LifeStyle Features

Photos: Commercial Drive comes alive on Italian Day

by Charlie Smith on June 9th, 2019 at 3:54 PM
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      Music, food, fashion, and design—along with a whole lot of love—has come together on Commercial Drive today on Italian Day.

      It's the flagship event of Italian Heritage Month, which was proclaimed on June 7 by Vancouver mayor Kennedy Stewart.

      Today, Italian Day organizers honoured two community heroes, Jim Crescenzo and Tanya Zambrano, who created the East End Boys and Girls Club to keep marginalized kids out of trouble.

      Before retiring this year, Crescenzo was a theatre and film instructor at Templeton secondary, winning the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence in 2017.

      Zambrano is now heading the theatre and film program at Templeton and organizing free summer camps.

      Below, you can see some snapshots that I took on Commercial Drive today.

      Coun. Melissa De Genova (with baby Lili) and Il Centro vice president Randy Rinaldo played key roles in the city's decision to designate an eight-block section of Commercial Drive as Little Italy.
      Charlie Smith
      The Michael Cuccione Foundation has raised $24 million to research better treatments for childhood cancer.
      Charlie Smith
      The green, white, and red of the Italian flag was all over Commercial Drive.
      Charlie Smith
      The owner of Federico's Supper Club, Federico Fuoco, was one of the community leaders who revived Italian Day in 2010.
      Charlie Smith
      Kalena's is one of the stalwarts on Commercial Drive—and today, it took its shoe sale outdoors.
      Charlie Smith
      This image gives an idea of the number of people on Commercial Drive around 1:15 p.m.
      Charlie Smith
      Motorino has no shortage of electric bikes for those not in the mood to peddle up hills.
      Charlie Smith
      This was the view from the intersection of Grant and Commercial.
      Charlie Smith
      Heavily armed police were happy to pose for photos on the Drive.
      Charlie Smith
      The flag of Italy wasn't only on Commercial Drive. This one was spotted on one of the side streets.
      Charlie Smith

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