Annual Report 2015
New Directions
During 2015, while the Institute of Italian Studies–Lakehead University continued to fulfilll its mandate of promoting Italian culture in Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario, several new initiatives were undertaken. An Italian Film Festival, jointly sponsored by the Institute and the Department of Languages at Lakehead University, was held in the John Paterson Auditorium, Bora Laskin Faculty of Law Building, from October 5th to October 8th. This Italian film week was organized by Mr. John Zussino, teacher of several Italian language courses at the University and facilitated by Dr. Enrico Maso from Udine, Italy. The Italian Film Festival will continue on a biannual basis. Moreover, after lengthy discussions about the role the Institute should play in promoting student travel and study in Italy, it was decided to sponsor the “Splendors of Ancient Italy and the Adriatic” travel and study programme of Dr. Carney Matheson, Professor of Anthropology at Lakehead University. In addition, the Institute is committed to financially supporting The Roy Coran CD project in 2016 and 2017. Roy Coran, the son of Italian immigrant parents from Azzano Decimo, was a prominent Thunder Bay musician, arranger, and composer. The Roy Coran Big Band, made up of some of Thunder Bay’s finest and prominent professional musicians, will record on CD Roy Coran’s arrangements and compositions. Proceeds from the sale of the CD will go to the Roy Coran Memorial Bursary for music students at Lakehead University. Lastly, the publication of John Potestio’s Thee Azzanesi of Thunder Bay by the Institute marked a new departure in its funding process for published works. All pre-press, printing, and book launch expenses associated with the publication of the book were paid for by funds raised by the Azzanesi of Thunder Bay committee. The Institute of Italian Studies–Lakehead University issued tax receipts to donors. This model of funding may be used for future Institute publications.
These new directions and initiatives taken by the Institute in 2015 were only possible with the dedication and careful deliberations of its board of directors.
Roy Piovesana,
President,
Institute of Italian Studies–Lakehead University
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