The Villa Charities Christmas Market returns this weekend for two days of holiday shopping at the Columbus Centre. Visit us on Friday, December 5 from 5:00 to 9:00pm and Saturday, December 6 from 11:00am to 2:00pm to explore over 40 vendors offering unique gifts, handmade crafts, baked goods, books, art, and more. Children can enjoy holiday-themed face painting, card-making crafts, and photos with Santa. On Friday evening, don’t miss our Christmas tree lighting at 7:30pm, live carolers, and a festive outdoor holiday display.

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Celebrate the season with two festive concerts at the Columbus Centre. On Sunday, December 14 at 4:00pm, join the acclaimed Coro San Marco for “The Bells for Peace”, an uplifting program of classical, traditional, and popular Christmas music inspired by the themes of bells and peace. Then on Tuesday, December 16 at 7:30pm, the Columbus Concert Band returns with their annual holiday concert, featuring cherished seasonal favourites and special guest soprano Taylor Frisina.

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Villa Charities is supporting families in need this holiday season through our Holiday Toy Drive and Winter Clothing Drive, hosted in partnership with the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul at St. Charles Borromeo Church New Circles. We are collecting new, unwrapped toys, which may be dropped off in the Columbus Centre Lobby. New or gently used winter clothing, including jackets, hats, gloves, scarves, and boots, may be donated in the Columbus Centre Lobby or at any Columbus Early Learning Centre. Donations will be accepted until December 17, 2025.

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Don’t miss your chance to enter for your chance to win one of five signed copies of “Lidia’s The Art of Pasta,” the new cookbook by best-selling author and Emmy Award-winning television host Lidia Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich Manuali. This definitive resource is a guide to pasta in all its forms—stuffed, baked, and sauced, in soups and pasta salads—with directions for making fresh pasta doughs at home. The contest closes Friday, December 12, 2025. See our website for full details.

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Join us for the final Ballo Liscio nights of 2025, continuing every Wednesday until December 17 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy this beloved Italian tradition with music from popular Italian DJs and musicians in an evening of lively social dancing. All experience levels are welcome.

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Discover how one battle reshaped European history on Tuesday, February 3 at 7:00pm at the lecture on “Il disastro di Pavia”, Professor Franco Pierno’s new Italian translation of Jean Giono’s “Le désastre de Pavia”. Professor Pierno will discuss the translation process, the historical significance of Giono’s 1963 book, and its continued cultural relevance. Light refreshments will be served. This presentation will be held in Italian. Presented in partnership with the University of Toronto Department of Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies.

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Celebrate Italian literature on Wednesday, February 4 at 7:00pm at Books and Biscotti. This free evening of poetry and music includes readings by Italian Canadian authors Josie Di Sciascio, Silvia Falsaperla, Maria Ferlisi, Joe Giampaolo, Bruce Hunter, and Josephine LoRe, with musical entertainment by Carmen Spada. Coffee and biscotti will be served.

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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, December 5, 2025, and Friday, January 9, 2026. Appointments are 20 minutes each, at 11:00am, 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.

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We’re thrilled to share that the 19th Annual Villa Charities Giro Cycling Fundraiser is officially set for Sunday, May 24, 2026, and you’re among the first invited to save your spot! And here’s a perk you won’t want to miss: Register by December 31, 2025, and your registration fee is completely waived. Yep, that’s $100 off just for signing up early! Don’t wait, Giro excitement is already building. Grab your spot and get ready for an unforgettable ride!

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Share the gift of fitness this holiday season with our Personal Training 3-Session Special for $150* — a 40% savings! This limited-time offer includes three one-hour sessions with a Certified Personal Trainer, along with InBody assessments and a body composition review. It’s a meaningful way to treat someone you care about and help them start the new year strong. Offer available until Thursday, December 25. *Conditions apply. See website for full details.

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With our large indoor swimming pool, the Columbus Centre Athletic Club offers group swimming lessons for children of all ages and abilities. Whether it’s their first splash or they’re building advanced aquatic skills, our experienced instructors provide expert guidance in a supportive setting. Winter 2026 Group Swimming Lesson registration opens on Saturday, December 6 at 9:00am for Members and Non-Members, in person at the Membership Office. Classes begin the week of January 12, 2026.

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The Columbus Centre Athletic Club offers Arthritic Aqua Training and Deep End Aquafit, both designed to strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and provide a low-impact aerobic workout in warm, soothing water. Registration opens Tuesday, December 8 for Members and Non-Members, online through our website or in-person at the Membership Office during office hours. Classes begin the week of January 5, 2026.

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Start the new year with one of our Premium Fitness Programs and make progress on your specific fitness goals or get a full-body workout. Classes include Judo, Pilates, TRX^®, Yoga, Non-Contact Boxing, 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 2026 winter term classes for Members and Non-Members opens Tuesday, December 16 at 9:00am online or in-person at the Membership Office during office hours.

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Register now for winter term classes and learn a new instrument in the new year. The Columbus Centre School of Music offers a wide variety of lessons open to learners of all ages and experience levels. Our experienced instructors teach a broad range of instruments and styles, including new opportunities to explore Italian folk traditions through Intro to Italian Folk Music and Tamburello. Winter term classes begin January 5, 2026.

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Take a moment to recharge this holiday season with wellness services at the Columbus Centre Athletic Club. Choose from Massage Therapy, Hot Stone Therapy, or Modern Cupping, each offering stress relief and restorative benefits. Gift certificates are available if you’d like to share the gift of relaxation with someone special.

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Book a tour today! Meet with a member of our administrative team to learn more about our Casa Montessori and Italian Immersion Preschools, our Lower Elementary Montessori and our Upper Elementary programs while touring our newly renovated campus 
and sports court. We look forward to meeting you!

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The Academy of Realist Art’s Annual Holiday Show & Sale returns to the Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery with over 100 paintings and drawings available for purchase. The show is on now through January 6, 2026, with an Opening Reception on Saturday, December 13 from 4:00 to 8:00pm.

And congratulations to former ARA student Louise Kermonde, the 2025 Grand Prize Winner of this year’s prestigious Kingston Prize, the biennial Canada-wide competition and exhibition tour for Canadian portrait painting and drawing. Her portrait “Madonna in a Tulip Chair” was selected from 30 finalists and will be on display in the Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery as part of the Academy of Realist Art’s show.

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