I hope that this message finds you well and enjoying a beautiful summer. Haven’t we been blessed with wonderful weather? It is my hope that you and yours are all doing well and staying safe during this very challenging period. Needless to say, it has been a very different time for all of us. We miss seeing each other, our friends and members, at the many cultural activities held both at the Italian Canadian Historical Centre and out and about in the community with the many functions, gatherings, picnics and the like. The annual Festa at Madonna della Risurrezione Church in May was cancelled. St. Anthony’s Church Feast Day mass and procession, always in June, had never been cancelled in its 107 years, not even during the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 nor the Two World Wars. For he first time in 45 years, we could not gather to celebrate the Settimana Italiana di Ottawa festivities along Preston Street. However, we all learned to go virtual and partake in some of Italian Week’s online events and we have all discovered Zoom in the process.

 

Many Associations had milestone anniversaries to mark and it is our hope that these celebrations can take place at a later date. Congratulations to the Associazione Rapinese on their 50th anniversary-Auguri!

 

One cannot forget the frontline workers and staff at Villa Marconi who have helped keep our seniors safe and well during these last 4 months. Now, with long term care homes being allowed a little more flexibility in visiting times, families of the residents of Villa have been reunited, albeit for short visits, with their loved ones. Essential services have been so important over this last little while and a big shout out them!

 

With Ottawa now in Phase 3 of reopening, please help support the many local restaurants and small businesses that were shut down for many months. Many are taking their time to get their businesses fitted properly so as to be able to serve you in a safe manner.

 

The National Congress of Italian Canadians (National Capital District) hopes that in the near future, we will all be able to gather together again in a social setting. But, until we can do so safely, following mandated health and government guidelines, we will continue to connect online. We always welcome new ideas, stories and suggestions so that we can share with the community.

 

If you have not done so yet, please take a look at the virtual exhibit online to mark the 80th Anniversary of the Internment of Italian Canadians. With this important milestone marked on June 10, 2020 to be exact, The Congress has been able to assemble a variety of both written, spoken and visual material to profile this dark chapter in Canadian history. This exhibit, found on the NCIC website at :  www.ncicottawa.com/internment will serve as a wonderful compendium of material related to the Internment and will be able to remain relevant as both an educational and awareness vehicle. New material is being added on a regular basis.

 

In closing, please enjoy the rest of the summer. I know that many of you have spent your past summers in Italy and it is our hope that next year, you will be able to do so again.

 

Please stay well and we will get through this together!

 

Best regards,

 

Trina

 

Trina Costantini-Powell

President, National Congress of Italian-Canadians (National Capital District)