CONTENTS
COMMENTARY
Be kind, as Dr. Henry says, and return Gusto’s licence
April 15 – 22 / 2021
11
COVER
Vancouver’s Valerie Tian is one of five rising Canadian screen stars featured as we approach National Film Day on April 21. By Kelsey Adams, Radheyan Simonpillai, Glenn Sumi, Craig Takeuchi, and Norman Wilner
by Charlie Smith
Cover photo by Jennifer Gauthier
4
REAL ESTATE
Affordable homeownership is achievable through a “sharedappreciation mortgage”, according to one housing expert. By Carlito Pablo
9
DANCE
Red Sky Performance is not only reinventing contemporary Indigenous dance, it’s also trying to set the country on a new course. By Charlie Smith
Gusto owner Federico Fuoco (right) joined his father, Gianni, in a heartfelt rendition of “Volare” in the Vancouver council chamber to kick off Italian Heritage Month in June 2019. Photo by Charlie Smith.
R
ecently, the owner of a restaurant in the Olympic Village came under criticism for defying a public health order to shut down. Federico Fuoco’s eatery, Gusto: A Taste of Italy, only had four tables at the time. But he broke the rules and the city temporarily suspended his licence until April 20. Prior to the licence suspensions, Fuoco spoke at a rally for small businesses. It bothered Fuoco that operators of other enclosed spaces, including on ferries and patios and in wineries, were able to continue providing service to patrons. Meanwhile, restaurateurs lost thousands of dollars worth of inventory because of the lack of notice. Fuoco is been a political activist in the past. When he was operating Federico’s Supper Club on Commercial Drive, he irritated cycling advocates with his vocal opposition to a separated bike lane. Nowadays, Fuoco is part of the NPA board that is suing Mayor Kennedy Stewart for defamation. But there’s another side of Fuoco that isn’t well known outside the Italian community. And that has been his willingness to support various charitable initiatives. He, along with businessman Carmen D’Onofrio, resurrected Italian Day in Vancouver in 2010, which has brought joy and pride ever since to the East Side of the city. Last year during the pandemic, there was no Italian Day celebration on the Drive. So instead, Fuoco and the other organizers created a float with live music to go up and down the street with music in a fundraiser for Coast Mental Health. The “Drive for Courage” concerts generated $10,000. The previous year, Italian Day on the Drive’s theme was comunità, or community in English. The businesses in Little Italy along Commercial Drive, including Fuoco’s former supper club and other Italian Day partners, helped raise $10,000 for the East End Boys and Girls Club. The club was created by long-time Templeton secondary teacher Jimmy Crescenzo 2
THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT
and built upon by another teacher, Tanya Zambrano. Fuoco and other key organizers honoured these wonderful educators in front of a massive crowd on Commercial Drive. That’s comunità! Over the years, Fuoco has performed for free at fundraisers for the Michael Cuccione Foundation to fight childhood cancer. When Fuoco owned a supper club on Commercial Drive, he encouraged staff to feed the homeless who knocked on the back door. Fuoco is also a gifted singer who brought live music back to the Drive. That talent was on display inside the council chamber in 2019 when he and his father, Gianni, serenaded the gallery with a stunning version of “Volare” to kick off Italian Heritage Month. Back in 2018, I interviewed Fuoco before he was given the Italian Canadian Man of the Year award by Confratellazana, which was created by lawyer and judge Angelo Branca. At that time, Fuoco talked about the sacrifices that his parents and others made after coming to Vancouver as poor immigrants. “They worked their butts off and sacrificed for the kids and their families,” Fuoco told me back then. “That’s who I admire and honour. That’s who I want to pay homage to.” It’s understandable that some are very upset at Fuoco for violating a public health order. But if we look at the sum of Fuoco’s life—and what he’s contributed to the city as well as his readiness to comply when inspectors showed up—it’s worth remembering the first part of Dr. Bonnie Henry’s dictum “Be Kind, Be Calm, Be Safe.” I would argue that on April 20, if not earlier, kindness is in order and the city should give him back his licence. I highly doubt he will break the health rules again. What’s to be gained from driving him out of business? More hardship for him and his staff ? Fewer community fundraisers for worthwhile causes? As the Italians like to say, ama molto. Love in abundance. We need a lot more of that in this pandemic. g
APRIL 15 – 22 / 2021
e Start Here 8 ARTS 6 BEER 14 CLASSIFIEDS 2 COMMENTARY 5 HOUSING 7 MUSIC 14 SAVAGE LOVE
Khari Wendell McClelland will bring forward The Essentials. Photo by Andrew Querner.
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EDITOR Charlie Smith GENERAL MANAGER (ACTING) Sandra Oswald SECTION EDITORS Mike Usinger (ESports/Liquor/Music) Steve Newton SENIOR EDITOR Martin Dunphy STAFF WRITERS Carlito Pablo (Real Estate) Craig Takeuchi SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Jeff Li
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