THUNDER BAY — Roughly 200 people attended the Italian flag-raising ceremony at the Italian Cultural Centre on Monday.
The ceremony was held in recognition of Italian Heritage Month, which was first recognized for June by the Ontario government in 2010 with Bill 103 and later recognized at the federal level with a motion passed unanimously in the House of Commons on May 17, 2017.
The month recognizes the essential contributions that Italian Canadians have made in building communities and their influential economic, political, social and cultural achievements.
As part of the ceremony, the event also included dances from an Italian dance group called Le Stelle Alpine Italian Dancers, a banquet and speeches about Italian immigrant history in Canada and its importance by key speakers, including MPP Lise Vaugeois.
Beth DeProphetis, the president of Le Stelle Alpine Italian Dancers, spoke on behalf of the flag-raising as part of the new generation to take over in the future.
As a youth-run group, she said they are a dance group that really celebrates Italian culture and heritage.
“It’s mainly to support and recognize our Italian heritage, but also as proud Canadians and Canada and its diversity,” said DeProphetis.
Around 16,000 people of Italian descent reside in Thunder Bay.
DeProphetis explained that it is encouraged for them to celebrate, pass on their traditions and share their culture with the country.
“That is encouraged from all cultures that make up Canada, which is what makes us really special,” said DeProphetis.
DeProphetis said that being a nationally recognized Italian cultural month is very important.
“Canada is a diverse nation and we recognize all the diverse cultures that make up our country,” said DeProphetis.
“Our dancers love to share and perform and share the culture and what they do. It’s joyful and Italian culture is joyful,” said DeProphetis.
She added that you do not have to be Italian to be an Italian dancer.
“We just share our culture with everybody who would love to take part with us,” said DeProphetis.
