Evidence of local pride
TORONTO – For us “Canadians” the concept of “diversity”- differences – has come to mean a quasi- religious adherence to an “identity” that defines its own history, and its rights to the benefits accruing to those who fit that definition – we are all villagers within clearly delineated, commonly recognized, geographic/political/demographic boundaries. Italians have seen this movie before; it has been a “creative” phenomenon, a struggle of life that rewards resilience, tolerance and innovative models of governance.
One of the “iconic” administrative regions of Italy (regional municipalities) is Lazio, the region most strongly associated – historically and demographically – to the Latium, the Latin plains, of Roman Antiquity. Its towns and villages were/are typically fortified “elevations” inhabited by peoples still known as Ernici, Volsci and [in some areas as] Sanniti. Today, the area is comprised of 91 such separate comuni, contained in the provincia di Frosinone – the main city of the administrative district.
Each of those comuni may have a history that predates the founding of its most famous sister town – Rome. Not difficult to comprehend why many Laziali exude a special understanding of Roman history and their contribution to Western civilization. In Canada (Ontario in particular), their emigres and offspring number in the hundreds of thousands. They play a leadership role in all walks of Canadian life, even as in most cases, like most immigrants, their roots are humble.
This year, 2025, under the presidency of Marino Moscone, the collective that represents the voices of all organizations encompassing the 91 cities, towns and villages – the Lazio Federation of Ontario – hosted a 40 th Anniversary Gala to celebrate and honor (i) recipients of the Laziale of the Year award, (ii) recipients of Scholarships, and (iii) special awards for the Comune of the Year.
All were feted at a banquet November 29 in the presence of several local municipal personalities, the provincial Minister for Energy Stephen Lecce and Senator Toni Varone and many community personalities (Sam Ciccolini, Donato Montesano and Carmen Principato).
The following day, the civic delegations of those Comuni dell’Anno, Pescosolido and Supino, headed by their respective mayors Donato Enrico Bellisario and Gianfranco Barletta, visited the offices of the Corriere Canadese to engage in generic and specific type discussions focused on collaborative opportunities between their jurisdictions and potential Canadian interests: there are no limits. The connections, expertise and ambition are all there and ready to go!
Here below is a photogallery with pictures by Corriere Canadese, Lazio Federation of Ontario, Mary Mauti and Gregorio Ricci
