The Embassy on a mission to validate the Italian Diaspora

Marzio Pelu` October 20, 2025

MONCTON – Mission to New Brunswick for the Italian Ambassador to Canada, Alessandro Cattaneo. In recent days, Cattaneo has held a series of meetings with local authorities and the province’s Italian community.

Ambassador Cattaneo, accompanied by Enrico Pavone, the Consul General for Montreal, which jurisdiction includes Eastern and Atlantic Canada, met with New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt. The meeting explored strategies to strengthen economic ties between Italy and Canada – in all sectors.

In fact, H.E. Cattaneo also met with Paulette Thériault, Mayor of Moncton, to discuss economic and cultural cooperation “between Italy and her beautiful city”. It was also an opportunity to connect with the Italian Association of Moncton (AIM-MIA, here the website).

On Saturday, the Ambassador and Consul attended an evening celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the AIM-MIA, founded in 1970 by a group of Italian immigrants. Since its inception, the AIM-MIA has tenaciously promoted the culture and traditions of Italy.

The Association also organizes Italian language courses, thanks to the dedication of a team of teachers and volunteers “who see this activity as a true mission”, said AIM-MIA Vice President Francesco Calazzo. “Thanks to their tireless commitment, the Italian language courses have been kept running even during the challenging years of the pandemic.

“In recent days”, Calazzo added, “with enthusiasm and dedication, they have also launched courses for children: a precious innovation for our community…”. Ambassador Cattaneo, together with Consul Pavone, visited the first lesson of the courses for the children on Saturday, symbolically inaugurating the school year which runs from October 2025 to April 2026. “Happy to celebrate together the launch of the brand-new language courses” the Ambassador then wrote on Twitter, praising the work of AIM-MIA and its Chair, Vincenzo Delle Donne.

Dante’s language, therefore, endures even in New Brunswick. And likely, thanks to AIM-MIA courses, the number of Italian speakers in this corner of the world may even increase.

Here below is a photogallery from the mission of the Embassy in New Brunswick