Anyone passing by City Hall this week may notice an unusual flag flapping in the wind.
Alongside the municipal and national banners, you’ll find the red, white and green tricolour of Italy, raised during a ceremony last week to officially commemorate the beginning of Italian Week Ottawa.
Over the past week, thousands of people have converged on Preston Street for art exhibits, vintage car shows, and a celebration of all things Italy.
It’s the 50th iteration of Italian Week Ottawa, which first began in 1975. Originally founded as a church event, the festivities have spread to the wider community ever since the University of Ottawa’s Italian department became involved, gradually evolving into an 11-day festival that touches various elements of Italian culture.
“But it has always been centred around the Feast of Saint Anthony’s,” said Noor Sunba, who chairs the board of the non-profit that organizes the week’s events. “That’s why the church still does the mass and procession [on Sunday].”
“And, even when it grew, we’ve always concluded it with Father’s Day for the last 50 years.”
Saint Anthony was a Franciscan friar who lived in Europe during the thirteenth century. Also known as the patron saint of lost things, Anthony was asked by the pope to write sermons for feast days, which have become the basis for celebration (at different times of year) for Italians in Ottawa, Boston, and elsewhere.
Perhaps appropriately, this Sunday’s mass will be held at the Saint Anthony of Padua church on Booth Street.
According to Sunba, the automotive show, highlighted by vintage Ferraris, is traditionally the biggest draw of the annual event. However, this year has also seen strong turnouts for other performances, like last week’s concert by social media sensation Frank Moyo, as well as Italian cooking masterclasses hosted by chef Cristian Lepore.
Miss out on the fun? You need not worry, as Sunba said the festivities will last into the upcoming weekend.
“We’re back on Friday with award-winning Italian Canadian author Nino Ricci,” she said. “He’s going to be at the Italian Canadian Historical Centre for a book talk and book signing. Then we have our Little Italy walking tour on Saturday, and Sunday is our Father’s Day picnic at Ev Tremblay Park.”
Sunba acknowledged that fewer Italian Canadians still reside in Ottawa’s Little Italy neighbourhood, but the area still remains “home to Italian culture in Ottawa.”
And few know Italian culture in the nation’s capital like Lucia Dolchetti, president of the Dante Alighieri Society of Ottawa.
Named after the famed thirteenth century poet who authored the Divine Comedy, the club is one of more than 500 branches of an organization that aims to promote Italian culture within Italy and beyond.
Last week, Dolchetti organized a tour of the prominent Italian works showcased at the National Gallery of Canada, which owns pieces by renowned artists like Luca Giordano and Bernardo Belotto.
“It’s a lot of fun to participate in activities that celebrate one of the many cultures of Ottawa,” Dolchetti told the Ottawa Compass. “Italian Week Ottawa is doing a wonderful job in highlighting what the community has to offer.”
“Whether it’s the Sunday mass or singing competition or the racecars…, there’s such a wide variety of activities they’ve managed to put together.”
When asked what Ottawans can do to embrace Italian culture, Dolchetti’s message was simple — “just go where the heart tells you to go.”
“Engage in the activities that are offered during this period in June…, and just dive into whatever part you come across that speaks to you,” she said.
