Villa Charities Annual Report 2019 | Page 11

• Italian Heritage Month events celebrating Leonardo da Vinci on the 500th anniversary of his death, with a diverse range of events showcasing the artistry and talents of Italian- Canadian performers • Our new “Villa Al Fresco” summer programming series featuring many family-friendly events including outdoor movie screenings, family trivia nights, social dancing and more • The outdoor “En Plein Air” painting workshops, where students spend the day painting special Italian-themed still life works Investing in Facilities through significant capital projects to improve and repair aging buildings and infrastructure on the Lawrence/Dufferin campus. During 2019, more than $2.6 million in projects were completed including: • Replacement of HVAC equipment (boilers and chillers) at the Columbus Centre • Generator retrofits at Villa Colombo Toronto, Columbus Centre and all three seniors’ apartments • Asphalt repairs throughout the Villa Charities campus • Replacement of fire-rated doors at Villa Colombo Toronto and all seniors’ apartments • Fire panel upgrades at Columbus Centre “ More than $2.6 million in projects were completed.” • IT infrastructure upgrades at Columbus Centre and Villa Charities campus • Upgrading of the Villa Colombo Toronto main common room and painting of all patient rooms, nurses’ stations and common rooms • Painting of various interior spaces in other buildings and of outdoor statues and fountains We also installed a new exterior digital sign on Lawrence Ave., to promote all the activities on the Villa Charities campus. Supporting and Collaborating with Other Italian Organizations and Events In 2019, this included financial and other support for: • Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario (ICCO) – VCI was the Major Sponsor of the inaugural “IT@CA” symposium, which showcased Italy’s leading academic and industry leaders • Consolato Generale d’Italia a Toronto - we hosted a VIP reception for the Director General for the Italians Abroad, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Luigi Maria Vignali • Istituto Italiano di Cultura Toronto • The Italian Fallen Workers Memorial Project and The Italian Fallen Workers Memorial Wall, which is located on VCI’s main campus – we hosted the launch of the book “Land of Triumph and Tragedy: Voices of the Italian Fallen Workers” • Centro Scuola’s annual “Mostra Dei Presepi” exhibit • Mississauga ITALFEST • Committee of Italians Living Abroad (Comites) – we hosted the 2nd Annual Librissimi Book Festival • Mississauga Italian Canadian Benevolent Association (MICBA) • Canadian Italian Business Professional Association (CIBPA) • Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF) Generating New Revenues through third-party leases to other Italian organizations we welcomed to the Villa Charities campus as new tenants in 2019. To learn more about Villa Charities and the entire family of organizations, please visit our website at villacharities.com. Consolidated Annual Report 2019 | 11