Congratulations to Villa Charities President and CEO Marco DeVuono, who was

awarded the Platinum Jubilee Pin of Queen Elizabeth II for his community

service. The limited-edition pin was presented to Marco by Member of

Parliament for Eglinton-Lawrence, the Hon. Marco Mendicino, during a ceremony

at the Columbus Centre on Sunday, November 20, 2022. Marco was recognized for his extraordinary leadership, altruism and strong dedication to helping others in the community.

We also extend our congratulations to all the other award recipients who were

honoured for their outstanding contributions to the community, including Anthony Fusco, Toni Varone,

Nick Torchetti, Joseph Arcuri, Santo Veltri, Gina Valle, Tony Astri and Pal DiIulio.

We invite the community to join us for Villa Charities’ Festive Christmas Market

presented in collaboration with CIBPA Toronto and Viva La Dolce, on Saturday,

December 3 from 2:00pm to 8:00pm. Shop fantastic local vendors and enjoy

delicious seasonal food and beverages at the Columbus Centre. Get in the

Christmas spirit as you discover great gifts for family and friends, or a special

something for yourself. Children can enjoy face painting and have their photo

taken with Santa.

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Villa Charities proudly presents “The Christmas Chair” / “La Sedia di Natale,” the new original immersive holiday experience created by internationally acclaimed theatre company DopoLavoro Teatrale (DLT) and director Daniele Bartolini, with music by the Vesuvius Ensemble. Take a seat on the Christmas chair and share your holiday stories! This unforgettable show invites the audience to delve into their fondest memories, to be weaved together into an interactive collective experience by a line-up of extraordinary Italian-Canadian performers, including some ‘surprise’ special guests! Four shows only – December 15 – 18, 2022.

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It’s not too late to register for our next workshop on Wednesday, November 30 at 7:00pm, when we will be discussing “Dove mi trovo” / ”Whereabouts” by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri. Violante Binazzi leads our popular online book club, where participants can explore and discuss contemporary Italian literature while learning Italian.

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Don’t miss your last chance to see Mimmo Baronello’s "Sustenance" exhibition at the Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery before it closes on December 3. Sicilian-born Mimmo Baronello explores the morphing of nature in a polluted environment, mirroring our own struggle to adapt to constant and pervasive technological changes. His art blends the mannerist and baroque styles present in Sicilian culture and architecture, with contemporary iconography and Canadian natural imagery. 

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Register now for our class on January 24 celebrating and learning about all the various shapes of pasta from the region of Sardinia, beginning with the simplest of shapes, to some of the most difficult. Learn about making fresh pasta dough including the process beginning from the “well” method, the importance of resting and choosing the right flours. A walkthrough of some simple, yet significant filled pasta shapes and styles typical of the cuisine of Sardinia. At the end of class, enjoy a simple sauce and final dish of: Culurgiones with Tomato & Basil.

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As part of our next Ballo Liscio night with musical guest Bruno Nesci on Wednesday, December 7 at 6:30pm, we invite you to bring your homemade Italian Christmas dessert and take part in our traditional Italian dessert contest for your chance to win a prize, as selected by our judging panel. Share your traditional desserts such as Panforte, Struffoli, Scalilli and Turdilli with fellow community members and enjoy a slice of panettone, courtesy of Villa Charities. Funded by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.

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Hailed as ‘La Divina’, Maria Callas remains one of the most outstanding voices of the 20th century. Through discussion and performance, international soprano Sara Papini, and pianist Sabatino Vacca recount the life, drama and golden voice of Maria Callas, which influenced our idea of ‘bel canto’ style singing forever. Join us on Thursday, December 8 for this remarkable presentation.

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Villa Charities presents “A Star Has Shone,” with Coro San Marco. Join us as we celebrate the holiday season with a concert by the acclaimed choir on Monday, December 12 at 7:00 pm. Tickets are on sale now!

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Have a question about our programs and services? Take the opportunity to speak one-on-one with Marco DeVuono, President and CEO of Villa Charities Inc.! Appointments are 20 minutes each and must be scheduled in advance. The next Friday Chats is scheduled for Friday, December 9. Contact us today to schedule your virtual meeting – call 416-789-7011 or email iusic@villacharities.com. 

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Columbus Centre Athletic Club is one of the first five recipients of Squash Canada’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Encouragement Fund, supported by the Government of Canada and Sport Canada’s Community Sport for All Initiative Fund. The Athletic Club’s School Racquets Program will partner with local schools to provide underserved high school students with the opportunity to participate in quality squash programming where they will learn stroke fundamentals, footwork, and rules of squash.

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Register now for winter term classes and learn a new instrument in the new year!

Columbus Centre School of Music offers affordable and practical lessons for

many instruments for kids, teens, adults, seniors or groups. From piano to voice

lessons, our instructors have in-person and virtual classes available. The 10-week winter program runs from January 9 to March 27, 2023. Contact

cultural@villacharities.com or

call 416-789-7011 Ext. 248 for more information or to register.

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Our Small Group Personal Training program is a great opportunity for Columbus Centre Athletic Club Members to benefit from the energy and camaraderie of group fitness with the individualization and the attention of a personal trainer, at a fraction of the cost. Sessions are designed to provide motivation and accountability, ensuring consistency in reaching your fitness goals. Our trainers specialize in providing results for those who are looking to build muscle, gain strength, improve endurance, and boost fat loss. For more information, visit the Membership Office or email fitness@villacharities.com.

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Columbus Centre Athletic Club offers massage therapy with Registered Massage Therapists, to help you relax and rejuvenate. Treat yourself or someone else to a session and enjoy the many health and wellness benefits of this therapeutic treatment.

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Start planning your winter racquet sports schedule and register for our squash programs. We have ‘Learn to Play’ programs for adults and kids, as well as house leagues for the more competitive players! Whether you are a first-time player or a seasoned veteran, everyone is welcome. Learn more and contact us today at 416-789-7011 Ext. 229.

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Learn to swim in the new year! With our large indoor swimming pool, our swimming classes cater to preschool-aged children just learning how to swim, to seniors who enjoy aquafitness. Registration opens on Tuesday, January 10 at 9:00 am (in person) for Members and Thursday, January 12 for Non-Members. Swimming lessons will begin on January 23, 2023. For more information, call 416-789-7011

Ext. 215 or visit our website.

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