Welcome Spring with a
Concert by Coro San Marco
Join us as we celebrate Passover and Easter with a special concert by Coro San Marco, featuring conductors Michael Colla and Daniele Colla, with pianist Adolfo De Santis. The evening’s program will feature music from Rossini, Bach, Mozart, Faure and more.
 
Coro San Marco was founded in 1995 when Daniele Colla and the late Joe Fellin, banded together with a group of Italians, mostly from the Veneto region and with a passion for music. Named after San Marco Basilica in Venice, the choir has developed into a multi-ethnic choir with choristers from all different nationalities and backgrounds who enjoy singing and share a love for choral music.

The choir has a vast repertoire of folk, classical, religious and operatic music, and has performed extensively at many concerts, international festivals and charitable events.
 
Sunday, April 10 • 6:00pm
Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery, Columbus Centre

Tickets: $15.00
A limited number of tickets will also be available to purchase at the door, first-come, first-served.
Villa Charities
Don’t Miss “Romulus and Remus” at Cultural Tuesdays
The fascination with these mythical twin brothers continues to this day, as the recent movie “The First King: Birth of an Empire” and the series “Romulus”, both produced in Italy, testify to. This “Romulus and Remus” lecture on Tuesday, April 5 at 7:00pm intends to examine the ancient forms of the myth, to reflect on its significance for modern times and explore why this myth is so relevant. Tickets are still available!
Calling all Italian Expats! Enjoy our Meet & Greet
Did you move from Italy in the last 20 years? Then join us and fellow expatriates for a friendly meet & greet on Friday, April 8 at 6:30pm at the Columbus Centre. Reunite with fellow colleagues and celebrate new friendships as we enjoy some entertainment, un bicchiere di vino and a casual piatto di pasta prepared by Chef Luciano Schipano. Presented in partnership with AIRIcerca Toronto Chapter, COM.IT.ES Toronto and Italiani a Toronto. Buy your tickets today!

Our New “Learn Italian by Doing” Spring Programs Are Here!
Our new spring term of “Learn Italian by Doing” language workshops at the Columbus Centre will make learning or enhancing your Italian language skills easy and fun. You can enjoy a drink and snacks together with fellow classmates and discuss Italian art, from frescos to magnificent fountains, paintings to monumental architecture and hidden treasures of Italy at our “Art & Aperitivo” classes. At “Travel Through Italy” with Adele Addorisio you’ll have engaging conversations about the country and its customs. New workshops begin April 7 so register today!

Book Your Virtual
One-on-One Meeting for Friday Chats with Marco
You can have a virtual meeting with Marco DeVuono, President and CEO of Villa Charities Inc., for a one-on-one conversation to answer any questions or to share your thoughts on our programs and services. These informal chats with Marco will be held using GoToMeeting on the 2nd Friday of every month, from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Appointments are 20 minutes each and must be scheduled in advance. The next Friday Chats is scheduled for Friday, April 8. Contact us today to schedule your virtual meeting – call
416-789-7011 ext. 240 or email [email protected].

Celebrate the Life of Francesco Paolo Tosti in Concert
Villa Charities is proud to support “My Name is Francesco Paolo Tosti”, a tribute to the famous Italian composer Francesco Paolo Tosti, performed by Goran Dime, tenor, and Ivan Jovanovic, piano. One of the most celebrated composers from the end of the 19th/beginning of the 20th century, the evening will feature a program of Tosti’s most beautiful songs and exceptional Italian poetry. One performance only – Saturday, April 9, 8:00pm at the Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front Street West. Tickets are $45.00.

Cultural Tuesdays Welcomes Gianna Patriarca
Join award-winning author Gianna Patriarca on Tuesday, April 12 at 7:00pm for a presentation and reading of her newest book, “This Way Home: Selected and New Works”. Containing selections from her previously published poetry books, as well as a number of new poems, “This Way Home” is the collected poetics of Gianna Patriarca’s intricate relationship of art and life. An intensely emotional, quasi-visual work of art – in this case, poetry – that engages the reader in its communicative act. A ‘Pay What You Can’ Event – Donations welcome at the door. 
Matteo Brera Discusses “The Painter, the Priest
and the Pope”
Get your tickets now for Cultural Tuesdays on Tuesday, April 19 at 7:00pm, when
Matteo Brera presents this fascinating piece of Toronto’s history, involving Giuseppe Circelli, an Italian immigrant who wrote to Pope Pius XI in 1934 to denounce the alleged misappropriation of a painting of Saint Roch. A ‘Pay What You Can’ Event – Donations welcome at the door.  Presented in partnership with the University of Western Ontario. 

Enjoy A “Taste of Sicily”
on April 29
Don’t miss the next stop on our gastronomic journey through the peninsula! On Friday, April 29 at 7:00pm, you can savour a delicious four-course menu of authentic Sicilian dishes prepared by
Slow Food Toronto President and Chef, Luciano Schipano. Check out the menu on our website and buy your tickets today.
Villa Charities Foundation
Ride for Villa Charities at Giro!
Join us on Sunday, May 29, 2022, at Veneto Centre in Woodbridge for the
Villa Charities Giro cycling fundraiser. Proceeds raised at this year’s Giro will support the Canadian Red Cross’ Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal. Register today! Minimum fundraising of $300 with
a registration fee of $100.
 
Register Now for the
Ital-Canadian Golf Open
Join us on Thursday, September 8, 2022, at The Country Club, as CIBPA Toronto, ICCO Canada, and Villa Charities Foundation come together again to celebrate our community and give back
in a meaningful way. Proceeds from
The Ital-Canadian Golf Open will support scholarships and bursaries for undergraduate and graduate level
students across the country. Visit italcanadiangolfopen.com for details
and to register.
Columbus Centre
Columbus Centre School of Music Introduces New Music Production Course
Columbus Centre School of Music is introducing a new Music Production course for our spring term. Suited for students ages 10 and up, these one-on-one music production lessons will teach the basics of recording and editing acoustic or electric music. They will also learn computer literacy, keyboard skills, songwriting, and musical theory to facilitate the creation of their very own music. Check out all our music programs including drum lessons. Classes begin the week of April 4 and are available online or in-person. Full details on our website.

New Painting Masterclasses Available Now
Join professional artist and multi-award recipient Sam Paonessa for our new spring painting masterclasses, as he guides you on creating your very own masterpiece, while enhancing your understanding of specific painting techniques. For “Making Spring Sing” on Thursday, April 14 at 6:30pm, colour and texture will be the focus of this workshop, and you’ll learn to build textures and fresh vibrant colour in your landscape painting. Helpful palette knife techniques rendering trees and foliage will be demonstrated. Be sure to check out all art programs, including our new sculpture, textile painting and children’s drawing & sketching classes. For more information contacting the Arts & Culture department at [email protected] or by phone at (416) 789-7011, ext. 248
Our 2022 Tennis Season Opens April 1
We’re excited to announce that our three outdoor tennis courts will open on Friday, April 1. The season will run to September 30, 2022, with hours of operation Monday to Sunday 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Members and Non-Members can register for a tennis membership by contacting the Membership Office at [email protected], by phone at (416) 789-7011, ext. 231, or in person, Monday to Saturday. Please check the website for full details.

Mark Your Calendar for Athletic Club Spring Registration
Get ready to sign up for the Columbus Centre Athletic Club's spring programs, with Athletics Registration beginning on Monday, April 18 for Members and Wednesday, April 20 for Non-Members. Registration for Aquatics programs begins on Tuesday, April 19 for Members and Thursday, April 21 for Non-Members. We offer a wide array of classes for a range of ages, abilities and interests!