 |
Jan 15,2006 - Jan 22,2006 |
1 - A quantum leap for Italians in Montreal
With the Leonardo Da Vinci Centre, Luigi Liberatore gave interculturalism a home
By Antonio Maglio
Originally Published: 2002-12-22
 |
|
Luigi Liberatore
|
Luigi Liberatore says that "The Canadian-Italian Foundation of Montreal was created in 1975, with the blessings of Mr. Trudeau, who at the time was trying and giving shape and substance to multiculturalism. The foundation served two purposes: satisfying the needs of our community, and bringing it to the centre of cultural exchanges with other communities. We lacked a physical place where these objectives could be achieved. Now we have it."
This place is the Leonardo Da Vinci Centre, a square building panelled with light-coloured concrete, being completed next to St. Leonard Town Hall in Montreal. Its 15,000 square metres include a 500-seat theatre, gyms, swimming pools, conference halls, child-care centres, offices for regional associations and patronages, meeting points for youth and seniors, beginning with a great piazza, a privileged Italian-style meeting point. When the building will be finished, $15 million will have been spent. Liberatore, who chairs the fundraising committee, managed to collect them mostly within the community, for an accomplishment with a great cultural and political value in a city where Italian is the third language after French and English.
In his elegant office on Rue da la Montagne, Liberatore cannot hide his satisfaction. But he wants to clarify something. "I wasn't alone in this enterprise", he says. "The dynamic committee I chaired included co-chair Marco Galella, Giuseppe Borsellino, Tony Meti, Enzo Reda, Salvatore Nicastro, and Silvio De Rose. This is no lip service, this is a sincere recognition of their commitment. In some instances, there are no soloists but only choirs, and it would be silly to try and appropriate merits due to all of us".
What does the construction of the Leonardo Da Vinci Centre mean for you?
"An important challenge. In my opinion, the Centre can mark the passage from Trudeau's multiculturalism to interculturalism, i.e. a situation where the various communities can dialogue among themselves with the same dignity. In a nutshell, this is the second phase mentioned last week by Minister Gagliano in his interview. So, the Leonardo Da Vinci Centre will be the tangible realization of the Italian community in Montreal, but at the same time it will be the place where our community will open the doors to the other communities, thus dismantling the fences around the golden ghetto that Italians abroad often build around themselves."
Page 1/...Page 2
|
| Home / Back to Top |
|
|
 |
|
|
</ td>
