Celebrating Our Italian Culture in Canada for 50 Years
By Frances DiFrancesco, Club Roma President

In the early days, the Italian community was not as united as it is today.  The fledgling club had much adversity to overcome in uniting the community but they were not deterred.  Meetings were often held in someone’s basement, ever moving closer to their goal.  Through fund raising efforts, enough money was raised to purchase some acreage on Vansickle Rd., the future home site of Club Roma, which was incorporated in October of 1962.  Under the Presidency of Peter Grecco, plans were formulated for the construction of the club with the aid of some key business leaders: architect, Bob Williams, John Penacchetti, John Frado, Guido Modolo and honorary Italian, Ray Bukovic.  Many others came forward with, not only what little financial support they could offer, but a great deal of sweat and toil, when erecting the building on it’s current day site, in 1963.

Since then, Club Roma has endured several face- lifts and expansions, under the leadership of 15 different Presidents, to become the elegant and beautiful facility we have today but, on its own, it’s still just a building. Even the most beautiful buildings can be cold and uninviting.  A building becomes a home when there are warm, loving people inside.  Likewise, a club becomes a club when it is a place where members want to gather to enjoy each other’s company.  In essence, it becomes a home away from home. Our members are what make Club Roma truly special.

Sono passati piu di quarant’anni da quando, nel lontano 1961, I nostri pochi ma bravi fondatori ebbero la saggia idea di creare un nido per la nostra communita’. Sequendo il loro coraggioso esempio, I nostri soci non sono mai mancati all’appello del volontariato per progettare, promuovere e portare a termine I vari progetti che hanno reso questo club uno dei migliori, non solo nel distretto di Niagara ma in tutto l’Ontario. E non dimentichiamo l’impegno civico dei nostri soci, quando danno del loro tempo libero per raccogliere fondi per progetti umanitari, che sono un beneficio per tutta la communita.

We are a Club that takes pride in giving back to the community that supports our existence.  Over the years, Club Roma has raised and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars through local charities, with most of the fundraising being done through our many Auxiliary Groups.

Our Auxiliary Groups don’t only  provide a venue for member participation and activities, but they are ambassadors of our Club, as they go out into the community delivering emotional and charitable support to those in need.  The Ladies’ Auxiliary, one of our oldest and most active auxiliaries, works tirelessly on events to raise money for a host of local charities throughout the year.  Our Choir brings the joy of music out into the community, by singing at many of the local senior and nursing homes, lifting the spirits of our shut in elderly.  Our Soccer Association organizes soccer programs, not only for our members, but for hundreds of children in the community.  They are providing a venue for the young to release positive energy in an environment that promotes teamwork and sportsmanship.  We believe we must nurture and develop our youth, as they will shape the future, our future.

As our membership ages, we need to tend to their needs.  Towards this end, Villa Roma, our seniors’ residence, was incorporated this year and plans are underway to erect this building on the north side of our Club.  This will make affordable housing available for our seniors close to their Club and will provide an environment where they can live together with others who share common interests. 

Nell’ultimo decenne, molti dei nostri soci, dell’eta’ d’oro della pensione, si sono rivolti al club per costruire una residenza che darebbe a loro l’opportunita’ di passare il loro tempo libero in un ambiente sicuro ed accogliente  con I loro amici e parenti.  Questa realta’, battezzata Villa Roma, si sta verificando. Cosi’, speriamo che fra breve tempo, i soci posanno raccogliere I frutti dei loro sacrifici e vivere spensierati, come ben merita.

Over the years, we may have deviated, on occasion, from the initial vision of our founding fathers, as we struggled to establish our Club, to generate revenues to pay for the ever- mounting bills, in order to develop our business and enhance our Club.  Time did not stand still and things have changed. There may no longer be as great a need to provide a home for Italian immigrants, an oasis in an unknown land, a place where they could go for help and support, where they could converse in their native tongue, a place that promoted their culture and heritage.  No, that need is indeed very limited today, but there is still a need to preserve the Italian language, culture and heritage for the 2nd and 3rd generation of Italo-Canadians and beyond.  In 1961 Club Roma was born to be the hub of Italian culture and the preserver of the Italian language in the Niagara Region and it must continue to be now and into the future.

In conclusion, I submit, you need to know the past, your roots if you will, in order to appreciate your reason for being and your destiny moving forward.  Club Roma has become a pillar in the community and is and will continue to be the home of proud Italo-Canadians in the Niagara Region well into the future.