Italian Canadians changing the world
TORONTO – Life is a series of highways peppered by unimaginable wonders and humanity’s ability to deal with “unanticipated curves” along the way. In such instances, idealogues often propose, and advocate for, solutions that in retrospect defy logic and delay reprieve from unnecessary strain and stress.
I suppose that as a migrant from another place and another time I tend to favour a practical approach to resolving challenges, so I welcomed the main themes of Mayor Steven Del Duca’s address at the annual Vaughan Chamber of Commerce luncheon last February 25. They were, as I interpreted them, Security, Accessibility to services (within a municipality’s mandate) and Leadership in ensuring delivery of services for which municipalities exist or have the means to influence.
There were about eight hundred people present who contributed to holding him and his council Accountable for the message. Many of them were also present on the 27th when a different organization, Hospice Vaughan, held a fundraising event to also honor a family in Vaughan that it considered worthy of acknowledging for its substantial (in the millions of dollars) contribution to securing present and the future access to hospice and palliative service care to those potentially transitioning from The Cortellucci Hospital (and beyond) to an end of life environment where care and dignity are not in short supply.
It was quite an event. A superb show to thank guests and entice further engagement in fundraising and volunteer service. The numbers exceeded those seen 36 hours earlier. Apart from the Cortellucci honorees – brothers Mario, Nick, sister Wilma – their spouses and [adult] children, Mayor Del Duca and several of his Councilors were there to lend their “moral support”. MPs Anna Roberts and Michael Gugliemin did likewise, as also MPPs Stephen Lecce and Michael Tibollo.
In my generation, community-minded families, like the Cortellucci, while tending to their personal businesse(s) have helped transform a no-longer economically sustainable, rural environment dotted with golf courses, into a modern city approaching 400,000 inhabitants. That population has driven innovation, diversity of enterprise, quality of services in lifestyle and connection to international developments emanating from “stimuli” from Europe, Asia and beyond.
Many in the 1,000-member crowd share the same ambition for a Canadian society as the Cortellucci. At the risk of offending those not referenced, I was particularly impressed with the breadth of background: Lido Construction, Masters Insurance, Decorest, Bianchi and Testa, Beaver Valley Stone, C3Labs, members of the teaching profession, LiUNA, the transportation industries. The list is only limited by the numbers we might inadvertently offend by their omission.
The Corriere Canadese was particularly impressed by the fact that so many were like the Cortellucci, originated Italian from small-town, family grounded, background steeped in the values of growth measured in service, sharing and dignity.
Here below is a photogallery from the two events – February 27th and 25th (photo: Corriere Canadese) and a video from the gala
