 27

It’s safe to say the 1982 World Cup celebrations represented a watershed moment in ItalianCanadian history, and a coming out party for a community that had run the gamut of Canadian immigrant reality.

“

“And everyone else took the lead,” Sam Perri says. “Look what happens at World Cup now. Everyone waves flags. It even impacted something like the Gay Pride festivities. It totally opened the city up.”

As significant as the 1982 World Cup was for Italian-Canadians, the unexpected 2006 victory rekindled the fervor of 1982 for an older generation but also offered a new generation an opportunity to celebrate their roots. Anthony Di Stavolo, a 25-year-old property manager from Montreal, recalls the happy chaos that followed the 2006 Italian victory. “They had bonfires going on in St. Leonard and people were dancing and partying in Little Italy until two in the morning.”

“Italian soccer needed that 2006 win,” Sam Perri observes. “It was under fire for playing a dull brand of ball, and for various scandals. And coming out of nowhere and winning the way they did was wonderful. No one gave that team a chance.”

“It was very satisfying as a final chapter for a great generation of footballers,” Di Stavolo adds. “People my age grew up watching players like Cannavaro, Del Piero, Nesta and Totti so it was nice to see them finally win and shut the critics up. It was also special because we had heard so much about 1982 it was almost mythical, but now we had our own moment, our own memories to enjoy.”

Azzurri fans, young and old, will no doubt be clutching their flags and sitting on the edge of their seats as the 2014 World Cup games begin, perhaps hoping beyond hope for another unforgettable victory celebration.

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People are unfortunately injured everyday, driving cars, crossing the street, walking in a mall or store, entertaining with friends at a club or even attacked by a dog. In each case, you are entitled to be compensated for your losses as a result of any injuries.

At this point, you have to make a decision to start a personal injury claim. It is no easy matter. It is not a game…big insurance companies are almost always involved.

Insurance companies create mazes that one has to go through to access benefits and compensation. They play with your health, peace of mind and future. The Rizzotto Law Firm with years of experience helping injured people, will guide you through the maze. They help you access tiers of benefits and compensation.

Motor vehicle insurance is complex. The changes to motor vehicle insurance law in Ontario that came into effect September 1, 2010 added to the maze and consumer confusion.

These changes especially affect the relationship with a person’s own car insurance carrier – the Accident Benefits carrier.

If you or your family members have been injured, you have rights that need protecting within the time limits permitted by law. It would be in your best interest at this point to hire a trained professional lawyer to help you obtain the maximum benefits and compensation for your losses. Even the playing field.

Joseph J. Rizzotto, B.A.(Hons), M.A., LL.B., LL.M. of the Rizzotto Law Firm is such a lawyer and has many years of experience dealing with insurance companies and claims.

“It is important to hire someone that will carefully review and research each case individually in order that the appropriate action is taken quickly and is effective. Knowledge is key.”

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PA N O R A M I TA L I A . C O M

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WORLD CUP 2014

Gennaro Gattuso’s World Cup

By Tony Marinaro, TSN 690

In

mid-March, Italian-Calabrian soccer star Gennaro Gattuso was invited to Montreal to give a talk to Quebec coaches, in association with Genova International School of Soccer and the National Soccer Coaches Association of Italy. While he’d been to Toronto twice before, it was his first time in Montreal, where two of his cousins (Maria and Pino) reside. Gattuso took time to chat about his current endeavours and past exploits. Here’s a little inside scoop on the inner-workings of a champion and his path to World Cup glory in 2006.

As a fan of the Italian National soccer team, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better game than Italy vs Germany in 2006 in my life. A terrific game in the Semis of the World Cup, Italy dominating Germany in their own backyard, and Fabio Grosso scores with a couple of minutes to go in extra time. The moment he scored, is there any way you could explain the sensation inside of you?

Look, when you talk about the World Cup – and I played in three for Italy – you truly live through a month and half or two of having your stomach in knots. That’s the sensation I felt. Everyone would tell me, ‘It must be amazing to play (in a World Cup)’– No. There’s nothing great about playing those games, only pain. That’s how I lived those games. I remember sleepless nights. I’d wake up, go back to sleep; I couldn’t wait to play.

I remember the day before the Germany game, we were in Dortmund training at the stadium and there was a section that was enormous; you could fit about 40,000 fans there. It felt like a New York skyscraper – it never ended.

And that’s what was running through our minds the day before in training: 80,000 Germans tomorrow; how could we get out of here alive?

When we won the game, there’s an image I remember – I think I ran 20 kilometres that game – of myself collapsing to the floor and not being able to get up. I was crying tears of joy but also tears of exhaustion because of how taxing the game was.

What’s the first thing you thought about when it became official: we are going to play in the Final of the World Cup? After great victories, and especially after I’d hear the national anthem, I would always thank my mom and dad for how they brought me up and for the opportunities they gave me. I’m not sure how many parents would have enough faith in a 12-year-old child to send him to Perugia 700 kilometres from home to play soccer on his own. They even paid for my living expenses. After games like that, I’d close my eyes and thank them.

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When you get to the World Cup Final, and you are about to play versus France, as a player, is there a very strong feeling that you will win, or are you worried, because they’re a very good team, that you might lose this game?

Well, looking at all that led up to this Final – losing to penalties against Brazil in USA for one – the precedents weren’t good. The ugliest feeling was when we were in the tunnel leading onto the field and both teams were lined up and there was the Cup. I don’t recall who it was, but one of my teammates touched the Cup, and that’s not something you’re supposed to do! You don’t touch trophies before winning them. He said “at least I’ll have touched it if I don’t win it.” I gave him a swift kick in the ass.

Once the game begins and Zidane quickly scores on a penalty kick, and you go down 0-1, what’s the feeling inside?

I told myself, ‘Here we go again; we always get to Rome but never meet the Pope.’ I remember that sinking feeling very clearly. Five minutes later, thankfully Marco (Materazzi) headed one in to bring things level.

Was there a moment during the Final where you told yourself: “We’re going to win this game”?

No because characteristically and at a professional level, even if it didn’t show when I played because I always looked self-assured, I always thought of the negative when I played soccer; I never thought of the positive. It’s better that way because you don’t feel as bad afterwards.

How were the penalty takers selected after extra time ran out?

Well that’s something that not many know about. France was left with ten players on the field (because of Zidane’s red card) and we had to present ourselves in the middle of the field with ten players. So (Coach Marcello) Lippi asked: ‘Who feels like staying on the field?’ – since one had to be left out. I didn’t even respond and headed straight to the player’s bench. Not even to stand and celebrate each goal with my teammates. I hid on the player’s bench and didn’t even watch our penalty kicks. I would watch our fans to see if they were celebrating or not. After the final kick was taken and we won, I stayed behind with my sock stuck on something. You can see images of me stuck for about 25 seconds fighting with the bench.

Lippi didn’t choose the penalty takers. He asked who felt like going – and with great calm and serenity – because he had come from a negative experience losing on penalties in the Champions League Final against Milan (in 2003). He really managed that situation very well. He made the players decide.

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PA N O R A M I TA L I A . C O M

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WORLD CUP 2014

20 Years to Life Remembering Roberto Baggio’s ill-fated 1994 World Cup run

By Fabio Petosa sat silently, too tense to move and far too nervous to speak. Although I know I was surrounded by my family, my memory fails to acknowledge their presence.

It’s only me, fixated on the television as he slowly made his way to the spot. As a child I understood the importance of what was taking place, but it would be years before I would be able to imagine the impact that moment would have on this man. I had fallen to the forces of a frenzy that had captured an entire community.

He won’t miss; he can’t miss – two others had already let us down, but he was not like the others.

He had been the one who orchestrated a month of incredible moments. He had led a team, a nation and all its transplanted sons and daughters to the threshold of glory. In the dying minutes of their Round of 16 match against Nigeria he would first tie and then win it all in extra time. During their quarter-final match against Spain he produced a spectacular winner right before stoppage time as he was played in alone, took the ball wide around the keeper and then from a sharp angle he managed to get the ball past a sliding Spanish defender. He produced a third consecutive winner during their semi-final match as he would strike twice early, enough to guarantee Italy’s presence in the final. Three knockout games and he would score three game winning goals. The spectacular game-winning goals, the last second heroics, his unrelenting will – but then came the injury. All heroes must overcome adversity; it is what defines them and sets them apart. Was the injury simply plot build as this epic worked its way to a glorious finale?

He can’t miss. He would score and then our keeper would save. The keeper had already saved once and one of their players had nearly missed. It was possible, because it was him. He had reached the spot and as he bent to place the ball my mind shot back to a discussion my mother had with a stranger as she bought me a

I

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PA N O R A M I TA L I A . C O M

t-shirt. A t-shirt with his face on it, which I was now wearing as my heart pounded.

The stranger explained that he would be the difference, he would be the reason we would win. That I have never seen the stranger again and still remember her exact words twenty years later pays tribute to the magnitude of the moment. Taking his time to place the ball he would remain hunched over for what appeared to be an eternity. He began to back away from the ball. Why was he going so far? He would step out beyond the penalty area and hardly pausing would begin his run up.

Where were you when the ball sailed high? A child can be selfish and unforgiving. As a child I sat in disbelief, just as he stood immovable from the spot. Images of yellow flashed before me on the screen. As shock passed, my lips began to quiver and soon after tears would follow. The warmth of my tears stung me back to reality as I was overwhelmed by what had happened.

He had failed; he had let me down. While I have cried at times in my life, the only time I remember is the moment my hero fell. Twenty years have passed.

Enough time where one is forced to wonder why the memory is still so clear.

Is it the need to remember, or the inability to forget that keep the images from fading? The reality is that Italy would have likely lost given the advantage Brazil had. One missed penalty and one save against are nearly insurmountable in a shootout. As a logical twenty-nine year old understanding the game I am able to accept the truth; however, my nine-year-old self would argue to the death managerial decisions were called into question, line-up, strategy, travel, etc. Regardless, he would be forced to carry the heaviest weight in defeat. We were all quick to forget his role in leading us there. We forgot the game winning goals and the last gasp heroics. We were all selfish children blaming him when all he deserved was our praise.

Toronto JUNE-JULY 17-32_Layout 1 14-05-30 9:46 AM Page 31

Roberto Baggio, following his final World Cup penalty kick, 1994

Brazil would go on to win another World Cup in 2002 bringing their total to an unparalleled five. Interestingly two of the five victories came against Italy.

Italy was dominated 4-1 in the 1970 final by the fabled PelÊ-led squad. When Italy would win its fourth world cup in 2006, it managed to partially soothe the pain of the ’94 defeat. Fascinatingly enough, the 2006 victory came via shootout as suddenly an entire nationality reluctantly learned to accept the shootout as a process to decide a winner. The Italians are now one behind of Brazil for a share of world domination. As Brazil prepares to host the World Cup this summer, my illogical nine-year-old self appears to be resurfacing. While the Italians are far from favourites as they were drawn into a strong group and do not have the talent of the top contenders, the child in me insists on being selfish and demands a victory. If not a World Cup record tying victory, then he hopes for the Italians knocking out the Brazilians in Brazil. The significance of being able to do both: win on Brazilian soil while knocking out the hosts would help put to rest the ghosts of many years ago.

Many things have happened in the past 20 years. However when the images of his long runs and last gasp goal scoring heroics come to mind, a smile is sure to follow. While it is impossible to forget the miss, we would be wrong to forget the rest. For a moment, in the summer of 1994 he made us all fans whose passion was driven by his greatness. Grazie Il Divin Codino.

This article was contributed by TIFO Magazine, a premium biannual Canadian publication. TIFO Magazine tangentially explores the creativity, drama, history and values existent in Soccer. For updates on upcoming releases, visit: www.tifomag.com PA N O R A M I TA L I A . C O M

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A

C

GROUP

E

GROUP

G

GROUP

GROUP

June 12 June 13 June 17 June 18 June 23 June 23

1 2 17 18 33 34

June 14 June 14 June 19 June 19 June 24 June 24

5 6 21 22 37 38

June 15 June 15 June 20 June 20 June 25 June 25

9 10 25 26 41 42

DATE

June 16 June 16 June 21 June 22 June 26 June 26

MATCH

13 14 29 30 45 46

Germany

DATE

MATCH

Ecuador

DATE

MATCH

Colombia

DATE

MATCH

Brazil

Colombia Côte d’Ivoire Colombia Japan Japan Greece

Germany Ghana Germany USA USA Portugal

Ghana

Switzerland France Switzerland Honduras Honduras Ecuador

vs vs vs vs vs vs

TEAMS

Belo Horiz.

Recife Brasilia Natal Cuiaba Fortaleza

CITY

Japan

Sao Paulo Natal Fortaleza Manaus Brasilia Recife

CITY

Mexico

Portugal USA Ghana Portugal Germany Ghana

Salvador Natal Fortaleza Manaus Recife Brasilia

CITY

Brasilia Porto A. Salvador Curitiba Manaus Rio de Jan.

USA

Ecuador Honduras France Ecuador Switzerland France

CITY

Switzerland

Greece Japan Côte d’Ivoire Greece Colombia Côte d’Ivoire

Portugal

vs vs vs vs vs vs

TEAMS

*All kick-off times are EST

12:00 18:00 15:00 18:00 12:00 12:00

TIME

12:00 15:00 15:00 18:00 16:00 16:00

TIME

vs vs vs vs vs vs

Croatia Cameroon Mexico Croatia Brazil Mexico

Greece TEAMS

vs vs vs vs vs vs

TEAMS

Croatia

Honduras

Côte d'Ivoire

Brazil Mexico Brazil Cameroon Cameroon Croatia

France

12:00 21:00 12:00 18:00 16:00 16:00

TIME

16:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 16:00 16:00

TIME

Cameroon

15 16 31 32 47 48

MATCH

11 12 27 28 43 44

MATCH

7 8 23 24 39 40

MATCH

3 4 20 19 35 36

MATCH

15:00 18:00 12:00 15:00 12:00 12:00

TIME

June 17 June 17 June 22 June 22 June 26 June 26

DATE

Algeria

June 15 June 16 June 21 June 21 June 25 June 25

DATE

Argentina

June 14 June 14 June 19 June 20 June 24 June 24

DATE

12:00 18:00 12:00 15:00 16:00 16:00

TIME

vs vs vs vs vs vs

TEAMS

vs vs vs vs vs vs

TEAMS

Belgium Russia Belgium Korea Korea Algeria

vs vs vs vs vs vs

TEAMS

Iran

Costa Rica Italy England Costa Rica Uruguay England

vs vs vs vs vs vs

TEAMS

CITY

Nigeria

Fortaleza Manaus Sao Paulo Recife Natal Belo Horiz.

CITY

Uruguay

Salvador Cuiaba Porto A. Rio de Jan. Curitiba Sao Paulo

CITY

Spain

Algeria Korea Russia Algeria Belgium Russia

Belo Horiz.

Cuiaba Rio de Jan. Porto A. Sao Paulo Curitiba

CITY

Russia

Curitiba Belo Horiz.

Bosnia-Herzegovina Cuiaba Porto A. Argentina Salvador Iran

Nigeria Iran

Bosnia-Herzegovina Rio de Jan.

Italy

Netherlands Australia Netherlands Chile Spain Chile

Netherlands

Korea Republic

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Argentina Iran Argentina Nigeria Nigeria

Belgium

18:00 15:00 12:00 18:00 12:00 12:00

TIME

Uruguay England Uruguay Italy Italy Costa Rica

England

Spain Chile Australia Spain Australia Netherlands

Chile

Bosnia-Herzegovina

15:00 18:00 15:00 12:00 12:00 12:00

TIME

Costa Rica

June 13 June 13 June 18 June 18 June 23 June 23

DATE

Australia

B

D

GROUP

F

GROUP

H

GROUP GROUP

FIFA WORLD CUP 2014 MATCH SCHEDULE

Toronto JUNE-JULY 17-32_Layout 1 14-05-30 9:46 AM Page 32

Winner B

Winner E

Winner F

June 29 12:00

June 30 12:00

12:00

51

53

55

VS

FINAL

Brasilia

Rio de Jan.

64

63

July 13 15:00

16:00

Belo Horiz.

July 12

Winner 58

Winner 56

Winner 54

THIRD PLACE

Winner 57

VS

Winner 55

16:00

July 5

59

16:00

VS

Winner 53

July 8

Brasilia

Fortaleza

Runner-up E Sao Paulo

Runner-up F

Runner-up A

16:00

61

CITY

Runner-up B Belo Horiz.

July 4

VS

VS

VS

VS

TEAMS

57

July 1

Winner A

TIME

June 28 12:00

QUARTER-FINALS

49

DATE

SEMI-FINALS

ROUND OF 16

MATCH

July 9

Winner 61

Loser 61

62

60

58

VS

DATE

TIME

Winner 62

VS

CITY

Recife

ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS

Sao Paulo

Winner 52

Salvador

Salvador

Fortaleza

Runner-up G

Runner-up H Porto Alegre

Runner-up C

Runner-up D Rio de Jan.

Winner 50

VS

VS

VS

VS

TEAMS

Winner 60

Rio de Janeiro

Brasilia

VS

Winner 51

Winner 59

12:00

Loser 62

16:00

July 5

VS

Winner H

Winner G

Winner D

Winner C

Winner 49

16:00

12:00

July 1

June 30 16:00

June 29 16:00

June 28 16:00

July 4

56

54

52

50

MATCH

Toronto JUNE-JULY 33-48_Layout 1 14-05-30 9:50 AM Page 33

SEMI-FINALS

Toronto JUNE-JULY 33-48_Layout 1 14-05-30 9:50 AM Page 34

WORLD CUP 2014

A A A T E EEE

! ! !

A A Y LLY I

Ba lo te lli

STATS 2014

What Kind of Soccer Fan Are You? The Ultra

The Opportunist

The Second Coach

• Cheers the loudest and is very dedicated and passionate about the game.

• Very emotional and loyal even if the team sucks.

• Knows nothing about soccer other than the shape of the ball, but will gladly get on the bandwagon during major tournaments due to national pride.

• A current or former soccer player or soccer coach who analyses all the plays and player combinations on the field and comments on them all the time.

• Would spend thousands of dollars to go watch the game in the host country if afforded the opportunity.

• A ‘player’ fan, who often loves one or two famous players and is ignorant of the rest.

• May have a tattoo representing a favourite player or moment in soccer.

• Just wants a reason to party and wave a flag.

• Is convinced that he/she could do a better job than the Azzurri head coach and complains about the players selected.

• Generally purchases replica jerseys and feels no connection to them after the tournament.

• Yells at the players, the referees and everyone who dares contradict him/her.

The Statistician

• Although sometimes annoying, he/she contributes to an exciting atmosphere.

• Is the life of the party wherever he or she watches the game.

The Collector • Carries all kinds of items and objects related to the national team.

• His/her basement or room is a shrine entirely dedicated to the Azzurri.

• Will typically make semi-rational predictions about upcoming tournaments based on Euro or World Cups played decades ago.

• Similar to the ultra, he or she usually carries a lucky charm and would rather wear a vintage or collectable official jersey than a replica.

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PA N O R A M I TA L I A . C O M

• Knows the names of all the players and their league teams, as well as ages, stats and girlfriend/wife names.

• Taking a Cartesian approach to the game, this fan calculates the probability of the team’s wins based on facts and numbers.

• Can give up hope when the numbers do not align.

The Pessimist • Has a tendency to stress the negative and take the gloomiest possible view of every situation.

• Eats his/her nails during tense games and gets everyone stressed out with pessimistic remarks.

• Watches all 64 World Cup games and/or highlights to stay up-to-date.

• Always stresses how unlucky we are for being in a particular group; how we always play against the toughest teams; how we always get bad calls; how we never give 100%; how the whole world is against us; etc.

• The most reliable fan to turn to when unsure about Italy’s chances of advancing past the first round after tying its first two games.

• Has bipolar tendencies; when Italy wins, he/she is the proudest and happiest fan of all and boastfully tells everyone, “I told you!”

• Is usually involved in online sports betting.

Toronto JUNE-JULY 33-48_Layout 1 14-05-30 9:51 AM Page 35

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The word “VIENI” means “come” and indeed all are welcomed to visit the estate to enjoy wine, one of life’s great pleasures.

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His passion for wine, one of Italy’s treasures, never left him. In July 2013, VIENI ESTATES WINE&SPIRITS marked its official grand opening and enjoyed a successful first season.

Although many types of grapes are grown on the estate, the Italian “roots” are evident throughout. For instance, VIENI is the only Canadian grower and producer of Aglianico, the bold, aromatic, savoury red wine that hails from the southern regions of Basilicata and Campania, Pasquale’s home region. Now famous as the principal grape of Taurasi wines, the grape’s lineage is in fact millennia old – Aglianico was brought to Italy by the ancient Greeks who considered it a prized possession. Centuries later, Pasquale has brought it to Canada.

Italian influence is not limited to the grapes, however. The resident winemaker is Mauro Salvador, who trained at Scuola Enologica di Conegliano, Italy’s oldest and most respected winemaking school. Inspired by a blend of tradition and modernity, Mauro uses The Natural Control Method to create VIENI’s Aglianico in the appassimento or amarone style. The grapes are allowed to dry naturally without any mechanical assistance. The consistent breezes over the Niagara Escarpment do all the work naturally.

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A

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This special vintage now offered for sale: $95.70/case of 6 $191.40/case of 12 Call in your order today at: 1-855-333-3035 or e-mail your order to: info@vieni.ca *Offer only available in the GTA

Besides favourites like Merlot, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay, VIENI makes wines from its seventeen grape varieties to suit every palate and type of food.

The estate is among the first in Ontario to make grappa and spirits distilled from the many fruits of Ontario. Grappa, Italy’s grape-based brandy, is given a Canadian spin and sold as Graspa. The wines and spirits can be sampled daily at VIENI’s wine boutique.

VIENI ESTATES WINES & SPIRITS also boasts a B&B for those who would like respite from the hustle and bustle. Every room has a view of the lush vineyard where guests can participate in wine tasting tours, match favourite wines with home cooked dishes, throw shots at the estate’s Bocce Courtyard, swim a few laps in the outdoor pool or hike the adjacent Bruce Trail.

VIENI ESTATES WINES & SPIRITS is located at 4553 Fly Road in Beamsville.

The winery is open to the public daily from May to October from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 905-563-6521, e-mail info@vieni.ca or visit www.vieni.ca. Wines are available for purchase at the estate’s wine boutique as well as the LCBO.

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FOOD

World Cup Bruschette Mango tomato and mozzarella bruschetta Ingredients • 1 ripe mango • 1 cup fresh tomatoes • 6 oz mozzarella (fior di latte) • 1/4 red onion • Large handful fresh cilantro • Small handful fresh mint

• Salt and pepper to taste • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar • Juice from 1/2 or 1 lemon • Toasted slices of French bread or baguette (cut into 1/4 inch slices)

Bruschetta con mango, pomodoro e mozzarella Ingredienti • 1 mango maturo • 250g di pomodori freschi • 170g di mozzarella (fior di latte) • 1/4 di cipolla rossa • Una manciata abbondante di coriandolo fresco

• Un pugnetto medio di menta fresca • Sale e pepe quanto basta • 2 cucchiai di olio d’oliva • 2 cucchiai di aceto di vino bianco • Succo di 1/2 o 1 limone • Fette tostate (spesse circa1/2 cm) di baguette o filone di pane

Instructions

Preparazione

Dice mango and fresh tomatoes. Thinly dice red onion, and roughly chop cilantro and mint. Cut mozzarella into cubes. Combine in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil vinegar and lemon juice and toss. Top sliced bread with mixture and enjoy!

Tagliare a dadini il mango e i pomodori freschi. Tagliare finemente la cipolla rossa, e sminuzzare grossolanamente coriandolo e menta. Tagliare la mozzarella a cubetti e mettere tutto in una ciotola. Spruzzare con l’olio d’oliva, l’aceto e il succo di limone. Una volta mescolato il tutto, stendere il preparato sulle fette di pane. Buon appettito!

photography by Michel Ostaszewski

See more recipes online

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FOOD

The Winning Mix!

B

razil and Italy dominate the FIFA podium with a combined nine stars under their belt. Imagine if you could select the best players from both countries to create your dream team! Considering that’s a mere fantasy, we asked Topshelf 2014 winner, bartender/mixologist Fabien Maillard, from Bar Le Lab in Montreal, to revisit and remake two classic cocktails: the Negroni (from Italy) and the Caipirinha (from Brazil), by inverting ingredients hailing from each nation. The results are as surprising as they are delicious. These drinks are the perfect way to get fired up for the World Cup.

Il mix vincente!

Il

Brasile e l’Italia troneggiano sul podio della FIFA con un totale congiunto di nove vittorie ai mondiali. Immaginate se poteste scegliere i migliori giocatori di entrambi i paesi e creare la vostra squadra dei sogni! Considerato che si tratta di pura fantasia, abbiamo chiesto al vincitore del Topshelf 2014, il barista e mixologo (esperto di cocktail) Fabien Maillard, del Bar Le Lab di Montreal, di rivisitare e ricreare due cocktail classici: il Negroni (italiano) e la Caipirinha (brasiliana), invertendo gli ingredienti provenienti da entrambe le nazioni. I risultati sono stati tanto sorprendenti quanto squisiti. Entrambi un ottimo modo per lasciarsi infiammare in occasione dei mondiali.

Photography by Fahri Yavuz

Grapparinha Ingredients • 2 oz grappa (use grappa riserva for a more powerful taste) • 1 oz ginger syrup (or sugar cane syrup 2-3 strips of ginger) • 1/2 lime cut in 6

Ingredienti • 2 oz di grappa (utilizzare la grappa riserva per un sapore più forte)

To serve Crushed ice Old fashion lowball glass Muddle stick Long spoon

Servire con Ghiaccio tritato Bicchiere Old fashioned Pestello Cucchiaino lungo

Instructions Put ice into a folded towel and hit with a meat hammer or a rolling pin. Put lime pieces into glass and add ginger syrup.

Lightly muddle lime. Add grappa. Fill glass with crushed ice. Stir gently and garnish with lime wedge.

• 1 oz di sciroppo di zenzero (o sciroppo di zuc chero di canna; 2-3 striscette di zenzero)

• 1/2 lime tagliato in 6 parti

Istruzioni Avvolgere il ghiaccio con uno strofinaccio e schiacciare con un batticarne o un mattarello.

Mettere i pezzetti di lime nel bicchiere ed aggiungere lo sciroppo di zenzero. Mescolare gentilmente il lime. Aggiungere la grappa.

Riempire il bicchiere con il ghiaccio tritato.

Mescolare gentilmente e guarnire con una fetta di lime.

Negroni Brasiliano Ingredients • 1/2 oz Aperol bitter (or Campari) • 1/2 oz Cynar (or red vermouth) • 1 oz Cachaça • Lemon zest, twisted

Ingredienti • 1/2 oz di Aperol (o Campari) • 1/2 oz di Cynar (o vermouth rosso) • 1 oz di Cachaça • Spirale di scorza di limone

To serve Ice cubes Old fashion lowball glass Long spoon

Servire con Cubetti di ghiaccio Bicchiere Old fashioned Cucchiaino lungo

Instructions Alternatively poor Cachaça, Cynar and Aperol into glass. Fill with ice and stir gently. Top with twisted lemon zest strip.

Istruzioni Versare uno dopo l’altro la Cachaça, il Cynar e l’Aperol nel bicchiere.

Aggiungere ghiaccio e mescolare gentilmente. Decorare con una spirale di buccia di limone.

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LIVING ITALIAN STYLE

Go to panoramitalia.com and click on “Living Italian Style” to submit your profile!

Angelo De Luca Nickname: Angeluzz, tdot Italians Occupation: Social media organizer & Consultant for a disposal company Age: 20 Generation: Third Dad’s side from: Sala Consilina (Salerno), Campania Mom’s side from: Martone (Reggio Calabria), Calabria Speaks: English & Italian Raised in: Toronto Clothes: Armani Collezioni dressshirt, G-Star jean vest, Diesel jeans.

Where will you be watching the World Cup this year?

St. Clair (Corso Italia) Favourite World Cup memory: When Fabio Grosso scored against Germany in the 2006 semi-finals.

Passion: Being Italian Thing about you that would surprise most people: That I wasn’t born in Italy and neither were my parents but I speak perfect Italian.

Restaurant: Pizza e Pazzi Favourite dish: Orecchiette con salsiccia e rapini Best pizza in Toronto: Queen Margherita Pizza Best caffè in Toronto: Caffè Novecento 38

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Favourite aperitivo: Crodino Best nightclub in Toronto: Maison Italian saying: “Un giorno senza un sorriso è un giorno perso” You know you are Italian when: You thought everyone called the cellar “cantina.”

Best Italian song: Se è vero che ci sei by Biagio Antonacci Italian soccer team: Juventus Sexiest Italian: Federica Nargi Best way to feel Italian in Toronto: Having an espresso and watching Serie A soccer games on St. Clair.

How long have you been reading Panoram? Since it first came out Best memory growing up Italian-Canadian: Making homemade sugo in my garage with my nonna and her friends.

Daniela Di Nucci Nickname: D, Dinucc Occupation: Student at The University of Toronto in the Concurrent Teacher Education Program Age: 21 Generation: Second Dad from: Paglieta (Chieti), Abruzzo Mom from: Roseto Valfortore (Foggia), Puglia Speaks: English & Italian Raised in: Toronto & Woodbridge Clothes: BCBG dress and Dolce Vita wedges.

Favourite World Cup memory: Running out onto College St. from my nonni’s house with a giant Italian flag when Italy won the cup in 2006.

Fashion idol: Olivia Palermo Passion: Cooking, baking and travelling (especially to Europe) Thing about you that would surprise most people: I could only say my birthday in Italian until I was about four years old. I still get teased about that by my family.

Restaurant: Farro Ristorante Favourite dish: My Nonna Carmela’s eggplant parmigiana

Best pizza in Toronto: That’s Italian Ristorante Best caffè in Toronto: Bar Mercurio Best nightclub in Toronto: The Hoxton You know you are Italian when or if: You’ve had to schedule your work and social life around doing tomatoes with your entire family.

Best Italian song: Volare by Domenico Modugno Italian soccer team: AC Milan What you like most about Panoram: The concept of Italian Living in Toronto. It’s important to keep our culture alive and thriving through the younger generations.

Sexiest Italian: Don’t all Italians qualify for this one? I mean seriously…

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Photography by Gregory Varano Makeup by Desi Varano

Special thanks to Il Gatto Nero Restaurant and Bar, College Street, Toronto

Adriana Fabbri

Alex Grella Nickname: Grells Occupation: Property Management and Consulting Age: 24 Generation: Third Dad’s side from: Avellino, Napoli Mom’s side from: Pordenone, Friuli-Venezia Giulia Speaks: English, some Italian Raised in: Mississauga Clothes: Burberry top, Etro pants, Gucci shoes Favourite World Cup memory: Driving down St. Clair Ave with my dad in a Ferrari and getting stuck in a crowd of soccer fans when Italy won the Cup in 2006.

Fashion idol: Pharrell Williams Passion: Cars, health and fitness Thing about you that would surprise most people: I have my whole life planned out in five-year intervals.

Restaurant: Marcello’s Favourite dish: Penne alla vodka Best pizza in Toronto: Marcello’s Best caffè in Toronto: Faema Best panino in Toronto: California Sandwiches

LIVING ITALIAN STYLE

Best nightclub in Toronto: Buonanotte Italian saying or quote: “Non mangio per vivere, ma vivo per mangiare” Favourite Italian city: Venice Best Italian song: Peppino by Lou Monte Italian soccer team: AC Milan Sexiest Italian: Federica Ridolfi You know you are Italian when: By the face you make when you hear people mispronounce “bruschetta.”

What do you like most about Panoram: A nice reminder of our heritage throughout our busy lives.

Best memory growing up ItalianCanadian: Going to my nonni’s house on Sundays and being praised as the MVE (most valuable eater).

Nickname: Adri, Age, Fiore Occupation: Teacher Age: 27 Generation: Second Dad from: Colli (Frosinone), Lazio Mom from: Broccostella (Frosinone), Lazio Speaks: English Raised in: Markham Clothes: Zara skinny dress pants, R&W blouse and blazer, Nine West platforms, Michael Kors watch Where will you be watching the World Cup this year? At a local bar while travelling to Europe this summer.

Favourite World Cup memory: Celebrating on College Street after Italy’s 2006 World Cup win.

Boutique: M for MENDOCINO Fashion idol: Jennifer Lopez Goal in life: To instill leadership and education into young minds.

Thing about you that would surprise most people: Telling people I play the piano and that I was a “Tomboy” in my early childhood years.

Pet peeve: When individuals wear shorts paired with high socks (as high as the knee) and open-toe sandals in the summer.

Restaurant: Grazie Best pizza in Toronto: Fratelli Village Pizzeria Best caffè in Toronto: Zaza Espresso Bar Best panino in Toronto: Mom’s house!

Italian saying: “La vita è bella” Musical preference: Rock music by day, House music by night.

Italian soccer team: Juventus Sexiest Italian: My husband!

How long have you been reading Panoram? For five years.

What you like most about Panoram: The fashion and learning about the emerging ItalianCanadians of Toronto.

Best memory growing up ItalianCanadian: Eating at nonni’s every Saturday afternoon; attending Italian family picnics; watching every World Cup game and rooting for Italy no matter what.

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Ha vai a

nas

flip

flo

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FASHION

National Nati How to show off your green, white, red and blue spirit during the FIFA World Cup

By Alessia Sara Domanico

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Stella McCartney for Adidas

T

he boys in blue are set to take their place on the host city fields of Brazil. And while they are busy suiting up for their 2014 debut in towns like Brasilia and Rio de Janiero, we too in turn are getting ourselves decked out for THE Italo event of the summer. From jerseys to shorts to accessories to shoes to face paint…and don’t forget the maxi and mini tricolor flags – make sure you leave no stone unturned when it comes to the ultimate World Cup swag. Here are a few cues to get you on your way.

Puma is once again the official uniform sponsor for Gli Azzurri. Since their partnership began in 2003, Puma has prided itself in designing kits that complement Team Italy’s inherent style and winning tradition. Through heritage-inspired product design and forward-thinking product solutions, Puma has sought to evoke the idea that blue is more than just a colour: blue is a legacy. For the official team kit, Puma introduces a new system that fuses athletic taping and compression to enable for faster energy supply through skin stimulation.

For those of us not heading onto the FIFA field this season, Puma has plenty of options for men, women and children so that we too can feel a part of the 2014 championship. On top, Puma has a selection of premium quality jerseys starting with the classic blue jersey, the white and blue-striped away team jersey and the red and yellow goal keeper jerseys, all featuring the official FIGC badge. On the bottom half we have complimenting blue, white and black shorts as well as the official knee-high socks and shin guards.

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FASHION

Taking a step back from Team Italy, we surveyed a wide range of general memorabilia merchandise available from the official FIFA clothing partner: Adidas. Everything from shirts and hoodies for different host cities as well as exclusive clothing items designed in collaboration with the Brazilian Neo Pop artist Romero Britto are available through the online store. Adidas even has limited edition art and collectibles such as signed prints, posters, sackpacks, timepieces and decals. Don’t forget about the official FIFA 2014 soccer balls, Adidas designed those as well.

In the high end department, Adidas have also come out with a limited edition collection through their Stella McCartney for Adidas line. The collection boasts a range of swimsuits, handbags and sport suits to give you that sunny yellow, green and blue Brazil vibe that is guaranteed to be contagious this summer. For something a little less official, Nike has great propositions in the blue department if you just feel like showing your colours without incurring added costs. And what Brazil-based World Cup would be complete without a pair of Havaianas flip flops?

If you aren't lucky enough to be catching a roundtrip flight to see it all unfold for yourself, at least one of these many goodies will help you feel more a part of the action watching from home with friends and family or catching a game at a bar in Toronto's St. Clair neighbourhood or on Montreal’s Saint Laurent Boulevard while you face off against rival nation supporters. Forza Azzurri!

Pantofola d’Oro

Pride

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Miss Italia Visits Columbus Centre Giulia Arena, Miss

Italia 2013, visited Villa

Charities’ Toronto campus in April.

Arena dined at Ristorante Boccaccio, posed for pictures with seniors in Casa Del Zotto and was named an honourary member of the Columbus Centre Athletic staff. Accompanied by Gino Cucchi (left) and Villa Charities President and CEO Pal Di Iulio (right), she was serenaded by mandolinist Salvatore Brancaccio and other musicians at Caffè Cinquecento.

Arena is a real Pasta Princess and “Una Buona Forchetta.”

S P E C I A L

S E C T I O N

Harold E. Ballard Foundation Grant Transforms Villa Colombo Sunroom

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This special section is published

by Villa Charities.

For more than 40 years across the GTA, Villa Charities has provided care for seniors, programs and support for individuals with physical and mental challenges, educational and cultural programs and much more.

The Villa Charities family includes Villa Colombo Services for Seniors, in both Toronto and Vaughan; apartments for independent seniors; the Columbus Centre, and the J.D. Carrier Art Gallery; and VITA Community Living Services/Mens Sana Families for Mental Health programs.

For more information, please visit www.villacharities.com

PA N O R A M I TA L I A . C O M

Standing, from L, at the official opening: Pal Di Iulio, Edward Sorbara, Grace Palumbo, the Ballard Foundation’s Jack Cooper and Mary-Elizabeth Flynn, and Nick Manocchio.

Seated: Giovanni Costanza

Villa Charities Foundation is very grateful

for the funds received from the Harold E. Ballard Foundation to transform Villa Colombo's 5th Floor Sunroom. The donation made it possible to make the sunroom so much more inviting and home-like that residents, family members, caregivers and staff now have a special place to spend time with their loved ones. The room has much more to offer, from watching TV to chatting by the fire, or just sitting and watching the aquarium. Everyone on the 5th floor is enjoying the renewed space. The grand opening was held on May 13.

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Italian Heritage Month at Columbus Centre

The Carrier Gallery will again be the hub of Italian Heritage Month celebrations in June.

Italian Heritage Month coincides with La Festa della Repubblica Italiana, the annual celebration of the Italian Republic’s birth. Also on the calendar, VITA Community Living Services celebrates with an afternoon of music and traditional Italian food at its Tycos Day Program, on June 6.

The signature event is Viva Vitalità, an annual showcase of Italian-Canadian and Italian artists. The exhibit, organized

by Marcello Tarantino, opened on June 5 with a reception featuring artist and Toronto Sun cartoonist Andy Donato.

June 12 is the date for Centro Scuola’s Concorso Letterario, an annual cultural festival bringing together hundreds of students from the International Languages Extended Day Program along with Italy’s Ambassador to Canada, Gian Lorenzo Cornado, and Consul General, Tullio Guma.

Exhibiting artists include Italians Pietro Annigoni, Guido Borgianni, Alessandro Licciardello, Rodolfo Marma, Renato Sartoretto and Mauro Stampatori, and Canadian-Italians Nick Biagini, Carmine Groe, Marie Jeanne Leccisi, Silvio Mastrodascio, Marcello Tarantino, Gregory Varano and Donato. Viva Vitalità runs to the end of June.

Many other Italian-themed events are part of Villa Charities’ ongoing programs including the Giro cycling event (June 1), based on the Giro d’Italia, Ristorante Boccaccio’s Umbria Theme Dinner (June 13), and the anniversary of the Italian Canadian Internment Memorial unveiling (June 26).

Louanne Aspillaga

Music Students Learn the Beat from a Gifted Drummer An encounter years ago with the drummer for Chick Corea and Chaka Khan taught musician Stefan Bildy to expand his artistic potential. Now Bildy is sharing his skills at the Columbus Centre School of Music, where he teaches drums, guitar and music theory.

Many of Bildy’s students have made amazing progress in a short time, much as he did as a student at Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music, whose alumni have chocked up more than 200 Grammies.

Musician Judah Dadone calls Bildy “one the most technically gifted drummers I've ever encountered. I don't think you're likely to find anyone as skilled or passionate about drumming, and about communicating musical ideas.”

This summer, in addition to teaching private lessons, Bildy will lead the new Rock Band Camp. It’s a unique opportunity for 10-14-year-olds to learn how to play and perform in a band, from a pro who has played more than 500 shows in New York, L.A. and beyond.

For more information, call 416-789-7011 x250 or email cultural@villacharities.com.

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Columbus Centre’s Rachel Liang Honoured for Saving a Life 17-year-old lying motionless in the

Liang’s first big reward for her life-saving deed was an emotional thanks from the young man and his family.

More recently, the Toronto Police honoured her with a Community Member Award.

Liang quickly pulled the teenager out of the water and, detecting no pulse, began CPR. Athletics Club Assistant Manager Kosta Tzigas rushed to her aid while Athletics Director Jan Sebek called 911.

The constant vigilance and annual CPR training by

When Aquatics Coordinator Rachel Liang noticed a Columbus Centre pool last June, she jumped

into action.

The fast, coordinated response and expert training paid off: very soon the teen started breathing again and later regained full health.

UPCOMING EVENTS June 5 – June 30: Carrier Gallery, Columbus Centre Viva Vitalità: Showcase of Italian-Canadian & Italian Artists Opening reception June 5, 6:30-9:30pm For information: 416-789-7011 ext. 300 June 12 (11 a.m.): Concorso Letterario Columbus Centre Gardens For information: 416-789-4970 June 13: Umbria Theme Dinner Ristorante Boccaccio For reservations/information: 416-789-5555 June 24: Villa Charities Golf Classic (sold out) July 3 – Aug. 25: Carrier Gallery Watercolours by Carolyne Pascoe Oil and Acrylics by Steve Wilson Abstracts by Hye Soo Kim For information: 416-789-7011 ext. 300

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Athletics Club staff have saved two other lives. In 2008, Tzigas, along with Wendy Wright and Gabriella Lalli, revived an elderly man whose heart had stopped.

Earlier this year, Tzigas and others saved another man after he had a heart attack.

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Celebrating the Life of Vincenza DiNino, Villa Colombo’s “Volontaria Eccezzionale”

Vincenza DiNino’s son, the Hon. Consiglio DiNino, and his children Karen and Frank, next to the plaque honouring her.

In life, Vincenza DiNino was an inspiration to other volunteers at Villa Colombo. Now with a plaque dedicating Villa Colombo’s Volunteer Services Office in her name, DiNino’s inspiration will continue long into the future.

The plaque was unveiled on March 15, the first anniversary of DiNino’s death, when family, friends and fellow volunteers celebrated her life and held a memorial mass.

DiNino was a dedicated volunteer at Villa Colombo for more than 35 years, visiting sick residents, cooking for them, baking and crocheting for fundraisers, and organizing special dinners for adults with intellectual disabilities at VITA. The plaque, installed by DiNino’s son, past Villa Charities Chair, the Hon. Consiglio DiNino, and his family, carries the following inscription: “The office is dedicated to the memory of Vincenza DiNino (1916-2013) Volontaria Eccezzionale.” The extra “z” is for exceptional emphasis.

VITA Advances Support for the Intellectually Disabled VITA Community Living Services is again at the forefront of advancing support for people with intellectual disabilities.

VITA recently played a key role in a project to help frontline staff better manage the often complex behaviours of intellectually disabled people and build stronger rapport with them.

The project, led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), has already delivered benefits to VITA residents, who responded with more positive behaviour.

It will now be rolled out to other agencies.

Behaviour Therapist Jessica Capra and Program Supervisor Ansford Pearson participated in the project for VITA, earning qualification to deliver training to other staff members. Both saw how the training delivered practical results, increased staff self-confidence and gained positive feedback.

“VITA played a pivotal role in the program’s success,” said CAMH’s Louis Busch.

“Jessica and Ansford served as role models of how training could be implemented within practical resource constraints, very busy environments, and in supporting very complex members.”

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“ Mèrica, Mèrica ” The Italian journey in Brazil L’epopea italiana in Brasile

By Gabriel Riel-Salvatore hat if Windsor, Hamilton and Ottawa, Ontario, and Sherbrooke, Drummondville and Quebec City, Quebec, had been founded by Italians in the 19th century, and that these cities had been christened with evocative names like Garibaldi, New Venice or New Milan instead of their current appellations? And, what if descendants of those pioneers still spoke their own pidgin mixture of English and Italian, or French and Italian, and that their language was officially recognized by the state even today? Like their British and French counterparts, Italian settlers would naturally have sought to tame their environment, converting wild forest into pastoral countryside and populating the territory with large families and myriad small communities. Within a generation, the heights of the industrial revolution would then have coincided with the dispersal of Italians – now more than a third of the population of Toronto and Montreal – across all sectors of the economy and throughout the social pyramid. If such a story sounds farfetched, consider that this is exactly what happened in Brazil over 50 years in the wake of one of the largest waves of migration in world history.

W

maginate se Windsor, Hamilton e Ottawa, in Ontario, Sherbrooke, Drummondville e Quebec City, in Quebec, fossero state fondate da Italiani nel XIX secolo e queste città fossero state battezzate con nomi evocativi quali Garibaldi, Nuova Venezia o Nuova Milano invece che con i loro nomi attuali? I discendenti di quei pionieri parlerebbero ancora il loro pidgin, un misto tra inglese e italiano, o francese e italiano, e questa lingua sarebbe oggi ufficialmente riconosciuta dal governo? Come i loro omologhi britannici e francesi, i coloni italiani avrebbero naturalmente cercato di soggiogare il territorio, trasformando foreste selvagge in campagna e pascoli, e popolando il territorio con famiglie numerose e miriadi di piccole comunità.

Nell’arco di una generazione, il culmine della rivoluzione industriale coincise con la dispersione di Italiani – oggi più di un terzo della popolazione di Toronto e Montreal – in tutti i settori dell’economia e in tutti i gradini della piramide sociale. Se una storia del genere sembra inverosimile, sappiate che è esattamente ciò che è accaduto in Brasile nel giro di 50 anni come conseguenza di una delle più grandi ondate migratorie della storia mondiale.

The development of the colony A quintessential land of immigrants, Brazil is often viewed as a unique laboratory for racial and cultural diversity. Yet, despite being touted as one of the world’s most mixed-race countries, nearly half of its population is actually of white European stock. The Portuguese who first colonized the country in the 16th century were followed in the two subsequent centuries by a heavy influx of African slaves. This initially helped swell the size of the colony, which quickly sprawled to cover a continent-sized landmass. The transplanted Africans, who were mostly confined to plantations, were preferred to the natives. The latter were judged too frail and too few, their populations having suffered dramatic declines ever since the Portuguese conquest. Estimates show that over the nearly 100 years of the transatlantic slave trade, 2.1 million black Africans were uprooted to Brazil until the practice was abolished in 1855. Slavery, however, persisted in the country until 1888,

Lo sviluppo della colonia Terra di immigrati per antonomasia, il Brasile è spesso visto quale singolare laboratorio di diversità razziale e culturale. Tuttavia, pur essendo stato promosso come uno dei paesi al mondo con il maggior numero di razze miste, quasi la metà della popolazione è di fatto di stirpe europea bianca. I Portoghesi che colonizzarono per primi il paese nel XVI secolo furono seguiti nei due secoli successivi da un massiccio afflusso di schiavi africani. In un primo momento ciò contribuì ad aumentare le dimensioni della colonia, la quale rapidamente si estese fino a coprire il territorio di un intero continente.

Gli Africani trapiantati, i quali erano prevalentemente relegati nelle piantagioni, venivano preferiti ai nativi. Questi ultimi erano considerati troppo fragili e troppo pochi, avendo la loro popolazione subito una drammatica decimazione a partire dalla conquista portoghese. Stime mostrano che durante i circa cento anni della tratta atlantica di schiavi, 2.1 milioni di

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year of its final abolition. Exploited in many of the southern regions’ “fazendas” (farms), Africans soon became replaced by groups of individuals who became known as “escravos brancos” (white slaves in Portuguese).

Whitening the race Deprived of their main source of labor and confronted with the perceived dangers of a newly enfranchised black population, large landowners pressed Brazilian authorities to promote a massive influx of new, cheap labor made up of white Europeans, who would help to ‘whiten’ the colony. Europeans, especially good Catholics, were heavily solicited and much preferred to Chinese immigrants. In the space of a few decades, this immigration policy, which clearly reflected the eugenic mindset of the country’s elites at the time, would lead to a massive increase in immigrants from the Old Continent. The southern Brazilian states, located between Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay, added nearly 2.3 million people between 1880 and 1909, including 1,188,883 Italians, hoping to find Eldorado in ‘la Mèrica.’ They were followed in significant numbers by a variety of German, Spanish, Belgian, British, French, Swedish and Austrian contingents. After three centuries of colonialism and triangular trade, this new policy would radically transform the demographic evolution of Brazil once again.

Africani neri furono deportati in Brasile, finché questa pratica venne abolita nel 1855. La schiavitù, tuttavia, continuò ad esistere nel paese fino al 1888, anno della sua sua abolizione definitiva. Sfruttati in molte “fazendas” (fattorie) delle regioni meridionali, gli Africani furono presto rimpiazzati da gruppi di individui noti come “escravos brancos” (schiavi bianchi in portoghese).

Schiarire la razza Privati della loro forza lavoro principale e percependo come pericolo la neo riconosciuta popolazione nera, i grandi proprietari terrieri fecero pressione sulle autorità brasiliane affinché promuovessero un afflusso massiccio di manodopera nuova e a basso costo costituita da Europei, i quali avrebbero aiutato a “sbiancare” la colonia. Gli Europei, in particolar modo bravi cattolici, erano molto richiesti e di gran lunga preferiti agli immigrati cinesi.

Nell’arco di due decenni, questa politica migratoria, che chiaramente rifletteva l’ordine mentale eugenico dell’élite dell’epoca, avrebbe portato a un aumento massiccio di emigranti dal Vecchio Continente. Agli stati meridionali del Brasile, situati tra Paraguay, Argentina e Uruguay, si aggiunsero circa 2.3 milioni di persone tra il 1880 e il 1909, inclusi 1.188.883 Italiani, speranzosi di trovare l’Eldorado in ‘la Mèrica.’ Furono seguiti da un numero sostanzioso di Tedeschi, Spagnoli, Belgi, Britannici, Francesi, Svedesi e Austriaci. Dopo tre secoli di colonialismo e commercio triangolare, questa nuova politica avrebbe radicalmente trasformato, ancora una volta, lo sviluppo demografico del Brasile.

The crisis and the exodus The political crisis in Italy in the 19th century eventually lead to the unification of the country in 1861. But the economic crisis that followed plunged many families into abject misery. The situation was particularly grave in the north, where the ever-increasing modernization of agricultural techniques exacerbatLa crisi e l’esodo ed a severe jobs shortage. Initially, the south was left relatively immune to this La crisi politica del XIX secolo in Italia portò il paese all’unificazione del industrial transition, which explains why so many Italian migrants to Brazil 1861. Ma la crisi economica che seguì riversò molte famiglie in un’abietta came from northern regions during this period. For many Venetian, Lombard miseria. La situazione fu particolarmente grave al nord, dove la crescente or Trentino “braccianti” (farmers), leaving the motherland for opportunities modernizzazione delle tecniche agricole aggravava la già pesante mancanza abroad seemed the easiest way to escape the hell of unemployment and the best di lavoro. In un primo momento, il sud rimase relativamente immune al camhope for a better life. From 1875 on, after initially trying to relocate elsewhere biamento industriale, cosa che spiega il perché, durante questo periodo, così in Europe, they increasingly set their sights on the American continent, espetanti immigrati in Brasile giungessero dalle regioni settentrionali. Per molti cially Argentina and Brazil. braccianti veneziani, lombardi o trentini, lasciare la madrepatria alla ricerca The height of the economic calamity in 1888 coincided with the peak of di opportunità all’estero rappresentava Il modo migliore per fuggire dall’inthe exodus. In just three years, the Veneto region lost nearly 15 percent of its ferno della disoccupazione e la speranza per una vita migliore. Dal 1875 in population. In the meantime, the empire of Brazil, which became a republic in poi, dopo aver cercato inizialmente di trasferirsi da qualche parte in Europa, 1889, continued to welcome settlers from abroad. Weak from famine, whole families would converge on Genoa, Naples and Trieste, 1,578,220 Italians emigrated to hoping to sail to the New World aboard overcrowded ships dubbed “i nacelli della morte” Brazil between 1880 and 1969 RORAIMA AMAPA (ships of death). Travel conditions were dismal and promiscuity led to outbreaks of life-threatening diseases. After thirty days in the most wretched conditions, the euphoria immigrants felt upon arriving at Port Santos, Brazil’s gateAMAZONAS way for newcomers, was typically tempered by PARA CEARA RIO GRANDE MARANHAO DO NORTE new opportunities for humiliation at the hands of customs and immigration officials. Italian PARAIBA immigrants would then be divided into two PIAUI PERNAMBUCO ACRE distinct groups and sent by train to either the ALAGOAS south or southeast.

TOCANTINS RONDONIA

Italian pioneers 70% of Italian immigrants preferred to settle in the state of Sao Paulo, having been attracted by the ‘green gold’ of the coffee fields.

However, conditions on the plantations were harsh and often unbearable. The “colonos” were forced to work at a grueling pace and many “feitores” (owners) continued to treat their employees as virtual slaves. Newer immigrants organized in defence of their rights, while others, more bitter, either returned home, migrated to major urban centers, or fled to Argentina or the United States as soon as the opportunity arose.

The remainder of the Italian contingent flooded into the highland states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Caterina and Paranà, lured by promises of land grants, which were being offered by the government at the time. They

SERGIPE

BAHIA

MATO GROSSO Brasilia

DISTRITO FEDERAL GOIAS MINAS GERAIS MATO GROSSO DO SUL

ESPIRITO SANTO

SAO PAULO

RIO DE JANEIRO Rio De Janeiro

PARANA

Sao Paulo Curitiba

SANTA CATARINA Florianopolis

RIO GRANDE DO SUL Porto Alegre

States Main areas of Italian settlement State Capital National Capital

Source: Lesser, Jeffrey (1999): Negotiating National Identity. Immigrants, Minorities, and the Struggle for Ethnicity in Brazil. Duke University Press.

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established themselves with their families and colonized the country’s south.

Like their counterparts in the state of Sao Paolo, they were also taken aback by how different this new environment was from the bucolic life to which they had been accustomed. The presence of dark-skinned people, which most Italians had only ever heard of, merely added to a long list of perceived threats, including hostile wildlife lurking in impenetrable forests, tropical diseases and overwhelming heat, not to mention the last remaining “indios”, the region’s indigenous population. But, perhaps the most troubling part of life for the new settlers, was the sense of isolation and the lack of amenities to support any sort of social organization. Though their agrarian existence may have felt sterile and exhausting, the settlers’ efforts were nevertheless rewarded with strong yields thanks to fertile and productive lands. Over time, Italian immigrants’ communities organized and thrived around a common heritage, gradually recreating environments reminiscent of their native villages in Italy. So successful were they at retaining their traditions that many have survived to this day, in some cases having even been enshrined in a range of social institutions

and economic activities. For instance, Southern Brazil is particularly recognized for its wine production, a profitable legacy which has grown into a major industry within the region. Moreover, Italian rural communities in Southern Brazil are known to maintain strong ties with their motherland, with many descendants even speaking ‘Talian’, a hybrid-language made up of Portuguese, Italian and various Venetian dialects.

Between dream and reality For many Italian immigrants, the dream of “Merica” was not as rosy as they had been led to believe in the promotional posters produced by immigration agencies. Ill-prepared to face the magnitude of the migration, Brazilian authorities struggled to accommodate the surge in migrants and its consequences.

Even though the Italian migration to Brazil was oversold and, regrettably, the basis for many abuses, the exodus was likely inevitable given the unprecedented economic crisis in Italy. Still, numerous complaints to Italian authorities would finally end this first wave of Italian migration onto Brazilian soil. In 1902, the Italian government passed the Prinetti law, prohibiting subsidized immigration to Brazil. As a result, the number of Italian immigrants to Brazil fell drastically, with migrants increasingly preferring the United States and Argentina, until a second wave of Italians (this time mostly from the south) set its sights on Brazil once again after WW2. The development of Italian colonies would ultimately help determine the future of the Brazilian state, which is today, according to the Ministero degli Esteri Italiano, made up of 25 to 30 million people of Italian descent within a total population of 186 million.

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volsero sempre più lo sguardo verso il continente americano, in particolar modo Argentina e Brasile.

Il culmine della crisi economica del 1888 coincise con il picco dell’esodo. In appena tre anni, la regione veneta perdette circa il 15% della popolazione. Nel frattempo, l’impero del Brasile, che divenne una repubblica nel 1889, continuò ad accogliere nuovi emigrati dall’estero. Indebolite dalla fame, intere famiglie si ritrovarono a Genova, Napoli e Trieste nella speranza di salpare per il Nuovo Mondo a bordo di affollatissime navi soprannominate: “i vascelli della morte” (navi della morte). Le condizioni di viaggio erano disumane e la promiscuità portò all’epidemia di malattie mortali. Dopo trenta giorni nelle peggiori condizioni, l’euforia che gli emigrati provavano all’arrivo a Porto Santos, ingresso in Brasile per i nuovi arrivati, era di solito stemperata da nuove occasioni di umiliazione nelle mani degli ufficiali per l’emigrazione della dogana. Gli immigrati italiani venivano dunque divisi in due gruppi distinti e mandati in treno a sud o sud-est.

I pionieri italiani Il 70% degli immigrati italiani preferì trasferirsi nello stato di San Paolo, attirato dall’ “oro verde” dei campi di caffè. Tuttavia, le condizioni nelle piantagioni erano dure e spesso insopportabili. I “colonos” erano costretti a lavorare a un ritmo crudele e molti “feitores” (capi) continuavano a trattare i loro dipendenti in sostanza come schiavi. Nuovi immigrati si organizzarono in difesa dei propri diritti, mentre altri, più amareggiati, ritornarono a casa, migrarono in centri urbani più grandi, o fuggirono in Argentina o Stati Uniti non appena se ne presentò l’occasione.

Il resto della rappresentanza italiana si riversò negli stati montuosi di Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Caterina e Paranà, attratti dalla promessa di concessioni terriere che il governo offriva all’epoca. Si stabilirono con le loro famiglie e colonizzarono il sud del paese. Come i loro corrispettivi nello stato di San Paolo, anch’essi rimasero sbalorditi da quanto il nuovo territorio fosse diverso dall’ambiente bucolico al quale erano stati abituati. La presenza di persone dalla pelle scura, delle quali molti Italiani avevano solo sentito parlare, si unì praticamente a una lunga lista di minacce percepite, incluse una fauna ostile, foreste impenetrabili, malattie tropicali e caldo insopportabile, per non parlare degli ultimi “indios”, la popolazione indigena di quella regione. Ma, la parte più controversa della vita dei nuovi abitanti era probabilmente data dal senso d’isolamento e la mancanza di strutture che facilitassero qualsiasi tipo di organizzazione sociale. Sebbene le loro vite contadine potessero apparire sterili ed estenuanti, gli sforzi dei coloni furono tuttavia premiati con ricchi raccolti grazie alla terra fertile e produttiva. Con il tempo, le comunità di immigrati italiani si organizzarono e svilupparono attorno un’eredità comune, riproducendo gradualmente ambienti che rievocavano i loro paesi natii in Italia. Furono talmente all’altezza di preservare le proprie tradizioni che molte di esse sono sopravvissute fino ai giorni nostri, in alcuni casi addirittura onorate all’interno di istituzioni sociali o attività economiche. Per esempio, il Brasile meridionale è particolarmente apprezzato per la sua produzione vinicola, un’eredità proficua che si è sviluppata in in’industria considerevole all’interno della regione. Inoltre, le comunità rurali nel sud del Brasile sono rinomate per aver mantenuto legami molto forti con la madrepatria, con molti discendenti che parlano addirittura “talian”, una lingua ibrida tra portoghese, italiano e vari dialetti veneti.

Tra sogno e realtà Per molti immigrati italiani, il sogno della “Mèrica” non fu così roseo come gli fecero credere le immagini promozionali prodotte dalle agenzie per l’emigrazione. Mal preparate ad affrontare la portata dell’immigrazione, le autorità brasiliane ebbero difficoltà a gestire l’ondata migratoria e le sue conseguenze. Anche se l’emigrazione verso il Brasile fu promossa in maniera esagerata e, purtroppo, fu all’origine di molti abusi, l’esodo divenne praticamente inevitabile considerata la crisi economica in Italia senza precedenti.

Eppure, numerose proteste pervenute alle autorità italiane misero fine alla prima ondata migratoria in territorio brasiliano. Nel 1902, il governo approvò la legge Prinetti la quale proibiva sussidi per l’emigrazione in Brasile.

Di conseguenza, il numero di immigrati italiani in Brasile diminuì drasticamente, con emigranti che preferivano sempre più gli Stati Uniti e l’Argentina; finché una seconda ondata di Italiani (questa volta prevalentemente dal sud) non volse lo sguardo ancora una volta al Brasile dopo la seconda Guerra mondiale. Lo sviluppo degli insediamenti italiani avrebbe in sostanza influito sul futuro del Brasile il quale è oggi, secondo il Ministero degli Esteri Italiano, costituito da 25 a 30 milioni di persone di origine italiana su una popolazione totale di 186 milioni. (Traduzione Claudia Prestigiacomo)

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Samba italiana

The historical journey of Italians in Sao Paulo Il viaggio nella storia degli italiani a San Paolo

By Gabriel Riel-Salvatore enowned for its prestigious museums, great restaurants and its forest of skyscrapers, Sao Paulo, the economic heart of Brazil, is one of the largest cities in the world. With no less than 20 million inhabitants, this Brazilian megalopolis is home to a multitude of cultural communities that all contributed in their own way to its tremendous growth. Like many major cities in southern Brazil, such as Porto Alegre, Curitiba and Belo Horizonte, the impact of Italian immigration was such that many thought of Sao Paulo as an almost “Italian” city in the early 20th century. Given this, one wonders what legacy these millions of Italian-Brazilian “colonos” left behind and what has become of their descendants today?

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inomata per i suoi prestigiosi musei, ottimi ristoranti e la sua giungla di grattacieli, San Paolo, cuore economico del Brasile, è una delle città più grandi al mondo. Con non meno di 20 milioni di abitanti, questa megalopoli brasiliana ospita una moltitudine di comunità culturali le quali hanno tutte contribuito al suo fenomenale sviluppo. Come per molte città del Brasile meridionale, quali ad esempio Porto Alegre, Curitiba e Belo Horizonte, l’impatto dell’emigrazione italiana è stato tale che all’inizio del ventesimo secolo molti la consideravano San Paolo quasi “italiana”.

Fatte queste premesse, ci si chiede quale eredità abbiano lasciato quei milioni di “colonos” italo-brasiliani e che cosa ne sia oggi dei loro discendenti.

An overview of the Italian Diaspora in Brazil Today, the number of people with Italian origins in Brazil is estimated at 25 to 30 million, nearly 16 percent of the total population. Among them, 5 to 7 million live in the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo, making the Brazilian metropolis the third largest “Italian city” in the world after Rome and Milan.

Not too surprisingly, after five generations on Brazilian soil, few “Oriundi” (descendants of Italian immigrants) have retained anything but their Italian names. And yet with nearly 4 million people still embracing their Italian origins, the community can be said to be doing quite well, all things considered.

Panoramica dell’epopea italiana in Brasile Al momento attuale, si stima che il numero di persone di origine italiana in Brasile sia compreso tra i 25 e i 30 milioni, circa il 16 per cento della popolazione totale.

Tra questi, dai 5 ai 7 milioni vivono nell’area urbana di San Paolo, rendendo la metropoli brasiliana la terza “città italiana” al mondo dopo Roma e Milano.

Senza troppa sorpresa, dopo cinque generazioni in terra brasiliana, solo pochi “Oriundi” (discendenti di immigrati italiani) hanno mantenuto qualche traccia al di là dei nomi italiani. E tuttavia, con quasi 4 milioni di individui che ancor oggi mantengono vive le proprie origini italiane, si può affermare che la comunità sta facendo un buon lavoro, fatte tutte le considerazioni del caso.

Migration to cities Though Sao Paulo eventually became the largest city in South America, it began as a humble trading post before leaping into modernity from the early 19th century onwards and overshadowing its neighboring rivals in size and importance.

The more than one million Italians who initially settled in the state of Sao Paulo between 1880 and 1914 were crucial to the city’s development.

La migrazione verso le città Pur diventando alla fine la più grande città del sud America, San Paolo ha esordito come semplice stazione di posta, prima di fare un balzo nella modernità a partire dall’inizio del XIX secolo e superare, per grandezza e importanza, le vicine rivali. Gli oltre un milione di italiani trasferitisi all’inizio nello stato di San Paolo tra il 1880 e il 1914 furono fondamentali per lo sviluppo della città.

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ITALIAN BRAZIL By the turn of the 20th century, the harsh working conditions in the countryside and on coffee plantations where Italian braccianti (farmers) had been encouraged to settle in the 1880s were inducing tens of thousands of them to migrate into bigger cities. By 1916, the 187 540 Italians living in Sao Paulo represented over a third of its population. Operating in all sectors of the economy, from simple shoe shiners to successful entrepreneurs, they gradually made their mark on their adopted country.

The industrialization of Brazil At the height of the Roaring Twenties, in the wake of the industrial boom which took over the city, a few Italian investors accumulated colossal fortunes. Like the Rockefellers and Carnegies of New York, the Martinelli and Matarazzo families became some of the richest in the city and the country.

Giuseppe Martinelli inaugurated the city’s first skyscraper in 1929. Ten years later, Indústrias Reunidas Francisco Matarazzo (a huge conglomerate) asked Marcello Piacentini, Mussolini’s official architect, to build its prestigious headquarters in a Fascist architectural style. Today, that same building houses Sao Paulo’s City Hall.

Of course, not all Italian immigrants made it rich, and today Brazil maintains the dubious distinction of being one of the world’s most unequal countries. In 1901, 90% of workers and 80% of construction workers in Sao Paulo were Italian. These proletarians settled by the thousands in the city’s central areas, founding neighborhoods like Bela Vista (Bixiga), Bras and Mooca (the latter being mainly composed of Neapolitan immigrants). Living in “cortiços” (row homes that line narrow avenues) in the shadow of factories, they worked tirelessly to improve their living conditions.

Italian influence Several “Little Italy” neighborhoods emerged and thrived, gradually colouring the local culture. Cooking habits changed too, with wheat flour quickly supplanting traditional cassava and maize. Pasta soon integrated the local diet, and “pastificios” and traditional trattorias appeared everywhere.

Opened in 1917, the Carillo bakery in the Mooca neighborhood is still in business today, four generations later. Even the national language was influenced by Italian. Indeed, Paulistanos came to integrate several Neapolitan and Venetian intonations and expressions into their Portuguese dialect. Now virtually disappeared, except for a few areas, this accent remains nevertheless forever immortalized in the songs of Adoniran Barbosa, a famous samba singer and son of Italian immigrants. In addition, the use of the word “tchau” (ciao) is widespread in the region.

The influence of the community was also manifest in social struggles, sports and religion. Italian elites and intellectuals were keen to make their voices heard, publishing the nearly 150 different Italian newspapers in the early 1920s, famous among them Il Piccolo and Fanfulla. In 1914, the Palestra Italia soccer club – to become in its latter incarnation a giant of Brazilian professional sports – was founded in Mooca. Today the club boasts 17 million fans, including many Brazilians of Italian descent. Also common are Italian-inspired religious festivals, such as the popular San Vito and Our Lady Archiropita, which each continue to attract more than 250,000 visitors and hundreds of volunteers yearly.

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All’inizio del XX secolo, le dure condizioni di lavoro in campagna e nelle piantagioni di caffè, dove molti braccianti italiani erano stati incoraggiati a trasferirsi durante il decennio del 1880, indussero centinaia di migliaia tra loro a migrare verso centri più grandi. Nel 1916, i 187.540 italiani residenti a San Paolo rappresentavano circa un terzo dell’intera popolazione. Lavorando in tutti i settori dell’economia, da semplici lustrascarpe a imprenditori di successo, gradualmente cominciarono a lasciare la propria impronta sul paese adottivo.

L’industrializzazione del Brasile All’apice degli Anni Ruggenti, sulla scia del boom industriale sopraggiunto in città, alcuni investitori italiani accumularono una fortuna colossale. Al pari dei Rockfeller e Canergie di New York, le famiglie Martinelli e Matarazzo divennero le più ricche della città e del paese. Giuseppe Martinelli inaugurò il primo grattacielo in città nel 1929. Dieci anni dopo, la Indústrias Reunidas Francisco Matarazzo (enorme conglomerato d’imprese) chiese a Marcello Piacentini, architetto ufficiale di Mussolini, di costruire il suo prestigioso quartier generale in stile fascista. Oggi, lo stesso edificio è sede del Municipio di San Paolo.

Ovviamente, non tutti gli immigrati italiani si sono arricchiti ed oggi il Brasile ha la fama discutibile di essere uno dei paesi più iniqui al mondo. Nel 1901, il 90% dei lavoratori e l’80% dei manovali edili a San Paolo erano italiani. Questo proletariato si trasferì nei pressi delle zone urbane centrali, dando vita a quartieri quali Bela Vista (Bixiga), Bras e Mooca (quest’ultima costituita prevalentemente da immigrati napoletani). Vivendo in “corticos” (edifici a schiera disposti lungo strade strette) all’ombra delle fabbriche, lavoravano instancabilmente per migliorare la qualità della propria vita.

L’influenza italiana Nacquero e fiorirono molte “Little Italy”, che graduamente colorirono la cultura locale. Cambiarono anche le abitudini culinarie, con la farina di grano al posto dei tradizionali mais e manioca. La pasta venne presto inserita nella dieta locale, mentre “pastificios” e trattorie tradizionali apparvero ovunque.

Aperta nel 1917, la panetteria Carillo nel quartiere di Mooca è in attività ancor oggi, dopo quattro generazioni. Anche la lingua nazionale ha subito l’influenza dell’italiano. Di conseguenza, i paulistanos hanno finito con l’inserire molte cadenze ed espressioni venete o campane nel proprio dialetto portoghese. Oggi praticamente scomparso, eccezion fatta per alcune zone, quest’accento rimane eppure immortalato per sempre nelle canzoni di Adoniran Barbosa, famoso cantante di samba e figlio di immigrati italiani.

In più, la parola “tchau” (ciao) è usata in tutta la regione.

L’influenza della comunità fu evidente anche nelle lotte sociali, negli sport e nella religione. Gli intellettuali e l’élite italiana si impegnarono nel tentativo di far udire la propria voce, pubblicando circa 150 differenti giornali italiani al principio degli anni Venti, tra i quali i famosi Il Piccolo e Fanfulla. Nel 1914, la squadra di calcio Palestra Italia – divenuta successivamente un colosso degli sport professionistici in Brasile – fu fondata a Mooca. Oggi il circolo vanta 17 milioni di tifosi, inclusi molti di origine italiana. Sono inoltre comuni le celebrazioni religiose d’ispirazione italiana, quali ad esempio quella popolare di San Vito e Nostra Signora Archiropita, che continuano ciascuno ancor oggi ad attirare oltre 250.000 visitatori e centinai di volontari all’anno.

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ITALIAN BRAZIL Assimilation In the 1920s, 80% of the population of Sao Paulo was made up of immigrants.

Germans, Japanese, Arabs, Russians, Spaniards and Italians all intermingled in this multi-racial city. The diversity was so great that some Brazilians worried about upsetting the cultural balance of their country.

Portuguese literacy policies coupled with laws barring immigrants from speaking their mother tongue were designed to accelerate the integration of newcomers. Many southern cities changed their names. Nova Trento and Nova Vincenza were renamed Flores da Cunha and Farroupilha respectively.

These policies even went so far as to impose a new name onto the Palestra Italia soccer club, renamed Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras since 1942. The overwhelming popularity of Italian immigrants rarely made them feel singled out, except during the Great Wars when xenophobic attacks on them were more common.

Though inward-looking at first, the Italian community in Sao Paulo, which was mainly composed of men, quickly began mingling with locals.

Intermarriage became common and accepted, except in rural communities, which were still subject to the dictates of the Italian patriarchal marriage model.

Integration and assimilation of Italians happened relatively quickly. In two generations, most of them already saw themselves as Brazilians.

At a time when the concept of dual citizenship did not yet exist, debates raged between Mussolini’s Italy and the Brazilian government regarding the status of children of Italian immigrants. Italy, which championed the principle of jus sanguinis (based on blood), requested that they be given Italian citizenship, but Brazil refused, favouring instead a jus soli (based on place of birth) principle of citizenship.

Throughout the period, the Brazilian government’s goal was to grant citizenship to the largest possible number of immigrants. To facilitate the naturalization process, all immigrants who owned property in Brazil, who married a Brazilian, or who arrived in Brazil after 1889 and did not explicitly express a desire to retain their original nationality within six months of arrival, were automatically awarded Brazilian citizenship. A constitutional amendment in 1994 eventually allowed for dual citizenship. Ever since this decree, more than half a million Italian-Brazilians have taken steps to acquire Italian citizenship.

Italian-Brazilians today While Brazil’s policies endeavored for decades to stifle any sense of Italian identity, the second post-war wave of Italian immigration gave new life to Italian culture and its local institutions, such as the Circolo italiano di San Paulo, founded in 1911. Since 1982, the primary and secondary school Eugenio Montale offers an Italian, Portuguese and English curriculum, which is simultaneously recognized by the Italian and Brazilian states. Still, for most fourth and fifth generation youths, Italian origin may mean little more than dining on the odd pizza at one of the many Italian-Brazilian restaurants still operating in Sao Paulo’s traditionally Italian neighborhoods.

And even there, you can bet everybody will be cheering for the team in yellow and green during this summer’s World Cup.

L’assimilazione Negli anni Venti, l’80% della popolazione di San Paolo era costituita da immigrati. Tedeschi, giapponesi, arabi, russi, spagnoli e italiani interagivano in questa città multirazziale. La diversità era tale che alcuni brasiliani temerono si alterasse l’equilibrio culturale del paese.

Furono elaborate politiche educative per il portoghese unitamente a leggi che facevano sì che gli immigrati si astenessero dal parlare la propria madrelingua per accelerare il processo d’integrazione dei nuovi arrivati. Molte città del sud cambiarono nome. Nova Trento e Nova Vicenza furono ribattezzate rispettivamente Flores da Cunha e Farroupilha. Queste ordinanze si spinsero talmente oltre da imporre un nuovo nome al Palestra Italia, chiamato Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras a partire dal 1942. La travolgente popolarità degli immigrati italiani difficilmente li rese emarginati, fatta eccezione per il periodo delle guerre mondiali, quando subirono attacchi di natura xenofoba.

Sebbene in un primo momento chiusa, la comunità italiana di San Paolo, composta prevalentemente da uomini, cominciò a socializzare rapidamente con i locali. I matrimoni misti divennero comuni ed accettati, con l’eccezione delle comunità rurali, ancora sottomesse ai dettami dei modelli patriarcali del matrimonio italiano.

L’integrazione e l’assimilazione degli italiani furono rapide. Nell’arco di due generazioni, la maggior parte si considerava brasiliana.

Al tempo in cui il concetto di doppia cittadinanza non esisteva, scoppiarono polemiche tra il governo italiano di Mussolini e quello brasiliano per quanto riguardava lo status dei figli degli immigrati italiani. L’Italia, sostenitrice del principio dello jus sanguinis (basato sulla consaguineità), chiedeva che venisse data loro la cittadinanza italiana, ma il Brasile si rifiutava, appoggiando invece lo jus soli (basato sul luogo di nascita) come principio per la cittadinanza.

Per tutto il periodo, l’obiettivo del governo brasiliano fu quello di garantire la cittadinanza al maggior numero di immigrati possibile. Per facilitare il processo di naturalizzazione, tutti gli immigrati in possesso di una proprietà in Brasile, sposati con un brasiliano o arrivati dopo il 1889, che non avessero fatto esplicita richiesta di mantenere la cittadinanza d’origine, diventavano automaticamente cittadini brasiliani nell’arco di sei mesi. Un emendamento costituzionale del 1994 infine concesse la doppia cittadinanza. A partire da questo decreto, più di mezzo milione di italo-brasiliani ha avviato la pratica per acquisire la cittadinanza italiana.

Gli italo-brasiliani oggi Mentre le linee politiche brasiliane avevano cercato per decenni di soffocare ogni accenno d’identità italiana, l’ondata migratoria del secondo dopo guerra portò nuovo vigore alla cultura italiana e le istituzioni locali, quali ad esempio il Circolo italiano di San Paolo fondato nel 1911. Dal 1982, la scuola primaria e secondaria Eugenio Montale offre un programma in italiano, portoghese e inglese, riconosciuto sia dallo stato italiano che da quello brasiliano. Tuttavia, per la maggior parte dei giovani di quarta o quinta generazione la discendenza italiana significa poco più che una cena a base di pizza in uno dei tanti ristoranti italo-brasiliani che operano nei quartieri tradizionalmente italiani di San Paolo. Ma anche in quel caso, potete scommetterci, ai Mondiali tutti tiferanno per i verdeoro.

(Traduzione Claudia Prestigiacomo)

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Alessandra Ambrosio

ITALIAN BRAZIL

Born in Brazil Notable personalities that reflect the Italian-Brazilian connection

By Rita Simonetta rom first impressions, Brazil and Italy are far removed from one another.

Not one but two oceans – the North Atlantic and South Atlantic – separate the two countries. But despite the outward differences, the two have merged together as one thanks to the influx of immigration from Italy to Brazil.

The end result is a country that has one of the largest Italian populations outside of Italy – and plenty of famous personalities with dual cultural identities. Here is a look at some of the most noteworthy:

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Anita Garibaldi - Revolutionary Napoleon and Joséphine, Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd. For every legendary man throughout history, there is an equally formidable woman. In the case of Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi, the hero of Italian unification, there is Anita Garibaldi. Their union would serve as a perfect example of the long ties between Brazilians and Italians. Anita Ana Maria de Jesus Ribeiro was

born in 1821 to a hardworking but poor family in Brazil. But her life turned to one of revolutionary romance and adventure when she met Giuseppe Garibaldi, who had escaped to Brazil after a failed insurrection to unite Italy. The couple fell in love, married and had four children. Anita’s strength and support was crucial to her husband’s honoured place in history. She taught Giuseppe to ride horses, a skill that proved necessary for a rebel leader of the 19th century. And it was thanks to Anita that Giuseppe learned about the gauchos who roamed the plains of southern Brazil (South America’s answer to cowboys). Garibaldi would later adopt their ponchos, sombreros and red shirts as part of his rebel gear.

After all the battles she had fought, it was illness that would take the life of Anita Garibaldi. But her dream and that of her husband would finally come true in 1861 when Italy became unified under the leadership of a monarchy. Legend has it that Giuseppe celebrated the victory by riding his horse to hail the new king, wearing Anita’s scarf over his poncho.

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ITALIAN BRAZIL Italian roots – his grandfather was born in Italy - would also come into play on the racetrack. The Formula 1 driver has enjoyed a long loyalty to Ferrari, Italy’s fast and fabulous brand, which he joined in 2003. The partnership lasted until 2013 with the two going their separate ways.

Massa, who has the Italian F Formula Renault (2000) and the Euro F3000 series (2001) titles under his belt, hopes to reinvigorate himself by partnering with Williams.

Alessandra Ambrosio - Top model If your boyfriend’s favourite show of the year is the annual Victoria Secret’s fashion extravaganza, then you and he are no doubt familiar with leggy supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio.

Ambrosio’s striking features are courtesy of her multicultural lineage: her mother is Polish, her father is Italian and she was born and raised in Brazil. As one of the best-known models in the world, Ambrosio is consistently listed as one of the most desirable women in the world. Beyond her work on the catwalk, Ambrosio is a mother of two and the National Ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Adoniran Barbosa - Samba singer / composer Adoniran Barbosa was actually born João Rubinato, but he changed his name in the hopes that his adopted name had more

Luiz Felipe Scolari

Rooted in Italy Luiz Felipe Scolari - Soccer coach He is known affectionately as Felipão in Brazil and Big Phil to the Englishspeaking world. Luiz Felipe Scolari is the manager and head coach of Brazil’s national soccer team, and in a country where soccer has attained mythological status, Scolari’s job is high pressure to say the least. That pressure is increasing with the upcoming World Cup this summer. If the final match for the beloved trophy pits Brazil against the Azzurri, it could very well be a full circle effect for Brazilian-born Scolari whose ancestors hail from Veneto, Italy. Although his claim to fame is leading Brazil to a World Cup win in 2002, things went mostly downhill from there as he moved on to coach Portugal with moderate success.

His decision to take the reigns of Premier League team Chelsea proved to be a forgettable disaster. But his luck changed in November 2012 when he was again asked to head Brazil’s national team. So far, his steady eye and leadership are working out in Brazil’s favour. And if Brazil attains its sixth World Cup victory this summer, Big Phil will simply be known as a hero.

Felipe Massa - F1 driver Felipe Massa has made a comfortable living doing what most young boys the world over dream of doing when they grow up. As Massa himself has confirmed, his love for fast cars began when as a seventeen-year-old, his pizza delivery job required him to deliver pizzas to the Brazilian Grand Prix. He knew right there and then that the racetrack would be his new home. And Massa’s

dramatic flair. Regardless of his name change, Barbosa never shied away from his Italian roots. Both of the Brazilian-born composer’s parents were Italian, and Barbosa used this cultural heritage as inspiration for one of his most famous songs, “Samba Italiano.” The song, created in 1965, was a tribute to the mixture of Italian and Portuguese dialects Barbosa heard while growing up in the poor quarters of Bixiga, a predominantly Italian neighbourhood of Sao Paulo. His work is highly regarded for using wit and honesty to capture the struggles of Brazil’s workingclass. Popular song: Trem das Onze, Bom dia Tristeza.

Lina Bo Bardi - Architect Building structures that people will love is at the core of the architectural designs of Lina Bo Bardi. Hailed as a modernist with passion, the architect used simple forms to create, relying not only on concrete and glass but also mud and straw, two elements that were commonplace in some of the poorer areas in Brazil.

Bo Bardi, who was born in Italy in 1914 and immigrated to Brazil in 1946, is perhaps best known for her creation of SESC Pompéia. The Sao Paulo building, which houses cultural and sports facilities, caused controversy upon its completion in 1982. While some criticized it as an eye sore, its concrete towers, aerial walkways and channels of rainwater have now become a central meeting point for the city.

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Italian Cuisine with a Brazilian Twist Interview with chef Guga Rocha razil has a love affair with Italian food, according to Sao Paulo chef and food writer Guga Rocha. Winner of Brazil’s Super Chef TV competition and host of the show Homens na cozinha (Men in the kitchen), Rocha spoke to Panoram Italia about the influence and integration of Italian cuisine in Brazil.

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PI: How popular is Italian food in Sao Paulo and in Brazil in general?

GR: Italian cuisine is very popular in all of Brazil, but especially in the South and Southeast because of the influence of the Italian immigrants who settled in these regions.

PI: Has Italian food become an integral part of Brazilians’ daily eating habits?

GR: Of course! I would say that Italian cuisine is the definition of comfort food for many Brazilians, and actually, for about just anyone on earth!

PI: What are the typical Italian dishes people eat most?

GR: Brazilians commonly eat pasta, so spaghetti, lasagna, pizza and risotto are now part of the Brazilian culture and of the eating habits of our people.

PI: Besides the fact that there are many Italian immigrants, why does Italian cuisine appeal to Brazilians?

GR: I think it is for the healthy, colourful and nutritive qualities, and also for

the emotional appeal that the “cucina della mamma” brings to the popular imagination.

PI: What typical local ingredients have been infused into traditional Italian cuisine? Have the recipes been adapted or transformed over time ?

GR: Brazilians are very creative by nature and this also holds true in the kitchen. For example, the quantity of different pizza toppings that were created in Brazil is impressive. Some purists may think it’s absurd to top a pizza with anything other than mozzarella or maybe tomatoes and basil leaves, but I personally enjoy a shrimp and catupiry pizza (catupiry is a creamy white cheese typical of Brazil), spaghetti with shellfish, gnocchi of arracacha (a type of root vegetable – also known as white carrot – that hails from Brazil) with a sauce of dried meat and cilantro pesto... It’s like a new world in the new world all over again.

PI: Is it true that Sao Paolo is the pizza capital of Brazil?

GR: No, Sao Paulo is the capital of pizza of the whole world! There is more pizza sold in Sao Paulo in one night than in three full days in Rome, with some 720 pizzas per minute and more than one million a day. But it is not just about quantity: the quality of the pizza is superb, and even the mayor of Naples apparently commented so on his last visit to the Brazilian metropolis.

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Rocha’s Top Italian Restaurants in Sao Paulo 1. Fasano Rua Vittorio Fasano, 88 São Paulo, SP, 01414-020 www.fasano.com.br “The most sophisticated Italian restaurant in the city with an extensive wine list and a menu inspired by the cuisine of Italian regions and executed brilliantly.”

2. Famiglia Mancini Rua Avanhandava, 81 Bela Vista, São Paulo, SP, 01306-000 www.famigliamancini.com.br “A classic, with top cuisine in a fun atmosphere, antique furniture and a wonderful seafood spaghetti.”

3. Zena café Rua Peixoto Gomide, 1901 Jardim Paulista, SP, 01409-003 www.zenacaffe.com.br “A lively restaurant where beautiful people meet over a perfect Spritz, to eat one of the best gnocchi in the city.

Actually, in my opinion, the best one there is.”

4. Terraço Itália Avenida Ipiranga, 344 República, São Paulo, SP, 01046-010 www.terracoitalia.com.br “Italian cuisine on top of the world since the restaurant sits of top of the Italia Building, one of the tallest skyscrapers of the old downtown, with possibly the most beautiful and scenic view the city has to offer.”

5. Cantina C... Que Sabe!

Rua Rui Barbosa, 192 Bela Vista, SP, 01326-010 www.cantinacquesabe.com.br “A cantina in operation since 1931, in the heart of the Bixiga district, the most traditional Italian neighbourhood of Sao Paulo. Simple, yet friendly family atmosphere with very generous portions.”

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Feijoada Calabresa

Eating Italian Style in Brazil

By Amanda Fulginiti uring the latter half of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century, millions of Italians left their home to make a different life for themselves in Brazil. Of course, they took all their cooking recipes with them because no food cures any sickness, even home sickness, like la cucina della nonna.

Brazil is now the third biggest pasta producer in the world. On average, Brazilians eat over 6kg of pasta per person a year. Not only did Italian immigrants

establish many vineyards in the Southeast region, but they even brought with them the tradition to celebrate Saint Days, like the Saint Vito Festival, not only to party but to use as an excuse to eat traditional food and reveal their culture on a grander scale. Today, if someone were to visit Brazil they would be surprised to see the number of Italian restaurants and the amount of Italian foods on the menus.

Here is a short list of some of the most popular items and ingredients inspired by the Italian culture that can be found when dining around Brazil.

Cappelletti alla romanesca A plate of meat-filled cappelletti sauced with a combination of chopped ham, peas and mushrooms in a cream sauce.

It was invented by Brazilian chef Giovanni Bruno in the 1950s when he was working at a famous restaurant in Bela Vista (Bixiga), São Paulo’s Little Italy of that time. Inspired by typical Italian foods, this dish is now a common menu item around Brazil.

Galeto al primo canto A dish common in the southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul. Galeto is Portuguese for a very young chicken where as “al primo canto” is Italian for “at first song.” Italian immigrants recreated a dish they used to make back home whereby they used small wild songbirds. The chicken is prepared by removing

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the backbone and sternum, and the bird is then flattened out and marinated over night. It is then charcoal or rotisserie grilled or pressed between two hot griddles to cook. Typically it is served with a tomato lettuce salad and a side of spaghetti with tomato sauce.

Frango com polenta Polenta has become a staple feature in southern Brazil thanks to Italian immigrants. It is often accompanied by a rustic chicken stew called frango.

Bife à parmegiana Somewhat of a crossbreed between lasagna and veal parmesan, this is one of Southern Brazil’s hardier dishes. Steaks are dredged in flour, beaten eggs and bread crumbs and fried in hot oil until golden brown. Tomato sauce is then spread on the bottom of an ovenproof dish and the steaks are placed over top, covered with additional sauce and parmigiana.

Catupiry cheese One of the creamiest and most popular cheeses to be had in Brazil. It was developed by the Italian immigrant Mario Silvestrini in the state of Minas Gerais in 1911. This is a mild tasting cheese that is spread over toasts, crackers, and breads, and is sometimes used for cooking.

Linguiça calabresa and linguiça toscana Linguiça is a form of smoked cured pork sausage seasoned with garlic and paprika. Linguiça Calabresa was created by Italian immigrants and uses Calabrese pepper, however, nowadays typically South American pepper is used, and is found commonly in pizzas as a spicy sausage. Whereas Toscana is its nonspicy counterpart and typically used in feijoada, a stew of beans and pork.

Chocotone A clever take on naming one of the most traditional Italian breads, panettone.

Using rich chocolate brioche bread, it is baked in a high round dome and drizzled with a chocolate glaze once ready.

Brazilian pizza Sao Paulo has self-proclaimed itself “Pizza Capital of the World.”

Paulistanos have a ritual of eating pizza every Sunday. And it's not hard to find a place to indulge, as there are over than 6,000 parlors in this city which even celebrates “Pizza Day” on July 10. Usually made in a wooden oven, the dough ranges from very thin to very thick. People in Sao Paulo barely use tomato sauce, but

they practically smother their pizzas in mozzarella cheese. Popular varieties include Portuguesa (also sprinkled with ham, onion, hard-boiled eggs and black olives), Casteloes (which adds spicy Calabrese sausage) and Chicken pizza with catupiry cheese.

Frango con quiabo Many consider this dish Brazilian comfort food.

Made with stewed chicken and okra and is generally served over a polenta-like corn pudding (a traditional Italian ingredient) called angu.

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Parlemo Talian Discovering a unique Venetian-Brazilian language

By Amanda Fulginiti ew know the extent to which Venetians immigrated to Brazil, particularly to the southern states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paranà. Here they built towns and cities, while remaining true to their culture, their traditions, and above all their language. Known as “Talian" or Venetian-Brazilian, it is a living language, used daily at work, to write songs and poems, in theatre, radio and in television. It is a neoLatin common language that combines Venetian terms with those of Portuguese and standard Italian.

Doctor Giorgia Miazzo in collaboration with the UFSC Brazilian University of Santa Catarina and UERJ Rio de Janeiro has devoted years researching and findings ways to encourage Talian’s future use and existence. The Padua-born scholar, specialized in Linguistic Mediation and Language Sciences, published a book on the subject: Scoprendo il Taliàn - Viaggio di sola andata per la Mèrica ("Discovering Talian"), describing the history of Venetian emigration in the 1870s, and how these settlers brought over their traditions, which she believes, are what kept them alive in these strange lands.

In an interview with Panoram Italia Miazzo explains how the much dreamed about America, a land of opportunity, proved to have its own difficulties. “In order to thrive, immigrants banded together to share the problems of their daily lives and this in turn gave rise to a native culture that embraced imported customs,” she says. Similarly to the Chipilo of the Venetian communities in Mexico, the fusion of the Venetian, Bergamo and Friuli dialects gave birth to a new language, which Italian immigrants called Talian.

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“Its diffusion and importance was such that even other settlers, like the Germans and Polish, were forced to learn it because in the southern states of Brazil, such as Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paranà, the “Taliani” made up almost 90% of the population,” explains Miazzo.

“Today, everywhere you go in Southern Brazil, there are neighborhoods and villages with Venetian names, such as Nova Veneza, Nova Bassano, Nova Trento (Flores da Cunha), Nova Pádua, Nova Vicenza (Farroupilha) or Garibaldi country town. Talian is even given co-official status in some areas of the southern region of Brazil, and considered the second most spoken language in the country,” says Miazzo. Talian, together with five other minority languages, is officially recognized by the Historical Heritage of Intangible Cultural Affairs of Brazil, within the National Inventory of Linguistic Diversity, by Decree Law no.

7,387, signed in December 2010 by the President of Brazil Ignácio Lula da Silva. “The fact that it has survived is incredible, since during the Second World War, Talian was actually forbidden by the Brazilian authorities and some of the above mentioned town names were changed as a means by which to discriminate against all foreign cultures,” says Miazzo.

Miazzo turned to the research about the language’s characteristics by looking at the publications of Darcy Loss Luzzatto and Tonial Honorio, who specifically worked out and extracted the rules and spelling, lexical and morphosyntactics that describe it. Formed from a mixture of dialects of northern Italy, Talian, according to Miazzo’s findings, is spoken today by

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ITALIAN BRAZIL more than one million people, and it has spread and strengthened due to its oral and written traditions.

Talian, a language at risk Ozias Alves Jr., author of the book Parlons Talian: dialecte vénitien du Brésil, believes that after 140 years of Italian presence in Brazil, Talian is now at risk of disappearing. Notwithstanding its inclusion in books, newspapers and radio shows, Alves Jr. thinks Talian is lacking an essential factor: university classes for the training of professors and professionals for the diffusion of the language.

Although the language is still quite popular among the elderly and adults, maintaining it into the next generation seems quite bleak. According to Alves Jr. the problem lies in the fact that young people see no point in learning it, especially from an economic standpoint.

A few years ago, the city of Serafina Corrêa, in the North of Rio Grande do Sul, declared Talian as the second official language of the region and started offering classes in Talian through its public school system. Alves Jr. points out in his research that the downturn is that the teachers were certainly not trained in Talian.

Miazzo’s research discovered that much of the language lives in song and is an excellent teaching tool in order to keep it alive. She even wrote a workbook: Catando in Taliàn - Imparar el talian cola mùsica (“Singin in Talian – learning talian with music") in which she proposes a two level teaching tool on how to teach Talian through the use of music, readings and other cultural phenomenon.

The target audience for her educational activities are adults, rather than school-age students. Her hope is to create an opportunity to further strengthen a certain consciousness and pride for Talian and for its historical importance because it speaks so much about Italian immigration to Brazil. “The teaching of Talian is a strategy to give dignity to a language of immigration and to illustrate the resilience of the Italian people”, she says.

Further readings Revista Talian Brasil: http://talian.net.br/ Scoprendo il Taliàn - Viaggio di sola andata per la Mèrica, Giorgia Miazzo, https://sites.google.com/site/giorgiamiazzoit/ Parlons Talian: dialecte vénitien du Brésil, Ozias Alves Jr., L'Harmattan 2013

Proverbs and expressions in Talian: “Can vècio no’l ghe sbaia a la luna” (Cane vecchio non abbaia alla luna / An old dog doesn’t bark at the moon) “Come noantri no ghen’è altri” (Come noi non c’è nessuno / There is no one like us) “Chi fà de so testa, paga de so borsa” (Chi fa della sua testa, paga con la sua tasca / He who does as he pleases pays out of his own pocket) “Amor sensa barufa el fa la mufa” (Amore senza litigio fa venire il mal di pancia / Love without argument brings stomach ache) “Chi dà, se smentegá; chi riceve se ricorda.”

(Chi dà si dimentica; chi riceve si ricorda / He who gives forgets; he who receives remembers) “Chi ga prèssia, magna crudo.”

(Chi ha fretta, mangia crudo / Whoever is in a hurry eats raw) “Chi ga mia testa, ga gambe.”

(Chi non ha testa, ha gambe / Whoever doesn’t have a head, has legs) “Ciuco come na porta”.

(Ubriaco come una porta / Drunk like a door) “Co l’àqua la toca el col se impara nodar”.

(Quando l’acqua arriva al collo si impara a nuotare / When the water reaches the neck, you learn to swim)

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EVENTS

The Italian Contemporary Film Festival Looks Ahead Only in its 3rd edition, the Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF), sponsored by IC Savings, has fast become one of the hottest cultural attractions around. This celebration of Italian cinema will take place between June 12-June 20 with screenings scheduled at selected theatres in Toronto, Vaughan, Hamilton, Montreal and Quebec City. In addition to feature films and majestic parties held at Toronto’s Casa Loma and Ritz Carlton, other ICFF highlights will include guest appearances by director Giuseppe Tornatore (Cinema Paradiso) and actor/directors Carlo Verdone and Enrico Brignano. In partnership with TIFF, the festival program is designed to foster relations and strengthen consciousness within the Italian community. It also aims to educate moviegoers about historical and cultural matters as well as encourage and support independent filmmakers who wish to explore issues related to Italian heritage. (Romina Monaco)

Matteo Marchel, actor in First Snowfall and Maurizio Magnifico, ICFF Managing Director

Photography by Oink & Coo Photography

Sun Life Financial Promotes an Active Lifestyle with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada

Paul Joliat, AVP, Philanthropy, Sun Life Financial, Carmela Antolino, Manager, Communications, Sun Life Financial, David Clarkson, Toronto Maple Leaf, Stephanie Lupinacci, Manager, Philanthropy, Sun Life Financial, Mark McEwan, celebrity chef.

Sun Life Financial is committed to raising awareness for diabetes prevention and care, and with that goal in mind they teamed up with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada on May 14 to support the organization’s Get BUSY program, which helps to promote an active lifestyle.

About 110 children from the Toronto Kiwanis Boys & Girls Clubs took part in the event, which included a cooking demonstration with Mark McEwan and a fitness clinic with Toronto Maple Leaf player David Clarkson.

“Healthy eating and exercise are key to preventing type 2 diabetes, but as parents know getting kids to eat veggies and be

active is not an easy task,” said Mary De Paoli, Executive Vice-President, Public & Corporate Affairs and CMO, Sun Life Financial. “That’s why partnering with Mark McEwan and David Clarkson to support Get BUSY was a perfect fit for us. They’re both great role models and really showed the kids how much fun healthy living really is.”

And the fun continued with special giveaways including a Sun Roasted Carrot and Chicken Salad, a recipe prepared by chef Mark McEwan for the program, as well as an autographed photo of David Clarkson, a booklet on diabetes prevention, management and education, as well as a mini hockey stick.

(Rita Simonetta) Photo by Valeria Mitsubata Photography

Vaughan Business Achievement Awards Celebrate 25 Years The Vaughan Business Achievement Awards celebrated its milestone 25 years on April 3 with more than 650 guests who joined the organization in recognizing the contributions of businesses within the Vaughan community. The event, which was held at the Paramount Conference & Event Venue included Michael “Pinball” Clemons, the emcee and keynote speaker for the evening. Also in attendance was Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua who presented the Philanthropic Business Person of the

Year Award to Rudolph (Rudy) Bratty, Owner of The Remington Group Inc. & Brattys LLP, in recognition of his exceptional community involvement and outstanding achievements.

The Vaughan Chamber of Commerce’s mandate serves with and for the business community throughout the city.

For more information on upcoming Vaughan Chamber of Commerce events, visit www.vaughanchamber.ca.

(Rita Simonetta)

From left to right: Mayor Bevilacqua, Rudolph Bratty and Paula Curtis CEO and President of the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce.

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Antonio Panetta, head of the cosmetology department at Holy Cross Catholic High School in Woodbridge, came up with a remarkable way to make each semester’s culminating performance test benefit the community.

Panetta transforms his classroom into a salon and students are required to book a client to be pampered with a service, such as a massage, manicure or hair styling.

His students charge a minimal fee with all proceeds going to a charity. “They are very supportive and they put their hearts into it,” says Panetta.

This year’s annual event, held on May 14, raised $1,200 for Rosa’s Centre.

Rosa Panetta (sitting) served as one of Matilda DeCicco’s clients during the day.

The organization in Brampton provides channels of support and programs for adults in Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon with physical, intellectual or developmental disabilities. (Lucy Screnci)

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EVENTS Photo by Tom Sandler

The River Ball’s Revolution by the River The River Ball’s Revolution by the River will go down in history as one of the community’s most thrilling and entertaining events. This annual, sold-out fundraiser, which supported the completion of the new Humber River Hospital, was held at the Paramount Conference and Event Venue on May 8. The $650,000 net proceeds raised will assist in purchasing medical equipment, furnishings and fixtures. Forever raising the bar for gala entertainment was the extraordinary and exclusive concert presented by multi-media spectacular, RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles. Eight hundred and fifty enthusiastic guests joined the musical frenzy, singing and dancing to renditions originally created by the world’s most celebrated band.

In praise to the hit John Lennon song “Revolution,” the Ball’s theme echoed the unprecedented healthcare that the future facility will offer Toronto citizens.

“Humber River Hospital will take healthcare to new heights and reinvent patient care” stated River

Ball co-chair, Mary Mauti, referring to the facility as the first fully digital hospital in North America.

Located in North York it is also the first new hospital to be built in Toronto in the 25 years. With an anticipated completion of fall 2015, the 1.8 million square feet facility will prove to be a positive addition to the community on many levels.

“Not only is this going to be a world-class health facility, but it will also change the entire landscape at Keele Street and Highway 401,” explained Mauti. “New and existing businesses will flourish with the influx of thousands of visitors coming daily to the area.”

Other highlights of the evening included a video tour of the facility by Hospital President and CEO Rueben Devlin as well as the Humber River Hospital Foundation’s No Limits Award which was presented to Ucal Powell, former president of local Carpenters’ Union and devout advocate of the new hospital. (Romina Monaco)

Mary Mauti and Cathy Baxter, co-chairs of The River Ball

Photo by Richard Bell

Under the Canopy Fundraiser

Rene and Julia Pantalone

The spring rain didn’t dampen the spirits of those who gathered together on May 1 for the Under the Canopy fundraiser in support of the Melanoma Network of Canada.

The Pantalone family, who sponsored the event, was joined by supporters at Leon’s Roundhouse on Bremner Avenue in Toronto, including Annette Cyr, the chair of the Melanoma Network of Canada. Guests enjoyed culinary delights from well-known chefs Arpi Magyar, Bertand Alépée, Chris Brown and Cory Vitiello while Samba Elegua provided music from the Islands.

“We are so grateful to the Pantalone family and National Homes for their generous and gracious sup-

port of this event,” said Annette Cyr, founder of the organization and a three-time survivor of the disease.

“Julia Pantalone has also experienced the effects of this devastating cancer and I am so thankful that she has been able to reach out and support our cause as I know it will help raise awareness of the need for sun safety for all of us and ultimately save lives. We couldn’t have done it without their help. It was a wonderful event and we are already looking forward to next year!” The Melanoma Network of Canada is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the awareness and prevention of the disease.

For more information visit www.melanomanetwork.ca (Rita Simonetta)

Although there was a chill in the air, nothing could keep Vaughan residents from participating in the 9th Annual Walk So Kids Can Talk on May 4 in support of the Kids Help Phone. Thanks to the morning sunshine as well as a community’s philanthropic spirit over 400 participants of all ages walked a total of five kilometers before finally ending their trek at Boyd Conservation Area.

“The Kids Help Phone provides professional consulting 24/7 to kids in all areas. The money you give today could be helping your own kids. It’s also confidential and anonymous,” explains Mary Mauti, chairperson for York Region’s Walk So Kids

Photo by Carlos Leon

9th Annual Walk So Kids Can Talk Hits New Strides in York Region Can Talk fundraiser. The organization promotes mental health and emotional well-being by offering professional counseling on every issue affecting youth today, from bullying and other forms of abuse to dating and money management.

This turned out to be a record-breaking year, raising a total of $140,000 for the organization. The walk ended with a slew of activities and goodies such as much-needed massages, face painting, balloons and zumba lessons as well as a porchetta, hamburger and pizza extravaganza for all to savour.

(Romina Monaco)

Trusted expertise you can rely on.

Leonora Frangella Rose Moscone 1 855 326-2663 7500 Highway 27, Unit 1 Vaughan, Ontario L4H 0S2 info@ecocondos.ca ecocondos.ca PA N O R A M I TA L I A . C O M

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EVENTS

The Italian Chamber of Commerce-Air Canada Business Excellence Awards Gala Saluting an entrepreneurial spirit was the goal of The Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario’s (ICCO)Air Canada Business Excellence Awards Gala on May 21. The event, which was celebrated at Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex in Toronto, honoured Henry Iacobelli, president of Sun-Brite Foods Inc, Unico Inc. & Primo Foods Inc., with the Business Excellence Award; the Next Generation Award was given to Anthony Sarno, President & CEO, ASCA Office Solutions Inc.; Perry Dellelce, founder and managing partner Wildeboer Dellelce LLP, received the Community Building Award; the Environmental Leadership Award went to Mike Giampaolo, Chairman & CEO, Giampaolo Group of Companies; the Italy-Canada Award was given to Catia Bastioli, CEO, Novamont S.p.A.; the Arts, Science, and Culture Award went to Dr. Michael Cusimano, a Neurosurgeon at St. Michael’s Hospital and Professor at the University of Toronto.

“All of these recipients epitomize what it means to be a leader in both the business world and their local communities,” said Corrado Paina, ICCO Executive Director. “They have met the strict parameters set by the BEA selection committee. The ICCO BEA continues to confirm its role as an incubator of entrepreneurship, creativity, innovation, and social commitment.” Dr. Michael Cusimano, whose daughter Maria Cusimano was Panoram Italia’s Future Leader for the December 2013/January 2014 edition, said he owed his success to his students, staff, family, faith and “values instilled in me by a very rich Italian heritage of which I am very proud.” (Rita Simonetta)

University of Toronto Italian Canadian Association Co-Hosts Fashion Show On March 27 The University of Toronto Italian Canadian Association (UTICA) in collaboration with The Art of Men’s Wear, U of T’s first ever club dedicated to the art of men’s fashion, hosted their annual yearly fashion show titled La Sfilata. After taking a short hiatus, the annual fashion show returned for its third edition pre-

senting the latest styles in Italian fashion from formal to casual attire. The event was held at Bar Italia in downtown Toronto, beginning with a light reception serving customary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres followed by the fashion show and Carnevale After Party. Displaying the latest designs from Stephanie Moscall-Varey,

Pasqualino Menswear, Della Spiga, and Over the Rainbow Ltd., members of The Art of Men’s Wear and UTICA community were able to dine, indulge, and celebrate in true European style. enjoyed the Carnevale After party theme, derived from the famous Carnevale di Venezia.

(Mark A. De Luca)

Photography by Nadine Di Nardo

From left to right: UTICA President Victor Dri with The Art of Men’s Wear co-founders Gordon Dri and Joey Clemenzi

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