Italian Cultural Centre Vancouver

The Italian Cultural Centre is located at 3075 Slocan Street, in east Vancouver on Slocan Street at Grandview Highway.

History

The Italian Cultural Centre's beginnings are in 1974 when then Premier of British Columbia and Italian Consul Giovanni Germano sought the support of the Italian community to build a cultural centre celebrating Italian culture. With the help of Vancouver Mayor Art Phillips a location was found: an 8-acre city dump. [http://www.savourychef.com/wedding-venue-event-venue/italian-cultural-centre/] The Italian Cultural Centre Society was founded in 1975 and the centre was completed, thanks to many volunteers, on September 25, 1977. The Centre serves various social, recreational and sporting activities of 37 member Italian Canadian Associations.Its programs aim to preserve, develop and express Italian culture and language. [http://raymondculos.com/culture.html] The centre's services are as follows: a restaurant, museum, library, banquet hall, daycare centre, television production centre and an indoor bocce court. Every summer the centre hosts a week-long Italian festival. [http://www.destinationvancouver.com/?campaign_id=1&tp=detail&type_id=18&advertiser_id=226&tab_id=1]

Library

The Italian Cultural Centre library has both Italian and English language books. It is open to members and non-members alike. [http://www.lac-bac.gc.ca/multicultural/005007-119.01-e.php?&org_id_nbr=642&brws_s=1&interval=20&&PHPSESSID=da3rvvfn4dnc2rdeamglaect87] The collection is managed by a part-time librarian and is searchable by a digital catalogue.

Banquet Hall

Used for civic and private functions, the banquet hall has a stage and is adjoined by a full commercial kitchen.

Bocce

Adjoining the main building, the Centre has an indoor bocce court.

According to Boccemon Tom McNutt "The Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia has one of the finest bocce facilities on the continent. It is a great institution and every culture would be proud to have such a treasure." [http://www.joyofbocce.com/Vancouver.ivnu]

Museum

The newest facility to be added to the Centre is its museum: "Il Museo". Charged with the preservation of Italian-Canadian heritage in Vancouver and British Columbia the museum is governed by a committee of volunteers and part-time curator. [http://raymondculos.com/culture.html]

Language School

Italian lessons run from the Italian Cultural Centre for three major sessions: spring, fall and summer school. The lessons are available to members and non-members alike. Typically classes run for twelve meetings in evenings. Summer immersion school was introduced in 2008.

External Links

* Italian Cultural Centre [http://www.italianculturalcentre.ca/]