Celebrate the Holiday Season with Villa Charities!
Get into the Christmas spirit and enjoy our upcoming holiday concerts with your family and friends. Villa Charities brings you these not-to-be missed performances by acclaimed musical groups, featuring programs ranging from traditional Italian music to popular Christmas standards.
 
Quanno Nascette Ninno: Christmas in Southern Italy
Featuring the Vesuvius Ensemble
Sunday, December 19 • 6:00pm
Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery

Experience the Vesuvius Ensemble as they perform traditional Southern Italian folk songs, accompanied by instruments typical of the Italian countryside. Celebrate the holiday season with this special performance including a pastorale played on the zampogna, special bagpipes traditionally played by shepherds on Christmas Eve.
The Vesuvius Ensemble is dedicated to the performance and preservation of traditional folk music from Naples and Southern Italy.
            
Vesuvius Ensemble: Francesco Pellegrino, Lucas Harris, Louis Simão, Romina Di Gasbarro

Special Guest: Tommaso Sollazzo on zampogna (from Italy)
 
Tickets: $38.00 (Regular admission) / $32.00 (Students & Seniors)
Back Home for the Holidays
Featuring the Columbus Concert Band
Tuesday, December 21 • 7:30pm
Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery
Celebrate the holiday season with a live performance of popular Christmas music! Under the direction of Annamaria Mazzaferro, the award-winning Columbus Concert Band will perform a selection of popular concert band standards and traditional Italian band music, guaranteed to get you in the holiday spirit.
 
Established in 2011, the Columbus Concert Band, under the direction of Annamaria Mazzaferro, is a community-based wind ensemble made up of more than 50 volunteer amateur and music graduates of all ages and backgrounds. Their goal is to inspire a love of live music in everyone, with a repertoire that includes music from the Broadway stage, American and Italian Cinema, Dixieland, jazz, marches, concert band standards, opera, symphonic works, and of course the beautiful music of Italy. The Columbus Concert Band has won three consecutive Platinum awards at the Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival, in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

A ‘pay what you can event’
Donations welcome at the door. Cash only.
We look forward to seeing you at these holiday concerts!
 
To ensure the safety of all attendees there is a capacity limit for each concert. Mask or face covering required. Proof of double vaccination required to participate. For more information email cultural@villacharities.com or call 416-789-7011 ext. 248.
New Caffe Cinquecento Coming Soon
The new Caffe Cinquecento Italian Bar & Eatery by Chef Luciano in the Columbus Centre will be opening soon!

Stay tuned for more information.
Make Struffoli for the Holidays with Chef Luciano
Join us for the final night of our Villa Cucina cooking class series this year, and experience authentic Italian dishes with professional Chef, Luciano Schipano. Our next class, “Sud Italia: Struffoli,” is Wednesday, December 15 at 6:30pm. Struffoli, or Italian honey balls, are a fun and delicious Italian Christmas dessert that the whole family can enjoy making! Chef Luciano Schipano will share with you his Nonna’s recipe, so you can celebrate your Christmas with one of the most popular “dolci” di Natale.
 
Don’t Miss the Final Ennio Morricone Lecture 
Our Cultural Tuesdays lecture series commemorates the late composer Ennio Morricone by examining his career through his unforgettable film soundtracks, from Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns to Hollywood films by Quentin Tarantino. Inspired by his biography “Ennio Morricone: In His Own Words”, these lectures will reflect on Morricone’s personal experiences as a composer for Italian and international cinema while exploring the relationship between images and music. Register now for the fourth and final lecture, “An Absolute Music?” on Tuesday, December 14 at 7:00pm.
Enjoy Ballo Liscio with Musical Guest Sam Saverino on December 15
Our popular free music and dancing nights at the Columbus Centre wrap up for the year, with the final festive event on Wednesday, December 15 at 7:00pm. Enjoy a live musical performance by Sam Saverino. Mask or face covering required. Proof of double vaccination is required to enter the facilities.
Taste of Sicily Theme Dinner Now On Sale
For our Taste of Italy series, join us to savour the flavours of the Italian peninsula. Indulge in delicious and authentic Italian dishes prepared by Chef Luciano Schipano. Our next dinner, “Taste of Sicily,” is on Friday, January 28 at 7:00pm and includes a four-course meal! Our last dinner was sold out, so buy your tickets now for this ’gastronomic journey through the peninsula!’
Book Your Virtual One-on-One Meeting for Friday Chats with the CEO
You can have a virtual meeting with Marco DeVuono, 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. Upcoming Friday Chats are scheduled for Friday, December 10 and Friday, January 14. Contact us today to schedule your virtual meeting – call 416-789-7011 ext. 240 or email csimpson@villacharities.com.
Thanks for Helping Us Celebrate 50 Years!
Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate our 50th anniversary this past year, and for making this historic milestone so memorable! Since we launched our celebrations in January, we’ve shared lots of original and interactive content, virtual programming, highlights from our history and wonderful accolades from our founders, partners and community. Here’s to the next 50 years of inspiring people to explore the Italian in all of us.

This Christmas, Give the Gift of Comfort and Care
This Christmas, help provide comfort and care to our seniors in long-term care by making a one-time donation or joining our Villa Charities Circle monthly giving program. Your gift will be a thoughtful expression of love and support for our residents and help make their holidays brighter. Donate today and help buy beds and furniture for residents at Villa Colombo Toronto. Our parents and grandparents took a leap of faith when they came to Canada many years ago. Let’s honour them by making a difference in the lives of the seniors who call Villa Colombo Toronto home.
Invite a Friend and Win a Villa Charities Gift Basket
Attention Columbus Centre Athletic Club members! Bring a friend for a visit to the Athletic Club with the purchase of a one-time guest pass and be entered in a draw for your chance to win a Villa Charities gift basket. The more friends you bring, more chances to win! Promotion ends December 31, 2021. Please see the Membership Office for details.
 
Take Part in DanzArts’ PA Day Dance Camp – January 14
Join our Recreational program for the 2021-2022 dance season - registration is still open! Classes are available for ages 3+ in ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, acro and tap. Not sure what style will best suit your dancer? Come to our PA Day Dance Camp on Friday, January 14 for a full day filled with dancing! Students will be exposed to different styles of dance to explore what they like best, and dancers who enroll in a weekly dance class with us after attending dance camp will receive 5% off their season's tuition! Contact dance@danzartstoronto.com for dance camp and full season pricing information.
 
Explore Your Musical Talents with our Music Classes
Learn a new instrument! Columbus Centre School of Music offers affordable and practical lessons for all instruments to kids, teens, adults, seniors or groups. From piano to voice lessons, our instructors have in-person and virtual classes available. Contact cultural@villacharities.com or call 416-789-7011 ext. 248 for more information or to join.
 
New Squash Programs Launch in January
Columbus Centre Athletic Club has squash programs beginning in January that are perfect for players of all ages and skill levels. Our All-Girls Learn to Play Squash Program is aimed at girls aged 6 to 14 while the Adult Beginner Learn to Play and ‘Rust Remover’ Programs are suited for adult beginner and intermediate players. Our “Squash 57” Open House will introduce participants to “Squash 57” and how to play this fantastic new racquet sport. Visit our website for full details and register now!

Massage Therapy Available at the Columbus Centre Athletic Club
Relax your mind and body with massage therapy at the Columbus Centre Athletic Club. Massage is one of the oldest, simplest forms of therapy and is a system of pressing and kneading different areas of the body to relieve pain, relax, stimulate, and tone the body. For an appointment or more information, contact 416-789-7011 ext. 268.
 
Villa Colombo Toronto is Hiring!
Are you a dedicated and passionate health care professional? We invite you to join our highly trained and dynamic team at Villa Colombo Toronto. For over 45 years, our designated ethno-specific long-term care facility has provided exceptional care and community services to seniors. Villa Colombo Toronto is a RNAO Best Practice Spotlight Organization and offers competitive compensation and benefits on par with hospital rates, HOOPP pension program and other benefits including access to cultural and fitness programs at the nearby Columbus Centre. We are now hiring for many positions including RNs, RPNs, PSWs and Dietary Aides. Visit our website today for more information or qualified applicants send your resume to jobs@villacolombo.on.ca.
 
VCT Revitalization Project Community Open Forum
On Tuesday, December 7, we hosted a public Community Open Forum to discuss a proposed Villa Colombo Toronto – Revitalization Project. For those who were not able to attend, the presentation from the meeting is now available to view on our website. Check our website for project updates going forward and send any questions to vctproject@villacharities.com.
 
Apply Today for our Independent Seniors’ Apartments 
Villa Charities is accepting applications for our three apartment buildings designed for seniors living within our community. Caboto Terrace, Casa Del Zotto and Casa Abruzzo offer an independent living lifestyle to seniors with residences that provide excellent amenities and services in a central GTA location. Interested applicants aged 59+ are encouraged to fill out the contact form on our website today.
 
TLN’s Holiday Lineup Now on Free Preview
Tis the season for all things merry and bright including soccer, food, music and movies on TLN TV! It’s the most wonderful time of the year and TLN TV is spreading the holiday cheer with a month-long lineup of festive programming! Deck the halls with lifestyle specials, holiday concerts, nightly feature films and Serie A Italian League soccer! Now on Free Preview until the end of the year! 
 
CLICK HERE For TLN’s Holiday Lineup