Vision and Team
For many years, Montreal businessman and philanthropist Riccardo Di Done, Executive Producer of the project has envisioned the creation of a video documentary series that explores the contributions of people of Italian descent to the making of modern Canada. To this end, he began with friends Mario Fiorino, an insurance specialist, and Teresa Spinelli, entrepreneur, to discuss how to go about realizing the project.
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In 2019, he invited historians Adriana Davies and Gabriele Scardellato, then Mariano A. Elia Chair in Italian-Canadian Studies at York University, to help shape topics to be covered and to ensure historical accuracy. Di Done’s in-house team provided the project outline and initial research for the initiative. Sadly, Professor Scardellato passed away in 2020.
The final additions to the planning committee were subsequently made: two pioneers of documenting Italian-Canadian history, Roberto Perin and Franc Sturino, and the current Elia Chair, Abril Liberatori.
Overview and Methods
Five 45-minute documentaries will each address a specific period in Italian-Canadian history. Each episode will feature interviews with experts, including historians, who will discuss the topics contained in the storyboard outlined below. They will share their knowledge and provide objective diversity of perspectives on the history. Oral histories undertaken with and by Italian communities and representatives across the country will further enrich the documentaries so that “facts” come alive and are personalized.
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Archival and current video footage of various Italian-Canadian events will help to showcase Italian communities across the country, and their strong sense of identity and pride in their heritage. We will also include archival pictures, footage, newspapers, and other materials to serve as visual documentation and support for all the facts presented.
Planning Committee
Adriana A. Davies
Senior Editor of The Canadian Encyclopedia and author, specializing in Canadian immigration history.
Abril Liberatori
Mariano A. Elia Chair in Italian-Canadian Studies at York University, specializing in post–Second World War Italian-Canadian experiences.
Peter Tiseo
Insurance Broker.
Roberto Perin
Professor Emeritus and historian, specializing in Italian-Canadian immigration history.
Riccardo Di Done
Executive Producer; President of Theodone & Associates and CEO of Children Now.
Franc Sturino
Professor Emeritus and historian, specializing in Italian-Canadian immigration history.
Mario Fiorino
Vice President & General Counsel, Insurance Bureau of Canada.
Director's Statement
As a Canadian of Italian descent, Riccardo Di Done's primary objective in developing this project is to highlight Canada’s rich history as a mosaic of cultures. He has gathered a team to ensure an accurate and diverse representation of Italian immigration history to this country. The series is not simply a historical narrative; it's an educational endeavour designed to
deepen the understanding of the Canadian-Italian identity and
contributions to building Canadian infrastructure, culture and traditions.
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While our intent is to acknowledge and honour the dedication and sacrifices of individuals from diverse backgrounds, with a particular focus on Italian Canadians, we want to acknowledge the struggles and celebrate the successes of other cultures as well. It is only through this acknowledgement that we can learn from our past and ensure that newcomers to Canada do not have to endure the discrimination that prior generations of newcomers had to bear.