The past few days have been busy ones for the LNFI Heritage Committee. It's been a great wrap up to our various projects that have been taking place over the past few months. Here's a summary of what we've been doing:
Saturday, Feb 17 We had over 270 attendees at our Family Day Weekend screening of our documentary The Casorsos: La Prima Famiglia. This great turn out was thanks in large part to media coverage we received from both Castanet and CBC Radio. The crowd response was overwhelmingly positive. Monday, Feb 19 We were in not one but two places for the kick off of Heritage Week. Don Rampone and Gord Hotchkiss were at the Okanagan Heritage Museum for the final day of the La Nostra Famiglia Italiana: Our Legacy in Kelowna exhibit. Again, we had an amazing turn out, with almost 300 guests coming and touring the exhibit. Then, Tina Vigilante and Jane Rampone manned our table at the Kelowna Community Theatre for the Heritage Fair. Thanks to all for spreading the word about our Club and our activities. We had a lot of enthusiastic interest! Tuesday, Feb 20 It was bittersweet, but we went down to the Museum to take pictures of all the artifacts when we took down the exhibit. It was a fantastic partnership with the team and Kelowna Museums. For those that loaned us artifacts, we'll be in touch in the next few days to coordinate returns. Wednesday, Feb 21 Then, we attended the COHS Heritage Awards where the Casorso documentary took home one of two awards for Special Heritage Project for the Casorso documentary (two awards in this category were given. Our friends at the Kelowna and District Genealogical Society also won for their amazing Cemetery Recording project).
0 Comments
The next video we're working on in our Legacy Series will tell the story of our own Club. We're looking for any photos you might have from the early days of the Club (especially the 60's & 70's). Also, if you happen to have video or film footage, we'd love to know about it!
You can contact us by emailing kcicnfi@gmail.com WE WANT YOUR STORIES!
Five years ago, the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club began to collect stories of the early Italian families in the Kelowna area. Each year we published 30 stories, one each day in June, which is Italian Heritage Month. At the end of June we put them into print form. In 2019 the stories focussed on those families that arrived here before 1919, in 2020 it was families arriving here in the 20s and 30s, in 2021 the 40s and 50s, in 2022 the 1960s founding families of the KCIC, and in 2023 those that were born here in the 20s and 30s. All 150 of these stories are on the KCIC website: https://www.kelownaitalianclub.com/kelownas-first-families This year we are collecting 30 stories from families that have been in this area for 50 years or more…. Deadline for submissions is February 29, 2024. Stories need only be one page in length and include at least one photo (preferably two). Would you please help us by passing this message on to any family member you believe could help us with these stories. If needed, I can send you an outline that others have found useful in writing their stories. Reply directly to Don Rampone at rampone@telus.net Notes from Luca Lanari: Tonco (Asti) - Novembre 2022 - Ripresa Aerea con Drone Mavic Air 2 - Music: Jazzanova - Bohemian Sunset - Edit: Da Vinci Resolve This month's View over Italy is special in a couple of ways. First of all, Tonco, in the province of Asti in the Piemonte region. is the hometown of Giovanni and Rosa Casorzo, so this beautiful footage from Luca Lanari gives us a sneak peek into their story, debuting later this month in a full-length documentary.
Secondly, it's also close to the hometown of the Rampone family (who come from Frinco) and our own Don Rampone is over there right now, doing some family tree research. There are not a lot of people in Tonco, which according to Wikipedia has a population of about 900 people. It's about 40 kilometres east of Torino, which would be the nearest major city. Agriculture is the primary industry and the Casorzo family still has a factory in Tonco which manufactures farming equipment. The 13th annual ICAP conference will be held in Kelowna, BC and will highlight a project undertaken by one of ICAP’s Institutional Members, The Kelowna Canadian Italian Club. The theme for the conference this year is “LEGACY: From Personal Stories to A Community Narrative.”
KCIC Members can register for the conference for free. For more information about the conference, the program and registration link, visit the ICAP site by clicking the link below. You can also contact us at kcicnfi@gmail.com... Congratulations to KCIC member Matilde Arrigoni who graduated from Kelowna Secondary School.
We are pleased to announce that Matilde has received the KCIC Bursary 2023. Matilde is an active member of the Club since she moved to Canada from Italy in 2015. She participated in the Lady of the Lake program as Miss Kelowna Canadian Italian Club 2022. She also regularly volunteers at the monthly dinners and helps La Bella Tavola cooking classes. Matilde is fluent in Italian, is very proud of her Italian origins and culture, and happy to be part of the Italian Club. After a long journey that brought her to Kelowna with her family, Matilde became a Canadian Citizen this year. She loves Kelowna and the Okanagan and she will be studying at the Faculty of Science at UBCO in September, her goal being to pursue a career in Medicine. ITALIAN: Congratulazioni a Matilde Arrigoni, membro del Kelowna Canadian Italian Club che si è diplomata questo fine settimana a KSS Kelowna Secondary School. Siamo lieti di annunciare che Matilde ha ricevuto la Borsa di Studio del Club KCIC per l'anno 2023. Matilde è un membro attivo del Club fin da quando è immigrata in Canada dall'Italia nel 2015. Ha partecipato al programma Lady of the Lake come Miss Kelowna Canadian Italian Club 2022. Partecipa anche come volontaria agli appuntamenti delle cene mensili ed aiuta durante le lezioni di cucina della Bella Tavola. Matilde parla perfettamente italiano, è orgogliosa della propria cultura e origini italiane, e felice di far parte del Club Italiano di Kelowna. Dopo una lunga avventura che l'ha portata con la famiglia a Kelowna, quest'anno Matilde è diventata Cittadina Canadese. Adora Kelowna e l'Okanagan ed in settembre inizierà una nuova avventura studiando alla Facoltà di Scienze dell'Università della British Columbia campus dell'Okanagan, per perseguire la carriera di Medico. For today's View over Italy, we fly over to the Marche region and visit the comune of Mondavio for some stunning views of Rocca di Mondavio - the imposing castle built in the 15th century, designed by Tuscan architect Francesco di Giorgio Martini.
Notes from Luca Lanari: Mondavio (Pesaro e Urbino) - Rocca Roveresca - Ottobre 2022 - Ripresa Aerea con Drone Mavic Air 2 - Music: Thomas Lemmer - Awakening - Edit: Da Vinci Resolve From Wikipedia Mondavio is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in the Italian region Marche, located about 45 kilometres (28 mi) west of Ancona and about 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of Pesaro. Things to see: Rocca di Mondavio, a Renaissance castle designed by Francesco di Giorgio Martini and built between 1482 and 1492. Santi Pietro e Paterniano Santa Maria della Quercia San Francesco Civic Museum and Pinacoteca, Mondavio From the Mondavio Guide: Mondavio, is one of Italy's most enchanting destinations. The drive from Ancona unveils a scenic route, winding uphill through picturesque hills that lead you further inland. As you approach Mondavio, the sight becomes increasingly impressive. The majestic castle and the striking trio of bell towers, nestled within the impeccably preserved town walls, command attention and dominate the idyllic countryside that stretches beyond. Prepare to be captivated by the timeless beauty and rich history of Mondavio, a place where past and present seamlessly merge. Link to Marche Tourism Site For this month's View Over Italy, we return to Lago di Como and the small town of Griante, on the western shore.
Notes from Luca Lanari Griante (Lago di Como) - Giugno 2022 - Ripresa Aerea con Drone Mavic Air 2 - Music: Cydelix (ft Fotis Kostopulos-Shelter) - Tobacco Juice - Edit: Da Vinci Resolve From Wikipedia Griante is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located on the western shore of Lake Como about 25 kilometres (16 mi) northeast of Como between Menaggio (to the north) and Tremezzo. Griante also borders the communes of Bellagio and Varenna on the other side of the lake. The commune of Griante itself is situated some 50 metres above lake level, on a wide plateau. The portion of the commune sitting on the lake, where the community's tourist industry is situated, is known as Cadenabbia di Griante. In 1853, Giulio Ricordi built a mansion, Villa Margherita Ricordi, in Cadenabbia di Griante on the shore of Lake Como where Verdi visited and is thought to have composed some parts of La Traviata. Tourism Info for Griante (from Mylakecomo.co) The village of Griante is located in a wide plain within the central area of Lake Como, opposite to the Bellagio promontory and with the Grigne Dolomite range as a background. Thanks to its privileged location, which grants the town a temperate climate, Griante area is full of villas. The majority of these villas are located near the lakeshore and were built between the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, when tourism steeply increased in Tremezzina and Griante began to attract British and German tourists. The villas hosted distinguished personalities: Giuseppe Verdi composed the most beautiful arias of La Traviata surrounded by the quiet of Villa Margherita (also called Villa Ricordi). The Chartreuse de Parme, Stendhal’s masterpiece, was mainly set in Griante. H. W. Longfellow dedicated some marvellous lines to Cadenabbia. Furthermore, among the personalities who stayed in Griante, feature: Queen Victoria of England, Nicholas II of Russia, the German Emperor Wilhelm II, the Prince Umberto II di Savoia (before becoming the last king of Italy), pope Pius XI as well as chancellor Konrad Adenauer, one of the European Union’s founding fathers, who used to describe Griante as his “second home.” Griante’s beautiful villas, surrounded by gardens and parks hosting precious tree species, present a fascinating path stretching from Cadenabbia to Menaggio, along the Greenway. Worth a visit: the Anglican Church of Ascension, the church of Santi Nabore e Felice and the church of San Martino, with its panoramic trail. Find out more at the Lake Como Tourism Website. The nearest major airport to Griante is Malpensa Airport in Milan. The Kelowna Canadian Italian Club was recognized by Heritage BC for their work in collecting and preserving the Italian heritage of the Central Okanagan. Don Rampone and Gord Hotchkiss, co-chairs of the La Nostra Famiglia Italiana (Our Italian Family) Committee, both received the Outstanding Impact Volunteer Award at the Heritage BC Awards Ceremony, May 27th in Chilliwack, BC.
The Club is currently working on a full schedule of heritage events for this fall, including partnering on a major exhibit with the Okanagan Heritage Museum celebrating 140 years of Italian contribution to the Central Okanagan, a wine tasting event recognizing Italian contributions to the industry and the debut of their Legacy Video series. "Heritage BC is pleased to award to Gord Hotchkiss and Don Rampone, Co-Chairs of La Nostra Famiglia Italiana Committee, our Outstanding Impact in Volunteering award", says Britney Dack, Chair of Heritage BC. The storytelling of Italian Canadian pioneer families is an example of community led cultural heritage preservation. The success of the project required exhaustive research and a commendable commitment building community". For Gord and Don, the recognition is welcome acknowledgment of the importance of preserving these stories: “During these past five years we have written 150 family stories, conducted 32 online family tree workshop sessions, presented 30 public heritage evenings, scanned 2500 documents for our local archives and we have over 60 hours of video interviews for our Legacy video series which is currently in production. During all of these events and activities we have been rewarded with many connections we have discovered between people, families, places and events. Being presented with a Heritage BC award is the icing on the cake, that will keep us motivated to continue this project.” "It is with an immense amount of pleasure that I congratulate Gord Hotchkiss and Don Rampone for this fantastic accomplishment,” adds KCIC President Rosann Nanci. “We are so proud of these two individuals and are so grateful for their dedication to the preservation of Italian Canadian history in the Central Okanagan. Italian Canadians have made significant contributions to our region for over 140 years, specifically in the areas of agriculture, construction, and winemaking. Without the diligence of people like Gord and Don, who are painstakingly sifting through less than perfect archives, individual collections that have been relegated to boxes in the garage, or worse; that history would be lost. The KCIC's mission statement is to preserve our heritage and promote our culture, and I believe these two gentlemen have helped to fulfil that quest. Mille Grazie!” For more information about the award or for media inquiries, please contact the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club at kcicnfi@shaw.ca or call Gord Hotchkiss at 778 484 7100. This month, we head to the far south of Italy (about as far as you can go!) and feature a beautiful tour over Scilla in Reggio Calabria, courtesy of Luca Lanari. Here are Luca's production notes: Scilla (RC) - Castello Ruffo - 1 Gennaio 2023 - Riprese Aeree con Drone Mavic Air 2 - Music: Kinobe - Slip Into Something More Comfortable - Edit: Da Vinci Resolve Here's Some Information on Scilla From Wikipedia: Scilla is a town and comune in Calabria, Italy, administratively part of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria. It is the traditional site of the sea monster Scylla of Greek mythology. Description The town, 22 kilometres (14 mi) from the city of Reggio, lies in front of the strait of Messina, and is composed of two parts: the downtown, where the town offices and the residence of the patron saint are situated, and Marina di Scilla, the beach-front, populated by tourists and thus heavily characterized by hotels and restaurants. Its beach is the first place north of Reggio Calabria where the waters are not cooled by the strait draughts. Scilla's coastal district of Chianalea is included in the I Borghi più belli d'Italia association of small Italian towns of historical interest list. The Ruffo Castle, a fortress built by the Dukes of Calabria, overlooks the beach. On a seaward-facing terrace is Scilla Lighthouse, an important aid to ships entering the Strait of Messina from the north. History It is said that Tyrrhenian pirates were the first to settle this coastal area in 493 BC, but others claim it was already settled during the time of the Trojan Wars in the 12th century BC. The town of Scilla has ancient origins that relate mainly to the period of the destruction of Troy and invokes the myths and legends of Ulysses with Scylla and Charybdis, of Homer and Dante Alighieri. The town's name derives from the mythological figure of Scylla, a young nymph who refused Glauco's love. He thus went to the sorceress Circe, who was in love with him, and asked her to help him win Scylla's heart. The offended sorceress poisoned the sea-pool where the nymph used to bathe, turning her into a horrific six dog-headed monster who destroyed every ship crossing the Strait of Messina. Scylla is said to live in the rock of Scilla, which the Castello di Ruffo sits on. In 1806, during the British expedition to Sicily to oppose the French invasion of Naples, the Castle of Scilla was twice besieged. Visiting Scilla If you're flying directly to Scilla, you can either fly to the Tito Minniti Strait Airport, or the larger airport at Lamezia Terma. You can also take the national trains (Trenitalia) from any other location in Italy to the Piazza Garibaldi train station at Reggio Calabria, then take the regional trains to Scilla. Official Tourism Page: https://turismo.reggiocal.it/en/metropolitan-area/tyrrhenian-coast-reggio-calabria/scilla TripAdvisor Scilla Page https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Tourism-g1125982-Scilla_Province_of_Reggio_Calabria_Calabria-Vacations.html Images courtesy of https://turismo.reggiocal.it
|
Club NewsWe post the latest right from the KCIC & Our Partners! Categories
All
Archives
February 2024
|