Italian Cultural Centre Vancouver
Encyclopedia
The Italian Cultural Centre is located at 3075 Slocan Street, in East Vancouver
on Slocan Street at Grandview Highway.
, Dave Barret. In the Provincial Legislature the Premier represented the riding of Vancouver-Hastings
, an area heavily inhabited by Canadians of Italian origin. The Premier was well aware of the wish of the Italian community and he therefore challenged Consul Germano to find the support and turn the dream into a reality. Premier Barret assured Consul Germano that a grant from the B.C. Government would be available. At Vancouver City Hall
, Mayor Art Phillips
, also well aware of the wish of the Italian community, indicated to Consul Germano the possibility of obtaining city land at a special price. The land had already been chosen: an 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) city dump in the heart of Vancouver East
. http://www.savourychef.com/wedding-venue-event-venue/italian-cultural-centre/
Consul Germano did not waste any time. What was necessary was to have the support of the community and find trade people willing to donate their time and skills to build the structure. Needless to say, the community came through with overwhelming enthusiasm, and both the Provincial Government and the City of Vancouver kept their promise. In order to draw a wider participation of members, a Federation of Italian Associations was formed on a Canadian legal basis: the Italian Folk Society, later to become the Italian Cultural Centre Society. The original societies pertaining to the Federation were the following: Associazione Nazionale Alpini, Circolo Abruzzese, Coro Italiano della British Columbia
, Famee Furlane, Famiglia Bagnolese, Italian Canadian
Rod & Gun Club, Italian Mutual Aid Society
, Molisana Society, Selva del Montello, Sicilian Club, Società Culturale Vicentini, St. Jude
Italian Society and Tuscany Cultural Society. These 13 were the founding societies. Today there are 37 societies affiliated to the Italian Cultural Centre.
On September 25th, 1977, the Italian Cultural Centre officially opened its doors. The former city dump became an address in Vancouver
where the Italian community could gather with the aim to preserve, develop and express Italian culture
and language. http://raymondculos.com/culture.html
The Centre's services are as follows: a restaurant, museum, library, banquet hall, daycare centre, television production
centre and an indoor bocce court. Every summer in June the Centre hosts a week-long Italian festival called Italian Week.http://www.destinationvancouver.com/?campaign_id=1&tp=detail&type_id=18&advertiser_id=226&tab_id=1
court.
According to Boccemon Tom McNutt "The Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia
has one of the finest bocce facilities on the continent. It is a great institution and every culture would be proud to have such a treasure."http://www.joyofbocce.com/Vancouver.ivnu
East Vancouver
East Vancouver is a region within the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Geographically, East Vancouver is bordered to the north by Burrard Inlet, to the south by the Fraser River, and to the east by the city of Burnaby...
on Slocan Street at Grandview Highway.
History
The Italian Cultural Centre's beginnings are in 1974 when the Consul General of Italy, Giovanni Germano, met with the Premier of British ColumbiaPremier of British Columbia
The Premier of British Columbia is the first minister, head of government, and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s the title Prime Minister of British Columbia was often used...
, Dave Barret. In the Provincial Legislature the Premier represented the riding of Vancouver-Hastings
Vancouver-Hastings
Vancouver-Hastings is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada.- Demographics :- Member of Legislative Assembly :Its MLA is Shane Simpson. He was first elected in 2005...
, an area heavily inhabited by Canadians of Italian origin. The Premier was well aware of the wish of the Italian community and he therefore challenged Consul Germano to find the support and turn the dream into a reality. Premier Barret assured Consul Germano that a grant from the B.C. Government would be available. At Vancouver City Hall
Vancouver City Hall
Vancouver City Hall is home to Vancouver City Council in Vancouver, British Columbia. Located at 453 West 12th Avenue, the building was ordered by the Vancouver Civic Building Committee, designed by architect Fred Townley and Matheson, and built by Carter, Halls, Aldinger and Company...
, Mayor Art Phillips
Art Phillips
Arthur "Art" Phillips served as the 32nd mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from 1973 to 1977. Prior to being elected to this post, he founded the Vancouver investment firm of Phillips, Hager & North. Phillips was instrumental in founding a reform-minded, centrist municipal-level...
, also well aware of the wish of the Italian community, indicated to Consul Germano the possibility of obtaining city land at a special price. The land had already been chosen: an 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) city dump in the heart of Vancouver East
Vancouver East
Vancouver East is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1935....
. http://www.savourychef.com/wedding-venue-event-venue/italian-cultural-centre/
Consul Germano did not waste any time. What was necessary was to have the support of the community and find trade people willing to donate their time and skills to build the structure. Needless to say, the community came through with overwhelming enthusiasm, and both the Provincial Government and the City of Vancouver kept their promise. In order to draw a wider participation of members, a Federation of Italian Associations was formed on a Canadian legal basis: the Italian Folk Society, later to become the Italian Cultural Centre Society. The original societies pertaining to the Federation were the following: Associazione Nazionale Alpini, Circolo Abruzzese, Coro Italiano della British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Famee Furlane, Famiglia Bagnolese, Italian Canadian
Italian-Canadian
An Italian Canadian is a Canadian of Italian descent or heritage. According to the 2006 census of Canada, 1,445,335 Canadians consider themselves to be of Italian origin. The Italian-Canadian population climbed by more than 12% and half have combined Italian origins along with another ethnic...
Rod & Gun Club, Italian Mutual Aid Society
Benefit society
A benefit society or mutual aid society is an organization or voluntary association formed to provide mutual aid, benefit or insurance for relief from sundry difficulties...
, Molisana Society, Selva del Montello, Sicilian Club, Società Culturale Vicentini, St. Jude
Saint Jude
Jude was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is generally identified with Thaddeus, and is also variously called Jude of James, Jude Thaddaeus, Judas Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus...
Italian Society and Tuscany Cultural Society. These 13 were the founding societies. Today there are 37 societies affiliated to the Italian Cultural Centre.
On September 25th, 1977, the Italian Cultural Centre officially opened its doors. The former city dump became an address in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
where the Italian community could gather with the aim to preserve, develop and express Italian culture
Culture of Italy
From antiquity until the 16th century, Italy was at the centre of Western culture, fulcrum or origin of the Etruscan civilization, Ancient Rome, the Roman Catholic Church, Humanism and the Renaissance....
and language. http://raymondculos.com/culture.html
The Centre's services are as follows: a restaurant, museum, library, banquet hall, daycare centre, television production
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
centre and an indoor bocce court. Every summer in June the Centre hosts a week-long Italian festival called Italian Week.http://www.destinationvancouver.com/?campaign_id=1&tp=detail&type_id=18&advertiser_id=226&tab_id=1
Bocce
Adjoining the main building, the Centre has an indoor bocceBocce
Bocce is a ball sport belonging to the boules sport family, closely related to bowls and pétanque with a common ancestry from ancient games played in the Roman Empire...
court.
According to Boccemon Tom McNutt "The Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
has one of the finest bocce facilities on the continent. It is a great institution and every culture would be proud to have such a treasure."http://www.joyofbocce.com/Vancouver.ivnu