During the long winter months of 19th century Italy, women gathered in rural villages to spin wool, exchange stories, and sing songs. This tradition inspired the creation of the not-for-profit community organization called Ottawa Italian Women’s Filò. Building on the concept of women gathering per filare la lana, this group seeks to preserve and celebrate the thread that binds us from one conversation to the next and from one generation to the next.
Filò was formally founded in 2003 to acknowledge the valuable contribution that women of Italian ancestry had made to their communities and to Canada. Today, Filò continues to bring together women in the spirit of friendship and generosity. They host an annual gala, inviting multi-generational women of Italian origin to celebrate their accomplishments, raise funds for local charitable organizations and preserve Italian traditions.
The timing of the Gala aligns with International Women’s Week and features the presentation of an award to recognize women who are an inspiration and role model for other women in the Italian community. The award winners are chosen by an independent selection committee.
“The original event was held in Little Italy, which we called The Village in those days, at Saint Anthony Italia Soccer Club where the men had been holding their annual event for many years. We felt that it was time that the women have their own celebration,” Filò co-founder Anna Chiappa explains when asked about how the idea of a women’s only reception began.
For her part, co-founder Ariella DalFarra Hostetter recalls the 2003 news release which announced that a dinner would be held in honour of the first Italian-Canadian woman to be appointed as a Federal Cabinet Minister, Maria Minna.
“We then expanded on this and created the achievement awards to recognize women in the community for their volunteer work,” she explains.
“There was a pent-up demand for an event where we could recognize women helping other women. The two original Filò awards were given to Maria Ierullo and Jennie Prosperine for their volunteer work providing translation services for proxy brides and assistance on finding appropriate housing, back in the early years of The Village,” she continues.
Current Filò co-chair, Lisa D’Angelo, noted the significance of having past award winners come back and attend the Gala, year after year.
“Apart from the fundraising aspect of Filò, the presence of women leaders from our community provides inspiration and prime examples for the younger women in the room to follow and emulate,” D’Angelo comments.
Indeed, there is something so special about being in a room of 200 or so Italian women, enjoying good food, sharing memories, and of course, dancing.
This year, organizers included a youth group as part of the program. The Fonte D’Amore Tarantella Dance Group performed tarantella dances of southern Italy that have been passed down from generation to generation. Performing for a banquet hall full of mothers, sisters, daughters, cousins and comare who come together in tradition and mutual support, will no doubt leave an impression on these young Italians.
The Filò committee members for 2023 are made up of 12 women spanning in age from 19 to 64. Gala sponsors include law firms, real estate companies, hardware stores and restaurants. It is an impressively long list of community businesses who are ready to support Filò’s mandate. The support is also reflective of the roll-up your sleeves attitude of Filò committee members.
Past Filò Chair (2005-2010), Trina Costantini-Powell, expressed her admiration for the current committee of dedicated volunteers.
“These women are really remarkable. They are willing to go out into the community and ask for sponsorship support. They aren’t shy!” she observes.
Over it’s 20-year history, the Filò Gala has raised approximately $70,000 for local charities such as the Ottawa Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Tele-30 and the Villa Marconi long-term care facility.
To learn more about the Ottawa Italian Women’s Filò, visit: www.filo.ca.
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