Although the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club (KCIC) was unable to physically gather due to the pandemic, they nonetheless hosted a virtual 55th anniversary celebration.
On March 9, the club welcomed over 100 online attendees through Zoom. Many friends of the club congratulated, including Mayor Colin Basran; MLAs Norm Letnick, Ben Stewart, and Renee Merrifield; Reps Tracy Gray and Dan Albas; Italian Consulate General Fabio Messineo; Premier John Horgan; and even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The “Zoomaversary” and contributions from all levels of management have shown how important the Italian community has been to Kelowna and the central Okanagan for almost 140 years. The KCIC has been the center of the community since 1966.
“Our goal was to make people understand that it is an achievement to be an Italian Canadian,” said President Rosann Nanci in her introduction that evening.
“Through our parents and grandparents, we, along with many other immigrants, have played an enormous role in building Canada and we Italians have achieved many great things.”
At the end of the online celebration, the Il Nostro Lascito project was presented to the public. The video series documents the experiences of Italian immigrants in the central Okanagan and the legacy they have created. The first video in the series features highlights from interviews with eight local families in the Italian community.
The general public will have the opportunity to watch the video on Tuesday, March 16 at 7 p.m. at a special YouTube premiere. There’s an online watch party and the chance to ask questions to video director Gord Hotchkiss and KCIC historian and researcher Don Rampone.
“Since 1883, Italians have been instrumental in building the foundations of the house we know today. Whether agriculture, the wine industry, tourism, sports or even the construction of Kelowna’s landmark – Italians have been there and have done so, ”said Hotchkiss.
According to Hotchkiss, Italian craftsmanship can be seen in the concrete statue of the Ogopogo, built by Orsi and Sons Contracting.
“We hope this series is more than a simple documentary of the Italian performance,” he said.
“It is also the story of finding acceptance in a new home and connecting cultures. As such, it’s a great example of inclusivity and the celebration of ethnic diversity. “
You can find more information about Our Legacy at https://www.kelownaitalianclub.com/legacy.html.
Kelowna
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