Toronto Landmarks to Mark Villa Charities’
50th Anniversary with Commemorative Lighting
On Thursday, April 15, Toronto will be lit up in the colours of the Italian flag! To commemorate Villa Charities’ 50th Anniversary, Toronto landmarks the CN Tower and the TORONTO sign at Nathan Phillips Square will be lit in the Italian green, white and red, signifying Villa Charities’ importance as a pillar for the GTA’s Italian-Canadian community over the last 50 years.
 
To celebrate the occasion, we will also be hosting a photo contest at each landmark! Enter to win a $100 Eataly Toronto gift card by taking a photo of the TORONTO sign lit in green, white and red, beginning at 9am on April 15! Don’t forget to tag us (@villa_charities) and Eataly (@EatalyToronto) in the photo for your chance to win.
 
You will also be eligible to win another $100 Eataly Toronto gift card by snapping a photo of the CN Tower lit in green, white, and red and tagging us (@villa_charities). The themed lighting at the CN Tower will occur on the half-hour of each hour, following a standard eight-minute light show, from sunset to midnight. View the lighting in person if you live in the neighbourhood or watch the CN Tower’s EarthCam feed here.
 
Please be sure to participate safely and follow all the recommended COVID-19 protocols if you plan to be at the CN Tower or Nathan Phillips Square. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date on all #VCI50 initiatives.
TLN Media Group Commemorates VCI’s 50th Anniversary
In celebration of Villa Charities’ 50th Anniversary, TLN Media Group has produced a series of commemorative interstitials featuring interviews with members of the Villa Charities family, including founders, board members and stakeholders. These videos will be shared through Villa Charities’ platforms and will air on TLN and Mediaset Italia TV channels beginning in April to tell the Villa Charities story.
 
Join the #VCI50 Celebration with our Customized Filters and Frames
In honour of our 50th anniversary this year, we're sharing lots of fun and interactive social media content for the Villa Charities community. Celebrate #VCI50 with our custom Instagram filter and Facebook frame! Join in the festivities with these interactive features and be sure to tag us on social media so we can see!
 
Don't Miss the Final Lecture for “Seven Decades of Fellini”
Don’t miss your last chance to enjoy this virtual lecture series that commemorates Federico Fellini's one-hundredth birthday by taking a journey through the Maestro's filmography. Each lecture is dedicated to a specific period of Fellini's career by concentrating on dominant themes that characterize his films of the period in question. Whatever the decade, Fellini never ceases to explore the mystery of life with a sense of wonder. The final lecture is next Tuesday, April 6, at 7:00pm. Registration is only $5.00 per lecture.
 
Join us as we Commemorate Festa della Liberazione on April 25
April 25 is celebrated as Festa della Liberazione (Liberation Day) in Italy; it is a heartfelt national holiday that commemorates the end of the fascist regime and of the Nazi Germany occupation, the victory of the Resistance and the Allied Forces, and the end of WWII for our Bel Paese. Join us for this online commemoration on Sunday, April 25 at 12:00pm that will explore this place in time where Italian history and Canadian history became one, starting a friendship that is still strong today. This project is presented by Villa Charities, in collaboration with the Istituto Italiano di Cultura.
 
Just Announced: Virtual Town Hall with the CEO
We invite you to join us for our next Virtual Town Hall with Marco DeVuono, Acting President and CEO of Villa Charities, on Thursday, April 29 at 6pm. We will share the latest news and updates about Villa Charities, the Columbus Centre and our seniors’ apartments. We look forward to hearing your questions and thoughts on our upcoming programs, services and activities, as we prepare to reopen our on-site operations following provincial and local public health COVID-19 guidelines. If you would like to participate, please RSVP by Tuesday, April 27 to csimpson@villacharities.com and we will send you the GoToMeeting link to use.
Enjoy the “Toronto Salutes Dante” Presentations
Villa Charities is proud to sponsor “Toronto Salutes Dante”, which commemorates the 700th anniversary of the death of Dante Alighieri, and features more than thirty Canada-based guests who will read Dante’s “Inferno” in various languages, several for the first time. In addition to ten different Italian dialects, eighteen other languages are represented. In 15-minute clips, well-known personalities of Canadian public and cultural life, professors and students at the University of Toronto,
and members of the Italo-Canadian community share their voices and fresh memories of the most important Italian author in world literature. Listen to Dante’s “Inferno” as you have never heard it before on the Department of Italian Studies’ YouTube channel, now through June 2021.
 
Our Short Story Book Club, “Racconti In Italiano” Continues Through April
With a focus on learning new Italian vocabulary, this online book club offers adult students at any level the opportunity to discuss contemporary short stories in both Italian and English. A variety of literary themes and styles are covered including stories by established literary figures, as well as a new generation of writers, with stories that explore aspects of Italian life. The next workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, April 28 at 12:00pm.
 
April’s Book Club Selection, "Le Otto Montagne/The Eight Mountains” is Here
Our online book club is an opportunity to explore and discuss contemporary
Italian literature while learning Italian. Join us for our April session, where
we will embark on literary adventures with extraordinary works by acclaimed prize-
winning authors. The next workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, April 28 at 7:00pm as we read "Le Otto Montagne/The Eight Mountains" by Paolo Cognetti.
 
The Latest Art News and Events Discussed with “Art & Aperitivo”
Join us virtually, enjoy a drink, and master the Italian language with the "Art & Aperitivo" classes! "Art & Aperitivo" is an opportunity to talk about art in a relaxed environment, while enjoying your favourite drink together virtually. In this online interactive workshop, we will discuss the most significant art news and events from around the world, using Italian magazines and newspapers. We invite you to practice your Italian while expressing your views. We hope to see you next Thursday, April 8 at 7:00pm!
 
Escape to Italy with our “Travel Through Italy” Online Series
Take a virtual journey through the beautiful regions and cities of Italy! From North to South, get inspired by landscapes, recipes, small towns, poems, art, literature masterpieces and local tales. Whether you are sharing your Italian origins with your classmates or simply your love for this country, you will get to know lots of new Italian words, customs and friends! Don't miss the spring term workshops starting Monday, April 12 at 6:30pm for the English-speaking class and 7:45pm for the Italian-speaking class.
 
Book Your Virtual One-on-One Meeting for Friday Chats with the CEO
You can have a virtual meeting with Marco DeVuono, Acting 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 Marco 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. The next Friday Chats is scheduled for Friday, April 9. Contact us today to schedule your virtual meeting – call 416-789-7011 ext. 240 or email csimpson@villacharities.com.
Register for Our Live Virtual Workshop, "April Flowers Paint Night"
Explore your artistic abilities in this fun and interactive workshop, well suited for beginners and those with previous experience. Learn to paint bright, colourful flowers with guided help from professional artist Sam Paonessa. A reference image will be provided upon registration and students will learn about chrome, value, colour temperature and maximizing effectiveness, while expressing their own creativity. Don’t miss this live virtual workshop, Thursday, April 15 at 6:30pm.
 
Virtual Group Fitness Classes Continue at the Columbus Centre
The Columbus Centre Athletic Club continues to offer Live Virtual Group Fitness classes. Our certified instructors are offering courses six days a week! Check out Tuesday's class – Fine Toning. The fine toning method implies leanness in the body, noticeable muscle definition and shape, but not significant muscle size, working the smallest of muscles for the best results! Monthly membership fees are only $24.99 + HST and include access to our full fitness class video library. For more information, visit our website and register today.
 
Tax Clinic Offered by the Office of MPP Ahmed Hussen to Casa Abruzzo Residents
On March 12, the office of MPP Ahmed Hussen helped the residents of Casa Abruzzo to file their taxes with a special tax clinic. We are happy to provide access to complimentary programs and services like this to the residents in our independent seniors’ apartments.
Residents Celebrate Saint Joseph’s Day
On March 19, the residents at Casa Del Zotto, Caboto Terrace and Casa Abruzzo celebrated the annual tradition of Saint Joseph’s Day. To follow current COVID-19 safety protocols, this year the delicious Italian desert, zeppole, and coffee were delivered directly to their doors!
 
Celebrate Food, Music and Life this Easter Sunday on TLN TV
This Easter Sunday celebrate food, music and life as TLN presents a special daytime lineup of timeless musical performances from 9:00am-5:00pm, followed by an evening of Easter inspired celebrations with celebrity chefs Lidia Bastianich at 6:00pm and David Rocco at 8:00pm.