Villa Charities’ Artist in Residence Premieres New Interactive Performance at Venice Biennale 48th International Theatre Festival
Villa Charities’ Artist in Residence and Artistic Director of DopoLavoro Teatrale (DLT) Daniele Bartolini has premiered a new interactive performance at the Venice Biennale 48th International Theatre Festival this week. La Biennale di Venezia was founded in 1895 and is now one of the most prestigious and renowned cultural organizations in the world. La Biennale, which stands at the forefront of research and promotion of new contemporary art trends, organizes exhibitions and research in all its departments: Arts (1895), Architecture (1980), Cinema (1932), Dance (1999), Music (1930), and Theatre (1934).

Bartolini is presenting his new interactive performance designed for one audience member at a time, titled The Right Way. The performance focuses on the theme of censorship, specifically on self-censorship, which emerged from the experience of Bartolini’s immigration. The performance premiered on September 15, 2020, with performances running until September 21, 2020.

The audience members will take on the role of the protagonist, in this case a director who is given the opportunity to visit the brain and understand the perspective of someone who faces two very different landscapes: Italy and Europe, the one where he’s coming from, and Canada and North America, the one where he lives and operates. The performance expresses this internal conflict of displacement and the audience falls down the rabbit hole of artistic fantasy and uncertainty emerging from the immigration experience while navigating this new environment.

Daniele Bartolini and Villa Charities’ Executive Director of Cultural Programming Emanuele Lepri were recently featured on OMNI Television to discuss La Biennale di Venezia and the new immersive production with the support of Villa Charities Inc. Daniele also spoke with Villa Charities in a special interview before the show’s premiere to discuss his experience as an Artist in Residence.

Click on the image above to watch the OMNI TV feature, or on the link below to read the interview with Daniele Bartolini.
Fall & Winter 2020/2021 Program Guide Available Now
Explore everything we have to offer at Villa Charities and the Columbus Centre in our new Fall & Winter 2020/2021 Program Guide, including cultural events, health and wellness, classes and workshops, children’s programs and more! Click on the link below to view or download your digital copy now.
IREM® Selects Villa Charities as One of Four FInalists for 2020 REME Awards
Villa Charities is among the four finalists chosen for the 2020 IREM® Innovator Award, part of the Real Estate Management Excellence (REME) Awards. Villa Charities is the only Canadian organization in this award category, competing for the honour against major US-based property management corporations (Cortland, AMO®, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing and United Plus Property Management, AMO®) that manage tens of thousands of residential housing units. Villa Charities was selected as a finalist for the numerous innovative and culturally sensitive customer service initiatives they implemented to strengthen senior tenant health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Award winners will be announced and recognized at a virtual awards ceremony in October.

Presentations on Federico Fellini this October at Cultural Tuesdays
Every Tuesday beginning October 13, join us at Cultural Tuesdays for "Seven Decades of Fellini," a fascinating seven-part lecture series to commemorate Federico Fellini’s one hundredth birthday (January 20, 2020) by taking a journey through the Maestro’s filmography. Each lecture will be dedicated to a specific period of Fellini’s career, by concentrating on dominant themes that characterize his films of the period in question. Each lecture ends with a clip from one of Fellini’s films, followed by a Q&A. RSVP required.
Practice Your Italian Language Skills in a Relaxed Atmosphere
Register for our “Learn Italian By Doing” free online weekly classes! In our new online book club, you can explore and discuss contemporary Italian literature while learning Italian in “Club del Libro” with Violante Binazzi, beginning September 30. Plus, take a virtual journey through the beautiful regions and cities of Italy in “Travel through Italy” with Angelita Papa, beginning Monday, October 5, or talk about art in a relaxed environment, while enjoying our favorite drink together in “Art & Aperitivo” with Violante Binazzi, beginning Thursday, October 8. Customized Italian classes are also now available! Contact us now for more information and to RSVP.
Don’t Miss our First Diaspora Series Event of the Fall Season
Join Rosanna Lo Presti on Saturday, October 17 at 3:00pm in the Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery for a reading and presentation about her book “Ritorno alle Origini”. It is the story of a migrant who sought well-being in another country that was not possible in her own. Rosanna Lo Presti helps the reader understand the human side of being a migrant, the adversity they are faced with and the important goals that, with commitment and dedication, with love and passion, everyone can reach. To ensure the safety of all attendees there will be limited seating capacity for this event. Please RSVP in advance to reserve your spot.
Reminder to RSVP for the Next Virtual Town Hall With the CEO
We invite you to join us for the next Virtual Town Hall with Anthony DiCaita, CEO of Villa Charities, on Tuesday, October 6 at 6:00pm to ask any questions or share your feedback on our reopening with the new safety protocols and procedures. If you would like to participate, please RSVP by Friday, October 2nd to csimpson@villacharities.com and we will send you the meeting link to use. The meeting will be recorded and posted on our website.

Villa Charities Awarded Grant to Launch New Tech Project for Seniors
Villa Charities has launched a new initiative called [Re]Connected Seniors! Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Emergency Community Support Fund and administered by the United Way of Greater Toronto. [Re]Connected Seniors will lend qualified senior participants a FREE iPad, if you tell us how you want to use it and what skills you need to develop to be successful. Created by Villa Charities, [Re]Connected Seniors is a project that strives to include seniors and older adults who feel isolated in their community due to COVID-19 and lack access to digital tools and skills. Complete the online application for yourself or on behalf of a senior now.
Book Your Virtual One-on-One Meeting for Friday Chats with the CEO
You can have a virtual meeting with Anthony DiCaita, President and CEO of Villa Charities Inc., for a one-on-one conversation to answer any questions or to share your thoughts on our programs and services. These informal chats with Anthony will be held using GoToMeeting on the 2nd Friday of every month, from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Appointments are 20 minutes each and must be scheduled in advance. Upcoming dates for these chats are Friday, October 9 and Friday, November 13. Contact us today to schedule your virtual meeting – call 416-789-7011 ext. 240 or email csimpson@villacharities.com.
You’re Invited to Attend the Opening Night Receptions for our 40th Anniversary Art Exhibition
In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Columbus Centre, Villa Charities presents “40 under Forty,” an art exhibition of 40 artists under the age of forty. From faces to figures, still life to action painting, landscape to seascape, this broad exhibition at the Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery will give the audience a look at varied themes and disciplines as diverse as the young artists themselves. Plus, accomplished multimedia artist and Villa Charities’ Artist in Residence Franco Berti has created a special anniversary collage, to serve as a memorable and welcoming symbol for the Columbus Centre community at large; celebrating the past while engaging with the present time. To allow for physical distancing, the Opening Night reception will be hosted as 4 events, on October 1 and 2 at 5:30pm & 7:30pm. RSVP required.
Sign Up for a New Athletics Membership and Get 50% Off Enrollment Fee with No Contract
The Columbus Centre Athletic Club offers General Fitness Memberships and Executive Membership services at affordable prices. Our fitness facility provides an extensive array of strength training equipment, personal training programs and fitness classes all under one roof! Sign up for a new membership today and receive 50% off your enrollment fees with no contract. Kick off your fitness goals this fall and join the Columbus Centre Athletic Club today.

Attention Students: Don’t Miss our Back to School Special at the Columbus Centre Athletic Club
Improve your endurance, strength and overall physical fitness with our state-of-the-art treadmills, cross-trainers, spinning bikes, weight room and more! For a limited time only, students ages 14 – 17 can sign up for a membership at the Columbus Centre Athletic Club for only $9.99/month for your first 2 months and $29.99 each month afterwards. Plus, receive 50% off enrollment fees. Offer valid until September 30 and conditions apply. Contact the Membership Office today to learn more and register!
Register for Fall Art Programs Before Classes Begin
Don’t miss your chance to register for our fall term art classes for children and adults, including Children’s Painting and Drawing and Adult Landscape Painting classes. The children’s class focuses on fostering creative confidence and explores a variety of mediums while the adult class focuses on landscape studies in an intimate group setting, which provides for one-on-one instruction. We have implemented all the required COVID-19 safety measures in compliance with public health recommendations and provincial guidelines. Register today!
Register for Adult Dance Programs with DanzArts Toronto
Geared towards adults who are interested in full-body exercise, our adult dance programs at DanzArts Toronto provide a complete body workout, which will improve muscle tone and posture. Everyone can benefit from developing their strength, coordination and flexibility. Classes include Adult Barre Fitness, Adult Hip Hop, Adult Ballet and our new Adult Tap class. 4-week, 6-week, 8-week and 10-week packages are available with both in-studio and online class options.
Put Your Art Skills on Display with our Impressionist Painting Workshop
Calling all inspiring artists! Now is your chance to try your hand at Impressionist painting in our art workshops for adults. Create your own rendition of Van Gogh’s “Landscape” on Thursday, September 24 at 6:30pm. We have implemented the required COVID-19 safety measures in compliance with public health recommendations and provincial guidelines. Register now!
Squash and Racquetball Courts Now Open at Columbus Centre Athletic Club
We are happy to announce the reopening of our Squash and Racquetball courts 8, 9 and 10 at the Columbus Centre Athletic Club. Our courts can be used for drilling sessions, but not game play (unless you live in the same household). Group bookings are limited to 10 people per session. There is an additional $10.00 + HST on top of your General Membership. Try your hand at Squash and Racquetball and book a court today!
Join us for the Columbus Event Centre Thanksgiving Luncheon
Celebrate Thanksgiving two ways with Columbus Event Centre’s annual Thanksgiving luncheon on Sunday, October 11 from 11:00 am – 4:00pm. Join us for a gourmet, four-course, prix fixe luncheon including butternut squash agnolotti, roasted turkey, seasonal vegetables and dessert. Looking to celebrate in the comfort of your own home with family and friends? Let us do the cooking with an available take-out option. Contact us today for more information.