On April 20, 2024 the Associazione Molisani di Ottawa (AMO) hosted a banquet to celebrate a springtime tradition that dates back to the mid-800s, called la Carrese. The successful multigenerational event was a hopeful sign that the fate of this small Italian social club has turned a corner.
The association was formed in 2008 and is an amalgamation of half a dozen smaller clubs that represented tiny villages and communes of Molise. Early activities included events featuring academics, local costumes and cuisine, wine tastings and a homemade pizza contest. The association also sponsored travel for artists and performers from Molise.
For reasons that are not entirely clear, not all of the smaller clubs joined the bigger association meant to promote the culture and customs of the entire Molise region. A few continued to be active under their distinct village names, while others remain inactive, but not official defunct.
Recent involvement by the second generation has provided AMO with a much-needed boost. At the same time, continued involvement by its founders and the first generation more broadly, has been essential to its continuity.
Rose Giammaria is the current treasurer for AMO. She reflected on some of the modernizations to the association’s operations.
“Having the option to e-transfer to collect membership fees, sell tickets for events and raffles, has been a real game-changer,” explains Giammaria.
“This is what the younger generations are accustomed to,” she observes.
AMO is also renewing its involvement with the Consiglio Giovani Molisani nel Mondo, an initiative led by the regional government in Italy. Riccardo del Castello is one of six youth candidates who will represent North America over the next three years.
“I took on this role because our culture is worth sharing and preserving. I believe that knowing your roots helps guide your path forward,” explains del Castello.
“I also have the privilege of having dual citizenship, and so with that comes a duty to get busy with the community in Canada and be an advocate for Italian culture,” he observes.
Frank Maiorino is a recent addition to AMO’s board and was a key advocate for hosting an event to honor the ancient tradition of la Carrese. When asked about the factors that may have contributed to the event’s popularity, Maiorino reflected on the connection to Ottawa’s treasured long-term care facility, Villa Marconi.
“The main goal of the Festa della Carrese was to bring the Molisani community together. Attendees also appreciated the fact that part of the proceeds would be donated to support Villa Marconi,” Maiorino observes.
“And who doesn’t enjoy the chance to win some great prizes? A win for AMO, a win for Villa Marconi and a win for attendees,” he continues.
For AMO’s second Vice President, Domenic Tardioli, the event brought his entire family together to celebrate a tradition that his parents left behind in 1965.
“The Corsa dei Carri was always talked about in the spring. These traditions helped form a bond with a place that was special to my parents,” Tardioli recalls.
“I would never have imagined there would be a day when I would see my granddaughter celebrating with us at an event like this,” he continues.
This is not the first story, and hopefully not the last, on the topic of regional or village-based associations. AMO is one of about twenty active clubs in Ottawa. Ten years ago, the number was closer to thirty-two. The math is pretty simple: the founders of these clubs are now in their 80s and 90s. The dynamics of the decline of this type of social club are more complex. For those engaged with their history and community, there is a sense of urgency to be deliberate about whether or not they will allow more clubs to fade away.
Felice Petti, a former AMO board member, has been active in the tight-knit Oratinese community in Ottawa for many years. He and his fellow paesani have enthusiastically participated in a number of AMO events.
“The Italian community is in a transitional time. Community demographics, technology and cultural integration are impacting interest,” explains Petti.
“I think it’s time for a ‘Garibaldi-type’ movement to unify the different associations. But that requires courage and leadership. Not to mention Italians are typically a fragmented group except during the World Cup and that hasn’t happened for a while!” Petti continues.
In fact, the National Congress of Italian-Canadians has recently taken a positive step toward alignment of association activities and mutual support. The NCIC has launched a new trilingual platform, italcanheritage.ca, inviting smaller associations to promote their events on the website at no cost. And back in the land of Garibaldi, the current government has declared 2024 as the Year of Italian Roots in the World. The ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has branded it “Italea”, a spin on the concept of “talea”, a practice by which a plant propagates. Essentially a tourism program, the focus is on Italian descendants living abroad, with a pitch to rediscover their region of origin through local events. For those interested in tracing their family history and willing to pay a fee, genealogists are ready to provide support.
Identity has long been a topic of Italian-Canadian studies. It seems that the once essential and beloved associations are having their own identity crisis. While mandates have evolved from providing a focal point for social interaction and the expression of village loyalties, the reinvigoration of clubs like AMO provide evidence that the value and rewards of a shared community have not been entirely lost.
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