Librissimi: the Power of Words, and Books

Joe Volpe May 5, 2026

TORONTO – A rather extraordinary weekend in which authors and their books were put on exhibit for the Italian Canadian Community. Usually, such events develop around stacks of inert publications strategically set to entice sales.

On this occasion, instructional, interpretive seminars were also an integral part of the invigorating Librissimi “convention”. The opening remarks were delivered Friday evening by Consul General Luca Zelioli.

In both substance and style, the seminars and the invocation, were like a breath of fresh air in an educational atmosphere dampened by recent debate on language, purpose and identity in Toronto Catholic Schools and beyond. Mr. Zelioli, a learned man and deft diplomat, was too astute to immerse himself and Italy in “domestic issues” of his host country. I have no such restrictions.

The apparent “rush” to legitimize, for accounting reasons, the elimination of the International Languages [so far primarily Italian] Program – without data to support cost factors – will deprive students and parents with that “connection” of a shared maternal experience captured by the concept of Mater et Magistra, a role formerly attributed to the Catholic Church for its adherents in the Canadian Constitution.

In brief, Anna Maria Farabbi, a seminar leader from Umbria, illustrated the how and why the evolution of vocabulary is so reflective of the experiences (geographic, sociological, psychological emotive, etc.) imbued in us through our mothers. Talented writers in the Belpaese have them as the inspiration for vocabulary and sentence structure.

Zelioli (in the pic above) put the “obligation” – more of an inspiration to action – of governments, his included, thusly: ” I am particularly pleased that the Consulate General has once again been able to support an initiative recognizing the linguistic talents of young pupils and students studying Italian in Ontario schools. This is an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of preserving and promoting the study of international languages, in keeping with the fundamental values of Canadian multiculturalism. It is therefore my hope that recent decisions in Toronto, motivated by understandable financial considerations yet moving in the opposite direction, may be reconsidered in light of the strong multicultural character of this Province. Let us celebrate the world of books, and thank Librissimi for making this possible”.

Away from the microphones, I thought I noticed in the Consul General a veiled sense of dismay that the TCDSB would choose to abandon a partnership that has been productive and effective in the learning and integrative process, first with Italians, then with Portuguese, Ukrainian, Philippino and Chinese.

Other School boards have stepped up: the York Catholic District School Board, ably Chaired by Maria Iafrate and assisted by other private sector partners (Italia Lingua Cultura), Chef Luciano Schipano, also President of Heritage Calabria, and Bob Sacco of the CIBPA.

The results? Enthusiastic children proud to have made a closer connection to their families and friends and of the new connection of the validity that language affords them potentially going forward. Is it enough? Author-musician-media arts personality and Canada’s Got Talent participant, Frank Moyo, thinks so.

Here below is a photogallery from the event (photos: Corriere Canadese)