An Encore for Villa Colombo

Joe Volpe and Michael Di Biase help groundbreak for a seniors home in Vaughan

Once upon a time there were - and there still are - College Street and St. Clair Avenue West. At the time, Dufferin & Lawrence was "uptown" for Toronto. Actually, a whole other city: North York. Yet it was there, relatively far from its heart, that the Italian community chose to build its home, i.e. the complex including large structures like the Columbus Centre and Villa Colombo. An apparently "crazy" endeavour at the time, which eventually turned out to have been farsighted instead.
Now, however, Villa Colombo doubles. The officials of Villa Charities Foundation have thrown their hearts beyond another wall, with another daring decision. Last week, the plans for a second Villa Colombo complex have become reality; not only plans and fundraisings, but soil to dig, workers, concrete mixers. On December 3, in fact, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at 10433, Hwy 27 (just south of Nashville Sideroad & Kleinburg), officially starting construction of Vaughan's new seniors' home.
On this stretch of countryside begins this new "crazy" endeavour of Villa Charities, the benevolent organization that will build and then run the facility, like it does for the first complex, which will continue to operate as before. Pal Di Iulio, director of Villa Charities, didn't hide his satisfaction, despite the cold and a brief flurry. "We are expanding to Vaughan," he said, "because a large part of our community has moved in this area with the passing of time, and it is only fair that we try and offer these people the same services we've been offering for years at Dufferin & Lawrence. When we started there, 30 or 35 years ago, we were far from College St. and St.Clair Ave. We are following the Italian-Canadians: in a different atmosphere, of course, but always to keep abreast with our community. The community shifted north and northwest of the city, and we are following suit. This was also made possible thanks to the generosity of John Di Poce, who offered the land where we shall build our complex."
Relatively little time will pass before something more than excavated soil and heavy machinery will be visible here. "We should be done in 12 to 14 months maximum, and be ready for the official opening of Villa Colombo Vaughan," continued Di Iulio. "That means February or March 2006. From that date, thanks to this $25-million project, our seniors will have 160 new places available, in a facility that will closely follow the service concept of the 'old' Villa Colombo."
Satisfaction was palpable, as the groundbreaking was a truly exceptional moment. Equipped with a helmet and a spade, Minister Joe Volpe was among the authorities in attendance. "Our community has grown: when Villa Colombo began its adventure, many Italians lived in small, crowded houses, in order to split expenses. Then came the 'boom', and Italians slowly began to penetrate the city, to expand with it. This is also largely the case in Vaughan, where so many children and grandchildren of immigrants now live. This was therefore an expansion, first and foremost. If a transfer took place, that was a transfer of values that our community brought - or better imported - to this country, to this city. There are very few communities that try and stay so closely knit, respecting old customs and family values, and selflessness as the foundation of a deeply united community. So, this new facility is only an update, a confirmation of a culture that reaches north alongside those Italian-Canadians who've chosen to live here."
The group of 'groundbreakers' included also Ontario Finance Minister Greg Sorbara. "I've come here today," he explained, "because this is a very important moment for our community. What we did so many years ago is now being done again, to follow the needs of Italian-Canadians step by step. Villa Colombo here will become a reference for the people of Vaughan, and a place for our seniors. A first-class place."
Vaughan mayor Michael Di Biase acted as master of ceremonies and 'homeowner'. "We feel cold for the first time this year, but this is a beautiful day regardless," he said, looking at the freshly dug ground, "because Vaughan, and especially its Italian component, really needed such a facility, whose services have been designed to meet the needs and the habits of our seniors close to our homes. Our heartfelt thanks to Villa Charities and John Di Poce. Let's hope this is only the beginning."
The beginning of another "crazy" endeavour, to be accomplished with hard labour and solidarity.

Publication Date: 2004-12-12
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=4704