A female facing the Milan Cathedral.

Cultural Programming

Read More
A group of men raising flags at the rooftop ceremony marking the completion of Villa Colombo Toronto's external structure.

Heritage

Read More

Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery

Read More

VILLA CHARITIES

YOUNG ARTIST GRANT

A national grant program to support emerging artists in their creative endeavours in the fields of literature, music and film.

Guided by Villa Charities’ vision to inspire the Italian in all of us, the Young Artist Grant was established in 2023 as a biannual fund to support emerging artists in their creative endeavours in the fields of literature, music, and film.

 

The objective of the Young Artist Grant is to provide financial support to emerging artists who are either of Italian heritage, or who are developing projects that are inspired by and reflect the essence of Italian culture.

 

The 2025 Young Artist Grant will distribute a total of $15,000.00 to three (3) creative projects by young artists between 18 and 30 years of age, who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.

 

Applications for the 2025 Young Artist Grant program are now closed.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to apply.

The deadline to apply is Friday, September 29, 2023 at 5:00pm EDT.

On August 31, 2023, Villa Charities announced the launch of their Young Artist Grant, a national grant program established to support young Italian Canadian artists in their creative endeavours in the fields of literature, music and film. The aim of the Young Artist Grant is to provide financial support to emerging artists, while ensuring that young Italian Canadians are engaged with Villa Charities, and the Italian Canadian community at large.

This new biennial fund is an integral component of the organization’s Italian Canadian Youth Initiative (ICYI), a suite of programs and activities strategically created with the long-term objective of engaging and supporting the youth in our community, established in 2021 as part of Villa Charities’ 50th Anniversary celebrations.

In 2023, Villa Charities will award a total of $15,000, to be disbursed to three (3) talented young artists between 18 and 30 years of age, who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, and of Italian heritage.

The selection and evaluation process will be conducted by a Selection Committee for each grant category. Grants will be awarded by Villa Charities at the end of 2023.

The 2025 Young Artist Grant will support three projects by young artists with a $5,000.00 grant.

Submissions are accepted from artists who comply with the following requirements:

  • Are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada;
  • Are 18 to 30 years of age
  • Are of Italian heritage OR are developing a creative project that is inspired by or reflects the essence of Italian culture.

The Young Artist Grant will support a specific original project that is in development in the following categories:

  1. Fictional Literature (novel, novella, collection of short stories or poems, comics, graphic novel, theatre play)
    Ineligible projects: Non-fictional works, academic studies, anthologies featuring works by multiple authors, screenplays.
  2. Music (album, musical score, movie soundtrack).
    Ineligible projects: Individual songs.
  3. Film (8-15 minute short film, feature length film, music video, TV/streaming series or series pilot, screenplay)
    Ineligible projects: Documentary movies, film journalism, recording of a live performance.

PLEASE NOTE: Projects that have not been initiated or that are at the conceptual stage are not eligible. Candidates will need to share samples of their work in progress in their grant submission.

Artists that have already received support through the Young Artist Grant in the past are not eligible to receive the support again.

One artist can submit only one project, under one category. Each submission must be the work of the sole individual artist or by a team/band under the direct guidance of the artist who is submitting the project.

Each submission package must include:

  • Completed online Application Form
  • A valid photo ID (eg. driver’s license, passport, etc.)
  • The applicant’s current resume
  • An overview of the project (500-800 words)
  • A detailed budget for the project, highlighting how the grant money will be spent
  • A sample of the proposed project, such as
    • A 2–5 page excerpt for the literary entry
    • 1–2 song(s) from the music album
    • 2–3 minutes of the film or footage to be incorporated

The winning projects must be completed by December 31, 2026. Submission packages must be submitted via email to execs@villacharities.com no later than Friday, September 26, 2025, 5:00 PM EDT. Large files can be emailed through file-sharing sites (Dropbox, WeTransfer, etc.)

Submissions that are received after the deadline will not be considered.

In your email subject line, please include ‘2025 Young Artist Grant’ and your First and Last Name.

Successful candidates will be required to work from a mutually agreed set of timelines with specific deliverables and due dates. The submission of a grant application represents a commitment to

Villa Charities Inc. to complete the project as described in the proposal, by December 2026. The successful grant recipient will receive the support of $5,000.00 in three installments:

  • $1,500.00 at the time the winners are confirmed (December 2025)
  • $1,000.00 after providing a short overview of the progress (July 2026)
  • $2,500.00 upon completing the project (December 2026).

If for any reason, the project is not completed, all grant monies must be returned to Villa Charities Inc.

By submitting a grant application (a “Submission”), the applicant confirms that the Submission and the project contained in the Submission is and will be an original work, and no part of the Submission or project is copied from anywhere else or in any way plagiarized, and that no AI product (e.g. ChatGPT) was used to create the submitted project. Any Submission submitted with material owned by third parties without proper permission for use will be disqualified. Villa Charities Inc. is not responsible for any third party’s rights violation by an applicant and the applicant shall be held liable for such violation. The Submission must not contain anything that infringes a third party’s intellectual property rights or violates, or encourages any conduct that would violate any applicable law or regulation. The Submission and its included project must not be defamatory, obscene, pornographic, vulgar or offensive, and may not promote discrimination, bigotry, racism, hatred, harassment or harm against any individual or group. The Submission and included project may not contain information or materials embodying the names, images, likenesses, voices, or other indicia identifying any third person (living or dead), such as personal names,
e-mail addresses or street addresses, including, without limitation, those of celebrities and/or other public or private figures, living or dead.

By submitting a Submission, the applicant grants to Villa Charities Inc. the right to use at no cost any material related to the entry including the submitted project (in early or final form) for use in any and all manner, format, or media whether now known or hereafter devised (which use may include without limitation, editing, reformatting, modifying, publishing, posting, distributing, displaying, and transmitting for print, audio, visual, digital, or broadcast media and the like), for any purpose, including without limitation advertising Villa Charities Inc. or Villa Charities’ products, services and organization. The applicant represents and warrants that, if applicable, the applicant has obtained all relevant authorizations and rights from third parties to use their material in the Submission for the uses contemplated herein.

There are three (3) prizes of $5,000.00 CDN each, one for each category.

The grant recipients will be evaluated by a selection committee for each category. The decision of the selection committee will be final and cannot be appealed.

As stated above in the Submission Rules, the selection committee and Villa Charities Inc. will not be responsible for issues arising from alleged plagiarism that may be found in the grant recipient’s work. If such is the case, all funds must be returned to Villa Charities Inc., and the artist will be ineligible to submit proposals in the future.

In case of insufficient or inadequate entries, the prize will be unassigned. The decision of the selection committee in this respect is final and cannot be appealed.

PLEASE NOTE: Winning projects cannot be drastically altered without informing Villa Charities Inc. about the change(s) and obtaining its consent.

The winning projects must be completed by December 31, 2026.

The recipients of the 2025 Young Artist Grant are required to recognize Villa Charities’ contribution to their projects by displaying the Villa Charities logo on the final work, with the mention that they received support by Villa Charities’ 2025 Young Artist Grant. Various versions of the logo and guidelines on how to use them will be provided to the winning artists.

Applications for the 2025 Young Artist Grant program are now closed.

Apply Now

Villa Charities is thrilled to present the final projects of the winners of our inaugural Young Artist Grant program.

 

In 2023, Villa Charities launched the Young Artist Grant and awarded a total of $15,000 to three talented young Italian Canadian artists to support their creative endeavors in literature, music, and film. The Young Artist Grant is a national bi-annual fund available to emerging artists who are either of Italian heritage, or who are developing projects that are inspired by and reflect the essence of Italian culture.

 

We invite you to discover each project and celebrate the remarkable work of these rising stars.

Category: Fictional Literature

 

Winner: Claire Tatangelo, Halifax, NS

Creative Project: “In the Cards”

 

This story is a 30-page fictional graphic novel, suitable for all ages, set in Halifax, Nova Scotia in the fall of 2022. It is about an Italian Canadian girl who wishes to visit the site where her grandparents arrived in Canada, however she encounters a natural disaster that changes her journey. Through dreams, she communicates with her Nonna, who gives her advice about how to make it through the storm and help others along the way.

 

“Anna embarks on a road trip to visit the site where her Italian grandparents arrived for the first time in Halifax many years ago. But the adventure proves to be riskier than she had expected as Hurricane Fiona crashes in. Through dreams and lessons, she learned while playing cards with her Nonna, she finds the strength to move on after the hurricane and experience the true beauty of the East Coast.”

View Here
Book "In the cards" seen held in hand on a street

Category: Music

 

Winner: Daniel Monte, Woodbridge, ON

Creative Project: “Same Song” 

 

Daniel Monte has embarked on creating an eclectic mix of original music with the assistance and help from the Villa Charities Young Artist Grant. The songs each touch on the intricacies of what it means to be human through stories of fear, sin and acceptance. Included in the collection are songs such as “Same Song” and “Same Song II”, which discuss cultural overlap and how people throughout history have shared and incorporated elements of each other’s traditions, resulting in a global sound of mixed influence. The album features traditional instrumentation like strings, mandolins, Uilleann Pipes, Bagpipes, Tamburello, and various other traditional sounds wrapped up in a unique alternative pop sound. The collection will guide the listener throughout the various human emotions and give them an eclectic outlook on music, sound, culture and what it means to be untied as people.

Listen Here
Album cover of Same Song

Category: Film

 

Winner: Ruggero Romano, Vancouver, BC

Creative Project: “Tajar”

 

“Tajar” is an experimental short film exploring the enduring legacy of the Italian grape harvest. Through archival footage from 1950s Italy and contemporary visuals, it captures the passage of tradition across generations. Made possible by the Villa Charities Young Artist Grant, this project reflects on the role of community, heritage, and cultural continuity in a modern world.

 

The act of cutting—both in harvesting grapes and in film editing—becomes a bridge across time, connecting generations through shared gestures, memories, and traditions that continue to shape our cultural identity.

Watch Here

About The Young Artist Grant

Guided by Villa Charities’ vision to inspire the Italian in all of us, the Young Artist Grant was established in 2023 as a biannual fund to support emerging artists in their creative endeavours in the fields of literature, music, and film.

The objective of the Young Artist Grant is to provide financial support to emerging artists who are either of Italian heritage, or who are developing projects that are inspired by and reflect the essence of Italian culture.

The 2025 Young Artist Grant will distribute a total of $15,000.00 to three (3) creative projects by young artists between 18 and 30 years of age, who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.

2025 Young Artist Grant Applications Open on Wednesday, September 3 at 12:00pm EDT.

Villa Charities is excited to announce the winners of our inaugural Young Artist Grant program. The Young Artist Grant was launched in September 2023, with the aim of providing financial support to emerging artists, while ensuring that young Italian Canadians are engaged with Villa Charities, and the Italian Canadian community at large.

 

Read the Press Release 

Young Artist Grant Winners 2023

About The Young Artist Grant

This new biennial fund is an integral component of the organization’s Italian Canadian Youth Initiative (ICYI), a suite of programs and activities strategically created with the long-term objective of engaging and supporting the youth in our community, established in 2021 as part of Villa Charities’ 50th Anniversary celebrations.

 

In 2023, Villa Charities awarded a total of $15,000, which was disbursed to three (3) talented young artists between 18 and 30 years of age, who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, and of Italian heritage.

 

The selection and evaluation process are conducted by a Selection Committee for each grant category.

Category: Fictional Literature

Winner: Claire Tatangelo, Halifax, NS

Creative Project: “Roller Barbie and Her Magic 8” (Graphic Novel)

 

A coming-of-age story about an Italian Canadian woman who leaves her family and moves to a new city alone. She learns to love herself through roller blading and reconnects with lessons she learned playing Italian cards from her nonna as she figures out the direction of her life. Set in Halifax, Nova Scotia, this graphic novel is based on real natural disasters that took place in the post-pandemic years and follows the characters as they learn to accept and cope with the aftermath. The imagery on Italian cards is revisited and redesigned throughout the story.

 

Category: Music

Winner: Daniele Monticelli, Woodbridge, ON

Creative Project: “Now Part II” (Album)

This project explores life situations, interpersonal relationships, and the universal quest for identity. The song “Same Song” emphasizes the interconnectedness of music and culture, showcasing a fusion of traditional Italian instruments like tamburello and zampogna with a Scottish-inspired violin line. This blend symbolizes the unity among diverse backgrounds, reflecting a shared love for musical expression.

 

Category: Film

Winner: Ruggero Romano, Vancouver, BC

Creative Project: “Vinum” (Short Film)

 

The project is dedicated to the preservation of the age-old tradition of grape harvesting in Venice, Italy, through the production of a high-quality cinematic short film. This venerable practice in Venice is at risk of fading into obscurity as the city’s population dwindles due to the overwhelming impacts of mass tourism. Veneto stands as one of Italy’s most esteemed regions in the realm of winemaking, and within its boundaries, Venice boasts a distinct and revered approach to the art. Our mission is to safeguard this invaluable tradition through a short film that will serve as a poignant testament to this unique heritage. Our cinematic endeavor will capture and present every facet of the grape harvesting process in collaboration with the local most renowned grape harvesting organization, Laguna nel Bicchiere, that will ensure that everything that is proposed in the film mirrors real-life procedures and treatments. With an immersive and authentic approach, the film will explore the entire journey, crafting a narrative that unfolds with a curated synergy between images and soundscape. Through a cinematic lens, we will highlight the enduring traditions that form the heart and soul of Italian and Venetian winemaking culture.

 

Category: Film

Honourable Mention: Madeleine Fiore, Woodbridge, ON

Creative Project: “Road Trippin’” (Short Film)

 

“Road Trippin’” is a short film written, directed and produced by Madeline Rose Fiore. After graduating college, two girls go on a road trip with their brother’s 1979 camper van. Through this journey, they uncover their love for one another that they’ve been hiding from, which runs parallel to their brother’s secret relationship.”

Carlo Coen, PhD

Carlo Coen obtained a “Laurea” (Italian graduation) from the Sapienza University in Rome, with a thesis on Piero Gobetti and the cultural milieu of his times. He started working in the film business by rewriting dialogues for dubbed films. Soon after his graduation, Carlo was actively involved in the activities of a film club in Rome, by programming, working as a projectionist, and managing the life of the club. Starting from 1981, he has worked for the Italian Foreign Service and was posted abroad as the Director of Italian Cultural Institutes in New Delhi, Melbourne and Toronto. More recently (May 2013) he obtained a PhD in Italian Studies at the University of Toronto with a dissertation on Italian horror films from 1960 to 1980. Carlo delivered lectures and papers at Universities in Canada, the United States, Italy, India and Australia. He taught various courses on Italian Cinema and Italian Culture at the University of Toronto and at York University from 2006 to 2013, and at present he teaches the same subjects at York University. He has been the chief programmer for the Toronto Italian Film Festival, the Love and Lust Toronto Film Festival and has been the Coordinator and the Director of Programming for the Italian Contemporary Film Festival in Toronto since 2015. In 2003, he conducted an eight-segment series on contemporary Italian films on OMNI TV. His presentations on OMNI TV continued during his tenure as Director of Programming for the ICFF. He has several publications to his credit on the major Italian directors and on Indian Cinema. Among them one should mention articles on Piero Gobetti, on Rossellini and his historical films, on Rosi and Sciascia, on Fellini, on the representation of Naples in film, and on the influence of Neorealism on Indian Cinema. He has also co-edited the volume “Italian Experimental and Independent Cinema”, published by the Edinburgh University Press in 2019.

Roberto Occhipinti

Born in Toronto, Bassist Roberto Occhipinti is a well-established presence in the Canadian and International Jazz scene. A five-time JUNO award-winning musician, he is equally at home playing classical music as well as jazz and world music. In addition to leading his own groups with five discs under his name, he has performed, toured and recorded with Jane Bunnett, Hilario Duran, Jamey Haddad, Jovino Santos Neto, Don Byron, Jeff Coffin, Uri Caine, Bruce Cockburn, Enrico Rava, Stefano Bollani and Dafnis Prieto. An award-winning producer, projects include recordings for Dafnis Prieto, Michael Occhipinti-Sicilian Jazz Project, Hilario Duran, The Gryphon Trio, ES:MO, Don Thompson. Recent recordings include “The Music of Don Thompson” featuring bassist Joel Quarrington and his own recording on Modica Music, “The Next Step” featuring Larnell Lewis and Adrean Farrugia.

Anneliese Schultz, MA, MFA

A Bread Loaf Scholar and Pushcart Prize nominee, Anneliese completed her MA in Italian and MFA in Creative Writing at UBC and was shortlisted for the 2016 HarperCollins/UBC Prize for Best New Fiction. Her short stories have won numerous awards and been widely published, including in the Toronto Star, as well as recognized by the Writers’ Union of Canada, the Alpine Fellowship, and more. In 2023, she was longlisted for the Fugere Book Prize and shortlisted for Exile Editions’ ‘Best Canadian Short Story’ Award. Having studied and worked in Italy in the ‘70s, Anneliese later taught Italian at UBC for 20+ years. Living in a crazily creative German-Punjabi household in Vancouver, she is currently juggling climate fiction, a middle-grade ghost story, and an adult literary novel. Also found at laughinginthelanguage.com, she may one day complete her proposed bilingual novel “La Finta Italiana/The Pretend Italian.”

Submission Guidelines

Apply Now

Download Submission Guidelines

Contact Us About The Villa Charities Young Artist Grant

Joseph Arcuri

Ex-Officio (Villa Charities Inc. Chair), Leonardo Da Vinci Academy

Joseph Arcuri, CPA, CA, is the Chief Financial Officer of NRStor. He has been a Director of BioSyent Inc. since 2018 and is currently Chair of the Audit Committee and Disclosure Policy Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Arcuri started his professional career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers within its assurance group and later was president of AOL Canada. Joseph is a passionate Senior Account Executive with 29 years of experience working collaboratively with seniors, employees, members, partners, government and other vested stakeholders.


In addition to serving as a board member, Joseph holds the position of Chair on the Villa Charities Inc. Board and the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation & Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation Board. He serves as Treasurer and Ex-Officio on the Villa Charities Foundation Board and as Ex-Officio on the Columbus Centre Board, the Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc. Board, the Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre Board and the Leonardo Da Vinci Academy Board. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Nominating and Governance Committee, the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

Mario Tersigni

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Mario Tersigni is a dedicated professional with a strong background in finance and manufacturing. A graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University, he is also a CFA candidate, continuously expanding his expertise in investment management and financial analysis.

 

Currently, Mario plays a key role in his family’s manufacturing business, where he applies his skills to drive growth and operational excellence. Beyond his professional endeavors, he is deeply committed to charitable initiatives. Proud of his Italian heritage, Mario is an engaged member of the Italian community, working to preserve and promote its rich cultural traditions.

Anthony Mastromarini

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Anthony Mastromarini is a Senior Associate on the Investment Team at Alignvest Management Corporation. In this role, he identifies and evaluates new investment opportunities while executing value-creation initiatives across Alignvest’s existing portfolio companies.

 

Prior to joining Alignvest, Anthony was an Associate at Birch Hill Equity Partners, a leading Canadian private equity firm with
$5 billion in assets under management. He began his career as an Investment Banking Analyst at TD Securities, where he advised on mergers and acquisitions, equity offerings, and debt financings within the M&A and Diversified Industries groups.

 

Beyond his professional experience, Anthony is deeply committed to community engagement and social impact. He has held leadership positions within various charitable organizations, including TD Bank’s Executive Task Force on Refugee Success and the World University Service of Canada. He is also passionate about preserving and promoting Italian heritage, actively supporting initiatives that celebrate Italian culture and strengthen the Italian-Canadian community.

 

Anthony holds a Bachelor of Arts in Honours Business Administration (with distinction, Ivey Scholar) from the Ivey Business School and graduated from Western University as a National Scholar.

Giancarlo Francesco Beltrame

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Giancarlo Francesco Beltrame is an Ontario Certified Teacher specializing in French as a Second Language and Italian Language & Culture. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Western University and is currently completing his Bachelor of Education at York University. His teaching experience spans French and Italian roles, with placements across multiple schools in the York Catholic District School Board.

 

Beyond the classroom, Giancarlo has taught Italian through Centro Scuola Toronto and the London District Catholic School Board, incorporating cultural topics such as music, sport, and drama into his lessons. He is also an experienced tutor, having supported French learners through personalized, online instruction.

 

Giancarlo is passionate about community involvement. He serves as a Youth Representative with the National Congress of Italian-Canadians and previously led the Canadian Italian Appreciation Organization at Western University, organizing cultural events and managing a team of student executives. His leadership, cultural advocacy, and dedication to inclusive education reflect his commitment to empowering youth and fostering diverse learning environments.

Anna Neri

Director, Columbus Centre of Toronto

Anna Neri is deeply passionate about her Italian heritage and her life in Toronto and GTA. She credits much of her career success to her father, who thrived as an entrepreneur in Canada. 

 

Anna holds two degrees from Seneca Polytechnic, specializing in Visual Merchandising and Retail Marketing. Leveraging these skills, she has built an award-winning career as an executive and independent consultant for some of Canada’s leading retailers and hospitality chains for over 25 years.

 

Subsequently, Anna pursued her real estate license, specializing in residential trading for both pre-construction and resale properties in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and Simcoe County. She has also earned the Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRS) designation from the Toronto Real Estate Board, reflecting her specialized training in handling transactions for senior citizens with the utmost care and respect—a cause that holds significant meaning for her.

 

In addition to her consulting work in brand marketing and real estate, Anna owns a commercial décor company that focuses on creating seasonal displays in Toronto’s financial district, a passion project she enthusiastically shares each holiday season.

William Morassutti

Director, Columbus Centre of Toronto

A creative executive, editor and writer, William’s career is characterized by storytelling across multiple creative disciplines. As VP at Loopmedia, he played a key role in new business wins and content strategies for Toyota, New Balance, BMW, World Wildlife Fund, Scotiabank and Purolator.

 

William served as Editorial Director at TORO Magazine, a men’s lifestyle publication nominated for over 60 National Magazine Awards (Canada) and winner of Gold & Platinum at Folio’s Ozzie Awards (U.S.). He also cofounded and edited the web-only TORO, a digital publication with a peak monthly audience of 543,000 unique visitors. Additionally, he conceived and edited IMAGINING CANADA: A CENTURY OF PHOTOGRAPHS PRESERVED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, published by Doubleday Canada. 

 

In the past decade, he has worked as Creative Director at Star Content Studios (Torstar), Editor-in-Chief of YouInc, and Content Editorial Director at Venture Communications. He is currently a VP at Cundari.

Mario Lofranco

Director, Columbus Centre of Toronto

Mario Lofranco is a newly minted lawyer at Baker McKenzie LLP. Mario maintains a general corporate law practice with a focus on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, multijurisdictional corporate reorganizations, capital markets transactions and corporate governance. He holds degrees in Philosophy, Business and Law. Mario joined the Columbus Centre board in 2024 and hopes to bring energy and a different perspective to continue to grow the Columbus Centre to serve its community. Mario’s grandparents helped with the construction of the Columbus Centre, brick by brick. He has fond memories of his childhood running around the Columbus Centre after Italian class or swimming lessons.  

 

This dedication to discipline and teamwork extends into Mario’s community involvement as well. As a key member of Italia360, a non-profit organization, Mario is dedicated to empowering first-generation Canadians by providing them with valuable opportunities in the entrepreneurial space. Beyond the boardroom, Mario is an avid practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a passionate soccer enthusiast, proudly supporting S.S.C. Napoli. Mario’s multifaceted interests and unwavering commitment to both professional and personal growth make him a dynamic and inspiring figure in the legal and broader community

Cristina Caruso

Secretary, Columbus Centre of Toronto

Cristina is a Development, Events & Communications Specialist, with the Toronto Foundation for Student Success, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting Toronto District School Board children and helping remove barriers to their education. With over ten years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Cristina has worked to foster impactful donor relationships, organize engaging events, and facilitate effective communications in support of programming for students. With a particular focus on student nutrition, Cristina is passionate about supporting the well-being and education of children and youth. Cristina also has several years of experience working in health, with a focus on fitness and nutrition. Cristina graduated from the University of Toronto, with an Honour Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Italian Studies, as well as from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) with a Masters in Education Policy. Having joined the Board of Directors in 2024, Cristina is excited to contribute to the Columbus Centre and the Villa Charities community. 

Giulia Papa

Vice-Chair, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Giulia Papa is a lawyer based in Woodbridge, Ontario, with a focus on family law and estates. She provides compassionate and strategic legal counsel, helping clients navigate sensitive legal matters with confidence and clarity.

 

As a proud member of the Italian Canadian community, Giulia believes that understanding one’s heritage is essential to shaping a strong and informed future. She integrates these values into her professional and community work, with a commitment to supporting the well-being of individuals and families.

 

Beyond her legal practice, Giulia is actively involved in several non-profit organizations. She serves as Vice-Chair on the Next Gen Leaders Committee, where she works to strengthen connections within the Italian community and ensure its continued growth. Giulia is also passionate about advocating for women’s rights and creating empowerment opportunities through legal avenues and community initiatives.

 

In addition to her professional and board roles, Giulia remains dedicated to supporting local causes and inspiring others to engage in meaningful community action.

Christopher Pompili

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Christopher Pompili is a graduate student currently completing the Master of Biotechnology, Biopharmaceuticals at the University of Toronto, Institute for Management & Innovation. His goal is to elevate his understanding of biology and its applications, gain relevant industry experience and build a career in a sector that has global impact. As part of the program, he has secured an internship at Sanofi Pasteur in Market Access and Public Affaires – General Medicines.


Christopher holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from York University. In his graduating year, he successfully completed a thesis and research practicum. The research focused on implications for neurodevelopment disorders and therapeutic interventions and has since been published in Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience.


Christopher is proud of his Italian heritage and eager to contribute to the Italian Canadian community as a member of the
Villa Charities Next Gen Leaders Committee.

Veronica Luca Mastroianni

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Veronica shares a close connection with Villa Charities, having grown up in the neighbouring area. She attended Dante Alighieri Academy and would often spend her free time at the Columbus Centre for various social events. She studied at the University of Toronto for her undergraduate and graduate degrees and is currently working at Air Canada as a Manager, Employee Communications.

 

Veronica joined the Next Gen Leaders Committee as a way to give back to her local community and to support Villa Charities’ mission. Prior to joining the committee, she was a volunteer in the Dialysis Unit at the Humber River Regional Hospital. 

Timo Masellis

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Timo Masellis is a 26-year-old Sport Management graduate from Humber College. He has experience in marketing, sales, and social media, as well as 10 years’ experience working with various charitable organizations. Timo has worked in the sports industry at companies including TLN Mediaset and York 9 FC. His volunteer efforts span organizations such as Villa Charities, Smiles of Innocence, St. Gabriel Elementary School, Richview Manor Retirement Home, CIBC Run for the Cure, and Salsa on St Clair.

 

Timo enjoys helping others, showing kindness, working on collaborative teams, and brainstorming new ideas. His passions include sports, music, food, and art.

Adam Grisolia

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Adam Grisolia is a Strategy Insights and Planning Associate at ZS, a global management consulting and technology firm. At ZS, Adam has focused on market research and forecasting engagements, working with large healthcare clients. Adam previously held roles at Royal Bank of Canada and McKesson Canada. Adam brings an analytical mindset and experience directly advising senior leaders. 

 

Beyond his professional experience, Adam has a demonstrated interest in community leadership and impact. He volunteered as a Research Assistant at CAMH and co-authored a business case with Dr. Joshua Foster, which was published by Ivey Publishing for undergraduate and MBA programs. Adam is passionate about serving the Italian Canadian community and contributing to initiatives honouring Italian culture and heritage.

 

He holds a dual degree Bachelor of Arts in Honours Business Administration from the Ivey Business School and an Honours Bachelor of Medical Sciences in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences from Western University.

Anthony Fusco

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Anthony Salvatore Fusco is deeply committed to family, community, and the legacy of his grandfather, Anthony Fusco, one of Villa Charities’ founding members. Growing up with family gatherings at the Columbus Centre, he developed a profound connection to Villa Charities and its mission to serve the Italian Canadian community. Inspired by his grandfather’s dedication, Anthony is passionate about giving back and honouring this legacy of service.

 

Now a second-year law student at the University of Windsor, Anthony was recently hired by Littler, the largest global management-side employment and labour law practice, where he is building a career grounded in advocacy and community impact. With board experience from Universal Care Strides for Seniors and active involvement in the Italian Canadian community, Anthony is honoured to support Villa Charities, ensuring it remains a vibrant home for future generations.

Daniela Fisico

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Daniela graduated from Western University with an Honors Specialization Degree in Media, Information, and Technoculture. With a strong foundation in marketing and communications, she has gained valuable experience in prominent roles at organizations like Johnson & Johnson and Golf Canada. Daniela currently serves as the Manager of Global Sponsorship Marketing at Scotiabank, where she focuses on driving impactful Arts and Culture partnerships across Canada.

 

Driven by a deep passion for her Italian heritage, Daniela takes pride in honoring the sacrifices made by her Nonna and Nonno, who immigrated from Calabria to Canada. As a proud recipient of the inaugural Villa Charities Scholarship, Daniela is enthusiastic about giving back to the Italian community and collaborating with others who share her values.

 

Outside of work, Daniela enjoys cooking, traveling, and exploring new ways to connect with her cultural roots.

Enza-Marie DiVizio

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Enza-Marie Di Vizio has built a successful career in regulatory compliance, with over six years of experience in the financial industry. As the Manager of Global Compliance Regulatory Change at TD Bank Group, she plays a pivotal role in navigating international regulatory landscapes to ensure the bank’s compliance with evolving regulations across multiple global regions, including Europe, Asia, and North America.

 

Beyond her professional contributions, Enza-Marie is an advocate for leadership development through her role on the TD Risk Management Women in Leadership Committee, where she has collaborated with organizations such as the Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women and TD Friends of the Environment to create opportunities for colleagues to support their local communities and promote social responsibility.

 

Enza-Marie’s commitment to her heritage and professional growth is further demonstrated through her involvement with the Italian Canadian community. She serves on the Women’s Auxiliary of the Canadian Italian Business Professional Association (CIBPA), where she has played a key role in securing sponsorships from local businesses for the 2024 annual fashion show in support of the Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women.

 

Enza-Marie holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a specialization in Law & Business from the Ted Rogers School of Management.

Nicholas DeVuono

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Nicholas DeVuono is an account executive with extensive experience working in the logistics industry. In August of 2024, he was appointed the position of Executive Account Manager for FedEx after working for over five years at DHL Express since 2019. Nicholas brings a strong work ethic and an extensive international network working in the global logistics industry. He is very eager to support his community.

 

Nicholas holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Global Management Studies from the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University. 

Isabella DeVuono

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Isabella DeVuono is a graduate student at the Institute of Medical Science and Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. She is completing a thesis-based Master of Science in Medical Science and a Collaborative Specialization in Women’s Health, with research interests in Addiction Medicine and Women’s Health.

 

Her research centres on public health, capacity building, knowledge translation, implementation science, smoking cessation, and cancer. With experience in both healthcare and corporate settings, she brings a unique perspective and a strong commitment to serving the Italian Canadian community.

 

She holds a Bachelor of Medical Science in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences from Western University.

Cessidia De Biasio

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Cessidia De Biasio, BSW, BComm, MBA, is a passionate leader in social impact and workplace well-being with a commitment to fostering mental health awareness and inclusivity. As the co-founder and co-lead of KPMG’s Workplace Well-being Community of Practice, she champions initiatives to enhance the mental health and well-being of colleagues and clients. A registered social worker, Cessidia brings a deep understanding of community care to her role on the Villa Charities Next Gen Leaders Committee, where she advocates for culturally sensitive senior care and celebrates her Italian heritage. Inspired by her Nonna’s journey to Canada, Cessidia founded the Addolorata De Luca Leadership Scholarship, a tribute to the resilience and legacy of all immigrants. This initiative has raised over $70,000 to support students from underrepresented backgrounds, reflecting her commitment to equity and empowerment.

 

Cessidia is dedicated to continuing her volunteer work within the Italian community, honoring her roots and supporting others. Her 102-year-old Nonna resides at Villa Colombo, and Cessidia is proud to have been awarded the inaugural Villa Charities Scholarship, a recognition of her dedication to preserving Italian culture and heritage.

Daniel Panza

Chair, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Daniel Panza is a Toronto-based lawyer at Owens Wright LLP, specializing in Corporate Law, Estates, Trusts, and Real Estate. His practice focuses on estate planning, asset management, corporate reorganizations, and commercial transactions. Daniel also holds a designation from the prestigious Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

 

In addition to his legal practice, Daniel is a dedicated leader in the non-profit sector, serving on boards that support community development, early childhood education, animal welfare, and social wellness. As Director and Chair of the Governance Committee at New Collar Collective, he provides structure and strategic oversight to programs that enhance animal welfare and promote responsible care. He also serves as a Director and Governance Committee member at Today’s Family, supporting impactful initiatives for families and children. As a National Director and Fundraising Committee member of the GUHAH Way Foundation, Daniel is committed to advancing the health and wellness of children – demonstrating his dedication to building resilient and supportive communities.

Antonina (Toni) Rasile

Director, Villa Colombo Toronto Auxiliary Board

For the past 12 years, Antonina Rasile has played an integral role at Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities as a Community Events Manager. In this capacity, she has been instrumental in developing key strategies to raise awareness of Jumpstart Charity’s mission to remove financial barriers, ensuring that all kids across Canada have access to sports and play. Her efforts have resulted in countless children building confidence and developing essential skills for future growth. 

 

Before her tenure at Jumpstart Charities, Antonina held various positions at Canadian Tire Corporation. These roles included serving as the IT Store Systems Team Lead and contributing significantly within the Corporate Experience Team. Each position allowed her to hone her leadership skills and deepen her understanding of organizational dynamics. 

 

Throughout her career, Antonina has prided herself on being a passionate leader. She is renowned for creating collaborative environments that result in action-driven teams through coaching, mentoring, and fostering respectful connections. Her leadership style not only motivates teams but also ensures that every member feels valued and integral to the collective mission. 

 

Antonina’s commitment to community service extends beyond her professional life. She brings her extensive skills and experience to the Villa Colombo Toronto Auxiliary Board, where she has been a dedicated board member for the past two years. 

Maria Filice

Director, Villa Colombo Toronto Auxiliary Board

Maria Filice’s retirement has provided her with the opportunity to get involved with community work and meeting people. She is currently involved with Villa Colombo and Villa Charities in general. 

 

Maria has lived in the area since 1969 and has been retired for 5 years. She was a legal assistant/law clerk having practiced in the field since 1973 with a main focus on residential real estate. She became a volunteer at the Villa Gift Shop in January of 2023, devoting two days a week to the shop and occasionally stepping in for other volunteers when they were not available.  She also helps in other areas when required. 

 

Maria became a board member of the VCTA in November of 2023 and has come to appreciate the countless hours and devotion the board members provide, in their continuous fundraising efforts for the residents through the various functions they organize.  

 

She hopes that in some small way she can make a difference. 

Paola Tiatto

Treasurer, Villa Colombo Toronto Auxiliary Board 

Paola is an experienced Bookkeeper with a Bachelor of Business Management and a strong background in managing financial operations for a law firm. With over 30 years of experience in legal accounting, Paola brings a detail-oriented approach to managing accounts, reconciling statements and ensuring tax compliance. 

 

Driven by strong family values and a passion for giving back, Paola volunteered at an Elementary School in Thornhill from 2001 to 2010, helping young readers enhance their literacy skills and foster a love of learning. Along with the reading program Paola was an active member in the Parent Council Committee from 2002 to 2015.  This experience inspired a deep commitment to community service which led Paola to join VCTA in 2021 as a board member helping to organize various fundraising events.  Paola has recently taken on the role of Treasurer for VCTA. 

 

Outside of work, she enjoys reading, baking and gathering with family and friends.

Anna Figliano-Bellissimo

General Secretary, Villa Colombo Toronto Auxiliary Board 

Anna Figliano-Bellissimo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from York University and a French Language Certification from Laval University. She enjoyed a 33-year career as a civil servant with the Province of Ontario, holding various roles including Statistical Reporting and Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development. 

 

Anna is deeply passionate about the Italian community and is an active member of the Catholic Women’s League, currently serving as the Service Chair on the Executive Committee at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. 

 

Her dedication to community service highlights her commitment to making a positive impact. 

Elena Ricci

2nd Vice-President, Villa Colombo Toronto Auxiliary Board

Elena has been in Tech for over 20 years in Toronto. She is a successful entrepreneur and overall leader. Her business acumen is paramount to her success, having established the Canadian Computer Education College in the late 1990’s. From there, she started Futuretek Recruiting, and the brand was born. Through Elena, Futuretek has repeatedly been a top 1% company in Canada, making her one of Toronto’s strongest entrepreneurial forces to date. She now gives back to our local community by running Futuretek Academy, a tech company that provides upskilling to new Canadians, and then helps them get jobs in our Toronto tech market. The odd time Elena isn’t working, you can find her playing squash, kayaking, or chilling at her cottage on Lake Erie.

Anna D’Aquila

Immediate Past President, Villa Colombo Toronto Auxiliary Board, Villa Charities Inc.

Anna Maria D’Aquila is a retired Bank of Montreal (BMO) employee with a lengthy career spanning numerous roles, from Secretary to Senior Process Manager, Branch Operations. Her dedication and expertise were invaluable during her time at BMO.

She has been a vital part of the Villa Colombo Toronto Auxiliary Board from 2012 to 2023. During her time on the board, she filled the roles of General Secretary and President. Throughout these years, she has played a crucial role in organizing and chairing a variety of successful fundraising events, including Pasta Bingo nights, golf tournaments, fashion shows, and dinner dances.

 

Currently, she manages the Fusco Family Gift Shop, where she continues to demonstrate her commitment to the community. In her role of Immediate Past President, she provides guidance and support to newer board members.

Dr. Pinella Buongiorno

President, Villa Colombo Toronto Auxiliary Board

Dr. Pinella Buongiorno is a dedicated family physician with extensive experience in both family medicine and long-term care settings. She holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Human Biology and Italian Studies, and a Master of Science from the University of Toronto. Dr. Buongiorno graduated from the University of Ottawa Medical School in 2011 and completed her residency in Family Medicine at the University of Toronto in 2013.

 

Following her residency, she joined a family medicine practice in Scarborough, where she has provided compassionate care to her patients. In addition to her practice, Dr. Buongiorno works at two Long-Term Care homes in the Greater Toronto Area. She currently serves as the Medical Director of a City of Toronto Long-Term Care home, and as an attending physician at a private Long-Term Care home in Etobicoke.

 

Dr. Buongiorno is passionate about palliative care and end of life care, and serves on the Divisional Palliative Care Committee within the City of Toronto Senior Services and Long-Term Care sector. In this role, she is actively contributing to the development and implementation of new Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care policies across City of Toronto Long-Term Care homes, ensuring that seniors receive high-quality care during their most critical times.

 

As a strong advocate for her patients, especially seniors, Dr. Buongiorno is committed to supporting not only the health and wellbeing of her patients but also their families and caregivers. Her dedication extends beyond the medical field, as she is passionate about her Italian-Canadian roots and actively gives back to her community.

 

Since childhood, Dr. Buongiorno has been an active member of the Italian-Canadian community, and proud supporter of Villa Charities. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Villa Colombo Toronto Auxiliary since 2021, and in November 2024, she stepped into the role of President, excited to continue using her experience and leadership to benefit the community. Through her professional and community involvement, Dr. Buongiorno remains a strong and compassionate advocate for both her patients and the broader Italian-Canadian community.

Laura Li Preti

Director, Villa Charities Inc.

As a second generation Italian Canadian, Laura has always had great appreciation for Italian heritage, culture and language.  After graduating from Glendon College in Political Studies, she moved to Italy to complete a specialization in International Law at the University in Calabria and defend her thesis on freedom of religion and consciousness in Constitutional and International Law. In 2012, she completed her J.D and LL.L from the University of Ottawa.  Laura became an attorney and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2013. She began practicing law at a boutique cross-border firm specializing in class action litigation in the areas of antitrust/competition, consumer protection and securities law. She became In-House Counsel for a group of renewable energy and sustainability companies prior to joining the Legal and Global Security team at Apple where she is currently employed.

 

Laura is honoured to sit on the VCI Board of Directors where she can continue to make contributions to the community and to advocate for people’s dignity, ideas and beliefs.

Nina Gesa

Director, Villa Charities Inc.

Nina is a dedicated public servant, having spent nearly 30 years advancing economic development activities with the City of Toronto.  In the first half of her career, she worked in the areas of tourism and event attraction, most notably on the bids to host 2008 Toronto Olympics and the 2015 World’s Fair.  A skilled project manager, she was also responsible for delivering high-profile events including the XVI AIDS Conference in 2006, official visits by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the 2010 RBC Canadian Open.  More recently, she has had carriage of the innovation portfolio focused on supporting Toronto’s small business and start-up communities both from a policy and programming lens.

 

Nina is passionate about her Italian culture and heritage and has forged strong ties to the Italian community in Toronto.

Martina Di Gioacchino

2nd Vice-Chair, Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre

Martina Di Gioacchino is the Director of the Capital Program Budgeting and Planning team at Infrastructure Ontario. Her 10 years of experience spans the health care and public sector infrastructure fields, including several years as a Project Manager at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (now Ministry of Long-Term Care).

 

She holds an honours undergraduate degree from Queen’s University, a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Western University, and an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business. 

 

Martina was Villa Colombo Vaughan’s first ever summer student and has continued a long relationship with the home and its residents through summer placements, volunteer activities, as well as through her private practice. While practicing as a Speech-Language Pathologist, Martina developed and implemented a first-of-its-kind, in-house speech-language pathology program at VCV to better serve its residents.

 

Martina cares deeply about the well-being of Villa Colombo Vaughan’s residents, families, and staff and she is proud to be serving the home as a member of the Board of Directors. 

Danielle Donadio

Director, Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc.

As the Managing Director and Vice President of Communications for Sussex Strategy Group, Danielle helps drive results for the firm and her clients through her creativity and energy. Her expertise in strategy, brand marketing, and public affairs enables her to craft bespoke public relations strategies that advance business objectives.

 

Danielle has over two decades of experience helping companies navigate complex business challenges. She has partnered with Canadian business leaders to craft thought leadership strategies and delivered high-impact marketing communications plans that drive awareness and support. 

 

Prior to Sussex, she served as the director of operations for a national advertising consortium for two federal campaigns. Danielle worked inside Ontario’s hospital system for over a decade, helping to rename, rebrand and launch public awareness campaigns #MentalHealthisHealth and #SeeWhatCareCanDo. Her career has spanned multiple sectors originally holding public affairs roles in a global pharmaceutical and healthcare pension plan.  

 

She holds an Honours BA from Trinity College at the University of Toronto and her Master’s in Marketing from the University of the Creative Arts in London, UK, focusing on brand purpose. Her work has been recognized by the Canadian Marketing Association, ADCC, Strategy Online, AVA Digital Awards and MarCom Awards.

 

Outside of work, Danielle is an avid renovator, enthusiastic traveller, and voracious reader – so much so that she was appointed to the Board of the King Township Public Library. In her spare time, she enjoys walking through nature trails with her dog Milo and reluctant daughter.

Alisa Carli

Director, Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc.

Alisa Carli is a Senior Portfolio Manager with BMO Nesbitt Burns, a division of Bank of Montreal Private Wealth Canada.  With over 30 years of financial industry experience, her focus is on the creation and implementation of wealth management services for her affluent clientele.  Her goal is to empower clients with comprehensive and customized solutions for complex situations through coordinated and proactive wealth plans.  Alisa holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a Licensed Portfolio Manager and has life insurance accreditation.  She earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto. 

Josephine Atri

Director, Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc.

Josephine Atri has a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees, and a Certificate in Adjudication for Administrative Agencies, Boards and Tribunals. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 1989 and practiced law for 30 years. 

 

For many years, she was Senior Counsel to the Ontario Ministry of Finance.  She was also counsel at Cabinet Office, other ministries and the Financial Services Commission of Ontario prior to that.  She specialized in the regulation of insurance and financial services and establishing regulatory agencies, tribunals and other bodies.  She has extensive experience in developing and coordinating government bills, regulations and related instruments and briefing and advising senior management, Ministers and Opposition Members.  She has appeared before various Committees of Cabinet and of the Legislature, and in every Ontario Court level. 

Andrew Smith

Vice-Chair, Columbus Centre of Toronto

Andrew Smith is a fitness and leadership coach.  He has developed his coaching passion by working with individuals, athletes and facilities for over 40 years. His work with clients and Olympians has seen the actualization of their dreams and goals. His drive and enthusiasm have helped build businesses and develop teams to reach their untapped potential. His knowledge of the fitness industry comes from running a wide variety of clubs and selling commercial exercise equipment in the Ontario and national markets. He has earned a strong reputation for effective strategic planning, motivation to achieve health and fitness goals, knowledge of the body’s physiology and application

to the individual.

 

He graduated from University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education majoring in Exercise Physiology. He was and is a director/manager with many facilities including The Fitness Institute, The High Performance Specialists, Embody Fitness Clubs and The Longevity Gym and is the Toronto licensee for Leadership Management Canada (LMI). He appreciates the role of leader and is excited to help develop personal change to inspire greater satisfaction and fulfillment of one’s individual health, fitness and career goals.

Anthony Messina

Ex-Officio (Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre Chair), Villa Charities Inc. 

Anthony Messina is the Head of Private Wealth, including the President of Guardian Partners and Managing Director for Guardian Capital Advisors LP. Previous roles at Guardian included President and CEO of Worldsource Securities and Worldsource Financial Management (2018-2021).

Prior to joining Guardian in 2016, he was instrumental in building and growing I3 Advisors, the predecessor to BNY Mellon Wealth Management Canada’s outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) business. During his tenure as President, he served as a member of various global operating, pension, and investment strategy committees, and as director of the Canadian and Cayman Island businesses. Anthony began his career in the financial services industry at Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers). His business experience is broad and includes investment management, venture capital, business and operations management in private and public companies.

Anthony is a graduate of the Schulich School of Business, holds the Chartered Professional Accountant designation and is a CFA® Charterholder. He is active in numerous charities, including as a director of Villa Colombo Vaughan. He is also a member of the MacKay CEO Forums, a leading CEO peer learning organization.

Mauro Pambianco

Director, Villa Charities Inc.

Mauro brings extensive senior financial, operational and growth leadership experience, along with a curiosity and appreciation for people’s perspective, and a passion for tackling complex challenges and fostering success.  After attaining a CPA, CA designation while with the real estate and construction team of what is now PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Mauro has spent over 25 years in various COO, CFO and similar roles with accounting, law, real estate, healthcare and marketing communications firms ranging from mid to large size, both for- and not-for-profit. He enjoys translating challenges and desires into direction, and aligning strategy, motivators and action to drive results.

 

As a proud ambassador and beneficiary of the incredible achievements and examples set by his parents and their fellow immigrant Italian community, Mauro joined the Villa Charities Inc. Board to help ensure that future generations of the Italian and broader community can look back in a similar way on what we achieve and the examples we set today.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Mauro serves as Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee.

Santo Veltri test

Past Chair / Secretary, Villa Charities Inc. / Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery

After his call to the Bar in 1983, Santo began his practice in the core areas of family law and civil litigation. In 1993, he became one of the three founding members of Bianchi Presta LLP, and in October 1994, he was appointed and remains a standing agent for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada for Newmarket. When not volunteering his time on behalf of Villa Colombo and Villa Charities, Santo is a passionate sports fan, enjoys cooking and espionage novels, and is still trying to break 100 in his occasional rounds of golf. 

In addition to serving as a board member, Santo is a member of the Villa Charities Nominating and Governance Committee and the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee.

Ben Vozzolo

Ex-officio (Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc. Chair), Villa Charities Inc. / Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery

Ben Vozzolo has been on the Villa Colombo Toronto board since 2018 and is also a member of the Nominations & Governance, and Quality & Risk committees. Currently, he serves as 2nd Vice-Chair.


Ben has 24 years of experience in the healthcare sector in various roles in hospitals and healthcare agencies. He is currently the Executive Director of Fontbonne Ministries, Sisters of St. Joseph, Toronto, a social services agency serving vulnerable populations, seniors and people experiencing social isolation.


Ben’s volunteer work has been in the community health and social services sector and he is passionate about building healthy communities where everyone belongs. Ben is also a member of the Board of Directors of Pugalug Pug Rescue, a dog rescue charity in Toronto.


In addition to serving as a board member, Ben holds the position of Chair on the Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc. Board. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Cultural Committee.

Angela Gauthier

Ex-Officio (Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc. Chair), Villa Charities Inc. 

Angela Gauthier holds Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts degrees from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Education from the Université d’Ottawa.  She is fluent in both of Canada’s official languages, as well as Italian.

 

During her 41 years as an educator and teacher, Mrs. Gauthier has also held the positions of Associate Director of Education, Superintendent of Human Resources, Superintendent of the family of schools and education officer at the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) for the development of provincial assessment and has been a school principal for English and French language schools.

 

Mrs. Gauthier has been a member and Chair of the Board of Directors of “Catholic Crosscultural Services”, an agency of the Archdiocese of Toronto which provides resettlement services to immigrants and refugees. She has also sat on the Board of ICFF (Italian Contemporary Film Festival) for three years. Mrs. Gauthier is very passionate about quality Long Term Care for Seniors and in particular about the seniors in Villa Colombo Toronto. She brings her skills and experience in Communications, Board governance, strategic planning, management, and senior leadership to the Board of Villa Colombo. Mrs. Gauthier states that her retirement has provided the opportunity to volunteer and give back to the community and to spend more time with family, especially her grandchildren.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Angela serves as an Ex-Officio on the Villa Charities Inc. Board.

Joseph Arcuri

Ex-Officio (Villa Charities Inc. Chair), Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre

Joseph Arcuri, CPA, CA, is the Chief Financial Officer of NRStor. He has been a Director of BioSyent Inc. since 2018 and is currently Chair of the Audit Committee and Disclosure Policy Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Arcuri started his professional career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers within its assurance group and later was president of AOL Canada. Joseph is a passionate Senior Account Executive with 29 years of experience working collaboratively with seniors, employees, members, partners, government and other vested stakeholders. 

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Joseph holds the position of Chair on the Villa Charities Board and the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation & Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation Board. He serves as Treasurer on the Villa Charities Foundation Board and an Ex-Officio on the Columbus Centre Board and the Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc. Board. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Nominating and Governance Committee, the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

Pina Falbo

1st Vice-Chair, Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre

Pina Falbo is a seasoned business and retail professional, with greater than 20 years of experience in luxury retail, technology and not-for-profit companies and organizations.

 
Pina has contributed her strategic and tactical managerial, operational, sales, marketing, fundraising, events planning and human resource talents to large corporations, as well as start-up and private enterprise organizations. Organizations have included Holt Renfrew, Danier Leather, Saks Fifth Avenue, Chanel, Veretta Fashion Imports and MMX Retail as well as consulting services to Mircom Technologies Ltd.


With a passion for giving back, Pina has also been an active community participant. Pina holds considerable board and committee experience in the not-for-profit and philanthropic sectors. She is a current board member for Villa Charities Vaughan and a past director of the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce. She was appointed to the City of Vaughan Canada 150 Task Force and has participated in numerous committee and events including as co-chair of the Mackenzie Health Volunteer Association Annual Gala and fundraising for The Schulich Heart Centre for Sunnybrook Hospital, The Look Good Feel Better Charity for Women with Cancer, 2 Kids with Love (Mexico) and The Fred Victor Homeless Shelter.


Pina earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from York University and has a Certificate in Human Resources Management from Seneca College with a current pursuit of a Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety. Pina is a resident of Vaughan and is married with two wonderful teenage boys.


In addition to serving as a board member, Pina is also a member of the Villa Charities Nominating and Governance Committee.

Catherine (Rina) Tiberini

Past Chair, Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre

Anthony Moscar

Secretary, Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc.

Anthony Moscar, Naturopathic Doctor, BSc (Hons) has worked in healthcare for over 10 years. Having started his career in direct patient care, he has since provided leadership support to the Napanee Community Health Center. Returning back to his community to provide leadership in home and community care, he is passionate about ensuring quality, equitable healthcare delivery for everyone.

 

Anthony is a long-time resident of the area and remembers fondly when he learned to cook at Villa Colombo in a youth program and later as a teen travelling to Italy with Centro Scuola. In the past he also served on the Villa Charities Board of Governors.

Joseph Arcuri

Ex-Officio (Villa Charities Inc. Chair), Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc.

Joseph Arcuri, CPA, CA, is the Chief Financial Officer of NRStor. He has been a Director of BioSyent Inc. since 2018 and is currently Chair of the Audit Committee and Disclosure Policy Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Arcuri started his professional career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers within its assurance group and later was president of AOL Canada. Joseph is a passionate Senior Account Executive with 29 years of experience working collaboratively with seniors, employees, members, partners, government and other vested stakeholders.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Joseph holds the position of Chair on the Villa Charities Inc. Board and the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation & Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation Board. He serves as Treasurer and Ex-Officio on the Villa Charities Foundation Board and as Ex-Officio on the Columbus Centre Board, the Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc. Board and the Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre Board. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Nominating and Governance Committee, the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

John Zerucelli

Director, Villa Charities Foundation

Marianne Corigliano

Vice-Chair, Columbus Centre of Toronto

Marianne is an Elementary Guidance Counsellor with TCDSB.  She also taught core French for eight years. Prior to this, she had a twenty-year career in Hospitality where she was Director of Business Development for Dynamic Hospitality and Entertainment Group.  Marianne is passionate about the Italian community. She is a graduate of University of Toronto and completed her Bachelor of Education at Tyndale University. She has been a board member of NCIC, CIBPA Education Fund and CIBPA where she held the position of President. Over the years, Marianne has been actively involved with VCI’s cultural events, including Villa d’Arte and La Befana, as well as the Cultural and Food and Beverage Committees. Marianne is currently Vice-Chair of the Columbus Centre. She also served as an Ex-Officio on the Villa Charities Inc. Board for a few years.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, she is also a member of the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee and the Villa Charities Cultural Committee.

Mario Fiorucci

Chair, Columbus Centre of Toronto

Mario Fiorucci is an entrepreneur, lawyer & technology expert.  As a serial entrepreneur, Mario has been through the start-up, growth, and acquisition of companies in retail, e-commerce and real estate development.  He has been awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by the Toronto Business Development Centre, Excellence in Corporate Responsibility Award by ECR, and inducted into the Ontario Hostelry Institute as a fellow, among other recognitions.  As a lawyer, he practiced at McCarthy Tétrault in the area of corporate law with a specialty in technology-related companies.  He holds degrees in Computer Science, Physics, and Law.  Mario credits his work ethic, passion for life, and family priorities to his Italian roots, with both of his parents having emigrated to Canada with nothing but a dream for a better life.  Mario joined the Columbus Centre Board in 2022 and hopes to use his knowledge and experiences to keep the Columbus Centre a vibrant part of the community in line with the Villa Charities mission. 

 

In addition to serving on the board, Mario serves as an Ex-Officio on the Villa Charities Inc. Board.

Paul Pellegrini

Director, Villa Charities Foundation

Paul is the founder and Executive Chairman of Sussex Strategy Group, with over 30 years of experience in government relations and public affairs. He specializes in advising clients in the healthcare, life sciences, infrastructure, and transportation sectors, using his relationship-building skills to help them succeed at all levels of government.  

 

Paul has played pivotal roles in transforming a downtown Toronto hospital into a cutting-edge healthcare, research, and education facility and guiding a national rail company through a major infrastructure project approval process. He continues to advise clients on policy, politics, and corporate strategy.  

 

Before launching Sussex, Paul was a trusted advisor to cabinet ministers at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill, providing expertise in crisis communications, stakeholder relations, and issues management.  

 

Paul’s commitment to charity and community service has been publicly recognized with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal and the Lieutenant Governor’s Community Volunteer Award. He has chaired the Boards of the Columbus Centre of Toronto and Reach for the Rainbow and served as the Ontario Campaign Chair for Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Currently, he serves on the Campaign Cabinet for Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital.  

 

Paul holds an Honours BA in Public Policy and Administration from York University.

 

Outside of work, Paul enjoys testing recipes for his outdoor pizza oven, spending time with family, and improving his golf game. 

Joseph Arcuri

Treasurer & Ex-Officio (Villa Charities Inc. Chair), Villa Charities Foundation

Joseph Arcuri, CPA, CA, is the Chief Financial Officer of NRStor. He has been a Director of BioSyent Inc. since 2018 and is currently Chair of the Audit Committee and Disclosure Policy Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Arcuri started his professional career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers within its assurance group and later was president of AOL Canada. Joseph is a passionate Senior Account Executive with 29 years of experience working collaboratively with seniors, employees, members, partners, government and other vested stakeholders.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Joseph holds the position of Chair on the Villa Charities Board and the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation & Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation Board. He serves as an Ex-Officio on the Columbus Centre Board, the Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc. Board and the Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre Board. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Nominating and Governance Committee, the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

Santo Veltri

Secretary, Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation / Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation

After his call to the Bar in 1983, Santo began his practice in the core areas of family law and civil litigation. In 1993, he became one of the three founding members of Bianchi Presta LLP. From 1994 to 2019, he was a standing agent for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada for Newmarket. When not volunteering his time on behalf of Villa Colombo and Villa Charities, Santo is a passionate sports fan, enjoys cooking and espionage novels, and is still trying to break 100 in his occasional rounds of golf.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Santo is also a member of the Villa Charities Nominating & Governance Committee, Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

Sandro D’Ercole

Treasurer, Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation / Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation

Sandro D’Ercole is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant with over 40 years of senior management experience. His breadth of knowledge ranges from real estate construction, asset management, property management, client reporting, leasing to cash management, finance, financial reporting, and accounting. He is currently the Executive Vice President and CFO of a private equity company.


In addition to serving as Treasurer on this board, Sandro holds the position of Treasurer on the Villa Charities Inc. Board and Chair on the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

Joseph Arcuri

Chair, Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation / Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation

Joseph Arcuri, CPA, CA, is the Chief Financial Officer of NRStor. He has been a Director of BioSyent Inc. since 2018 and is currently Chair of the Audit Committee and Disclosure Policy Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Arcuri started his professional career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers within its assurance group and later was president of AOL Canada. Joseph is a passionate Senior Account Executive with 29 years of experience working collaboratively with seniors, employees, members, partners, government and other vested stakeholders.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Joseph holds the position of Chair on the Villa Charities Inc. Board. He serves as Treasurer and Ex-Officio on the Villa Charities Foundation Board and as Ex-Officio on the Columbus Centre Board, the Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc. Board and the Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre Board. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Nominating and Governance Committee, the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

Santo Veltri

Past Chair & Secretary, Villa Charities Inc.

After his call to the Bar in 1983, Santo began his practice in the core areas of family law and civil litigation. In 1993, he became one of the three founding members of Bianchi Presta LLP.  From 1994 to 2019, he was a standing agent for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada for Newmarket. When not volunteering his time on behalf of Villa Colombo and Villa Charities, Santo is a passionate sports fan, enjoys cooking and espionage novels, and is still trying to break 100 in his occasional rounds of golf.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Santo holds the position of Secretary on the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation & Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Nominating & Governance Committee, Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

Sandro D’Ercole x

Treasurer, Villa Charities Inc.

Sandro D’Ercole is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant with over 40 years of senior management experience. His breadth of knowledge ranges from real estate construction, asset management, property management, client reporting, leasing to cash management, finance, financial reporting, and accounting. He is currently the Executive Vice President and CFO of a private equity company. Sandro serves as Treasurer on the Villa Charities Inc. Board.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Sandro holds the position of Chair on the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and Treasurer on the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation & Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation Board. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

Joseph Arcuri

Chair, Villa Charities Inc. 

Joseph Arcuri, CPA, CA, is the Chief Financial Officer of NRStor. He has been a Director of BioSyent Inc. since 2018 and is currently Chair of the Audit Committee and Disclosure Policy Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Arcuri started his professional career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers within its assurance group and later was president of AOL Canada. Joseph is a passionate Senior Account Executive with 29 years of experience working collaboratively with seniors, employees, members, partners, government and other vested stakeholders.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Joseph holds the position of Chair on the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation & Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation Board. He serves as Treasurer and Ex-Officio on the Villa Charities Foundation Board and as Ex-Officio on the Columbus Centre Board, the Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc. Board, and the Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre Board. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Nominating and Governance Committee, the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

Dr. Claudia Machiella

Director, Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre

As a passionate doctor, mother and health enthusiast, Dr. Claudia teaches those around her to embrace a lifestyle that promotes a sound body, mind and spirit. She is a true advocate for living a healthy lifestyle and is dedicated to spreading knowledge, insight and motivation to others on how to achieve optimal health. As a busy mother, wife and entrepreneur she is most aware that the journey toward living your best life requires commitment. Her goal is to help anyone she can feel confident about their health. She believes we are all entitled to health and wellness we just need the right tools, knowledge and team.

 

Not only is Dr. Claudia a Chiropractor, but she also owns and operates two multidisciplinary clinics in Vaughan, Ontario, The Centre for Health and Rehabilitation and The Centre for Health & Performance. Both clinics offer a wide variety of services ranging from chiropractic, physiotherapy, naturopathy, registered massage therapy, acupuncture, podiatry as well as nutrition counselling. Her clinics are your one-stop shop for a total health overhaul. As a way of giving back to her community, Dr. Claudia is a committee member of Waves of Changes for Autism, a charity foundation that helps children and their families who are affected with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She wholeheartedly gives of her time to help the foundation raise money that goes directly to helping the children get the help they need.

 

Her latest project has been the work she is doing on her radio show ‘The Wellness Prescription’ with Dr. Claudia that airs every Saturday at 10 am on 105.9 The Region. This show is Dr. Claudia’s way of sharing tips, information and motivation for living your best life. She chats weekly with experts, authors and brands that offer insight for making the changes you need to reach optimal health. You can also hear her weekly ‘Wellness Wednesday’ tips on 105.9 The Region during your afternoon drive home. Wherever you are in your health journey, Dr. Claudia is there to get you to the next level.

Antoinette Benedetto

Director, Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre

Antoinette is an executive with over 40 years of experience in the residential, commercial, industrial, and retail sectors of real estate. She has managed property assets for both private and institutional investors. Her experience includes involvement in budgeting, planning, zoning, construction and all aspects of marketing sales and administration.


During her career, she has engaged extensively with various government agencies at the municipal and provincial level.
For the past 12 years, Antoinette has served as a volunteer on the Board of Directors of a private retirement home for 130 plus residents. As a result – oriented, hands-on team player, with experience in negotiations, project management, HR management and strategic planning, she brings a broad range of skills to any committee or board.

Tony Costa

Vice-Chair, Villa Charities Inc.

Tony is a retired automotive executive whose career spanned over 40 years with experience in Manufacturing, Engineering and Human Resources across Canada and the US. He is Italian (Calabria) born, raised in Montreal, educated at McGill University in Engineering, and now living in Toronto with his wife of 43 years. Tony was well known for his progressive leadership and his commitment to an enterprise’s continuous improvement by the engagement, empowerment, and inclusion of its human resources. He was also recognized as a key contributor in transforming organizations into high-performance ones and creating effective labor/management relationships.

 

Being retired has allowed Tony the time to give back to the Italian community by serving on the Columbus Centre and Villa Charities Boards. He also enjoys spending more time with friends and family…especially his three daughters and 7 grandchildren.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Tony holds the position of Vice-Chair on the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation & Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation Board and Chair on the Villa Charities Nominating & Governance Committee.

Sandro D’Ercole

Treasurer, Villa Charities Inc.

Sandro D’Ercole is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant with over 40 years of senior management experience. His breadth of knowledge ranges from real estate construction, asset management, property management, client reporting, leasing to cash management, finance, financial reporting, and accounting. He is currently the Executive Vice President and CFO of a private equity company. Sandro serves as Treasurer on the Villa Charities Inc. Board.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Sandro holds the position of Chair on the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and Treasurer on the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation & Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation Board. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

Pasquale (Pat) Minicucci

Vice-Chair

Pasquale (Pat) Minicucci has dedicated his entire working life and career to the financial services sector and to the communities he has lived and worked in. He has more than 33 years of experience in the banking field spanning across Canada, the Caribbean & parts of Central America. He has held a variety of senior executive positions with two major Canadian Banks. Pat is a graduate of McGill University where he obtained his Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in Marketing. He is a Fellow of the Institute of the Canadian Bankers Association and was awarded the FICB designation, and a graduate of the prestigious Advanced Management Program (AMP) from Harvard Business School, Harvard University. He is also a graduate of the Director’s Education Program from the Rotman School of Business, University of Toronto and the Institute of Corporate Directors, having been awarded the ICD.D designation.

Pat has been actively involved in the communities he has worked and lived in, both in Montreal and Toronto, for a number of organizations over the years, including President & Chair of the Canadian Italian Business Professionals Association of Montreal (CIBPA), past President & Chair of the National Federation of Canadian Italian Business and Professional Associations and past Chair of the Major Gifts Committee of the York Central Hospital Foundation, and Providence Healthcare Foundation. As a board director, he brings an exceptional understanding of organizational effectiveness, and the complex issues facing CEO’s, executive teams and boards in today’s ever-changing landscape. He brings vast experience as a board director having served on numerous for-profit and non-profit organizations over the years. In June of 2012, Pat was awarded Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for his service to the communities of Greater Montreal and Greater Toronto
over the years.

In addition to serving as a board member, Pat holds the position of Vice-Chair on the Villa Charities Board and
Chair on the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Resources
Committee and the Villa Charities Nominating and Governance Committee.

Dr. Kristin Terenzi

Director, Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre

Dr. Kristin Terenzi, B.Sc., M.D., F.C.F.P. graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Toronto and continued her studies at the University of Western Ontario in the Faculty of Medicine. She became a Doctor of Medicine; Cum Laude in 1991 and has belonged to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honours Medical Society from 1991 to the present day. Dr. Terenzi practiced medicine at the Family Practice Residency, University of Toronto, Sunnybrook Medical Centre from until 1993. From there she opened up a private practice in Ontario and continues to work from it today. Dr. Terenzi was also a Board Member of the Tema Conter Memorial Fund from 1995 to 2006. Since 2004 she belongs to the College of Family Physicians of Ontario Fellowship. She has served on this Board since 2017. From 2020 to present day she became part of the Planning Committee, Hypertension Canada, and in 2021to the present day she joined the Planning Committee, C-Change Guidelines.

Piera A. Segreto

Secretary, Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre

Piera A. Segreto received an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from York University with a double major in Law & Society and Psychology in 1999. In 2004 she graduated with a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the bar in 2005.

Piera began her practice as an associate, and then was a partner in a reputable and well-known litigation firm until 2022, when she ventured off to establish Segreto Law.


Piera enjoys all aspects of litigation. She has appeared and successfully tried jury and non- jury cases and argued complex motions at the Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Court of Justice and appeals at the Divisional Court. She has also appeared before various government tribunals including the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal, the Employment Insurance Commission, the Ontario Labour Relations Board and the Financial Services Commission of Ontario/Licence Appeal Tribunal. Piera prides herself on being a formidable advocate for her clients and uses common sense and logic, along with her in depth knowledge of the law, to obtain the best outcome for her clients.

 
Over the course of her career, Piera has been a member of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, Advocates’ Society, Medico-Legal Society of Toronto, Vaughan Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association and the Ontario Bar Association. She is an active member in the community and enjoys participating in and supporting local events. She is also a proud member of the Villa Colombo Vaughan Board of Directors. Piera is fluent in Italian, and conversant in Spanish.

Anthony Messina

Chair, Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre

Anthony Messina is the Head of Private Wealth, including the President of Guardian Partners and Managing Director for Guardian Capital Advisors LP. Previous roles at Guardian included President and CEO of Worldsource Securities and Worldsource Financial Management (2018-2021).

Prior to joining Guardian in 2016, he was instrumental in building and growing I3 Advisors, the predecessor to BNY Mellon Wealth Management Canada’s outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) business. During his tenure as President, he served as a member of various global operating, pension, and investment strategy committees, and as director of the Canadian and Cayman Island businesses. Anthony began his career in the financial services industry at Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers). His business experience is broad and includes investment management, venture capital, business and operations management in private and public companies.

Anthony is a graduate of the Schulich School of Business, holds the Chartered Professional Accountant designation and is a CFA® Charterholder. He is active in numerous charities, including as a director of Villa Colombo Vaughan. He is also a member of the MacKay CEO Forums, a leading CEO peer learning organization.

Pina Falbo

Ex-officio (Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre 1st Vice-Chair), Villa Charities Inc. 

Pina Falbo is a seasoned business and retail professional, with greater than 20 years of experience in luxury retail, technology and not-for-profit companies and organizations.

 
Pina has contributed her strategic and tactical managerial, operational, sales, marketing, fundraising, events planning and human resource talents to large corporations, as well as start-up and private enterprise organizations. Organizations have included Holt Renfrew, Danier Leather, Saks Fifth Avenue, Chanel, Veretta Fashion Imports and MMX Retail as well as consulting services to Mircom Technologies Ltd.


With a passion for giving back, Pina has also been an active community participant. Pina holds considerable board and committee experience in the not-for-profit and philanthropic sectors. She is a current board member for Villa Charities Vaughan and a past director of the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce. She was appointed to the City of Vaughan Canada 150 Task Force and has participated in numerous committee and events including as co-chair of the Mackenzie Health Volunteer Association Annual Gala and fundraising for The Schulich Heart Centre for Sunnybrook Hospital, The Look Good Feel Better Charity for Women with Cancer, 2 Kids with Love (Mexico) and The Fred Victor Homeless Shelter.


Pina earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from York University and has a Certificate in Human Resources Management from Seneca College with a current pursuit of a Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety. Pina is a resident of Vaughan and is married with two wonderful teenage boys.


In addition to serving as a board member, Pina also holds the position of Vice-Chair on the Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre Board. She is also a member of the Villa Charities Nominating and Governance Committee.

Joline Moore

Treasurer, Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre

Joline Moore holds a CPA, CA designation with over 7 years of experience. She is currently the Manager, Financial Policy at Metrolinx. Joline graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) and a Graduate Diploma in Accounting, and holds a CPA, CA designation. Her breadth of knowledge ranges from public sector, not-for-profit organizations and private companies.

Antonio Turco

Director, Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc.

Antonio (Tony) Turco is a founding partner of CPST Law LLP and its related patent and trademark agency firm, CPST Intellectual Property Inc. He is a lawyer and trademark agent. He began his career and was a partner at the international law firm Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP.


Antonio’s practice focuses on litigation related to intellectual property rights, including disputes related to patents, copyright, trademarks, industrial designs, and trade secrets. He also provides strategic advice related to the protection and commercialization of intellectual property. On the commercial side, he also assists clients in commercial transactions involving intellectual property and technology, such as financing and licensing.

Anthony Moscar

Secretary, Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc.

Anthony Moscar, Naturopathic Doctor, BSc (Hons) has worked in healthcare for over 10 years. Having started his career in direct patient care, he has since provided leadership support to the Napanee Community Health Center. Returning back to his community to provide leadership in-home and community care, he is passionate about ensuring quality, equitable healthcare delivery for everyone.

Anthony is a long-time resident of the area and remembers fondly when he learned to cook at Villa Colombo in a youth program and later as a teen travelling to Italy with Centro Scuola. He is thrilled to serve on the Villa Charities Board of Governors beginning May 2021.

Loriana Iadipaolo

Director, Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc.

Loriana is an innovative Finance and HR leader with a proven track record of designing, developing, and delivering successful cost-effective, high-performing HR and Financial system solutions. After graduating from Ryerson University, Loriana articled with Deloitte and obtained her CPA-CA. In 2004 she also obtained her Certified Human Resource Leader (CHRL) professional designation. Her business experience has afforded her many opportunities to learn about the consumer goods, music & entertainment, luxury hotel management and service provider industries. At present, Loriana currently serves as the Payroll Director for Sysco Canada Inc.

 
Loriana has been on the Villa Colombo Toronto board since 2017.  She currently serves as Chair of the Governance committee and is a member of the Finance committee.
 
In addition to serving on the board, Loriana is also a member of the Villa Charities Nominating & Governance Committee and the Villa Charities Cultural Committee.

Dino Bozzo

Vice Chair, Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc.

Dino is the Director of IT for Pliteq Inc. – a leading innovator of products engineered and manufactured with material diverted from landfills. Prior to joining Pliteq, Dino was the co-founder of Konverge Digital Solutions Corporation – an award-winning software development company.

 

Dino has led large international projects spanning the globe, cultures, and languages. With more than twenty-five years of consulting experience in both marketing and business software solutions, he has proven to excel at matching business software solutions with appropriate technology. Using this unique insight has enabled Dino to inspire his teams and successfully deploy organization-enabling projects for some of the world’s largest financial, manufacturing and IT organizations.

 

Growing up and still living in the community, Villa Charities has been an integral part of Dino’s life experiences, and he welcomes the opportunity to help grow the organization for both our esteemed elderly and our future generations.

 

Dino is an avid cyclist, skier, and tennis player, and is also a great cook (in his own mind). He enjoys travelling and spending time with his wife and two teenage sons. Dino is also a member of the Board of Directors of Silstar Foundation – an organization dedicated to helping families affected by lung cancer.

Rosanna Arduini

Director

Leader with broad Canadian and US financial management and operations experience and government agency
financial and management analysis. Practical, articulate, and creative with a proven ability to find innovative
solutions to complex business problems, through cohesive team building. Her present position is Chief Financial
Officer of one of the largest teacher’s union organization. Rosanna also serves as the Chair of the Finance
committee.

Frank Anderson

Treasurer, Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc.

Frank Anderson, FCPA, CPA is a retired Executive and Professional Accountant. Frank obtained a degree in Social Economics from the University of Glasgow and then earned his CA designation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. Subsequently, he was elected a Fellow of CPA Ontario. During his career as a professional accountant, Frank was involved in audit engagements, M&A advisory work and profitability improvement initiatives while at Arthur Andersen for Canadian and International clients. ‎During the Financial Crisis, Frank was the Vice-Chairman, Financial Administration and Operations for DundeeWealth Inc.

 

Frank’s board activities have included being a Board member and Chair of the Audit Committee of DundeeWealth Inc., O&Y REIT, InnVest REIT, and Counsel Corp. He also served on the Boards of JDRF Toronto Chapter, the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews, the Canadian Centre for Diversity, University of Toronto Press, and Bridgepoint Health Foundation and is Past Chair of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. Currently, he is a Governor of the Portage Foundation, a member of the Development Committee of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario and a Board member and Chair of the Audit Committee of National Diabetes Trust, an affiliate of Diabetes Canada.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Frank is also a member of the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee.

Ben Vozzolo

Immediate Past Chair, Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc.

Ben Vozzolo has been on the Villa Colombo Toronto board since 2018 and is also a member of the Nominations & Governance, and Quality & Risk Committees.

 

Ben has 24 years of experience in the healthcare sector in various roles in hospitals and healthcare agencies.  He is currently the Executive Director of Fontbonne Ministries, Sisters of St. Joseph, Toronto, a social services agency serving vulnerable populations, seniors and people experiencing social isolation. 

 

Ben’s volunteer work has been in the community health and social services sector, and he is passionate about building healthy communities where everyone belongs.  Ben is also a member of the Board of Directors of Pugalug Pug Rescue, a dog rescue charity in Toronto.

Joseph J. Fusco

Director, Villa Charities Inc.

Joseph is a seasoned Vice President and business owner with multinational importing, exporting, and manufacturing experience in the food industry. Private Label expert and cross-functional team leader experienced in negotiations and pricing strategy. Credentials from Seneca College and Quantum Shift (Ivey School of Business), member of CIBPA since 2011.

 

Joseph is a Past Chair of the Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc. Board and has served as a member of the board since 2007.

Anna Iafrate

Director, Columbus Centre of Toronto

Anna Iafrate is the current Chair of Culture at Columbus Centre, and in the past was a member of the Athletics Committee. Anna is an Office Administrator with an employment consulting firm in Toronto, specializing in the placement of senior financial and business professionals. She lives in the neighbourhood and has been involved as a Columbus Centre board member for 18 years. Anna was a key member of the organizing committee for the first Villa d’Arte fundraising event held at Villa Colombo.

 
In addition to serving as a board member, Anna is also a member of the Villa Charities Cultural Committee.

Mario Fiorucci

Ex-Officio (Columbus Centre Chair), Villa Charities Inc. 

Mario Fiorucci is an entrepreneur, lawyer & technology expert.  As a serial entrepreneur, Mario has been through the start-up, growth, and acquisition of companies in retail, e-commerce and real estate development.  He has been awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by the Toronto Business Development Centre, Excellence in Corporate Responsibility Award by ECR, and inducted into the Ontario Hostelry Institute as a fellow, among other recognitions.  As a lawyer, he practiced at McCarthy Tétrault in the area of corporate law with a specialty in technology-related companies.  He holds degrees in Computer Science, Physics, and Law.  Mario credits his work ethic, passion for life, and family priorities to his Italian roots, with both of his parents having emigrated to Canada with nothing but a dream for a better life.  Mario joined the Columbus Centre Board in 2022 and hopes to use his knowledge and experiences to keep the Columbus Centre a vibrant part of the community in line with the Villa Charities mission.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Mario also holds the position of Chair on the Columbus Centre Board.

Anna D’Orazio-Sgro

Secretary, Columbus Centre of Toronto

Anna D’Orazio-Sgro is an educator who has worked extensively in social services and community outreach as a manager of a community service agency assisting families in downtown Toronto.  She has also been an instructor of child development at Ryerson University and educational psychology at York University as well as a liaison between the universities and students in community placements.  She was a consultant for COSTI Immigrant services and assisted in developing a training program for new Canadians. 

 

She has been a Columbus Centre board member for four years and is also a member of the Family Council of Villa Colombo Toronto and the Villa Colombo Toronto Family Support Group.

Armando Cristinziano

Director, Columbus Centre of Toronto

Armando Cristinziano has been a Columbus Centre member for the past 23 years. He is retired with over 32 years in Education. He started his career as a French and Italian High School teacher, with the North York Board of Education, and for the last 17 years, he was promoted as the District-Wide Co-ordinator for Classical, International and Native Languages for the Toronto District School Board. Armando was also very involved in developing curriculum materials for the Ontario Ministry of Education. He has a lot of experience working with community groups, and in particular with the Italian Canadian community in view of language and culture and brings this genuine passion to the Columbus Centre Board.

 
In addition to serving as a board member, Armando is also a member of the Villa Charities Cultural Committee.

Mary Venezia

Secretary, Columbus Centre of Toronto

Mary has been a Director of the Columbus Centre Board since 2014 and most recently began her role as Secretary in 2020. She brings with her over 20 years of experience with the Province of Ontario in senior management roles running large-scale, public-facing operations across the Province, to Ontario citizens and businesses. Her areas of expertise include leading in the areas of: operations/service delivery, customer service, contact centre management, outreach and education, strategic planning, operational policies and partnerships as well as leading numerous transformational projects. She has worked for various ministries including Finance, Attorney General and Government and Consumer Services and over the years has received multiple awards for quality service and achieving excellence.

 
Before joining the public service, Mary worked in the legal field as a licensed paralegal with the Law Society of Upper Canada, now the Law Society of Ontario. As a paralegal, she worked for law firms, ran her own business and taught paralegal courses through business colleges. Her educational background includes studies in music, law and business administrative studies.
In addition to serving as a board member, Mary is also a member of the Villa Charities Cultural Committee.

Carlo Crozzoli

Treasurer, Columbus Centre of Toronto

Carlo is a corporate director and senior executive with 30 years of experience in large companies as well as entrepreneurial start-ups.  He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and has earned the Institute of Corporate Directors designation, ICD.D, through the Rotman School of Management. 

 

Carlo has served on the Columbus Centre Board of Directors since 2019 where he holds the position of Treasurer and is part of the Executive Committee. He is also on the Board of DUCA Financial Services Inc. and serves as an advisor to Give Points Ventures Inc.  Carlo has previously served as the senior executive in charge of strategy, mergers and acquisitions and project development and as the Chief Risk Officer at a large Ontario-based energy company.  Through these experiences, he brings to the Columbus Centre Board expertise in strategy development and execution, collaboration and consensus-building and financial and risk management.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Carlo is also a member of the Audit and Asset Management Committee.

Joseph Arcuri

Ex-Officio (Villa Charities Inc. Chair), Columbus Centre of Toronto

Joseph Arcuri, CPA, CA, is the Chief Financial Officer of NRStor. He has been a Director of BioSyent Inc. since 2018 and is currently Chair of the Audit Committee and Disclosure Policy Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Arcuri started his professional career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers within its assurance group and later was president of AOL Canada. Joseph is a passionate Senior Account Executive with 29 years of experience working collaboratively with seniors, employees, members, partners, government and other vested stakeholders.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Joseph holds the position of Chair on the Villa Charities Inc. Board and the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation & Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation Board. He serves as Treasurer and Ex-Officio on the Villa Charities Foundation Board, and as Ex-Officio on the Columbus Centre Board, the Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc. Board and the Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre Board. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Nominating and Governance Committee, the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

Laura Salvatori

Director, Villa Charities Foundation

Laura Salvatori is Principal and General Counsel at Anson Funds, a hedge fund with offices in Toronto and Dallas. Laura advises on all legal aspects of the funds’ operations, regulatory and structuring matters in both Canada and the United States. Prior to joining Anson, Laura held the role of General Counsel and Senior Vice President, Human Resources of Match Marketing Group, a leading North American, private-equity owned marketing agency. Prior to Match, Laura was Vice President, Assistant General Counsel at Goldman Sachs in New York City, where she advised on corporate governance matters and prior to that, was on the Investment Banking Legal team. Laura also worked as a securities law attorney at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s New York City office, and articled in Ontario at Stikeman Elliott LLP in Toronto. She is admitted to practice in both New York State and Ontario.


Laura holds a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business. She is a member of the New York State Bar’s Securities Regulation Committee, Women General Counsel of Canada and a board member of the Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association.

Nina Perfetto

Director, Villa Charities Foundation

Nina is a Partner with Fogler Rubinoff LLP where she practices corporate commercial litigation. Her practice is concentrated on complex litigation matters and contract disputes for large corporate clients. In addition to proceedings in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Appeal, Nina maintains a significant arbitration practice which includes many shareholder and partner disputes in closely held corporations, partnerships and joint ventures.


She has appeared before all levels of Court in Ontario and has acted as counsel in matters involving shareholders’ rights and remedies including authoring the paper “Using the Oppression Remedy to Resolve Family Business Disputes” published in the Annual Review of Civil Litigation, and has worked extensively on litigation matters involving issues related to the Ontario Business Corporations Act and the Canada Business Corporations Act. Nina has also acted as counsel in, real estate litigation, and accountants’ negligence claims.


In addition to acting for her clients on litigation matters, Nina is also a close and trusted advisor to her clients and is often called upon to assist and advise in connection with her clients’ businesses, operations and strategic planning. In many cases, she has become a vital and instrumental resource to her clients, a stabilizing force during challenging periods, and a reliable source for connecting her clients with industry players to create synergies.


Nina is an active volunteer in her community and is the past Chair of Villa Charities, a not-for-profit organization which she has been involved with since 1989, and sits on their Foundation Board. She is also the Vice-Chair of the St. Michael’s College School Board of Directors. In addition to her volunteer work, Nina is also involved in a variety of pro bono legal work, including acting as a supervisor of the University of Toronto Moots. Nina is actively involved in the firm’s mentoring program, a past member of Fogler Rubinoff’s Executive Committee and a mother of two boys.

Aldo Cundari

Director, Villa Charities Foundation

After completing his studies at L’Istituto Europeo di Disegno in Rome, Italy, Aldo Cundari quickly established himself in the marketing field in Canada. By 1980, he had created the foundation for what would become Cundari Group Ltd. Today, Cundari is Canada’s most globally awarded independent agency. Their work has been recognized around the world at Cannes, the Cassies, One Show, by the UK’s Directory Ranking and is the only Canadian agency to have two campaigns on WARC’s 100 smartest marketing campaigns in the world.

 

Aldo is the author of the book Customer-Centric Marketing: Build Relationships, Create Advocates, and Influence Your Customers. Published by Wiley in 2015, the book provides a comprehensive game plan on succeeding in today’s new marketing landscape by focusing on the customer.

 

Still very much in touch with the fine art community, in 2013 Aldo, along with another business partner, revitalized and reopened the Toronto School of Art after its doors closed in 2012. The alternative, not-for-profit art school established itself as one of the most distinguished alternative art schools in the city and now continues to be a landmark in the arts community as one of the largest independent Art Schools in Canada.

 

Aldo is a CMA Chartered Marketer (CM). Aldo has served as chief judge of the World Globe Awards from 2000-2008 and in 1998, was included in Marketing Magazine’s “Power List: The 100 Most Influential People in Canadian Communications.” In 2006, he became a Fellow of the QuantumShift program at the Ivey Institute for Entrepreneurs. In 2008 and 2009, Aldo was selected as one of Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneurs of the Year. In 2010 he was appointed to the board of directors of the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) and was also awarded CIBPA Professional Excellence Awards. He has served as Judging Chair of the CMA Awards, and co-chair of the CMA 2012 and 2013 Summit. In 2013 he was appointed to the board of directors of the Institute of Communication Agencies (ICA) and served until 2016. In 2016 Aldo was appointed as Chair of the Ryerson Marketing Advisory Council, and 2018, Aldo was appointed as the CMA’s Board of Directors Chair.

 

Aldo has been associated as a volunteer of Villa Charities for over 26 years. He served on the Villa Colombo Board of Governors from January 1996 – December 2007. From 2015 to 2019, Aldo served as the Chairman of the Villa Charities Board of Governors and currently sits on the Villa Charities Foundation Board.

Toni Varone

Secretary (Lifetime Member), Villa Charities Foundation

For over 40 years, Toni Varone has been part of the Villa Charities family. As former President and Chairman of Columbus Centre and Villa Charities, Toni’s foresight, leadership and philanthropic commitment has set a standard in volunteer work. He has been involved in virtually every phase of the development and operations of the Villa Charities family, including VITA Community Living Services.

More recently, Toni was involved with the Villa Colombo expansion and construction of the Orey V. Fidani Wing at Villa Colombo Services for Seniors and offered his expertise in the realization of the Villa Colombo Vaughan as the Chair of the Development Committee and Co-Chair of the Construction Committee.

His ongoing dedication continues to inspire. To acknowledge his valuable contribution, Villa Charities was pleased to name the foyer in Columbus Centre, “Piazza Toni Varone” in 2004.  As well, Toni was a recipient of the prestigious Heart and Hand Award in 2007, Villa Charities’ highest honour for its volunteers.

 

As owner of The Varone Group, Toni overlooks an array of Toronto businesses specializing in hospitality, home building and property ownership. Still, he has found time to play a critical role in Villa Charities for close to thirty years. Toni was recently named Commendatore of the Italian Republic.

 

In December 2023, Toni was appointed to the Senate of Canada as an independent senator for Ontario by the Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon.

Sam Ciccolini

Vice-Chair, Villa Charities Foundation

Sam Ciccolini was 12 years old in 1956 when he, his mother and two brothers landed at New York’s Ellis Island before travelling to Toronto to join his father and two older brothers who had come to Canada six years earlier.

 

Mr. Ciccolini and his younger brother Max soon found work delivering newspapers in the early morning before heading off to school.  At night, the brothers worked at a pharmacy.

 

In 1968, Mr. Ciccolini and his older brother Frank started what today is Masters Insurance Limited. After serving as a Senior Partner of Masters Insurance with offices in Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa and Windsor, New York and Florida, Mr. Ciccolini has turned over the day-to-day operation of the business to the next generation of the Ciccolini and Corby family. 

 

Mr. Ciccolini serves on boards and committees representing Financial Institutions, Hospitals, Disaster Relief Efforts, Churches, Municipal Initiatives, Sports Groups and Social Agencies.  In recognition of his service to the community, Mr. Ciccolini was awarded The Order of Ontario in 1999, with The Order of Canada in 2005 in a ceremony on Parliament Hill Rideau Hall. Awarded the Order of Vaughan in 2016, The Commander of the Order of the Star of Solidarity Medal from the Republic of Italy in 2008 and vested with the Honourary Doctorate of Law Degree Honouris Causa from Assumption University of Windsor in 2008.

 

On most weekends, Mr. Ciccolini can be found at dozens of activities and events across the GTA and York Region, always with a kind word of encouragement.

 

Mr. Ciccolini currently serves as Vice-Chair of Villa Charities Foundation and is also a Member of the Hockey in Canada Hall of Fame Board Selection Committee.

Edward Sorbara

Treasurer (Lifetime Member), Villa Charities Foundation

Edward K. Sorbara was born in Toronto in 1943 and attended De La Salle High School before studying at St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto. Armed with a Bachelor of Commerce, Mr. Sorbara attended the University of Chicago where he graduated in 1967 with a Master of Business Administration.


Upon returning to Toronto, Mr. Sorbara joined the family business, now known as The Sorbara Group. The Sorbara Group’s major activities include property investments (an industrial and apartment rental portfolio), land development and related consulting, industrial construction, low rise and condominium housing.
Mr. Sorbara currently serves as Treasurer of the Villa Charities Foundation – a branch of Villa Charities responsible for providing continuous, reliable financial support for the affiliate organizations of Villa Charities which provide social assistance, cultural development and recreational programs to the general community.


In recognition of the family’s dedication and financial support of Villa Charities, a wing at Villa Colombo Toronto was officially renamed The Sam and Grace Sorbara Wing in 2004.


Mr. Sorbara and his wife Marisa have four children and live in Toronto.

Nick Torchetti

Chair, Villa Charities Foundation

Nick Torchetti has been involved with Villa Charities since 1978 when he was a member of the Columbus Centre Youth Advisory Board. Nick has since served as Chair of the Board of affiliated Villa Charities organizations Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation, Columbus Centre of Toronto and Villa Charities Inc. He currently serves as Chair of the Board of Villa Charities Foundation.

 

Over the last more than twenty-five years, Nick has also served in a volunteer capacity with numerous other community and health care organizations, including serving as Chair of the Board of The Kensington Health Centre (formerly The Doctors Hospital) and founding Chair of the Board of The Kensington Eye Institute.

 

Nick currently also serves as Director, Treasurer and Chair, North America Region, of Interlaw Ltd., an international network of independent law firms and as a Director of Geox Canada Inc., a shoe and clothing retailer.

 

Since graduating from law school in 1983, Nick has spent his entire career practicing law with the Toronto firm of Aird & Berlis LLP where he has previously served on its Executive Committee and where he is currently a senior partner in the Corporate and Commercial practice and leads the Private Business Services Group. Nick’s work consists of providing strategic advice to privately owned businesses, including in respect of acquisitions, dispositions and reorganizations related to succession and exit planning matters.

 

Nick has been married to Josephine for more than thirty-five years and they are the proud parents of David, Jesse and Lea.

Catherine (Rina) Tiberini

Ex-officio (Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre Chair), Villa Charities Inc. / Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery

Rina Tiberini holds a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree from the University of Toronto where her areas of study included Economics, Finance and Actuarial Science. However, during a summer job position in a completely unrelated industry, she was exposed to and became passionate about the planning, development and construction industry.

 
Upon graduation, she declined a lucrative offer of employment from one of the major banks and joined a small development/construction firm where her analytical skills and tenacity allowed her to become well versed in the industry. Rina was the past Board Chair of Villa Colombo Vaughan.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Rina holds the position of Chair on the Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre Board. She is also a member of the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee and the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee.

Maria Orsini

Past Chair, Columbus Centre of Toronto / Director, Columbus Centre of Toronto

Maria Orsini is the EVP Finance and Administration at Cundari. For more than 33 years, she has been responsible for Finance/Accounting Human Resources and Administration. Prior to working at Cundari, she was a Financial Analyst for Kraft General Foods, and Assistant Treasurer and Senior Accountant for Nestlé Canada. Maria graduated from the University of Toronto majoring in Economics and Accounting. She is a member of ICD and received the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Board Effectiveness Program certificate.


Maria was Chair of the Centered-on Children Daycare Board 1993-1995 and sat on the Toronto BIA Marketing Committee from 2008-2015. She is currently the past Chair of the Columbus Centre Board.


In addition to serving on the board is a member of the Villa Charities Nominating & Governance Committee and the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee.

John Hendriks

Director, Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc.

John Hendriks is President of INFORMTEC, a boutique Health Care Clinical Informatics consulting firm. Previously John was a Partner with DINMAR Consulting and was responsible for developing the Health Care Information Technology practice in the Toronto area and managed Clinical Information System sales internationally. John has more than 25 years of experience as a senior health care executive in the public and private sectors. John’s background includes Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, one of Canada’s leading teaching and research facilities, where he served as Sr. Vice President Medical Programs and Chief Information Officer.

 

John’s experience includes directing the development and implementation of Hospital clinical and financial reporting systems for the Province of Alberta Ministry of Hospitals and Medical Care and developed the data and technical architecture and systems strategy for the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services.

 

John is a graduate of Dalhousie University (B. Commerce), has a Certificate in Health Administration from the University of Saskatchewan and is a Certified Member of the Canadian College of Health Care Executives. John is active in Health Informatics in Canada and is a Past President of Canada’s Health Informatics Association (COACH). He has served on a number of Boards and Committees that focused on developing the scope and standards for national health information applications.

 

John became a board member in June 2019 and has served as a Past Chair. He is also Chair of the Strategic Planning Task Force and the Quality & Risk Committee.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, John is a member of the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

Angela Gauthier

Chair, Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc.

Angela Gauthier holds Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts degrees from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Education from the Université d’Ottawa.  She is fluent in both of Canada’s official languages, as well as Italian.

 

During her 41 years as an educator and teacher, Mrs. Gauthier has also held the positions of Associate Director of Education, Superintendent of Human Resources, Superintendent of the family of schools and education officer at the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) for the development of provincial assessment and has been a school principal for English and French language schools.

 

Mrs. Gauthier has been a member and Chair of the Board of Directors of “Catholic Crosscultural Services”, an agency of the Archdiocese of Toronto which provides resettlement services to immigrants and refugees. She has also sat on the Board of ICFF (Italian Contemporary Film Festival) for three years. Mrs. Gauthier is very passionate about quality Long Term Care for Seniors and in particular about the seniors in Villa Colombo Toronto. She brings her skills and experience in Communications, Board governance, strategic planning, management, and senior leadership to the Board of Villa Colombo. Mrs. Gauthier states that her retirement has provided the opportunity to volunteer and give back to the community and to spend more time with family, especially her grandchildren.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Angela serves as an Ex-Officio on the Villa Charities Inc. Board.

Marianne Corigliano

Ex-officio (Columbus Centre Vice-Chair), Villa Charities Inc. 

Marianne is an Elementary Guidance Counsellor with TCDSB. She also taught core French for eight years. Prior to this, she had a twenty-year career in Hospitality where she was Director of Business Development for Dynamic Hospitality and Entertainment Group. Marianne is passionate about the Italian community. She is a graduate of University of Toronto and completed her Bachelor of Education at Tyndale University. She has been a board member of NCIC, CIBPA Education Fund and CIBPA where she held the position of President. Over the years, Marianne has been actively involved with VCI’s cultural events, including Villa d’Arte and La Befana, as well as the Cultural and Food and Beverage Committees. Marianne is currently Vice-Chair of the Columbus Centre.


In addition to serving as a board member, Marianne holds the position of Vice-Chair on the Columbus Centre Board and is also a member of the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee and the Villa Charities Cultural Committee.

Quinto Annibale

Past Chair, Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre

Quinto Annibale practices municipal, land use planning and development law. He has over 30 years of experience as an advocate, appearing before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (formerly the OMB) in hundreds of cases. He has practiced his entire career as a lawyer at Loopstra Nixon.


Mr. Annibale is passionate about improving healthcare for seniors and the community at large. In addition to his involvement at Villa Colombo Vaughan, Quinto has held many other volunteer positions both at community and provincial levels. He is also the Vice-Chair of the LCBO Board of Directors.

Michela Di Marco

Director, Villa Charities Inc.

Born in Salerno, Campania, Italy, Michela Di Marco relocated to Toronto in 2013 after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations. In 2015, she completed a Master’s degree in Political Science at the University of Toronto, further deepening her commitment to public service and civic engagement. Michela began her professional career with an internship at the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario, followed by roles with the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services, COSTI Immigrant Services, and Patronato ACLI, where she worked closely with newcomers and diverse communities.

 

Since 2022, Michela has served as an employee of the House of Commons of the Canadian Federal Government, supporting the work of the Minister of Immigration and Public Safety. She currently holds the position of Chief of Staff to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State (Combatting Crime). In 2022, she ran for the Italian Parliament as a candidate for the Chamber of Deputies. Deeply engaged in the Italian diaspora, Michela was elected President of COMITES Toronto (Committee of Italians Abroad) in 2017, representing Ontario, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories, and re-elected in 2021. She concluded her mandate in June 2025, after eight years of dedicated service.

 

Michela is honoured to sit on the Board of Villa Charities Inc. and to serve as Chair of the Cultural Committee, where she continues to promote and preserve Italian heritage in Canada. She is passionate about public service and committed to building inclusive, engaged communities through advocacy and civic leadership.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Michela also holds the position of Chair on the VCI Culture Committee.

Nebo Orazietti

Director, Villa Charities Inc. 

In September 2016, Nebo retired from a 35-year career in the public sector and now devotes his many acquired professional skills to volunteering for community groups. He has an extensive range of experience in local municipal planning, the non-profit housing and physician health care service sector, having worked for the Region of Peel and the Province of Ontario.

 

Beginning at Region of Peel, he was a member of the Regional Planning Department and Peel Non-Profit Housing Corporation for six years.  His responsibilities were preparing policies and reports for Regional Council on housing needs, densities, building activity and the annual report for the Peel Non-Profit Housing Corporation. In 1986, he joined the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to develop and administer the social housing programs, including mortgage financing and approval of capital and operational budgets.  During his 15 years in this Ministry, he worked closely with many providers, including Villa Charities, in the development of Casa Del Zotto and Casa Abruzzo. From 2001 to 2016, he was responsible for the management of specialist physician payments for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. In this capacity, he was responsible for the development and implementation of service contracts with specialist physicians and physicians in primary care models. His largest service contract was the Emergency Department Alternative Funding Agreement, which amounted to $450M, encompassing 2,600 physicians.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Nebo is a member of the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and the Villa Charities Nominating and Governance Committee.

Tony Costa

Vice-Chair, Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation / Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation

A retired automotive executive whose career spanned over 40 years with experience in Manufacturing, Engineering and Human Resources across Canada and the US. He is Italian (Calabria) born, raised in Montreal, educated at McGill University in Engineering, and now living in Toronto with his wife of 40 years. Tony was well known for his progressive leadership and his commitment to an enterprise’s continuous improvement by the engagement, empowerment, and inclusion of its human resources. He was also recognized as a key contributor in transforming organizations into high-performance ones and creating effective labor/management relationships.


Being retired has allowed Tony the time to give back to the Italian community by serving on the Columbus Centre and Villa Charities Boards. He also enjoys spending more time with friends and family… especially his three daughters and 5 grandchildren.


In addition to serving as a board member, Tony holds the position of Vice-Chair on the Villa Charities Board and Chair on the Villa Charities Nominating & Governance Committee.

Pasquale (Pat) Minicucci

Vice-Chair, Villa Charities Inc. / Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery

Pasquale (Pat) Minicucci has dedicated his entire working life and career to the financial services sector and to the communities he has lived and worked in. He has more than 33 years of experience in the banking field spanning across Canada, the Caribbean & parts of Central America. He has held a variety of senior executive positions with two major Canadian Banks. Pat is a graduate of McGill University where he obtained his Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in Marketing. He is a Fellow of the Institute of the Canadian Bankers Association and was awarded the FICB designation, and a graduate of the prestigious Advanced Management Program (AMP) from Harvard Business School, Harvard University. He is also a graduate of the Director’s Education Program from the Rotman School of Business, University of Toronto and the Institute of Corporate Directors, having been awarded the ICD.D designation.


Pat has been actively involved in the communities he has worked and lived in, both in Montreal and Toronto, for a number of organizations over the years, including President & Chair of the Canadian Italian Business Professionals Association of Montreal (CIBPA), past President & Chair of the National Federation of Canadian Italian Business and Professional Associations and past Chair of the Major Gifts Committee of the York Central Hospital Foundation, and Providence Healthcare Foundation. As a board director, he brings an exceptional
understanding of organizational effectiveness, and the complex issues facing CEOs, executive teams and boards in today’s ever-changing landscape. He brings vast experience as a board director having served on numerous for-profit and non-profit organizations over the years. In June of 2012, Pat was awarded Queen
Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for his service to the communities of Greater Montreal and Greater Toronto over the years.


In addition to serving as a board member, Pat also holds the position of Chair on the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee and Vice-Chair on the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation & Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation Board. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Resources Committee and the Villa Charities Nominating and Governance Committee.

Santo Veltri

Past Chair & Secretary, Villa Charities Inc.

After his call to the Bar in 1983, Santo began his practice in the core areas of family law and civil litigation. In 1993, he became one of the three founding members of Bianchi Presta LLP. From 1994 to 2019, he was a standing agent for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada for Newmarket. When not volunteering his time on behalf of Villa Colombo and Villa Charities, Santo is a passionate sports fan, enjoys cooking and espionage novels, and is still trying to break 100 in his occasional rounds of golf.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Santo holds the position of Secretary on the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation & Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Nominating & Governance Committee, Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

×