FROM THE
PRESIDENT
& CEO
Villa Charities Inc.
(VCI) has continued to
reinforce our position
as a leading provider of Italian culture in the
Greater Toronto Area. In 2019, we developed and
presented many high-quality cultural events and
exhibitions, attracting numerous members of the
broader community and significantly expanding
our media coverage compared with past years.
Inside the Columbus Centre and across our
Lawrence/Dufferin campus, many exciting
developments, facility improvements and
new projects also took root during the year.
Investing in Our Future
Our organization made significant progress with
our multi-year project to repair and replace aging
facilities and infrastructure. This initiative, which
got underway in 2018, reflects VCI’s commitment
to ensuring a sustainable and vibrant future. Along
with our affiliates, we spent approximately $2.6
million in 2019 to improve parking facilities,
replace HVAC systems, upgrade IT and electrical
infrastructure, and to undertake other repairs and
improvements. The enhancements were most
visible at the Columbus Centre, where we
undertook a major initiative to optimize the use
and enhance the quality of our facilities. The
renovations included brand new dance, music and
art studios, and enhancements to our Athletic
Club facilities. The installation of a new digital sign
outside the Columbus Centre’s Lawrence Avenue
entrance was emblematic of our ongoing renewal.
The new sign put a fresh face on our street front
as it promoted our ever-expanding cultural
offerings and enhanced programming.
We also continued to invest in culture through the
development of high-quality events, programs
and exhibitions. These included: Cultural Tuesdays,
our popular series of free, illustrated talks
focusing on Italian cinema, cuisine, literature and
more; the Diaspora Series, featuring new
presentations and installations exploring Italian
culture, society and influence in American history;
Ristorante Boccaccio’s popular regional theme
nights; thought-provoking art exhibitions; Italian
Heritage Month events celebrating Leonardo da
Vinci on the 500th anniversary of his death; our
new summer “Villa Al Fresco” series featuring
family-friendly events such as Movies Under the
Stars; world premieres of two original theatrical
productions; and much more.
Welcoming New Tenants to Our Campus
During 2019, we built a more vibrant community
of complementary organizations on our campus
as we welcomed two new tenants and got ready
for a third tenant to join us in 2020. TLN Media
Group’s corporate and multicultural media
production headquarters, and the studios and
faculty of the Academy of Realist Art, a private
institution that teaches old master-style drawing
and painting, relocated to our campus in the fall.
We also prepared for the arrival of Leonardo Da
Vinci Academy, a prestigious independent
Montessori-centred school, in 2020. All three
organizations have strong connections with the
Italian-Canadian community and offer programs
and services that add value to our campus.
The excellent progress we made in 2019 would
not have been possible without the direction and
leadership of VCI Board Chair Santo Veltri, his
colleagues on the VCI Board and our superb
leadership team along with the tireless efforts of
VCI’s dedicated staff. To all of them, I offer sincere
thanks for their contributions to our success.
Sincerely,
Villa Charities Inc.
Anthony DiCaita
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Consolidated Annual Report 2019 | 7