Register for Giro for a Chance to
Win a Cycling Experience in Italy!
Every $50 you raise for Giro equals one ticket in the prize draw and a chance to win a trip for two to the 2020 Gran Fondo Felice Gimondi-Bianchi in Bergamo Italy. When you raise the minimum of $250, that's five chances to win! This once-in-a-lifetime experience includes two flights to Milan, event registration, two nights' accommodation, Bianchi riding kits, a tour of the Bianchi factory and a pasta dinner the night before the race.

NEW! Friday Chats with Anthony DiCaita
Come and meet with Anthony DiCaita, President and CEO of Villa Charities Inc., for a one-on-one conversation, and share your thoughts on our programs and services. These informal chats with Anthony will be held on the second Friday of every month, from 10am – 3pm. Appointments are 20 minutes each and must be scheduled in advance. The first date for these chats is Friday, May 10. Contact us today to schedule your appointment – call 416-789-7011 ext. 240 or email csimpson@villacharities.com .

Villa Charities Replaces Aging Infrastructure at the Columbus Centre
Based on a Property Assessment Condition Study, Villa Charities commissioned Climatech to replace aging HVAC equipment for the Columbus Centre. This will improve the heating and cooling system throughout the building. Work is currently underway, with the cooling system expected to be operational by the end of May and the heating system by August.

Villa Charities Visioning Project Final Report Now Available
We would like to express our thanks to everyone who attended our Community Open Forum on Tuesday, March 26. We greatly value all the feedback we received, that will help us create a master campus plan to best meet the needs of Italian-Canadians and an increasingly diverse community for generations to come. The final comprehensive report from the visioning sessions is now available to review and download from the Villa Charities website.

New Shows Added for “Leonardo’s Last Supper”
Our world premiere production of “Leonardo’s Last Supper”, created by internationally acclaimed theatre company DopoLavoro Teatrale (DLT) in collaboration with Istituto Italiano di Cultura Toronto opens tonight at the Columbus Centre. This new interactive show is half-theatrical presentation and half-immersive dining experience inspired by the masterpiece of Leonardo da Vinci, in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of his death. Due to popular demand, we’ve extended the run and added four shows, April 26 – 28!

Enjoy a Unique Cross-Mix of Popular and Classical Music at “In Deum” Easter Concert
Presented by Villa Charities and Centro Scuola, we invite you to join us for our “In Deum” Easter Concert featuring the Vesuvius Ensemble on April 15 at 7pm in the Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery at the Columbus Centre. Tickets are only $20 for Adults and $10.00 for Students/Seniors.

New Exhibitions by Nick and Lucas Biagini Opening at Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery
The Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery at the Columbus Centre is showcasing two new exhibitions this spring. “Material Worlds” by Lucas Biagini is a series of paintings that are highly textured, layered, fused with colour and even geological in appearance. “Above and Beyond” by Nick Biagini is inspired by the beauty of Italian sceneries and uses a technique called ‘impasto’, where the paint is laid on in very thick layers, appearing to come out of the canvas. Exhibit runs from April 25 – May 26.

Practice your Italian Skills Through Yoga in New “Learn Italian By Doing” Program
Yoga is a discipline for the body, mind and spirit, and in our new “Learn Italian By Doing” program, it’s also a healthy to help you reconnect with the Italian language. Join us every Thursday and Friday at 5pm at the Columbus Centre to learn or enhance your Italian language skills while practicing yoga.

Villa Charities to Host Second Annual Toronto Italian Book Festival
Celebrate Italian-Canadian culture and literary expression with the second annual “Librissimi Toronto Italian Book Festival” on Saturday, May 4, organized by Com.It.Es Toronto. The event features authors, panelists, presenters, performers and a marketplace. All programming will be held at the Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery at the Columbus Centre.

Master this Classic Italian Recipe in New Culinary Workshop
Join us on Thursday, April 25 from 6pm – 9pm for our first culinary workshop of the spring term, where we will be learning how to make “Tagliatelle alla Bolognese: Meat Ragu and Fresh Pasta” from scratch. The workshop will also include a pairing of wine and a communal meal to enjoy your culinary creations with the other participants.

Engage in Food Tastings and Conversations at Cultural Tuesdays
Join us on April 16 at 7pm at the Columbus Centre for the first presentation of our Cultural Tuesdays series “Sapori D’Italia – Food Tastings and Conversations” with Gaia Messai to explore the story of the olive as one of the most meaningful symbols of the Mediterranean that we have today.

Early Bird Special Offer for Summer Camp Ends Tomorrow
Columbus Centre Summer Camp focuses on giving children a memorable retreat where they can interact with others in a fun and exciting environment. Register your child for one of our 14 different camps by Friday, April 12 and receive $25 off each camper registration. Or, register for three or more Full Day sessions during the Early Bird period and receive $50 off per camper.

DanzArts Toronto Students Shine at "On the Floor" Competition
On April 4 – 7, our entire Competitive company at DanzArts Toronto competed at “On the Floor” Alliston. Many of our dancers received scholarships and awards including the Viewers Choice Award and the Ultimate Dance Award. Auditions for our full time and part time Competitive Dance Programs, beginning fall 2019, will be held on July 3 and 4. Contact us today to book an audition! 

Craft your own 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 first workshop of the spring term on Thursday, April 25 at 6:30pm at the Columbus Centre, where we will be crafting our own interpretations of “Autumn Still Life”. Classes are available for $40 + HST per person. All materials including paint and a canvas will be provided.

Enjoy our Prix Fixe Menu at Easter Sunday Lunch
Join us for our annual Easter Sunday Lunch on Sunday, April 21 at 12pm at the Sala Caboto ballroom. Tickets are available for $50 per person, inclusive of all applicable taxes ($30 for Children and Villa Colombo residents). Make a reservation today!

Register Now for our Annual Golf Classic on June 26
The 43rd Annual Villa Charities Golf Classic will be held at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge on Wednesday, June 26. This year's Golf Classic will include exciting new activities on course, from taking a shot against NHL Alumni at our “Beat the Pro” hole to indulging in authentic food from regions of Italy. Finish off your day with an Italian-themed cocktail reception filled with your favourite food, beverage specialties and much more. Register your foursome today!

Join us Every Tuesday for “Let’s Discuss It” Social Group
“Let’s Discuss It” is a free social group for isolated Italian-speaking women 55 years or older, held every Tuesday at 9am at Casa Del Zotto. Group members do crafts and other activities, and occasionally invite guest speakers to attend the meetings. The group is led by volunteers who are supported by the Toronto Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Villa Colombo Toronto Celebrates National Volunteer Week
This week, Villa Colombo Toronto is celebrating National Volunteer Week. The dedicated volunteers were honoured through several events including a special volunteer recognition lunch. We would like to express our thanks to our generous volunteers for their continued contributions to Villa Colombo Toronto. National Volunteer Week is April 7-13, 2019.

Villa Colombo Vaughan Highlights in April
On April 1, Villa Colombo Vaughan hosted a party for all of our residents who celebrated birthdays in the month of April. The residents were treated to birthday cake and a musical performance. On April 4, the residents and the staff at VCV gathered for a farewell party for Father Ralph, who will be retiring after 9 years of service at the long-term care home.

Opening Reception of One Euro Italy Exhibition
In May 2018, members of the community, VIP guests and Board members gathered in the Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery at the Columbus Centre for the opening night of Sergey Tesker’s “One Euro Italy” exhibition. Attendees enjoyed light refreshments as they viewed the photographic portrayal of the campaign to revitalize remote and beautiful towns and villages across Italy.

The Royal Conservatory Presents - Luca Pisaroni and Thomas Hampson: No Tenors Allowed
Don't miss an evening of operatic arias and Broadway songs performed by Italian bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni and his father-in-law, famed American baritone Thomas Hampson, accompanied by pianist Vlad Iftinca. Join us on Tuesday April 30 at 7pm at Koerner Hall. Tickets start at only $55.00. Buy your tickets today!

Villa Charities Inc. | 416-789-7011 | info@villacharities.com | www.villacharities.com