2026 Festival Program

Literary Program | Saturday May 2, 2026 Columbus Centre

TIME	PRESENTATION	PARTICIPANTS
10:00 am	Italiese as a Bridge - Can Italiese help to learn Italian? A new study challenges models of language teaching and proposes inclusive, culturally rooted approaches to show how Italiese can foster linguistic competence, intercultural awareness, and student motivation, bridging the gap between formal instruction and heritage knowledge	Salvatore Bancheri Simone Casini
11:00 am	Canadiensis: Meeting the People Who Make a Country What does Canada look like when approached through direct encounters and lived experience? What can you learn out of a 75-day, 21,000-kilometre journey from the Pacific to the Atlantic. The presenters offer a grounded portrait of contemporary Canada, shaped by time spent listening to artists, farmers, Indigenous elders, activists, newcomers, community leaders and ordinary people in both urban centres and remote communities. The talk is accompanied by a photo exhibition for the duration of the festival.	Arianna Dagnino Stefano Gulmanelli
12:00 pm	Salotto del romanzo Presenting what's new in Italian Canadian fiction
1:00 pm	Lunch break
1:30 pm	Transformations An anthology of personal, family and community based accounts of the hardships, the challenges, and ultimately the accomplishments of Italian immigrants as they worked hard to build their new lives in Canada. Also documented, in their own words, is what first generation Canadians most valued and internalized from their immigrant parents and grandparents.	Angelo Bolotta
2:00 pm	Evolution of Italian Canadian Literature A conversation about the evolution of Italian Canadian literature from its incipit to the most recent voices and themes emerging. What is Italian Canadian literature? Who is an Italian Canadian writer? How have our narratives changed? Librissimi Lifetime Achievement Award honourees Prof. Joseph Pivato and Dr. Antonio D'Alfonso in conversation with Association of Italian Canadian Writers President Prof. Christine Sansalone and Prof. Paolo Frascà	Joseph Pivato Antonio D'Alfonso Christine Sansalone Moderated by Paolo Frascà
3:00 pm	Who am I? Who are you? A journey into writing a cultural identity from personal memoirs and narratives to developing a fictional identity in a different culture. The authors will red from their vastly different works and explore the making of cultural identity.	Rosanna Battigelli Agata De Santis Riccardo Polacci
4:00 pm	The Changing Realities of Organized Crime: A conversation with Antonio Nicaso A conversation with Antonio Nicaso one of Canada's and Italy's foremost experts on 'ndrangheta and organized crime. A look ot recent evolution, his own personal commitment to this fight and his desire to offer hope to younger generations.	Antonio Nicaso with Daniela Sanzone
7:30 pm	Salotto della poesia Don't miss this exceptional lineup of poets from across the country and from Italy! A fabulous evening of inspired and inspiring poetry readings. Evening hosted by Domenico Capilongo and Gianna Patriarca	Nella Cotrupi Josie Di Sciascio Andrews Silvia Falsaperla Anna Maria Farabbi Joe Giampaolo Carole Giangrande Joseph Maviglia Marco Melfi Irina Moga Caroline Morgan Di Giovanni Cindy Staffieri

Youth and Family Program | Sunday May 3, 2026 Columbus Centre

TIME	PRESENTATION	PARTICIPANTS
1:00 pm	Storytime	Mariella Bertelli Gianna Patriarca Giulia Volpe
2:00 pm	Giocando con l’eco: di bocca in bocca da un dialetto all' altro A bilingual activity in which children, parents and granparents will be invited to join into an activity that through poetry will bring them to, to share dialects across generations. L’incontro congiungerà tre generazioni: nonni/e, figli/e, nipotini/e in un filo di narrazione emozionante, coinvolgente e giocoso dove ogni bocca creerà un pezzettino della storia tra parole antiche e nuove. Il suono dei venti tra gli infinti alfabeti ci terrà vicini/e l’uno all’altra, piccoli e grandi, attorno al fuoco magnifico della poesia.	Anna Maria Farabbi
3:00 pm	Premiazione Librissimi Scuola The Consulate General of Italy - Ufficio Scuola e Promozione della Lingua Italiana, in collaboration with librissimi presents the 2026 Awars for this special Italian language writing competition for children. Special appearance by teacher, singer, author Frank Moyo. Followed by a light refreshment courtesy of Consulate General of Italy	Judging Committee: Joseph Cafiso Laura Innocenti Happie Testa

Exhibitions

May 2 and 3, 2024

TITLE	DESCRIPTION	CURATORS
VISI	Photos by Antonio D'Alfonso - Portraits of Italian Canadian writers of the last 40 years	Antonio D'Alfonso Happie Testa Mimmo Baronello
CANADIENSIS	Meeting the People Who Make a Country. An exhibition of 8 selected images captured by Dr. Stefano Gulmanelli during the homonymous coast-to-coast journey.	Stefano Gulmanelli and Arianna Dagnino