Villa Charities was very saddened to hear of the passing of John Di Poce on December 12, 2024. John Di Poce was one of the earliest believers, supporters, and donors in the realization of Villa Colombo Toronto in the early 1970s. He served on the ICBC (Villa Charities) Board for a dozen years and was the first Chair of the Admissions Committee at Villa Colombo. In the early 2000s, John donated land in Kleinburg, where Villa Colombo Vaughan now stands. Our sincere condolences to his children and extended Di Poce family.

This is the final chance to view the art exhibition showcasing the exceptional talent and creativity of students from our Columbus Centre Art Programs. Many of the displayed artwork pieces are still available for purchase. Exhibition ends January 8, 2025, at the Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery.

Learn More

Don’t miss your chance to indulge in delicious and authentic Italian dishes prepared by Boccaccio Ristorante Executive Chef, Luciano Schipano at our Taste of Italy dinners. Our first stop in the series is Calabria, renowned for its fiery, rustic cuisine and rich traditions. Bring your family or friends and enjoy a delectable four-course meal of Calabrian specialities! Friday, January 24 at 6:00pm.

Buy Tickets

Villa Charities is proud to be the Venue Sponsor of “Books & Biscotti”, a celebration of literature with the voices of Italian Canadian authors. On February 5 at 7:00pm, enjoy an evening of poetry and more with Bruna Di Giuseppe-Bertoni, Joe Giampaolo, Christopher Manieri, Gianna Patriarca and Maria Zarrone. This free event is organized by members of the Association of Italian Canadian Writers.

RSVP to booksandbiscotti500@gmail.com with your full name and number of guests.

RSVP Now

Relive the magic of the 'King of Rock 'n' Roll' with one of the finest Elvis Tribute artists around. Bruno Nesci & The Dreamers Show Band take you back to 1968 and throughout the 1970s to experience the timeless music of the ‘King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’. Mark your calendar for February 28 at 8:30pm and don’t miss this unforgettable Elvis tribute concert that promises to be a memorable night of music and nostalgia. Get your tickets before they sell out!

Buy Tickets

Book your Friday Chats with Marco! Take the opportunity to speak one-on-one with Marco DeVuono, President and CEO of Villa Charities Inc. to answer any questions or to share your thoughts on our programs and services. Our next meetings will be held on Friday, January 10. Appointments are 20 minutes each, at 11:00am or 2:00pm, and must be scheduled in advance. Contact us today to schedule your in-person or virtual meeting – call 416-789-7011 or email iusic@villacharities.com.

Book Your Meeting

In this feature we are proud to shine a light on the members of the Villa Charities Board of Directors. These dedicated volunteers generously give their time, expertise, and passion to guide our organization and support the communities we serve. Learn more about the inspiring individuals who help make our work possible.

Santo Veltri

Past Chair & Secretary

After his call to the Bar in 1983, Santo began his practice in the core areas of family law and civil litigation. In 1993, he became one of the three founding members of Bianchi Presta LLP. From 1994 to 2019, he was a standing agent for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada for Newmarket. When not volunteering his time on behalf of Villa Colombo and Villa Charities, Santo is a passionate sports fan, enjoys cooking and espionage novels, and is still trying to break 100 in his occasional rounds of golf.

Read Full Bio

There’s never been a better time to participate in Giro with this year’s event at Veneto Centre sure to be a fun and memorable experience. Ride with us and demonstrate your commitment to supporting programs and services that celebrate and honour Italian culture and heritage. The Villa Charities Giro Cycling Fundraiser is one of Villa Charities Foundation’s (VCF) most important fundraising events, and we need your support to make this 18^th annual edition the best year yet!

Plus, you will receive FREE Registration if you sign up before February 23, 2025, with our Early Bird Promotion! That’s right, NO registration fee (a savings of $100!).

Register Now

Our Water Dance, Arthritic Aqua Training and Deep End Aquafit programs provide a great stretching, strengthening, and low-impact aerobic workout in warm, soothing water, perfect for toning muscles and improving flexibility. Classes begin January 6^th and registration is now open to Members and Non-Members, online through our website or in-person at the Membership Office during office hours. For more information, contact us at fitness@villacharities.com or call 416-789-7011 ext. 215.

Learn More

Explore a new specialty fitness program this year to reach your 2025 goals with one of our Premium Fitness Programs. Classes include TRX^®, Judo, Mindful Meditation, Non-Contact Boxing, Women’s Self Defence, and more. Our certified instructors will teach you the proper techniques and form, but most of all, they’ll make sure you have fun!

Not a Member? Not a problem! You can sign up for these classes without the commitment of a membership. Registration for 2025 winter term classes is now open for Members and Non-Members, in-person at the Membership Office or online.

Learn More

Curious about our Hatha Flow Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga and Mindful Meditation programs? Take advantage of free demo classes and experience these specialty classes before making a commitment. This offer is available for new participants, so don't miss out on this chance to find your perfect fit.

Learn More

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. Mark your calendar now - Winter 2025 Swimming Lesson Registration opens on Saturday, January 4, 2025, for Members and Non-Members, in-person at the Membership Office. For more information, call 416-789-7011 ext. 215 or visit the Membership Office.

Learn More

Integrating both landscape and abstract, the Less Defined Landscape workshop will inspire students to interpret, simplify and edit photo references using less traditional techniques and colour palettes, while encouraging creativity and imagination. This 4-week painting workshop runs from February 5 to 26 and is suitable for intermediate to advanced students with prior experience.

Learn More

Register now for winter term classes and learn a new instrument in the new year! Columbus Centre School of Music offers a wide variety of music lessons that are open to anyone of any skill level. Our one-on-one private lessons are taught by our experienced instructors in a variety of instruments. The 10-week winter program runs from January 6 – March 23, 2025. Contact jclemenger@villacharities.com for more information or to register.

Learn More

In December, we hosted our Christmas Family Resident Open Houses. Everyone came together to share an evening of delicious food, wonderful company, and pure joy. These festive events were made possible through the dedication and hard work of the remarkable Villa Colombo Toronto staff. A heartfelt thank you also goes out to the VCTA for their generous sponsorship. It was the perfect way to end the year and set a bright and optimistic tone for the year ahead.

The Speakers Annex is Toronto's most exciting new speakers series. Hosted at the Al Green Theatre at Bloor and Spadina, this fun lecture program starts in January with a series on 20th Century Architecture and a course on cultural landmarks in great world cities featuring Italian Food expert Teresa Lobalsamo. Series organizer

Will Di Novi has passed along a discount code, SpeakersAnnexFriend, that will get Columbus Centre friends $20 off the upcoming courses.

For more info, please check out the Speakers Annex website or email him at thespeakersannex@gmail.com. He hopes you'll bring your friends — and your inquiring minds!

Buy Tickets

Leonardo Da Vinci Academy is proud to introduce an exciting new program for toddlers aged 1 to 3 years. The children will be exposed to the Italian Language and Culture by a genuine speaking Italian instructor who has had years of experience in language education. The program begins the week of January 6, 2025, and runs for 10 weeks until the week of March 10, 2025. Interested parents can sign up for one or two lessons per week, Wednesdays and/or Fridays from 9:00am to 10:00am. Each toddler must be accompanied by a parent or authorized adult for the duration of the lesson.

Learn More

This dynamic work of language, music and insight, commissioned by the Stratford Festival, promises to transport you into the heart of “The Divine Comedy”, one of Western literature's most profound works. Spectators will be immersed in this creation by DLT, revelling in the musicality of medieval Italian spoken by Florentine artist Daniele Bartolini and enhanced with original music by renowned composer Andrea Gozzi. Guiding the experience is Dr. Donato Santeramo of Queen's University. At the heart of the Inferno is Dante Alighieri–the Everyman, a middle-aged Florentine from the Middle-Ages–and his descent into hell, where he comes to see the absurdity of life's disappointments and the politics that have ripped his home city in two. Performances run June 12, 2025 – September 13, 2025.

Buy Tickets