Coming to Pier 21: Conversations with Italian Women
Coming to Halifax Documentary on YouTube (27 minutes)
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Beginning with a screening of the short documentary, Coming to Halifax, and followed by a conversation and Q&A with filmmaker Nancy Spina, we shared the challenges and courage of Italian women who came to Canada to start a new life. Mary Wooldridge (nee Naccarato) and Jill Hotchkiss (nee Pucci) also shared their families stories of coming to Pier 21.
It was a touching and enlightening conversation that brought a uniquely female perspective to the immigrant experience. 
Special Guest: Nancy Spina
2021-2022 Lillian Robinson Scholar, Institute Simone de Beauvoir at Concordia University Nancy is an educator and a researcher. She is a first-generation Italian-Canadian and is currently the Vice-president of the Italian Canadian Cultural Association of Nova Scotia (ICCANS). She is passionate about recovering the history of Italians and Italian-Canadians women in Halifax. |
DALLA TERRA: THE ITALIAN CONTRIBUTION TO OKANAGAN AGRICULTURE
Intro Video (1:00 long)
The Second Casorso Home (2:33 long)
The Third Casorso Home (3:05 long)
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Our Presentation Partner
For almost 140 years, since Giovanni Casorzo first came to the Oblate Mission with Father Charles Pandosy, Italians have played an integral role in the development of agriculture here in the Okanagan. Learn more about the roots of this industry that came "dalla terra" - from the soil.
Join our special guest, Rob Casorso and hear how 5 - going on 6 - generations of this family have farmed on the same land, growing ground crops, tobacco, grapes, orchards and raising livestock that supplied much of the southern half of BC. This special Zoom presentation will take place at the Okanagan Wine and Orchard Museum. You'll also get a virtual tour of their new exhibit space with Rob, Jen Garner from Kelowna Museums and Don Rampone. Rob and Don will share their own memories of growing up on family farms in the Okanagan Mission area. 
Special Guest: Rob Casorso
Rob Casorso and his family still live on the original Casorso homestead and actively farm it with his brother John. Rob has been an integral player in the development of the modern tree fruit industry. Today, many of the original Casorso buildings have been refurbished and used as a special event venue under the guidance of Rob's daughter Amanda and his wife Nadene. |
DIALETTI! THE EVOLUTION OF ITALIAN DIALECTS
Wednesday, February 16, 2022
ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE KCIC YOUTUBE CHANNEL
ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE KCIC YOUTUBE CHANNEL
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As any Italian will tell you, every region has its own way of expressing itself verbally. In fact, there are over 30 dialects spoken throughout Italy, broadly grouped into 3 categories: The Northern Dialects, The Tuscan and Central Dialects and the Southern Dialects.
In addition to to creating a bewildering linguistic puzzle, the story of these dialects also help us understand the heart and soul of Italy. We are joined by our special guest, Gabriella Colussi-Arthur, who will take us on a fascinating linguistic and regional journey, sharing the historical and social significance of these many dialects and how they have evolved over the years. 
Special Guest: Gabriella Colussi Arthur
Gabriella Colussi Arthur is Professor Emerita and Senior Scholar from the Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, York University. Her main areas of expertise include teaching Italian language and culture from elementary to advanced levels, Italian language pedagogy, Italian-English translation, and Italian-Canadian Studies. |
RECAPITULATION: THE STORY OF SVEVA CAETANI
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
WATCH THE FULL PRESENTATION - AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE
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The Caetani story illuminates many issues that still resonate today: art, history, immigration, colonization, mental health, overcoming adversity, and celebrating the human creative spirit.
Descending from Italian royalty, Sveva Caetani represented the last of an ancient line that traces its roots back over 1,000 years and includes two medieval popes and noted politicians, academics, artists, writers, and musicians. 2021 marks the 100th anniversary year since the family immigrated from Italy to Canada. The patriarch, Leone Caetani, Duke of Sermoneta, and his 16 other titles, was a parliamentarian and celebrated scholar of Islam. With the rise in fascism following WWI, out of all the places in the world he had travelled, he chose Vernon. Leaving Italy abruptly and under somewhat mysterious circumstances, the small family arrived on the shores of Okanagan Landing by paddlewheel with 33 trunks. There, they would live a life of wealth, privilege, travel and luxury throughout the Roaring Twenties until the economic crash of 1929 decimated their fortunes. Following the death of Leone in 1935, the story takes an ominous and disturbing turn as the young Sveva was kept a prisoner in her own home for over 25 years by her mother, Ofelia. Both mother and daughter were devastated by Leone’s death. After Ofelia's death in 1960, Sveva rediscovered the world outside and would go on to become one of Canada's most treasured artists. 
Special Guest: Susan Brandoli
Susan Brandoli is an artist, writer, curator and lecturer living in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. Brandoli is a graduate of the Master of Fine Arts program, Interdisciplinary (Visual Arts and Critical Theory), Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, University of British Columbia, Okanagan, and also holds degrees in History (BA), and Visual Arts (BFA, distinction) from the University of Regina, Saskatchewan. She has been with the Caetani Cultural Centre since January, 2013. Brandoli has taught as a sessional instructor in Visual Arts at Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops. Brandoli served as the Director/Curator of the Vernon Public Art Gallery Society for twelve years, and was co-owner of the Fugitive Gallery, Vernon, BC. Brandoli worked at the Dunlop Art Gallery in Regina, Sask., and was a founding member of Neutral Ground Artist Run Centre, Regina, Sask. |
EMILIO PICARIELLO: THE RISE AND FALL OF A BOOTLEGGER
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
WATCH THE FULL PRESENTATION - AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE
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Emilio Picariello remains one of the enigmatic personalities of his time, capturing the imaginations of Canadians today almost as much as he did during his sensational murder trial and death by hanging over ninety years ago.
From his arrival in Canada to his death, Picariello was a larger-than-life personality. In 1899, at the age of 20, he immigrated to the United States. He came to Toronto in 1902 and arrived in Fernie in 1911. He was a loving husband to Maria and proud father of their six children. Picariello became a bootlegger operating between Fernie in British Columbia and Blairmore and Lethbridge in Alberta, as well as the American Pacific Northwest. On September 21, 1922, the A.P.P. and local police set up a sting operation in Coleman and Blairmore to entrap Picariello and his men while engaged in a bootlegging run. Chased by the police, Picariello’s son Steve was shot in the hand by A.P.P. Constable Stephen Oldacres Lawson. Picariello, accompanied by a young family friend, Florence Lassandro, confronted Lawson about his son’s condition later that evening at the A.P.P. detachment in Coleman, and Lawson was shot. After a sensational trial in Calgary in which Picariello and Lassandro were tried jointly, they were found guilty of murder and sentenced to hang. 
Special Guest: Adriana A. Davies
Adriana A. Davies has worked as a writer, editor, lecturer, executive director and curator in England and Canada. Professional accomplishments include: Science and Technology Editor, The Canadian Encyclopedia; Executive Director, Alberta Museums Association and Heritage Community Foundation; and Editor-in-Chief Alberta Online Encyclopedia – www.albertasource.ca. She has undertaken a range of curatorial work much of it supported by publications such as: Collins' Encyclopaedia of Antiques (1973); Dictionary of British Portraiture, Volumes 1 and 4 (1979); From Realism to Abstraction: The Art of J. B. Taylor (2014); The Rise and Fall of Emilio Picariello (2016); The Frontier of Patriotism: Alberta and the First World War (co-editor, 2016); and From Sojourners to Citizens: Alberta’s Italian History (2021). Honours include Order of Canada (2010); Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012); Italian Knighthood (2015); Alberta Museums Association Life Time Achievement Award; Alberta Centennial Medal; Global Woman of Vision; and YWCA Woman of Distinction. Her talk will focus on the tragic events arising from bootlegging in the Crowsnest Pass resulting in the murder of Constable Stephen Lawson, and death by hanging of Emilio Picariello and Florence Lassandro. She will examine the role of racism in the treatment of the accused and whether or not they received a fair trial. |
IL NOSTRO LASCITO | THE LEGACY PROJECT
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
WATCH THE FULL PRESENTATION - AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE
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Our LNFI Committee has big plans for the next couple years, including new exciting partnerships. Join us for a sneak preview at all that's coming in Il Nostro Lascito | Our Legacy Project!
LNFI Co-Chairs Gord Hotchkiss and Don Rampone will host this special preview of the plans for Our Legacy Project, including exciting news about partnerships with the Kelowna Museum and ICAP, the Italian Canadian Archives Project. Spoiler Alert - 2023 will be a big year! You can watch the presentation on YouTube |
previous LNFI sessions
game our nonni taught usFebruary 18, 2020
It was all fun and games - literally - when LNFI invited our members to come and share the games they learned from their Nonni and loved as children. Joe Monna gave us an introduction to Tombola and many members tried their hand(s) at Scopa and Briscola. Of course, the indoor bocce lanes were busy throughout the night as well. We had a good turn out from all generations! Thanks to all who shared their stories and memories. It was a fantastic evening and we'll have to schedule a repeat sometime soon!
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sharing our memoriesJanuary 25, 2020
The LNFI Committee kicked of our archival project by asking our members to bring in any photos, documents, newspaper clippings or other memorabilia that could be included in the Club's own archives. We scanned several photos and documents while a highly competitive indoor bocce tournament took place beside us. This was a trial for us just to see what the process would look like. It will continue throughout 2020 as we launch a resource available to our own members and the public. We will be working together with the public archives at the Kelowna Museum. Our goal is to have the archive up and functioning for our 55th anniversary in 2021!
Thanks to all who came out and helped. It was a great first step! |
Between neighbours: Okanagan Italians during World War IINovember 29, 2019
It was a fascinating - and sometimes tragic - story. On June 10, 1940 hundreds of Italian men were rounded up from across Canada and sent to Internment Camps as enemy aliens. In many cases, they were naturalized citizens who had lived in Canada for many years. We looked at what happened elsewhere and focused on the Italian Community here in the Okanagan. What happens when a war comes Between Neighbours?
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
A PDF of the entire presentation (without videos) is available below.
Books and Videos Referenced in the Presentation:
Website from Villa Columbus - a wonderful resource! http://www.italiancanadianww2.ca/villa/home The video Piazza Petawawa on Vimeo: vimeo.com/96100674 Books: Injustice Served by Raymond Culos Beyond Barbed Wire: Essays on the Internment of Italian Canadians |
Our Roots: The Founding of KCIC
October 25, 2019
It was a wonderful chance to look back at KCIC’s beginnings – as we invited original members and others to share their stories of Our Roots: The Founding of KCIC. Celeste Bazzana, Vince Bertucci, Romi Marcanio ,Flori Pucci, Emma Rantucci, Pietro Calissi and Clelia Bertolami took us back over 50 years to the beginning, a shared idea of Italian culture, support and friendship that took form in a barber shop. To quote Bob Hope – Thanks for the Memories. | ||
An evening with lynne bowenSeptember 27, 2019
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Learning about Myra's MenMay 25, 2019
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