Honouring Italian Canadians

CIBPA gala night awards Phil Esposito, Linda Evangelista and others

I'm very happy with my professional and personal achievements, but I have one regret: not studying Italian when I was a kid." This declaration came from a legend of Canadian hockey, Phil Esposito, during a speech given to the members of the Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association of the Niagara Peninsula. Esposito was the guest of honour of a gala night organized by CIBPA at Club Italia in Niagara Falls as a tribute to personalities of the worlds of business and culture.
This very active organization has managed to pass the 170-member mark in two years, offering them consultation and assistance in many sectors, especially in relations with the different levels of government.
The activity of CIBPA in the Peninsula is very intense in increasing contacts with Italian-American organizations.
Several joint initiatives have already been taken, creating synergies and improving collaboration between the communities on both sides of the border.
As a matter of fact, numerous Italian-Americans have attended the ceremonies of CIBPA-Niagara, including Donald Alessi, who chairs the Federation of Italian American Societies.
As a way to underscore this co-operation, every initiative of CIBPA-Niagara is opened by the Italian, U.S., and Canadian anthems.
Award recipients included Jay Traiano of the Toronto Raptors, top model Linda Evangelista - originally from St. Catharines and represented by her mother Marisa, Vice Consul of Italy and tour operator Lillo Puma, and brothers Frank, Tony, and Rocky Commisso, well-known entrepreneurs of the Niagara Peninsula, the owners of a chain of food stores.
Also Marisa Evangelista touched upon the theme of Italian character. Accepting the award on behalf of her daughter, she read a message from Linda, exalting her Italian origin, "and I can assure you that anywhere in the world I underscore my being an Italian-Canadian, stressing the 'Italian' part."
Evangelista, despite her enormous international popularity, never forgot her birthplace, where she spends every Christmas and where she promoted, with singer Brian Adams, a fundraising event for an expansion of the local hospital.
Many cheers also greeted the speech by honorary Vice Consul Lillo Puma. His community commitment was recognized by local businesspeople who often ask for his help when social and community initiatives need to be undertaken.
The guests were welcomed by the dynamic President of CIBPA-Niagara, Dan Finora, who remarked that the association intends, sooner or later, to build a retirement home for the seniors living in the Niagara Peninsula. "This is our duty," he said, "towards those who gave so much to the community and to their families in these decades."
John Palumbo was the impeccable MC.
Before Esposito, Toronto Police chief Julian Fantino and Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions) Maurizio Bevilacqua had been guests of honour for this yearly event.

Publication Date: 2003-11-30
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3409