The Italian Cultural Centre Society in Vancouver inducts Anna Foschi in their Hall of Fame for outstanding achievements in the field of arts and culture, Sept. 10th, 2005.

Events & Activities

The Association of Italian Canadian Writers organizes or facilitates a variety of events and activities. Since its creation, the AICW has held a biennial conference beginning with Vancouver in 1986, followed by Toronto in 1988, Ottawa in 1990, Montreal in 1992, Winnipeg in 1994, Toronto in 1996, Vancouver in 1998, Montreal in 2000, and Toronto in 2002, and Udine in 2004. Our next conference will coincide with our Twentieth Year Anniversary, and it will be held in Vancouver, in May 2006.

Some Highlights:

The 2000 Montreal Conference “The Dynamics of Cultural Exchange” explored the complexities of intercultural exchanges; in 2002, in Toronto, our Conference “The Challenges of Ethnic Minority Representation” examined the stereotypes and biases of mainstream information and media. Since 2001, our authors have been reading at the Words on the Street Festival in Vancouver; in Montreal, our “Salotto Letterario” regularly organises literary events.

In 2003, we participated in Italy’s Turin International Book Fair, with readings and panel presentations and we organised a celebratory event in Toronto to mark the 25th anniversary of Guernica Editions. We also took part in the Blue Metropolis Festival in Montreal, and in the Conference From Emigrante to Canadese - The Italian Canadian Project at the National Library in Ottawa. That same year, our Association was guest of honour and keynote presenter at the “Emigramerica” Conference in Italy, sponsored by Regione Toscana-City of Loro Ciuffenna. In 2004, in collaboration with the Centro Studi Canadesi at the University of Udine, we organised our tenth biennial Conference “Beyond History: The Contemporary Italian Canadian Identity”. Over 60 participants from Canada, Italy, France, Hungary, Belgium and the U.S. gathered to take stock and to look at future direction. Don't miss our next National Conference, in 2006, with more exciting themes!

The Association also publishes a quarterly newsletter, which is mailed to members and supporters throughout Canada, the US, Europe and the Orient. A yearly Recognition Award for Italian-Canadian authors who have given an outstanding contribution to Canadian literature.

The Association, through local chapters, helps promote literary readings, book launchings, reading tours, workshops, plays and interviews.

In 2002, we started a biennial Writing Contest to showcase established authors and to promote and encourage new writers. Liliane Welch (New Brunswick), Ed Fiorelli (U.S.A.), Maria Spina (Quebec) are some of the winners of the past editions.