NEW CULTURAL EVENTS
Ballo Liscio
Social Dancing Nights
- Wednesdays, January 22 – April 30,
6:30 – 8:30pm
The Italian tradition of Ballo Liscio continues at
Villa Charities. Bring friends, partners, or come on your own and enjoy these fun social dancing nights featuring music by popular Italian DJs & musicians.
Performer Schedule:
January 22, February 26, March 19, April 16 and 23
Price:
A ‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ EVENT
(Donations welcome at the door.)
Limited seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Location:
Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery,
Columbus Centre
Presented in partnership with the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartment Corporation (ICBSAC).
Funded by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.
Wine Tasting Event
- Wednesday, April 16, 5:30 – 6:30pm
Our new wine is ready for tasting!
Coinciding with our popular Ballo Liscio event, join us for the debut tasting of the wine made from our traditional wine pressing demonstration last autumn. Celebrate Easter and sample this special vintage, while enjoying live music from Armonia Music and complimentary cake, courtesy of Villa Charities!*
Price:
A ‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ EVENT
*First-come, first served, while supplies last.
Location:
Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery,
Columbus Centre
Taste of Italy
Dinner Series
- April 25 – May 30, 6:00pm
A gastronomic journey through the peninsula!
Join us for our Taste of Italy series and savour the regional flavours of the Italian peninsula. Indulge in delicious and authentic Italian dishes prepared by Boccaccio Ristorante Executive Chef, Luciano Schipano.
Taste of Tuscany – Friday, April 25, 6:00pm
Transport yourself to the rolling hills of Tuscany with a dinner that showcases the region’s rustic, farm-inspired cuisine. This event brings to life the essence of Tuscan cooking, with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients and a commitment to simple, yet rich flavours. Celebrate the warmth and tradition of Tuscany.
Menu curated by Executive Chef Luciano Schipano.
Dinner Menu
Antipasto
Crostone di focaccia su lardo – Polenta con acciugata – Pecorino Toscano
Cured Lardo on toasted focaccia – Cornmeal with anchovy sauce – Pecorino Toscano cheese.
First Course
Tortelli di patate con ragu bianco di selvaggina e funghi
Thin layers of egg pasta, filled with potato and sautéed in a ground game meat and mushroom.
Second Course
Costoletta Cinghiale su cavolo nero ripassato e crema di cannellini
Wild boar chop on black kale and cannellini beans purée.
Dessert
Cantucci and Vin Santo
Price:
$90.00 per person, for each dinner.
Ticket includes 4-course dinner, with mineral/sparkling water.
Location:
Ristorante Boccaccio,
Columbus Centre
Presented in partnership with Boccaccio Ristorante Italiano.
$10.00 from each ticket will be donated to the Villa Charities Arts, Youth and Culture Department.
A Journey Called Italy
Bel Canto with Isidoro Nugnes and Carmine Riccio
- Sunday, April 27, 3:30 – 6:00pm
The musical duo of Isidoro Nugnes and Carmine Riccio showcase their passion for bel canto, embodying the cultural heritage of the Molise region. Enjoy a repertoire of Italian classical pieces that traverse centuries of history and tradition, featuring renowned composers like Rossini, as well as celebrated vocalists such as Enrico Caruso and Pavarotti, alongside the classical guitar works of Murolo and Caliendo. Join us for an enchanting afternoon highlighted by the remarkable voice of lyric tenor Isidoro Nugnes and the distinctive, warm, and immersive sound of Carmine Riccio’s classical guitar.
Price:
FREE
Location:
Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery,
Columbus Centre
Presented in partnership with the National Congress of Italian Canadians.
Sponsored by Montecassino Hotel and Event Centre.
Pasta Making Classes: Taste of Italy
with Chef Luciano
- Tuesdays, April 29, May 6, 20, June 3, 10, 17, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Experience Italy through hands-on pasta-making sessions, guided by Chef Luciano Schipano and his team of Chefs. With a focus on regional Italian cuisine, Chef Schipano will take you through the art of making fresh pasta by hand, exploring traditional dishes from different regions of Italy. Each session focuses on an easy-to-replicate pasta dish, offering a taste of authentic Italian flavours and culinary techniques.
Each session includes a tasting of a traditional dish featuring the handmade, take-home pasta you’ve made, and a printed sauce recipe.
- Tuesday, April 29, 6:30 pm
Discover the delicate art of making ricotta gnocchi. In this hands-on session, you will shape and roll gnocchi by hand before tasting Gnocchi al Burro e Salvia, a dish featuring a simple butter and sage sauce that enhances its rich yet delicate flavor.
Participants will take home fresh gnocchi and a printed sauce recipe.
Price:
$60.00 (per session)
8-Session Full Program Bundle: $420.00
(Save $60.00)
Location:
Columbus Room,
Columbus Centre
Presented in partnership with Chef Luciano Schipano.
“Transmission and Transformation”
Documentary Film
- Thursday, May 1, 5:30 – 6:30pm
Musicologist Roberta De Piccoli’s documentary, “Transmission and Transformation: An Ethno-Musicological Study of the Italian Canadian Community of Toronto”, delves into the intricate musical identity of Toronto’s large Italian Canadian community, examining the impact of migration, colonialism, and diaspora awareness. Through interviews with individuals from various migration waves, the film explores how music has functioned both as a tool for integrating into Canadian society and as a means of preserving connections to Italy. It grapples with the complexities of unifying diverse regional Italian identities, questioning the role of nostalgia and “authentic” cultural expressions in shaping contemporary musical identity. This research-driven film, conducted in collaboration with ICAMus, seeks to understand how these musical elements are perceived and experienced within the fluid context of modern cultural life in Toronto.
Join us for this documentary screening followed by a Q&A.
You can read more about this project here.
Price:
FREE
Location:
Columbus Room,
Columbus Centre
Librissimi – Toronto Italian Book Festival 2025
Opening Show: Molise My Home
- Friday, May 2, 7:30 – 10:00pm
Librissimi – Toronto Italian Book Festival 2025 opens with an exceptional evening of music and poetry!
Dive into a world of music, poetry, culture, and community as we celebrate the rich heritage of Molise in this unique event. Italian singer/songwriter Lino Rufo will take us on a musical journey to rediscover the poetry of celebrated Molison diaspora author Giose Rimanelli on his centenary. He will be joined on stage by a star-studded line-up of Toronto Molisano talent: award-winning author Nino Ricci, actor Dom Fiore, and singer and filmmaker Andrea Ramolo.
This event will kick off a weekend packed with rich literary programming as Librissimi 2025 rolls out on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4 at the Columbus Centre.
For complete programming details, visit librissimi.ca.
Price:
FREE
Location:
Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery,
Columbus Centre
Presented in partnership with Librissimi – Toronto Italian Book Festival.
Sponsored by IC Savings, Montecassino Hotel and Event Centre, ComItEs, Molisana Imports, AAST Molise, Avvografo and Artemusa.
Ancient Italian Civilization:
A Journey Through the Ages
Two-Part Lecture
- Part 1: Tuesday, May 13, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
- Part 2: Tuesday, May 20, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Inspired by Italian philosopher Giambattista Vico’s
“On the Most Ancient Wisdom of the Italians”
(“De Antiquissima Italorum Civilizatio”),
author David Pantano offers a two-part journey through Italy’s rich history. This lecture series will illuminate the nation’s evolution from its mythical beginnings to the present day, showcasing the remarkable contributions of its illustrious politicians, poets, artists, military figures, and spiritual leaders across the Roman, Medieval, and Renaissance eras.
Price:
A ‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ EVENT
(Donations welcome at the door.)
Location:
Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery,
Columbus Centre
Casa (Home)
La Baracca Testoni Ragazzi
- Tuesday, May 27, 12:45 – 1:45pm
Based in Bologna and considered one of the pioneers of theatre for very young audiences, La Baracca has been producing and programming shows for young audiences for over 45 years. Now, their unique theatrical experience “Casa” will make its Columbus Centre debut as part of Toronto’s WeeFestival this May.
Two characters meet and begin to get to know each other as they build a home. Building turns into play, and little by little, while playing, they build a story, a structure, a roof, a house. The rituals of daily life, of family roles, of childhood memories shift and change through play revealing new meanings and connections.
Through simple gestures, images, and accessible language, “Casa” offers an open-ended invitation for young audiences observing to bring their own imaginations and stories to the moment.
This whimsical theatre performance is suitable for children ages 1 – 4. Performed in Italian with minimal dialogue.
Price:
A ‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ EVENT
(Donations welcome at the door.)
Location:
Leonardo Da Vinci Academy Gym,
Columbus Centre
Presented in partnership with Istituto Italiano di Cultura Toronto and Leonardo Da Vinci Academy.
Part of 2025 WeeFestival of Arts and Culture for Early Years.
Librissimi – Toronto Italian Book Festival 2025
An Evening of Music and Poetry in Dialect
- Friday, May 2, 7:00 – 10:00pm
The Librissimi – Toronto Italian Book Festival 2025 opens with a special one-night performance celebrating the centenary of Italian writer Giose Rimanelli.
This event features Rimanelli’s poetry set to music and performed by Italian singer and bluesman Lino Rufo, with a special appearance by award-winning author Nino Ricci and a spoken word performance by acclaimed actor Dom Fiore. This evening will be hosted by Pal Di Iulio.
Join us for Librissimi and celebrate Italian Canadian writing and culture in all its forms, languages, and dialects.
Price:
FREE
Location:
Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery,
Columbus Centre
Presented in partnership with Librissimi – Toronto Italian Book Festival.
Sponsored by AAST Molise, Artemusa, Avvografo, ComItEs, IC Savings, Italian Consulate General, Molisana Imports, and Montecassino Hotel and Event Centre.