 |
Oct 12, 2008-Oct 19, 2008 |
Tribute to Dan Iannuzzi all mapped out
Council approves naming street and park after founder of Corriere Canadese
By Niccolò Marras
Originally Published: 2005-02-13
The City of Toronto will name a street and, during the summer, a park at York University after Dan Iannuzzi. This was officially confirmed last week by Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone, who handled the motion for the street naming, and Councillor Peter Li Preti, promoter of the park initiative.
"The suggestion to recognize Dan Iannuzzi's commitment to multiculturalism came from councillor Li Preti," said Pantalone. "Mayor David Miller and I enthusiastically agreed, and this led to identifying a suitable street. The chosen one is located in the vicinity of the place where Iannuzzi founded his multicultural TV station."
The station was originally called MTV, Channel 47 Cable Four, when Iannuzzi opened it in 1979. It broadcast round-the-clock programs in 24 languages -- a miniature Babel that people could tune into by pressing the fourth button on their remote.
The new station was a thorn in the side of the self-appointed, sole custodians of Canada's national culture. Nowadays Toronto has come to recognize the value of Dan's initiative and celebration of multiculturalism.
In unveiling this decision, approved by a unanimous vote of the Community Council, a visibly satisfied Pantalone stated:
"On February 16 the motion will go to the whole City Council, and I feel 100 percent confident that it will pass. I'm proud of working with Mayor Miller to turn this idea into reality.
"By honouring a person like Dan Iannuzzi, we're also honouring ourselves and the entire Italian community."
The deputy mayor explained that Iannuzzi Street will be part of a new neighbourhood at the site of an old beer brewery, running north to south in the vicinity of the Gardiner Expressway, Lakeshore Rd., and Fort York Blvd. It will be the first street west of Bathurst, steps from where Iannuzzi launched his station (now known as OMNI).
Road construction will begin in spring, in parallel with the residential complex. "There will be a ceremony in spring, and the work should be completed within two years," concluded Pantalone.
Page 1/...Page 2
|
| Home / Back to Top |
|
|
 |
|
|
</ td>
