Chi siamo | WHO WE ARE

kcic executive and board - 2025

Since 1966, the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club has been an integral hub for the Italian Community in Kelowna. Through that time, our Executive and Board have always strived to provide a place to socially connect with others, a way to share a common heritage and a mission to contribute to the greater community. 
EXECUTIVE
President – Mary Bazzana 
[email protected]
Vice-President – Vacant
Secretary – Andrea Meyes
[email protected]
Treasurer – Graziana Hoce
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​Past President - Rosann Nanci
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​DIRECTORS
Janet Gagnon
Joe Monna
​Luca Salis
​Ricardo Scebba
George Marine
​​Vacant position
TRUSTEES
Bianca Iafrancesco
Patricia Rantucci
Rhonda Ewen

our executive

Mary bazzana

president

Mary accepts her new role as President with great respect to all who have led before her, and looks forward to blending the traditions of our past with the new accomplishments of our future.  She thanks all the Club members, the Club's future is bright!

​Mary has been a Director on the Board since 2004.  Key areas of focus have been Membership and Bursary, as well as her involvement in many events and activities.  
Her parents were founding members, as were her other relatives, so she truly has been involved since birth, and seen the Club evolve since its inception.  

Mary feels a deep connection and appreciation for the customs and culture of her Italian heritage, and hopes to encourage younger generations to experience the warmth of connection, and the joy of involvement, as we together create the Club’s vibrant future.

A proud Nonna, Mary lives for multi-generational gatherings of ‘Italian-style love’ in the form of fine food, family, friends, and VQA wine.

vacant

VICE PRESIDENT

 

andrea meyes

secretary

Andrea's involvement in the club is anchored in memory of her Nonni, who immigrated to Canada in the 1950s to embark on the Canadian dream.  Nonna and Nonno were proud Canadians, yet never forgot or lost their Italian roots; a strong pulse that remains in the family today.
Since childhood, Italian culture and heritage infused Andrea's life, whether through family, cooking, language, travel, music, or books.  Her post-secondary education included a minor in Italian studies, where she further delved into the rich and often tumultuous history of Italy.
Andrea is grateful to be a part of the KCIC team and its initiatives: worthy endeavours to honour, preserve, and promote the legacy of her Nonni, and so many others like them, for their descendants and community.

GRAZIANA HOCE

TREASURER

Graziana was born in Regina, Saskatchewan to Italian immigrants from Friuli.  Her parents were founding members of the G. Marconi Italian Club in Regina.  Graziana was involved with the Canadian Italian Club in Regina as a youth ambassador during Mosaic; a Multicultural festival celebrated every year in June.  She also served as treasurer of the Italian Club in Regina as well as president of the Le Campagnole Italian Dancers in Regina.
Graziana moved to West Kelowna in 2005 with her husband Allan and children Alex, Lisa, and Eric.  Soon after she became a member of the Kelowna Italian Club.
She works as a Controller with a local Property Management Company.
Graziana is proud of her Italian heritage and encourages the younger generation to become involved with the club to promote the Italian heritage.

rosann nanci

past president

Rosann is a long time member of the club having served as President from 2020 to 2024;  Vice President from 2018 to 2020, and has been on the Board of Directors since 2013. She has organized several of the large functions for our club including the 50th Anniversary Gala weekend, New Year's Eve Gala Dinner and Dance, and the Member's Gala Dinner & Dance. 

Rosann remains committed to the promotion of Italian culture and the preservation of our heritage in our community.  She encourages members of the Italian community to work together to maintain our social traditions; language, customs, and culinary arts.  She believes that through interactions with each other we can promote understanding, compassion, and a joy for life that is typically the Italian way of living.

meet OUR BOARD members

JOE MONNA

Joe Monna was born in Naples, Italy and immigrated to Calgary, AB Canada in 1970 at the age of 23.

He worked for the City of Calgary for 30 years (1977-2007) in maintenance and inspection. He also managed and ran his own construction business - Joe's Residential from 1972 to 2016.

He retired in 2007  and enjoyed spending time with his family and traveling to Italy, Germany and New York. He relocated to Kelowna in 2016.

He joined the Kelowna Italian Club in 2016 and started volunteering on and off. 

Joe is excited to serve as a  director and he looks forward to working with fellow board members to share ideas as he learn & grows in this position.

luca salis

Luca Salis was born in Trentino, Italy but spent the majority of his life living in Rome, until immigrating to
Canada in 2013. His late father Fernando was Sardinian and his mother Mirta from Trentino, where she
lives now along with Luca’s uncle.
Luca started his Canadian journey in Regina, Saskatchewan and then moved to Calgary, Alberta were he
worked as a drafter/designer in an architectural firm and later opened and operated his own renovation
business. In 2020 Luca and his fiancée Simone moved to the Okanagan to be closer to family and
friends, as she originates from BC herself, and have created a life they love. Luca is currently working for
a local developer in project management.
Luca is family oriented and passionate about travel, cultures and fashion. You can find him snow
boarding in the winter or at the lake in the summer, and his favorite time is spent with Simone and their
much loved pets. He joined the KCIC in 2024 and is looking forward to working with the board in
supporting the Italian community in Kelowna and growing its presence.
GEORGE MARINE
George is a bilingual hospitality and property management industry executive with over 40 years of experience, he has held Hotels and Resorts General Manager/ Area Director positions for over 25 years in the US, Canada, the Middle East, and the Caribbean’s with prominent International hotel chains such as IHG, Hilton, Helnan International Hotels, Gouverneur Hotels, Sonesta Hotels & Resorts, Lane Hospitality, Royal Host , Silverbirch Hotels & Resorts , Atlific Hotels and the Skyline Group of Companies.
George began his hotel career with the International hotel chain Westin Hotels & Resorts during his 14 years tenure with Westin he has held various Food and Beverage senior management positions at the Westin in Montreal, Dallas, Houston, Hawaii and Southern California.
He was selected as one of an elite group of directors to attend the exclusive “Westin Corps” Executive Development Program in 1990, and the Skyline Leadership Development Program in 2021.
He has also completed the General Manager certification programs with Holiday Inn University, Crowne Plaza, Wyndham, Ramada, Carlson Radisson and Best Western Hotels.
Throughout his career George has been active in numerous associations, he served as Chairman of the Jefferson Parish Hotel & Motel Association, Director on the Board of the New Orleans Hotel & Motel Association, New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, New Orleans Rotary Club, Hoteliers Association of Quebec, Ottawa-Gatineau Hotel Association Board director, Kingsway Business Association Board Director. SKAL Edmonton Club Executive Committee member, President for the Association of Edmonton Convention Hotels Director/Vice -Chair  Alberta Hotels& Lodging Association, Director Vice-Chair Edmonton Destination Marketing Hotels Association, President Kelowna Hotel & Motel Association. Chair, Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, Member, Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Policy Advisory Committee.