1 of 1 2 of 1 Brunella Gaudio, executive director of the Italian Day Festival Society, knows the importance of a good story. “Every culture has a story,” Gaudio says. “Stories evoke emotions and memories, create connections, and create a thread between the past, present, and future.
” This year’s Italian Day is themed after “storia”—an Italian word that captures both “story” and “history.” It’s fitting, given the fact that the current iteration of Italian Day (which began in 2010) is a continuation of previous cultural events. Back in the 1960s, motorcade parades used to wend down Commercial Drive to celebrate the community; and between 1977 and 1985, Italian Market Day was an annual invitation for Vancouverites to come check out the city’s Little Italy.
Storia, therefore, also captures “our own story that we’re proud of,” Gaudio continues. “Many Italians built Vancouver: they came here with their skills, and worked on the railways, and offered their work ethic from construction to gastronomy. And it also pays tribute to the many immigrants that came here with nothing but pennies in their pockets—not just Italian immigrants—who work hard to create a better life for their families, and contribute to their community.
” Since its inception 14 years ago, Italian Day has grown into one of the most popular cultural events in the city. It was on hiatus between 2020 and 2022, but its 2023 return was met with record crowds—even being voted as .