Always a great time to celebrate good deeds and accomplishments
TORONTO – The Italian Diplomatic Corps assigned to Canada seems determined to promote and nurture any and all opportunities that enhance the cultural heritage of its Diaspora. It does not stop there. In my humble experience, at least as it pertains to the dynamic percolating from the co-operation between Ottawa and the Consulate General in Toronto, its contribution to Canadian goals and objectives go well beyond. Their heretofore unsung presence and participation in “events” has begun to draw the attention of the private, public and political sectors in a fashion not seen before.
In its latest manifestation, a “Scholarship and Bursary Presentation” by the CIBPA (Canadian Italian Business and Professionals Association) turned into a lovefest recognition of “values and interests” that has become the brand Italian immigrants brought with them and seared into the Canadian culture: love of and thirst for education, perfection in artisanal endeavors (be they culinary or technological), dedication to family and community and the indomitable ambition to succeed irrespective if the hard work required. According to Rob Sacco, chair of the CIBPA Education Foundation, it is a future oriented strategy for the community. It is at once practical and aspirational: a powerful common denominator that serves both a ‘determinant in identity’ and a communicating tool to facilitate exchanges of all varieties – language. One after the other, members of the CIBPA executive called upon to shower compliments on the student-award winners recipients were effusive in the retelling of that narrative.
And so they should. Sacco had caused all invitees to convene on the occasion of the “Official Announcement” that the CIBPA had participated in a tri-partite initiative to ensure that Italian language instruction in elementary schools would continue into the 2025-26 academic year. Modestly, he acknowledged that the CIBPS’s cash contribution ($35,000.00) amounted to a relatively small sum. Nonsense, it permitted Luca Zelioli, the Italian Consul General, to work his magic in securing a hefty amount ($270,000.00) from the Italian Government in support. Neither of then would have succeeded without the intervention of Maria Iafrate and Angela Saggese, Catholic School Trustees in the York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB). York has the largest number of Italian-Canadians in the country.
Ambassador Alessando Cattaneo, available for Toronto-area events for three consecutive days, conscious of a youthful crowd ever-sensitive to future developments enticed everyone to consider the concept of “the sky is the limit”. In vocabulary that explored the outer limits of career potential for those who have tased the fruits of one of Western Civilization’s most alluring languages, the Ambassador implored them to always aim higher. It is the message newly-minted Federal Minister, Secretary of State John Zerucelli clearly felt was worth repeating in the retelling of his family’s personal history in Canada. Flavio Volpe, Order of Canada, and President of the Canadian Automobile Parts Association, followed suit with a similar supporting message: Italian Canadians are everywhere and they earn their way to some of the most senior position wherever they apply the talents they develop.
Member of Parliament Anna Roberts came from King City to bear testimony to the efforts of recipients and those who support their efforts. Dr. Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, Provost and Vice-President, Academic at Toronto Metropolitan University, and John Mandarino of the LIUNA Pension Fund came to demonstrate in person the value of the descriptors.
It was the recipients of the Bursaries, their families, the CIBPA and the Italian authorities who baked in the sunshine emitted by the collective effort of Italian-Canadians to achieve and register the satisfaction of a collective achievement. Auguri.
The awards. Endowments: Valentina Varacalli, CIBPA Award Recipient, York University; Hasti Tajdari, CIBPA Ladies Auxiliary Award Recipient, York U.; Antonina Barberi, Jackie Rosati award recipient, York U. Bursary Recipients: Razia Jamal, GBC; Daniel De Jesus, GBC; Sadie Maria Falcone, GBC; Sabrina Amato, York U.; Rebecca Fragni, York U.; Anthony Primi, York U.; Ava Mittone, TMU; Santino D’Angelo Rozas, TMU; Breanna Morrow, TMU; Alessandra Papia, McGill U.; Matthew Di Felice, McMaster U.; Ava Bidababi, Guelph-Humber; Teresa Bellissimo, UofT; Anthea Tonelli, UofT.
Here below is a photogallery from the event (pics: Corriere Canadese)
