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Columbus Centre Member Receives Order of Canada
Paul Cavalluzzo, one of Canada’s most distinguished labour and constitutional lawyers, and a long-time Columbus Centre member, has been appointed to the Order of Canada.
Paul, joined by his wife, Jean and family, received the honour from Governor General David Johnson in a recent ceremony.
Paul has worked tirelessly to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of Canadians. As lead counsel on the Walkerton and Arar Inquiries, he helped to develop recommendations on the future safety of our drinking water, as well as on national security. He has championed the rights of farm workers in Ontario.
Both Paul and Jean are prominent and proud members of the Italian Canadian community. Jean, a former CBC writer and researcher, applied Paul Cavalluzzo and family with GG David Johnson
her skills to “Italian Canadians as Enemy Aliens: Memories of World War II”, a Columbus Centre project commemorating the experiences of Italian Canadians during the war.
Sometimes small things get big results. A 3X5 foot garden, created this spring at a VITA Community Living Services residential home, produced loads of vegetables, and much more.
VITA members discovered the pride of tending the garden and enjoying the fruits of their labour. The corporate volunteers who set it up learned first-hand about VITA and the wonderful members we serve. The garden was created through the United Way of York Region’s Annual Spring Day of Caring, where staff from corporate sponsors take on projects with United Way member
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agencies like VITA. It’s a great way for corporations to gain hands-on experience with member agencies, learn about what we do, and help out with a special project.
VITA members and staff chose the project
and the vegetables to be planted, and pitched in with tending and harvesting. Though small, the garden produced vegetables in great abundance.
This kind of community participation benefits everyone – the VITA members who love their garden, and the volunteers who gained an understanding about VITA and our members.
For more than 40 years across the GTA, Villa Charities has developed and 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 Toronto; Villa Colombo Vaughan/Di Poce Centre; Caboto Terrace, Casa DelZotto and Casa Abruzzo apartments for independent seniors; the Columbus Centre; 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
S P E C I A L
This special section is published by Villa Charities.
S E C T I O N
The Garden of Eatin’
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Hidden Gems of Artistic Talent at the Columbus Centre
The Columbus Centre is well-known for its cultural arts programs in music, dance, art, language and cooking. As home of the Carrier Gallery and Ristorante Boccaccio, it’s also a popular place to enjoy the visual and culinary arts.
Few people, however, are aware of the artistic talent that abounds among
Columbus Centre staff. Among the hidden gems are the Graphic Arts Department’s Giancarlo Piccin and Brian Boyd, Carrier Gallery Curator Rosa Graci and employee Bujar Asllani. These artists, whose paintings are diverse in both style and subject, show that the cultural current runs deep at the Columbus Centre.
Giancarlo Piccin (giancarlopiccin.com) is an internationally collected artist who describes his work as “investigating the relationship between people and their surroundings.” He seeks to see the world through new eyes and reflect the present in his work.
Brian Boyd, who hails from the West coast, has “a meticulous attention to detail and obsessive quest for perfection.” His paintings, collected worldwide, build on an award-winning career in graphic arts, advertising, editorial and children’s book illustration.
Bujar Asllani is a former fine arts professor who creates modernist oil paintings. For Bujar, however, style is secondary. To wit: his stunning reproduction of Botticelli’s “Primavera” in the Columbus Centre.
Rosa Graci discovered that art was in her blood at age four. A former senior artist in advertising, Rosa’s inspiration “comes from everyday life and nature” along with the Group of Seven, the French Impressionists and modern art. PA N O R A M I TA L I A . C O M
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Fond Recollections of Columbus Centre Summer Camps
The happy sounds of children in Columbus Centre summer day camps still echo through our halls and outdoor areas. Camp staff and volunteers worked extra hard to ensure the kids had a great time filled with learning and fun. Soccer, tennis, mixed sports, cooking, dance, and visual arts and crafts kept the campers busy and engaged. Plus there was new programming: cartoon animation, rockband, visits from Reptilia and the Toronto Fire Dept., and off-site trips. Though school is back in full swing, many of those same kids still frequent the Columbus Centre today for weekend and after-school cultural and athletic programs. We wish the kids a great school year, and hope to see them back for March Break and Summer Camp 2015!
Family Thanks Villa Colombo with Tree of Life Donation Isabella Aiello received “warm and loving” care from staff at Villa Colombo, where she lived for the past 13 years until passing away this summer. Now her family, grateful for that care, will honour her and their father, Agostino, with a donation to be commemorated on Villa
Colombo’s ”Tree of Life.”
“Our family is grateful to Villa Colombo and their warm and loving staff for the excellent care they gave Mom,” says Carlo Aiello, Isabella’s fourth child.
Isabella Aiello A native of Calabria, Isabella came to Canada in 1955 with her first two sons, after Agostino had emigrated here to find work. She spent most of her adult life raising six children and caring for Agostino, preparing countless meals and managing a mountain of domestic chores. At age 77, when Isabella could no longer live independently, she moved into Villa Colombo. There, she enjoyed concerts, festivities, the gardens and Church, and received the therapies she needed.
“We realized Mom got to have a long term holiday of sorts,” Carlo says. “She was finally delivered from her household duties.”
Soon the family will say thanks by adding a leaf, with Isabella and Agostino’s names on it, to the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life, magnificent bronze and brass sculptures, stand tall in the lobby of Villa Colombo Toronto. Donations are commemorated with tributes inscribed to family members and friends on leaves, stars and rocks. Learn more about how to honour your family member or friend on the Tree of Life. Contact Jean Jarvis, Villa Charities Foundation, at 416.789.7011 ext. 321. Tax receipts are issued for donations over $20. 34
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Carlo Aiello
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Columbus Centre Boxing Coach Wins Top Coaching Award Columbus Centre boxing coach and instructor Rico Mancini has received Ontario’s most prestigious coaching award. Reflecting his leadership qualities, coaching achievements and personal development, the Coaches Association of Ontario recently named Rico as winner of the 2014 Anthony Higgins Lifetime Achievement Award.
Rico teaches boxing to both recreational and competitive athletes, from 12 to almost 70 years old. He draws participants with his infectious passion for the sport. “I love the people I work with and I love boxing,” Rico says. “Every coach wants to develop a champion athlete. But it’s also important that recreational participants enjoy boxing so that they, in turn, will become ambassadors for the sport.” Rico’s coaching has produced several provincial champions and, working with other coaches, national champions. He has made many friends along the way.
Villa Charities is proud to call Rico one of our own. Rico’s boxing classes at the Columbus Centre are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and Sunday mornings. He also provides one on one personal training.
Rico Mancini
New Chef Adds Zest to Caffè Cinquecento
UPCOMING EVENTS Carrier Gallery Exhibits Ron Clavier (Oct. 7-Nov. 4) Sooghie Hahn & He Ja Kim (Oct. 8-24) Academy of Realist Art (Oct. 8 – Nov. 3) Giancarlo Piccin (Oct. 8-Nov. 3) Luis Ramirez (Nov. 6-Dec. 1) For information: 416-789-7011 ext. 300
Ristorante Boccaccio Calabria Theme Dinner (Oct. 24) Caffè Cinquecento has long been a favourite stop for Columbus Centre visitors seeking a quick breakfast, lunch or snack. Now it is undergoing a refresh, with a revamped menu, new daily food specials and a modern twist on classic Italian dishes.
Lazio Theme Dinner (Nov. 28) Festa del Tartufo (all Nov.) For reservations/information: 416-789-5555
The effort is being led by Chef Sophia Kudla, who is now focusing full-time on the Caffè with support from Ristorante Boccaccio Capo di Cucina Tom Quan. Visitors to Caffè Cinquecento’s tavole calde (hot table) will experience an updated twist on Italian cuisine, with seasonal produce taking centre stage. Now there’s more reason than ever to stop in at the Caffè for a casual meal, or to order a delicious take home dinner from Nonna 2 Go (or order by phone: 416-789-7011 ext. 235).
Columbus Centre Fall/Winter Program Guide Available at Columbus Centre & villacharities.com
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