Treat Yourself to Delicious Italian Specialties at our Upcoming Theme Night Dinners
On Friday, November 15 at 7pm, join us in the Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery for a rustic Italian family meal at our “For the Love of Polenta” Theme Night Dinner. Enjoy homestyle comfort food topped with your choice of gourmet ingredients including braised beef, sausage, caponata, cheese and mushroom cream. Alongside this quintessential Italian dish, the menu also includes salad and dessert. Plus, book your table now for our Piemonte Theme Night Dinner at Ristorante Boccaccio on Friday, November 22 at 7pm. Well known for having one of Italy’s best wine regions and establishing the roots of Vermouth, this region is synonymous with gorgonzola, taleggio, grissini torinesi, ferrero nutella, savoiardi and zabaglione cream. Join us for an evening to savour wholesome, rich and extremely tasty Piemontese specialties including vitello tonnato, risotto, agnolotti, truffles and many more dishes from the “land at the foot of the mountains.” You won’t want to miss these unique dining experiences. Make a reservation today!

Participate in our Focus Group for Young Adults
We are looking for young adults (ages 18 – 35) who are part of the Villa Charities community to participate in a small discussion group related to the strategic plan that VCI is currently developing. The session will be held on Wednesday, December 4 from 6pm – 8:30pm at the Columbus Centre. Dinner will be served. If you are interested, please contact Heather Sipprell at The Strategic Counsel at hsipprell@thestrategiccounsel.com or 416-975-4465 ext. 281 for more information and to register.
“The Nonna Monologues”: A Comical Experience About Our Love for Nonnas
Celebrate the holiday season and buy your tickets for “The Nonna Monologues,” with performances from December 6 – 22 at the Columbus Centre. Presented by Villa Charities, this new production features three performers who will regale the audience with their epic Nonna stories and secret family recipes, each competing for the honour of being voted as the winner of this hilarious ‘Nonna challenge’ at the end of the show. Watch the official teaser video now and buy your tickets today!

Vesuvius Ensemble Returns to the Columbus Centre for Christmas Concert
Presented by Villa Charities and Centro Scuola, we invite you to join us for “Quanno Nascette Ninno: Christmas In Southern Italy” featuring the Vesuvius Ensemble on Thursday, December 12 at 7pm in the Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery. The Vesuvius Ensemble’s Christmas program offers Toronto audiences a way to experience the unique musical traditions of the Southern Italian countryside.

Villa Charities Partners with ICCO for IT@CA Conference
On Friday, October 25, Villa Charities was very proud to support the IT@CA conference as the Major Sponsor. This symposium brought Italy's leading academic and industry leaders to Canada to share their vision for the future of Italy with their inspirational success stories.

Attend the Opening Night Receptions for our New Exhibitions
Villa Charities cordially invites you to attend the Opening Night Receptions for our November exhibitions at the Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery at the Columbus Centre. Join us on Wednesday, November 13 at 6:30pm for “Canada: Coast to Coast”, a collection of new works by members of the Golden Age Academy. Plus, on Wednesday, November 20 at 7pm, we will be opening “Immersed”, a collection of paintings and drawings by Toronto artist, Aurora Pagano.
 
Enjoy a Musical Evening of Various Jazz Styles
On Thursday, November 14 at 7:30pm, join the Columbus Concert Jazz Band in the Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery for a free concert that will feature Swing standards from the Big Band era and a journey through different times and cultures, including sounds from Latin Jazz to American hits. 

Book Your Holiday Office Party at Ristorante Boccaccio
Savour authentic Italian cuisine and host your holiday party at Ristorante Boccaccio at the Columbus Centre! Enjoy a group luncheon, dinner or client entertaining with delicious entrées such as Ravioli d’Anatra and Cavatelli alle Verdure. Contact us now to reserve your table.

Improve Your Quality of Life with Valuable Nutrition Information at Cultural Tuesdays
Don’t miss the first lecture of our next free Cultural Tuesdays series at the Columbus Centre, “Eat Well, Be Well” on Tuesday, November 12 at 7pm. Presented by Registered Dietitian and food enthusiast Susan Camargo, discover how to enhance your health with science-based nutrition information that encourages positive lifestyle change.

Master the Art of Impressionist Painting in New Workshop
Our paint night workshops are an excellent option for those looking to try their hand at impressionist painting. Join us for our next workshop on Thursday, November 21 at 6:30pm at the Columbus Centre, where we will be crafting our own interpretations of Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Abstract Floral” Classes are available for $40 + HST per person. All materials including paint and a canvas will be provided.

Learn to Make Polenta with Seasonal Sides in Our Next Culinary Workshop
In partnership with Cucinato Italian Culinary Studio, join us for our interactive culinary workshops and make your own Italian favourites. Register for the next workshop on Wednesday, November 27 at 6:30pm, where we will be cooking Piatto della Montagna – Polenta con Contorni di Stagione / From the Mountains, Polenta with Seasonal Sides. Workshops include a communal meal to enjoy your culinary creations with the other participants.

Enhance your Italian Language Skills in “Learn Italian By Doing” Program
Join facilitator Violante Binazzi every Thursday and Friday until November 21 for “Italiano A Tavola (Dinner and Conversations)” and enjoy a delicious prix fixe dinner at Ristorante Boccaccio while engaging in lively Italian conversation. Other “Learn Italian by Doing” workshops include “Impara l’Arte” with Violante Binazzi every Thursday at 5:30pm and “Travel through Italy” with Angelita Papa every Wednesday at 7pm.

Celebrate National Cappuccino Day at the Columbus Centre
Come and celebrate National Cappuccino Day with us at Ristorante Boccaccio and Caffè Cinquecento! Drop by tomorrow, Friday, November 8 and receive a free homemade biscottino with the purchase of a cappuccino.

Fall Viewing Week at DanzArts Toronto
We are excited to invite all parents of our students to our Recreational and Company Fall Viewing Week, from November 25 - 30. This will be a great opportunity for parents to experience their child’s love of dance by watching their class to see what they have been learning throughout the term. DanzArts Toronto at the Columbus Centre offers dance classes for all ages and experience levels, including ballet, jazz, hip-hop, acrobatics, musical theatre, contemporary and more. Register today! 

Become a Nutrition Expert at the Columbus Centre Athletic Club Nutrition Seminars
Is fat good or bad for weight loss? What are good and bad fats? How much is too much? Learn all about lipids and what you should be eating to lose weight, lower cholesterol, and improve and support great cardiovascular health at our next nutrition seminars at the Columbus Centre on Tuesday, November 19 and Thursday, November 21. Register now!

Residents Treated to a Special Halloween Visit
On Thursday, October 31, our residents at Casa Abruzzo got in the Halloween spirit with a special visit with the children from the Centro Abruzzo Early Learning Centre. The children were dressed in costume and enjoyed taking pictures with the residents.

Annual Solemn Requiem Mass to be Held in Memory of Residents
Villa Colombo Toronto’s annual Solemn Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, November 14 at 7pm at Sala Caboto. Family members and staff are invited to attend this special ceremony to remember and celebrate the lives of the Villa Colombo residents who are no longer with us, through a collection of hymns and prayers.

Villa Colombo Vaughan Celebrates Halloween with Costume Contest
On Thursday, October 31, Villa Colombo Vaughan hosted a Halloween party for the residents, which included a staff costume contest. Staff members were dressed in costume and the residents had the opportunity to choose the winners and award prizes. Everyone in attendance enjoyed an afternoon of delicious treats and listening to spooky music.