As thousands of people turned out of Vancouver's Italian Day celebrations on June 12, an eight-block stretch of Commercial Drive received its official designation as Little Italy.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to recognize four blocks north and four blocks south of First Avenue as Little Italy. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and representatives from the city's Italian Canadian community participated in the ceremony.

Approximately 80 percent of businesses in the area are owned by Italian Canadians.

City councillors voted unanimously on April 6 to declare the area Little Italy after NPA Councillor Melissa De Genova put forward the motion.

Street banners are being flown to recognize the strip.