Skytrain line
The history of Italians in Canada dates back to the latter half of the 19th century and early 20th, when they arrived and settled in some of the major Canadian cities, including Vancouver. Their numbers increased in the time between the two world wars, partly because of political instability in Italy. They filled mainly manual labor jobs and faced discrimination. They were in fact interned in camps because they were considered “enemy aliens.” Since then, the Italian communities across Canada have flourished and developed strong bonds that celebrate the influence of their culture on Canadian society (Wikipedia, 2023).
In the 40s and 50s, Italians formed an “enclave” in the Commercial drive area just outside of downtown Vancouver. Throughout the year, the area also attracted other cultures of Latin, Middle Eastern, French, and Greek descent, as well as those with a counter-cultural bent. Italian Day is a yearly festival that celebrates Italian culture with a number of events that include music, art, shopping, and lots of food and drink. The last time it was held was three years ago when it came to a halt because of the plague.
The easiest way to go to Commercial from downtown is via the Skytrain. The train ride is short and sweet, gliding up and down like a roller-coaster, swinging around False Creek where the geodesic dome at Science world looks retro-futuristic, and then on to fairy land on Commercial drive.
Skytrain bridge above Commercial drive
This was a tricky event to photograph precisely because it was packed with people. I had to choose just the right moments. I had no plan and wasn’t really sure what I was going to photograph, but I realized that it was going to be about people and culture. So I put my Olympus TG6 on auto and began a’clickin’.
The theme for this years festival was Renaissance, which pays homage to that magnificent period in Italian history as well as reminding us that, after the viral shitstorm of the past three years, there is revival.
Super Mario!
While the festival is called Italian Day on Commercial Drive, the businesses are diverse, and I even caught sight of Vietnamese coffee served with grilled octopus, prawn, and pork!
Corn action shot!
Some privacy please
While I am not Italian, I love a good street party, and this one did not disappoint. You do have to come with the mindset that you’re going to eat a lot of the delicious treats, buy yourself a skirt or shirt, and listen to music while swinging your hips. That’s how you enjoy this festival. Go all out, bellissima!
Yes
Live Bees
I didn’t go all out because I was on a photographic mission, and by the time I had walked the length of Commercial drive in the middle of the crowd under a searing late spring sun, I just about had enough. The festivities would go well into the night, and looking down a side street, I saw the downtown towers in the distance and decided to head home that way. The famous Brazilian pastel would have to wait 'till another day.
People were surprised when the statue moved, but I had my suspicions
I did get spoiled a bit. In the park where the main stage was located, there was a small cart selling a traditional Italian treat- gellato ice cream. Like Italians, gellato comes in many flavours that take a hold of your tongue like a passionate lover until you beg for more.
Nocciola and Amarena Cherry. You like? Molto delizioso!
Vancouver's massive Italian Day festival expecting 300,000 attendees
Italian Canadians Wikipedia home page
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