For the National Federation President for CIBPA, roots weren’t just metaphorical - they had walls, a terracotta roof, and stood 1,600 meters above sea level on a Calabrian hillside. This ancestral villa be- came the anchor for his identity, bridging two continents and shaping the destiny of a boy who would grow to become a pivotal figure in the Italian-Canadian community.
BY GIOVANNA G. BONOMO
October, 2024
FROM ONE WHITE HOUSE TO ANOTHER
A White House invitation is a rare honor, and for Gianni Leonetti, National Federation President of CIBPA (Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association), that day has come. Invited by First Lady Jill Biden to a reception celebrating Italian American Heritage Month, Leonetti’s presence marks a milestone for him and CIBPA, recognizing the strengthening ties between Italian-American and Italian-Canadian communities.
This invitation follows a groundbreaking partnership between CIBPA and the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF). The White House recognition symbolizes the impact of this cross-border alliance in celebrat- ing Italian heritage across North America. But for Leonetti, this moment is the latest chapter in a journey that began in another white house, in La Sila, Calabria.
A top a sun-drenched hill, upon acres of land, stands a modest villa that held the heart of a young boy named Gianni. Its white stone walls weathered by sea salt and terracotta roof hold stories of generations past and simpler times, of laughter shared over lagane e cicciari, and of the
warm embraces of his grandparents. This house, humble yet majestic in its simplicity, would become the anchor of Gianni’s identity.
Born in Toronto, Gianni’s life took an unexpected turn at just one month old. His parents, hearts set on a permanent life in Italy, whisked him across the Atlantic to their ancestral homeland. Yet, as if guided by an invisible hand, fate had other plans. Gianni’s father, Idolo, saw opportunity beckoning from afar. The elder Leonetti set out again for Canada, chasing dreams of prosperity and a better life for his family. The journey wasn’t smooth. Idolo shuttled between two worlds, returning to Italy when work in Canada proved elusive, then venturing back across the ocean when desperation gnawed.
“I’ll tell you a funny story,”Gianni said.“My kids heard this for the first time yesterday and couldn’t believe it. When my father went to Canada, he wasn’t used to working in harsh con- ditions. Once, he was mowing the grass and it started raining, so naturally he stopped working. His supervisor asked, ‘What are you doing?’He replied,‘Nothing, it’s raining.’The supervisor said, ‘In Canada, you work in the rain.’ Soon after, my father was back in Italy. But that didn’t last long. He tried his hand at another shot in Canada. This time, it was my mother ,who was pregnant at the time, who ultimately made the decisive move before my father had a change of mind.”
With a mix of foresight and determination that would later manifest in her son, she gathered the family and set out to reunite with her husband in Canada, refusing to let their family fragment across continents. Nevertheless, a fragment would remain, leaving Gianni’s nonni, Zio Antonio, and the stucco hilltop house behind.
In Canada, young Gianni found himself growing up in a world of stark contrasts to his Calabrian hillside. Yet, as children do, Gianni adapted to the duality of being Canadian and Italian. By the time school started, Gianni found himself having to learn English and slowly began to navigate the complexities of his native country.
As Gianni grew older, he discovered a talent for business and a taste for the finer things in life. His career flourished, and soon he found himself drawn to luxury and high standards of living that seemed a world away from the simple life he had known.
Yet, for all his success and the comforts it brought, Gianni felt an inexplicable pull back to that little house on the hill. Every year, without fail, he would book a ticket on a whim, sometimes traveling alone, just to return to his roots. There, in the embrace of those ancient stones and the loving arms of his grandparents and Zio Antonio, Gianni found a piece of himself there that Canada, for all its majesty and opportunities, could not replace.
For Gianni, that house was more than just a building. It was the physical embodiment of his heritage, a tangible link to the generations that came before him and the culture that shaped him. In that house, Gianni wasn’t just a successful Canadian businessman. He was the grandson, the son, the heir to a rich heritage of traditions and values. The smell of his nonna’s cooking, the sound of the local dia- lect, the feel of the warm Calabrian sun on his skin – these sensations grounded him, reminding him of the simple things in life that make the biggest difference.
The house on the hill, initially a peripheral subject, emerged as the unexpected protagonist of our conversation, its weathered walls harboring generations of memories and unspoken tales. As Gianni recounted his Zio Antonio’s recent passing, and the impending sale of the property, a profound sadness permeated his words, revealing the deep-rooted connection between identity and place.
This ancestral home, standing sentinel over family histories and cherished moments, represented more than mere bricks and mortar; it embodied the very essence of belonging, a physical anchor tethering him to his heritage.
“That, I can honestly say was the foundation that helped build me into who I am today,” Gianni reveals. The imminent loss of this tangible link to the past, underscored the poignant reality that our roots indeed have walls, and that our nonni’s homes, as modest as they may be, serve as silent custodians of our history, grounding us in the rich soil of our ancestors while simultaneously holding the keys to our future selves.
Gianni’s rich cultural heritage fuels his resolve to help other Italian-Canadians navigate the same waters he once did. Now, as the Father of three boys Gianluca, Francesco, and Stefano, and husband to his beautiful and supportive wife Christine, Gianni feels a strong desire to preserve his heritage at home by keeping traditions alive—from making tomato sauce to visiting Italy and speaking the language of his ancestors.
“That I Can honestly say, was the foundation
that helped build me into who I am today. ,,
- GIANNI LEONETTI
As the National Federation President for CIBPA , Gianni has been part of a broader movement to bridge Italian-Cana- dian heritage with Canadian society at large. “We believe in traditional family values, hard work, and charity and help- ing people who want to succeed.
If you want to succeed, we are here to help you,” Leonetti explains, encapsulating the ethos shared by many Italian-Canadian organizations. Under his leadership, CIBPA has contributed to the evolu- tion of Italian-Canadian advocacy, working alongside other influential groups. Leonetti’s initiatives, in conjunction with other organizations, included mentorship programs pairing experienced professionals with young Italian-Canadians and efforts to recognize Italian-Canadian contributions to Canada’s development.
The National Federation of CIBPA, along with other Italian-Canadian organizations, spearheaded efforts to obtain an official apology from the Canadian government for the internment of Italian-Canadians during World War II.
Approximately 700 Italians were arrested and sent to camps like Petawawa, where they were held as prisoners without apology and released after several years. Their families had to struggle without their breadwinners during this time. Describing these collective advocacy efforts, Leonetti states, “We put together a letter addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. On May 27, 2021, the Prime Minister delivered an official apology in the House of Commons.” This achievement was the result of persistent efforts from these organizations.
Following the apology, attention turned to commemorating this historical injustice. One significant project aims to honor the Italian-Canadian internees at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. Leonetti explains, “It’s interesting that after the apology happened, the communication fell off. But we at the National Federation wanted to do something with the museum based on the historic artifacts from the Italian internment currently stored by Villa Charities in Toronto.” The National Federation of CIBPA contacted the museum and requested that they dedicate a section to commemorate the internment of Italian-Canadians during World War II.
This initiative seeks to ensure that this important historical event is properly recognized and remembered, providing a lasting memorial to those who suffered and educating future generations about this chapter in Canadian history.
And while preserving the past remains a priority, CIBPA under Gianni’s leadership has also been forging new paths for the future of Italian heritage in North America. In this spirit of progress and collaboration, Gianni led CIBPA into a strategic partnership with the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) in April 2024. This landmark move solidifies his commitment to bridging communities between the estimated 20 million Canadians and Americans of Italian heritage. “We are two organizations that share the same values, and I am looking forward to seeing how our relationship grows,” Leonetti states.
This collaboration, formalized through a Protocol of Cooperation, outlines joint initiatives over three years, including: supporting charitable causes aligned with preserving Italian cultural heritage, facilitating citizenship processes, promoting roots tourism to Italy, organizing academic and cultural exchanges, cross-promoting accomplishments of notable Italian Americans and Canadians, student exchanges, co-hosting major events, collaborative marketing campaigns, and mutual sharing of membership benefits. “Citizenship is another big thing,” Leonetti adds. “Italian immigration to Canada has slowed down as it has become difficult to get citizenship.
Senator of the Italian Republic Francesca La Marca, representing Italian citizens in North and Central America, will be helping us in terms of connectivity between Italy and Canada from a citizenship perspective.” For Gianni, this partnership and all initiatives underway represent the culmination of his life’s journey, honoring his heritage while paving the way for future generations of Italian-Canadians and Italian-Americans.
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