Italians of the Capital
Ottawa ยท Gatineau ยท Vieux-Hull to Preston Street

Italians of the Capital

The Italian community of Gatineau and Ottawa, from Vieux-Hull to Preston Street: where to eat, how to play the card games, and the words your nonna would use.

Italia ยท Canada
Italian Canadians of Ottawaโ€“Gatineau

La parola del giornoToday
Passeggiata
Italianpah-sed-JAH-tah

The unhurried evening stroll, taken to see and be seen.

Dopo cena facciamo la passeggiata.
After dinner let's take the evening stroll.

Summer patios on Preston Street suit it well.

All dialects

This month's events

Dates and venues change, so confirm with the organizer before you go. See the Events page โ†’

Explore the guide

Each page opens from here or from the menu above.

NewcomersFirst-weeks help, SIN, banking and phone plans St. Anthony'sThe church, Mass times and the feast day GioventรนThe St. Anthony's youth community Knights of ColumbusThe Knights and the parish Casa AbruzzoThe Abruzzese club on Via Marconi: how to join and what it has hosted Embassy of Italy eventsReceptions, language and cuisine weeks, courses and consular services in Ottawa CommunityFrom ten families in 1867, plus the Preston Street story PlacesFrom Gatineau to Preston Street Coffee & pizzaEspresso, pastry and pizza on both sides of the river EventsItalian Week and the year in Little Italy Card gamesScopa, Briscola, Tressette and Marafone Apps & videosPlay on your phone, learn on video RadioItalian programs on 97.9 FM, Monday to Saturday BocceThe story of the game and how to play it DialectsWords from Naples to Sardinia CultureCards, clubs and family tradition LinksWhere to keep exploring ShopHandmade and 3D-printed pieces
La comunitร 

An Italian community older than Confederation

Italians were living near Sussex Drive in 1867, and by about 1900 the community had settled around Preston Street. Early newcomers first lived in the ByWard Market, next door to Jewish, Irish and French families. Preston Street, today called Corso Italia, came later.

  1. Ten Italian families are recorded living near Sussex Drive.

  2. Italian immigrants settle in what becomes Little Italy. Small groceries on Preston Street were run by Italian women in the early years.

  3. St. Anthony of Padua church rises on Booth Street after a fire destroys the parish's first small chapel. It becomes the focal point of the community.

  4. The second great wave of Italian immigration to Canada brings new families to the capital.

  5. Preston Street begins closing to traffic each June for Italian Week, which grows into one of Ottawa's longest-running cultural festivals.

  6. Bob Chiarelli, a second-generation Italian Canadian, is elected mayor of the amalgamated City of Ottawa.

  7. The Italian Canadian Historical Centre opens at Villa Marconi. It records the community's history, including the internment of Italian Canadians at Petawawa during the Second World War.

  8. The Corso Italia Community Mural, by Ryan Smeeton, is completed at 125 Preston Street. Its focal point is a tarantella dancer.

Street names tell the story

Preston Street is Corso Italia. Gladstone Avenue is Via Marconi. A red, white and green archway marks the southern entrance to Corso Italia.

And on the Quebec side?

In my research, Gatineau's Italian presence is a scattering of restaurants, cafรฉs and community programs. There is no single Little Italy street. The best Italian addresses are in Vieux-Hull and downtown Gatineau, listed below.

The Preston Street story

Preston Street was once simply "the Village," a working neighbourhood at the foot of the Parliament Hill escarpment. These are the people and places its old residents still talk about.

A village of neighbours

Italians began arriving in the early 1900s, many through chain migration, with one family bringing over the next. Their neighbours were Irish, English, Polish, Ukrainian, Greek and Jewish families, each with its own parish nearby.

In the 1920s and 1930s many homes were heated by stoves, and the area picked up the nickname "Stovepipe Village." Men worked as labourers, especially in construction, at the Carling O'Keefe brewery on Albert Street and at local depots. Some later started businesses of their own.

The first grocery

A cash register from 1912, now at the Italian Canadian Historical Centre, came from Guzzo and Adam's grocery at Preston and Aberdeen, the first store on the street. It ran until 1977, and Giovanni's Restaurant now stands on the spot. A mother and father ran it, with their children helping after their own day jobs.

From Calabria to city hall

Eugenio Chiarelli, from Cleto in Calabria, survived the trenches of the First World War and emigrated to Montrรฉal with forged documents. After shovelling snow and five years in the Timmins gold mines, he reached Ottawa in the late 1920s and brought over his family. He opened a grocery and butcher shop at Rochester and Pamilla Streets, and extended credit to customers through the Depression.

His son Robert Chiarelli became the first mayor of the amalgamated City of Ottawa in 2000, and another son, Peter, became an NHL executive.

Chappie's Lunch and the Athletic Club

Albert "Chappie" Caramanico, whose parents came from Ripa Teatina in Abruzzo, co-founded the Preston Athletic Club in 1919. After serving in the Second World War, he and his wife Mary opened Chappie's Lunch at 438ยฝ Preston Street in July 1945, known for her spaghetti and meatballs. It closed in 1956.

The street also produced a Grey Cup champion, two-time Stanley Cup winners and an Olympic hockey gold medallist.

The Village Reunion

In 1976 a few former residents met in the basement of Ierullo's barber shop at 432ยฝ Preston to plan a reunion. The first was held in 1978 and drew more than 200 people, and it still takes place each October with awards and bursaries for students of Italian. Attendance has fallen from about 600.

Former residents also gather on Sunday mornings at Joe Calabro's pasticceria on Preston.

Preston today

The street was officially named Corso Italia and dressed with an archway, benches and signs. Condos and chain stores are now replacing many family-run businesses, and longtime residents wonder how long the Italian-Canadian identity will last. Italian Week, the Feast of St. Anthony and the places in this guide keep it going.

Read more: Ottawa's Village (Accenti) ยท Preston Street's history (Kitchissippi)

Benvenuti

Settling in the capital region

A first-weeks checklist for Italians arriving in Ottawaโ€“Gatineau: newcomer services, the Social Insurance Number, banking and phone plans. Offers and prices change, so check each link before you act.

Your first weeks, in order

  1. Contact a newcomer service. They help with jobs and with settling in.
  2. Apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN). You need it to work.
  3. Open a bank account. Many banks waive monthly fees for newcomers in the first year.
  4. Get a Canadian mobile number.
  5. Look up your health card and driver's licence. Ontario (Ottawa) and Quebec (Gatineau) have different rules.

Ottawa: YMCA newcomer services

The YMCA Newcomer Information Centre gives information and referrals to immigrants, refugees and newcomers. It has multilingual settlement specialists, a resource centre with computers, workshops and information sessions, and a settlement program with orientation, language and skills training, and employment support. The listing says there are no fees.

Newcomer Information Centre
150 Isabella St, Suite 201, Ottawa
613-695-2440 ยท nic@ymcaottawa.ca

Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 5:00. Services in English, French and many other languages.

The YMCA's employment services help with job search strategies, resumes, labour market information and training options. The listing says there are no fees. Help with a job search and placement is for people who are unemployed and out of school.

Employment services
613-788-5001 ยท eac.central@ymcaottawa.ca

Whether you qualify can depend on your immigration status, so ask when you call.

Directory listing with details โ†’

Gatineau: Accueil-Parrainage Outaouais

A community organization that welcomes newcomers to Gatineau and the Outaouais. Its services include welcome and settling in, integration support, information and referrals, and intercultural matching.

124, rue Jeanne-d'Arc, Gatineau
819 777-2960 ยท direction@apo-qc.org

Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 4:30.

Quebec's immigration website lists it as a partner. It does not state fees or who qualifies, so ask them directly.

Quebec immigration page โ†’apo-qc.org โ†’

Social Insurance Number (SIN)

You need a SIN to work in Canada. There is no fee to apply.

  • Apply online for the fastest result, by mail, or in person at a Service Canada Centre by appointment. In person, you get your SIN during the visit if everything is in order.
  • Permanent residents: bring your permanent resident card, or your Confirmation of Permanent Residence if it was issued within the past year.
  • Work or study permit holders: bring a permit that says you may work, plus a passport or other secondary ID. Your SIN starts with 9 and expires when your permit does.
  • Documents must be in English or French, or translated.
  • For temporary residents, expect about 5 business days online and about 20 by mail.
How to apply on Canada.ca โ†’

Opening a bank account

Big banks offer newcomer accounts, often with no monthly fee for the first year. Two examples checked in November 2026:

  • RBC Advantage Banking: $0 monthly fee for 12 months, then $12.95 a month unless you qualify for a rebate. For newcomers who arrived in Canada in the past 5 years, with proof of your arrival date such as landing papers or a permanent resident card.
  • Scotiabank StartRight: the $16.95 monthly fee on the Preferred Package is waived for 12 months. For permanent residents of 5 years or less, international students and foreign workers. Bring your PR card or Confirmation of Permanent Residence, or your work permit, plus a passport or Canadian photo ID.

Offers and conditions change often, so ask the bank for today's terms and compare a few before you sign.

RBC newcomer offer โ†’Scotiabank StartRight โ†’

Canadian mobile plans

Monthly prices in Canadian dollars from a comparison site updated on November 1, 2026. Check whether tax is included and what each plan requires, such as autopay or being a new customer.

  • no name mobile ยท 2 GB ยท $19
  • Public Mobile ยท 5 GB ยท $24
  • Public Mobile ยท 50 GB, 5G ยท $35
  • Freedom Mobile ยท 70 GB, Canadaโ€“USโ€“Mexico ยท $40
  • Koodo ยท 60 GB ยท $50
  • Fido ยท 60 GB ยท $50
  • Virgin Plus ยท 60 GB ยท $55

A new SIM card may cost extra. The guide lists $15 at Telus.

Plan comparison (Comparezone) โ†’
This page is general information, not immigration, legal or financial advice. Rules depend on your status, so confirm on the official links. The organizations and companies named here are not affiliated with this site.
Dove andare

Where to find things

Four zones, starting in Gatineau and working toward Little Italy. Hours and menus change, so check before you go.

Gatineau and Hull

Vieux-Hull ยท downtown Gatineau
Eat

Camรฉline

51 rue Saint-Jacques, Vieux-Hull ยท 819-931-0502

Italian technique with Quebec ingredients and fresh pasta made daily. Opened in 2023 and named a finalist for Air Canada enRoute's best new restaurants. Listed hours: Tuesday to Thursday evenings, so call ahead.

Eat

La Squadra

114 rue Montcalm, downtown Gatineau

A warm welcome and a traditional Italian menu built on fresh, local ingredients, per Tourisme Outaouais.

Eat

Le 138

Rue Wellington, Hull

A daytime cafรฉ that turns into Italian fine dining Thursday to Saturday evenings.

Eat

Enoteca Monza Pizzeria Moderna

Gatineau

Rated 4.7 on OpenTable from 128 reviews at the time I checked. Modern pizza and wine.

Eat

Restaurant Laspรฉzia

Gatineau

Italian classics next to Lebanese plates, large portions, family friendly.

ByWard Market

Downtown Ottawa
Shop

La Bottega Nicastro

64 George Street

The market's Italian grocery since 1995, run by cousins Pat and Rocco Nicastro. Imported pantry goods, a coffee bar, famous sandwiches, cooking classes and wine tastings. The building held J. Saso & Son grocery before that.

Shop

La Bottega Market Cafรฉ

Gatineau and west Ottawa

The Nicastro family also runs cafรฉs on both sides of the river. Confirm which location is closest before you drive.

Little Italy

Preston Street ยท Corso Italia
Walk

Corso Italia

Preston St, Carling Ave to Albert St

The heart of Little Italy. Look for the green, white and red archway, the mural at 125 Preston, patios in summer, and the Corso Italia O-Train station nearby. The neighbourhood is also linked to cycling paths along the river and canal.

Shop

Cafรฉs and bakeries

Within a few blocks on Preston

OC Transpo's neighbourhood guide names Caffรจ La Grotta, Simply Biscotti, Little Italy Bakery and Delightful Taste, all within blocks of each other.

Heritage

St. Anthony of Padua

Booth Street

The community's church since 1913. It hosts the Feast of St. Anthony Mass and procession during Italian Week.

Beyond Preston

Heritage, language, community
Heritage

Italian Canadian Historical Centre

1026 Baseline Road, with Villa Marconi

Holds a 1912 cash register from a Preston Street grocery, a harp from the 1880s, a mandolin, and records of the community, including the wartime internment. It has opened mostly for events. Contact the Italian Congress of Ottawa for current access.

Learn

Italian Canadian Youth Formation Centre

Ottawa and Gatineau

For over 50 years, students of all ages have gathered on Saturdays to learn Italian language and culture.

Learn

Embassy of Italy in Ottawa

275 Slater Street, downtown Ottawa

Lists Italian language courses and cultural programs in Canada. See the Embassy page for its events and services.

Caffรจ, dolci e pizza

Espresso, pastry and pizza

Where to find the real thing on both sides of the river. Little Italy has the deepest bench, so most Ottawa picks are on or near Preston Street. On the Quebec side I found good pizza and a few espresso bars, but I could not confirm a dedicated Italian pastry shop, so I say so below instead of guessing.

Top pizza in Ottawa

Antonio's picks

  1. Giovanni's Snack Bar376 Booth Street, beside St. Anthony's. Joint first.
  2. Anthony's Pizza1218 Wellington Street West. Joint first.
  3. Farinella492 Rochester Street, Little Italy.

Top espresso in Ottawa

Antonio's picks

  1. Giovanni's Snack Bar376 Booth Street.
  2. La Bottega64 George Street, ByWard Market.
  3. Simply BiscottiListed on Preston Street, and at 107 Colonnade Road in Nepean.
  4. Bar CosenzaOn Preston Street in Little Italy. I could not confirm the street number, so check the map before you go.

Ordering like a local

In Italy, "un caffรจ" means an espresso. Cappuccino is traditionally a morning drink, and many Italians drink their coffee quickly, standing at the bar.

Pizza al metro

Some places, such as Farinella, sell pizza by the metre. You choose the length and cut it into portions to share.

Check before you go

Hours, seasons and menus change, and some shops are cash only or close in winter. I note what the sources said when I checked.

Espresso

Italian-style coffee bars

Ottawa

Espresso

Giovanni's Snack Bar

376 Booth Street

A favourite for espresso as well as pizza, and first on Antonio's espresso list above.

Espresso

Simply Biscotti

Preston Street ยท 107 Colonnade Rd, Nepean

Biscotti, pastries and cappuccino. The Colonnade Road location opens at 7 am on weekdays. Confirm the Preston Street hours before you go.

Espresso

Carmelito Cafe

354 Preston Street

Italian pastries and espresso on Preston. A Narcity writer's pick is a rotating-flavour biscotti dipped in an oat-milk cortado.

Espresso

Caffรจ La Grotta

Preston Street

One of the Little Italy cafรฉs that OC Transpo's neighbourhood guide lists within blocks of the others on Preston.

Espresso

La Bottega Nicastro coffee bar

64 George Street, ByWard Market

An Italian coffee bar inside the grocery, a few steps from the sandwich counter.

Gatineau and the Outaouais

Espresso

Les Petites Gamines

60 rue Laval, Vieux-Hull

An espresso and dessert bar with house-made desserts.

Espresso

Cafรฉ Mulligan

149 rue Principale, Old Aylmer

Espresso-based specialty coffee in a heritage building.

Espresso

Biscotti & Cie

6 chemin Scott, Old Chelsea

A coffee bar, bakery and Neapolitan-style pizza kitchen in the Gatineau Hills, with picnic boxes for Gatineau Park.

Pastry and gelato

Cannoli, biscotti, sfogliatelle

Ottawa

Pastry

Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana

200 Preston Street

Opened in 1979 by pastry chef Joe Calabro, who says it was the first shop to bring gelato to Ottawa. Gelato is made in-house, with traditional pastries, cakes, tortes and biscotti, plus breakfast and lunch. Cannoli and tiramisu are among the favourites.

Pastry

Dolci Sapori

939 Somerset Street West

Roberto and Francesca Bellantone make traditional Calabrian pastries such as babร  and peach-shaped pastries. Cannoli is the best-seller.

Pastry

Di Rienzo's

111 Beech Street, just off Preston

A cash-only Italian deli and grocery, recommended for its cannoli. It is a deli, not a dedicated bakery.

Gelato

Mantovani 1946

87 Murray Street, ByWard Market

A Neapolitan gelato cafรฉ using ingredients imported from Italy. Open year-round.

Gelato

Piccolo Grande and Amore Gelato

55 Murray St ยท 71 William St

Piccolo Grande has made Italian gelato since 1987 with over 50 flavours, but it is seasonal and closed in winter. Amore Gelato is made fresh each morning.

Gelato

Stella Luna Gelato Cafe

1103 Bank Street, Old Ottawa South

Described as Ottawa's most awarded gelato shop, famous for its pistachio, open year-round.

Gatineau and the Outaouais

Bakery

Levain

201 rue Gamelin, Gatineau

A bakery with a weekly menu that includes pizza, pastries and wine. It is not specifically Italian.

Cafรฉs

La Bottega Market Cafรฉ

Gatineau and west Ottawa

The Nicastro family's cafรฉs bring Italian coffee and sandwiches to the Quebec side. Confirm the nearest location first.

Honest note

No Italian pastry shop confirmed

I did not find a dedicated Italian pastry shop in Gatineau. If you know one, tell me and I will add it. For cannoli, the Ottawa picks above are your best bet.

Pizza

Neapolitan, wood-fired, by the metre

Ottawa

Pizza

Giovanni's Snack Bar

376 Booth Street

Pizza, pasta and risotto next to St. Anthony's Church. Reviewers single out the Venezia and the steak pizza, and it holds a 4.8 Google rating from about 600 reviews. Listed hours run from 10 am, with Sunday from 9 am.

Pizza

Anthony's Pizza

1218 Wellington Street West, Hintonburg

Wood-fired Napoletana pizza from a hand-built stone oven fired with local hardwood. Listed hours: Sunday to Wednesday 11:30 am to 9 pm, Thursday to Saturday until 10 pm. Phone 613-695-8669.

Pizza

Farinella

492 Rochester Street, Little Italy ยท 806 March Rd, Kanata

Neapolitan-style pizza sold by the metre, fresh pasta and house-made gelato, with pistachio recommended. Listed hours at Rochester: Monday to Friday 8 am to 10 pm, Saturday 8 am to 11 pm, closed Sunday.

Pizza

The Pizza Crawl shortlist

Little Italy

Italian Week's Pizza Crawl partners with Giovanni's Snack Bar, Joe's Italian Kitchen, Schoolhouse Pizza and Farinella, each with its own style of dough and crust. It makes a good shortlist for a pizza afternoon.

Gatineau and the Outaouais

Pizza

Naples Pizza

70 rue Montcalm, Gatineau

A longstanding local spot, open since 1968, with gluten-free small and medium pizzas.

Pizza

Piz'za-za

36 rue Laval, Old Hull

A restaurant and wine bar operating since 1997, known for unusual pizzas, live music and a neighbourhood following.

Pizza

Enoteca Monza Pizzeria Moderna

Gatineau

Modern pizza and wine, rated 4.7 on OpenTable from 128 reviews when I checked.

Pizza

Courges et cie

59 chemin Myre, Gatineau

A farm gourmet stop firing pizzas in a maple-wood oven, with a weekly special built on seasonal local toppings.

Pizza

Pizza Express

175 boul. Maloney Est, Gatineau

Known for soft dough and generous toppings, with dine-in and takeaway.

Pizza

Roberto Pizza Romana

241 chemin Old Chelsea, Chelsea

Run by a chef trained in Italy, in the village of Old Chelsea in the Gatineau Hills.

Sit-down in Little Italy: Giovanni's Ristorante on Preston is a long-running white-tablecloth room with a large wine cellar. DreamLand Cafe is a small pasta cafรฉ where reservations are essential. Mamma Teresa on Somerset Street West has served classic Italian comfort food since 1970.
Gli eventi

The year in Little Italy

Italian Week is the big one. It started in the mid-1970s and now runs about eleven days each June, with more than 15 events and three masterclasses. This is what the 2026 edition looked like. I did not find 2027 dates yet, so check italianweekottawa.ca.

Taste of Little Italy

A culinary event at the Preston Event Centre.

Flag raising at City Hall

The formal kickoff, with a mayoral proclamation for Italian Week.

Feast of St. Anthony and Pizza Crawl

Mass and procession at St. Anthony of Padua, plus a guided pizza crawl through four local pizzerie.

Books and Biscotti

An Italian-Canadian writers event with Bread By Us and Accenti Magazine.

Heritage event: Emilia-Romagna

A walk-about wine and food tasting at the Italian Canadian Historical Centre.

Grand Finale and the Ottawa Italian Festival

The street party on Preston Street, with exotic cars, live music, a kids zone, and a Vespa and Lambretta village at 301 Preston.

La chiesa

St. Anthony of Padua Church

St. Anthony of Padua Church, at 427 Booth Street, is the social centre of Ottawa's Italian community. The parish dates to 1908. The present church went up from 1913 after a fire destroyed the first small chapel, was designed by Guido Nincheri and was completed in 1925. A second fire in 1929 damaged it, and it was rebuilt with very little wood.

Visit the parish

Address: 427 Booth Street, Ottawa, ON K1R 7K8
Phone: 613-236-2304
Email: info@stanthonyparish.ca
Website: stanthonyparish.ca

Mass times as listed in July 2024

Sundays at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. in Italian, and at 11:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Saturday at 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday at 7:30 a.m. Confession Saturday 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. Times can change, so confirm with the parish.

Groups at the parish

Two groups connected to St. Anthony's have their own pages:

Events and traditions

La Festa di San Antonio

The feast has been held since 1913, with a pause during the war years. It includes a Mass on the church steps, a procession and a dinner in the church, and it opens Italian Week. Our Little Italy reports crowds of about 10,000.

Feast of St. Anthony 2026

Mass at 10:30 a.m. at 427 Booth Street. The archdiocese's listing says it moved indoors because of unpredictable weather. Italian Week's program also listed the Mass and procession that day.

Piazza Dante

The square in front of the church hosts the community's largest gatherings, including the start of Italian Week.

Centennial year

Seminars on the church's frescoes and stained glass, a family picnic, a fundraiser, a youth Mass, a walk-a-thon, and a memory book of parish history.

Gioventรน and Knights of Columbus events

I did not find published dates for either group. See the Gioventรน page and the Knights page, or ask the parish office.

More at the church

St. Anthony's Ladies Aid has long supported the parish and, as of 2013, kept its memory book. The Ottawa St. Anthony Italia amateur soccer team is based at the church, and St. Anthony's Catholic school stands across the street.

A book to find

A Journey of Faith: A History of Saint Anthony of Padua Church, 1913โ€“2013 is sold through Accenti Magazine.

Read more

La gioventรน

St. Anthony's Gioventรน

The youth community of St. Anthony of Padua Church. Gioventรน is Italian for "youth," and the group's motto is Faith & Fellowship for All.

About the group

The logo shows Saint Anthony holding the child Jesus inside a laurel wreath, above a ribbon that joins the Italian tricolour with the Canadian maple leaf. It reads Est. 2025, so this is a young group that is still building its program.

The ribbon is the same pairing as the community itself: Italian faith and traditions, lived in Canada.

Events and activities

I could not find a public calendar, website or social page listing Gioventรน events, so I have not listed any dates.

To find out what is planned, ask the parish office or at a Sunday Mass. If you have a flyer, send it to me and I will add the dates here.

Contact through the parish

Parish office: 613-236-2304
Email: info@stanthonyparish.ca
Address: 427 Booth Street, Ottawa

St. Anthony's Church page

Youth traditions at the parish

The parish's 2013 centennial year included a youth Mass, a family picnic and a walk-a-thon, and every June the Feast of St. Anthony brings the parish and neighbourhood together at Piazza Dante. See the church page for the feast.

I Cavalieri di Colombo

Knights of Columbus at St. Anthony's

The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men's fraternal organization that runs charity work, supports parishes and organizes community events through local councils.

The St. Anthony's council

I could not find a public page or event calendar for a council based at St. Anthony's. One online encyclopedia entry lists Knights of Columbus Council #11726 hosting breakfasts and brunches there, but I could not confirm that with the Knights or the parish, so please treat the number as unconfirmed.

Ask the parish office to confirm the council and to pass on current event dates.

Events

No dates found. I did not find any published Knights of Columbus event for St. Anthony's, and I would rather leave the list empty than guess.

If you have a flyer or dates for breakfasts, suppers or fundraisers, send them to me and I will add them here.

Contact through the parish

Parish office: 613-236-2304
Email: info@stanthonyparish.ca
Address: 427 Booth Street, Ottawa

St. Anthony's Church page

The order

The Knights of Columbus were founded in 1882 in New Haven, Connecticut, by Father Michael McGivney, and the first Canadian council opened in Montrรฉal in 1897.

Knights of Columbus (kofc.org)

La casa degli abruzzesi

Casa Abruzzo, Ottawa's Abruzzese home

Casa Abruzzo is the clubhouse of the Centro Abruzzese Canadese Inc., at 705 Gladstone Avenue, the street Ottawa's Italians call Via Marconi. The non-profit was founded on February 24, 1973, by ten Abruzzese emigrants. It exists to keep Abruzzese traditions alive among the community in Ottawa and the surrounding area and to promote the culture of the home region. Abruzzo is the region of L'Aquila and Pescara in central Italy.

Visit or contact

Address: 705 Gladstone Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1R 6X2
Mailing address: PO Box 5116, Station F, Ottawa, ON K1R 6X2
Phone: 613-230-9754, as listed in public directories
Online: search Facebook for "Casa Abruzzo Ottawa"

Leadership changes, so ask who to speak to. Angelo Filoso, who organized the 2025 Abruzzese week, has been named in recent press as the centre's president, following Nello Scipioni.

Annual membership

Casa Abruzzo is a membership club. Hundreds of members and their families use it, according to a 2023 article on the centre's 50th anniversary.

I could not find a published annual fee, application form or renewal date. Call or visit the Casa for the current details, or message its Facebook page if you find it.

Questions to ask

  • What is the annual fee for an individual and for a family?
  • When does the membership year start and renew?
  • Which events are members-only, and which are open to guests?
  • Can members book the hall for a family celebration?

Events I could confirm

I could not find a published calendar for the full year, so this is a record of events reported in the press, newest first. Ask the Casa for the current schedule.

Abruzzo, terra di racconti

A show of storytelling and traditional music by performers from Abruzzo, staged in the large theatre of the Marconi Centre and organized with the Abruzzo Federation of Canada. MP Giovanna Mingarelli attended, and it ended with a standing ovation.

Welcome for a visiting delegation

On Saturday evening Casa Abruzzo hosted a family birthday party, and the visiting delegation from Abruzzo joined as guests. On Sunday it served lunch with an all-Abruzzese menu and wines.

Settimana Abruzzese

An Abruzzese week held during Italian Culture Month in Canada, promoted and organized by Angelo Filoso.

50th anniversary

A gala on Saturday, October 7 at Villa Marconi, starting at 6 p.m., with Canadian officials, the Italian Embassy, the Apostolic Nunciature and delegations from the Abruzzo Region and its four provinces.

Founding day

Casa Abruzzo's founding date, in 1973. I did not find a recurring event tied to it.

On Via Marconi

Gladstone Avenue carries the commemorative name Via Marconi, so Casa Abruzzo sits on the same street Little Italy honours each June during Italian Week.

Home cooking at the table

Reports of the Casa's lunches describe menus and wines that are strictly Abruzzese. Ask what is on when you call.

Read more

L'Ambasciata d'Italia

Embassy of Italy: events and services

Italy's embassy to Canada is in downtown Ottawa, and the ambassador's residence is in Gatineau. The embassy runs Italy's national day reception, joins the yearly Italian Language and Italian Cuisine weeks, and offers consular services. It does not publish a separate public events calendar. Its news page is where events appear, and many receptions are held for invited guests.

Contact

Address: 275 Slater Street, 21st Floor, Ottawa, ON K1P 5H9
Phone: +1 613-232-2401
Email: ambasciata.ottawa@esteri.it
Ambassador: Alessandro Cattaneo

Contacts and office hours

Consular services

The consular office is at the same address and handles passports, identity cards, visas and citizenship. Appointments are booked online through Prenot@Mi. Consulates general in Toronto, Montrรฉal and Vancouver cover those regions.

Embassy events in Ottawa, 2026

From the embassy's own news posts, newest first. Where a post gave no exact date, I show the date it was published.

Free Italian summer courses

The Ottawa Catholic School Board ran daily Italian classes through July for children from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8, free for Ontario residents, at several Ottawa schools. Registration closed June 15. OCSB program page

Vinitaly Canada

The Italian wine fair visited Toronto, Ottawa and Montrรฉal for the first time, organized by the Italian Trade Agency. It was aimed at the wine trade rather than the public. Embassy post

80th anniversary of the Italian Republic

A reception at the National Gallery of Canada for more than 600 guests, including the Speaker of the House of Commons, ministers, senators, MPs and members of the Italian-Canadian community. Embassy post

Arctic roundtable and Defence Cooperation Forum

Italy's special envoy for climate change visited Ottawa for an Arctic roundtable hosted by the embassy's scientific office, and a defence forum ran alongside the CANSEC fair. Both were professional events. Defence forum post

Italy-Canada Strategic Dialogue

A government meeting in Ottawa led by the secretary general of Italy's foreign ministry. It was diplomatic, not a public event. Embassy post

Yearly occasions to watch for

These repeat each year. I could not find the 2026 Ottawa programs for the two weeks below, so check the embassy's news page.

Italian Language Week

The Settimana della Lingua Italiana nel Mondo is held each October. In 2024 the embassy marked its close in Ottawa with a book presentation at the University of Ottawa: Echoes of Growing Up Italian by Gina Valle, a collection of Italian-Canadian writers' testimonies. 2024 post

Italian Cuisine Week

The Settimana della Cucina Italiana nel Mondo falls in November. In 2024 the Ottawa edition opened with a science afternoon at the Royal Society of Canada on the Mediterranean diet, and an opera recital with the Rossini Opera Festival followed. 2024 post

Republic Day and Armed Forces Day

Italy's national day, June 2, is celebrated with an embassy reception. On November 4, National Unity and Armed Forces Day, the embassy held a reception at the Rideau Club in 2024. 2024 post

Italian culture elsewhere in Canada

Much of the embassy's public cultural programming happens in Toronto and Montrรฉal. In 2026 that included the Torlonia Collection of Roman sculptures at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, open until July 19, and Italian Fashion Days in Montrรฉal from August 17 to 23. Torlonia post

Embassy links

Le carte

How to play the four classics

Scopa, Briscola and Tressette are Italy's three national card games. Marafone adds a trump suit to Tressette and is a table favourite for four. You can play all of them with a 40-card deck: four suits, ten cards each, no 8s, 9s or 10s.

Reading an Italian deck

The four suits are Denari (coins), Coppe (cups), Spade (swords) and Bastoni (batons). Each has Ace, 2 to 7, then three picture cards: Fante (jack), Cavallo (knight) and Re (king).

Denari   Coppe   Spade   Bastoni

No Italian deck? Use a standard one

Remove the 8s, 9s, 10s and jokers from a 52-card deck. Queens stand in for Cavallo and jacks for Fante. For regional decks, Napoletane is common in the south and centre, and Piacentine and Siciliane are others. Modiano and Dal Negro are the best-known makers.

Scopa

Scopa means "broom." You sweep cards off the table by matching them, and clearing the whole table earns a bonus point. It is easy to learn and has plenty of room for memory and tactics.

Players
2 (also 3, or 4 in teams)
Deck
40 cards
Goal
First to 11 points
Type
Capture game

How a hand runs

  1. Deal three cards to each player and four face up on the table. If three or four Kings land on the table, reshuffle and deal again.
  2. On your turn, play one card. You capture a table card of the same value, or a group of table cards that add up to your card's value.
  3. If a single matching card is on the table, you must take it rather than a group. Capturing is compulsory. If you cannot capture, your card stays on the table.
  4. Clear every card from the table and you score a scopa. Turn that card face up in your pile so the point is visible. A sweep on the last play of a hand does not count.
  5. When hands run out, deal three more each until the deck is gone. Any cards left on the table go to the last player who captured.

Capture values

A12โ€“7faceFante8Cavallo9Re10

Scoring each hand

  • Most cards: 1 point
  • Most coins (Denari): 1 point
  • Settebello (the seven of coins): 1 point
  • Primiera (the best four-card set, one per suit): 1 point
  • Each scopa: 1 point

If players tie for most cards or most coins, nobody scores that point.

Primiera values

721618A16515414313212Face10

You need at least one card from every suit to compete for primiera.

Primiera counter

Pick the best card you captured in each suit.

Your primiera: 70

Tips

  • Avoid leaving a table total your opponent can clear in one move.
  • Sevens and sixes win primiera, so protect them.
  • Keep count of the coins. Winning that suit is a sure point.

Variants you will hear about

  • Scopone: four players in teams, with every card dealt at the start.
  • Scopa d'assi: an Ace takes the whole table, but this is not a sweep.
  • Scopa di quindici: your card plus the captured cards must add up to 15.

Rules summarised from Pagat's Scopa page.

Sette e mezzoDraw cards and aim for 7ยฝ points without going over. Face cards count as half a point.
ScoponeThe four-player team version of Scopa, with every card dealt at the start.
Briscola chiamataA five-player briscola where a called card creates a hidden partnership.
SpizzichinoThe two-player version of Tressette, listed on Pagat as Tressette in Due.
Le bocce

Bocce: the story and how to play

Bocce is the lawn and gravel game of Italian social clubs: two sides roll heavy balls toward a small target ball, and the closest one wins the point. It is easy to learn in five minutes, hard to master, and just as much about the conversation as the throwing.

The story

Bocce is an Italian bowling game, a relative of bowls and the French boules. It is especially popular in Piedmont and Liguria, and Italian communities carried it to North America, Australia and South America. Italy has a national federation, the Federazione Italiana Bocce, and the first world championships were held in Genoa in 1951.

Source: Britannica

Bocce in Italian clubs abroad

Wherever Italian emigrants settled, the social club or the backyard usually grew a bocce court. The game suits older and younger players alike because it asks for aim and patience, not strength, and a match is a reason to sit together afterwards with espresso or wine.

I did not find a public list of bocce courts or leagues in Ottawa or Gatineau. Ask at Casa Abruzzo, Villa Marconi or St. Anthony's, where Italian clubs are most likely to know who plays.

How to play

The standard rules for two sides, with one, two or four players each. Local clubs add house rules, so agree on yours before the first throw.

  1. Eight large balls, four in each of two colours, and one small target ball called the pallino. The court is a long, narrow, flat strip with low side boards. A regulation court is about 91 feet long and 13 feet wide, but any flat strip works for casual play.

  2. Toss a coin. The winner throws the pallino down the court, then throws the first ball.

  3. Throw underhand from behind the foul line. A simple version has the sides alternate until all eight balls are played. Many clubs use the stricter rule that the side that is not closest to the pallino throws next.

  4. You may roll a ball close to the pallino, or knock an opponent's ball or the pallino out of position. Balls may bank off the side boards, and a ball that hits the back wall is out of play.

  5. When all eight are played, only the side with the ball closest to the pallino scores. It earns one point for each of its balls that is closer than the opponent's best ball, up to four. If two balls are equally close, nobody scores. Measure with a tape or string when it is too close to call.

  6. Play more rounds until a side reaches 12 points. Some groups play to a different target or require a two-point lead.

FOUL LINE THROW FROM HERE PALLINO = WHITE BALL

Here the red ball nearest the pallino is closer than every blue ball, so red scores one point. The second red ball is farther than the closest blue ball, so it does not count.

Casual rules for the backyard

Any flat strip of lawn will do. Play one on one or in teams, throw one ball at a time, or play to 7 or 11. If you do not have a court, mark the foul line with a rope.

Words you will hear

Pallino
The small target ball. Also called the boccino.
Punto
Rolling a ball to place it close to the pallino.
Raffa
A rolled hit that knocks an opposing ball out of the way.
Volo
A lofted throw that hits a target in the air. Its legality varies, so check local rules.

Etiquette

  • Stay behind the line and out of the way of the thrower.
  • Do not walk on the court while a round is in play.
  • Let the closest ball be measured before anyone moves it.
  • Praise a good shot, and carry on the conversation.

Rules summarized from GameRules and Britannica. Lofted shots and the throw-next rule are the points that differ most between clubs.

Giocare

Apps, videos and decks

iPhone prices and ratings are as listed on the App Store when I checked on November 2, 2026, and they change. For Marafone, the one app I found is an Android listing in the last card below.

On your phone

Best for Tressette

Tressette โ€“ Classic Card Games

iPhone ยท OutOfTheBit ยท 4.7 โ˜… from 342 ratings

Free, with a $1.99 ad-free upgrade. Play the computer on Easy, Medium or Hard, scoring to 21, 31 or 41, or invite a friend or auto-match online.

App Store โ†’
Best for Scopa

Scopa Classica

iPhone ยท Ace of Clubs ยท 4.4 โ˜… from 67 ratings

Free with in-app purchases. Neapolitan, Sicilian and Piacentine decks, variants such as Asso Piglia Tutto and Napola, online play, leaderboards, and an offline mode.

App Store โ†’
Three in one

Briscola, Scopa, Tressette

iPhone ยท Tomislav Peric ยท 4.0 โ˜… from 2 ratings

All three games in one free download, with subscriptions listed at $2.99 monthly or $17.99 yearly. Very few ratings so far.

App Store โ†’

La Scopa and La Briscola

iPhone ยท OutOfTheBit

The same developer as the Tressette app, with dedicated apps for each game.

La Scopa โ†’ La Briscola โ†’

Scopa Fantogame

iPhone and iPad ยท Free

Traditional rules, first to 11, play the computer or online opponents, with leaderboards and a friends list.

App Store โ†’
Android

Briscola Online, Briscola & Tressette Online

Android ยท Casual Arena and DTB software

Briscola Online by Casual Arena is the Android briscola app I found. Briscola & Tressette Online by DTB software is listed as free with no in-app purchases.

Casual Arena listing โ†’ DTB listing โ†’
In your browser

Solitaire Paradise

Offers a "Play now" button for Briscola, with Scopa and Tressette on linked pages.

Play Briscola โ†’
Real cards

Buy a deck

Search for Modiano Napoletane or Dal Negro Napoletane. Some Modiano decks ship with Scopa and Briscola instructions. Ask at Italian shops on Preston Street whether they stock decks, since I could not confirm that.

Marafone ยท Android

Il Marafone Romagnolo

Play Store listing "Marafone: Trionfo Beccacโ€ฆ" ยท 4.0 โ˜… from 110 reviews ยท PEGI 3 ยท 1K+ downloads

Described as "Romagna's most beloved card game," covering Marafone, Trionfo and Beccaccino. Its screenshots show a four-player table on green felt.

Search Google Play โ†’

Videos and learning

YouTube cannot be embedded inside this page, so these links open in a new tab. Look for slow, step-by-step tutorials filmed over a real Napoletane deck.

Alla radio

Italian on the radio, 97.9 FM

CHIN Radio Ottawa (CJLL-FM, 97.9 FM) airs Italian programs on weekday afternoons from 1 to 3 p.m. and on Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. The mix is music, news, sports and community topics for Ottawaโ€“Gatineau.

Weekly schedule

Monday
1:00โ€“2:00 p.m.Italian Graffiti ยท Maurizio2:00โ€“3:00 p.m.Italian Connection, Monday Edition ยท Francesco Di Candia, Mauro Carlini
Tuesday
1:00โ€“2:00 p.m.Italian Graffiti ยท Maurizio2:00โ€“3:00 p.m.Italian Top 12 ยท Francesco Di Candia
Wednesday
1:00โ€“2:00 p.m.Programma Federazione Abruzzese ยท Olimpia Bevilacqua2:00โ€“3:00 p.m.Pomeriggio con Rita ยท Rita Antonelli
Thursday
1:00โ€“2:00 p.m.Italian Graffiti ยท Maurizio2:00โ€“3:00 p.m.Italian Graffiti, Ottawa Edition ยท Diletta Toneatti
Friday
1:00โ€“2:00 p.m.Italian Graffiti ยท Maurizio2:00โ€“3:00 p.m.Calabria Mia ยท Gino Marrello
Saturday
Noonโ€“2:00 p.m.Italian Connection ยท Francesco Di Candia2:00โ€“3:00 p.m.Italian Top 12 ยท Francesco Di Candia

On Saturdays, Italian Connection includes the Recipe of the week from Chef Massimo Capra.

Listen live โ†’Station's schedule page โ†’
Times are Ottawa time, from the station's page in November 2026. Programs and hosts change, so check the schedule.
I dialetti

The words behind the words

Italy's regional tongues are not accents of standard Italian. They grew from Latin alongside it, and standard Italian itself is built on Tuscan. Many immigrants arrived speaking their village dialect first, so the Italian heard in Ottawa kitchens often differs from what a textbook teaches.

No page can hold every dialect. Italy has dozens of regional languages and thousands of local variants, and spelling is not standardised. This is a starter set of words I could confirm, and every town will have its own version.

Napoletano

Naples and Campania
Uรจ weh
Hey! An attention-getter between friends.
Guagliรฒ gwah-LYOH
Kid, lad. A boy is a guaglione.
Jamme YAHM-meh
Let's go! Also spelled iamme.
Scialร  shah-LAH
To have a wonderful time.

Siciliano

Sicily
Amunรฌ ah-moo-NEE
Let's go! Come on!
Beddu, bedda BED-doo, BED-dah
Beautiful, lovely.
Picciriddu pee-chee-REED-doo
A small child.
Mizzica meet-ZEE-kah
Wow! A mild exclamation of surprise.
Talรฌa tah-LEE-ah
Look!

Veneto

Venice and the Veneto
Ciao chow
Traces back to a Venetian greeting meaning "your servant." It spread across Italy and the world.
Ombra OHM-brah
A small glass of wine at the bar. Literally "shade."
Schei skay
Money.
Toso, tosa TOH-zo, TOH-zah
Boy, girl.
Bร caro BAH-kah-ro
A small Venetian wine bar serving little bites.

Furlan

Friuli
Mandi MAHN-dee
Hello and goodbye. Often explained as a short form of a phrase meaning "I commend you to God."
Tai tie
A small glass of wine, as in "un tai di vin."
Cjase CHAH-zeh
Home, house.
Frico FREE-ko
A crisp or soft dish of cheese and potatoes.

Piemontรจis

Piedmont
Bogia nen BOO-jah nen
"Don't budge." A motto of stubborn Piedmontese pride.
Fieul FYULL
Son, kid.
Bagna cauda BAHN-yah COW-dah
Literally "hot bath," a warm garlic and anchovy dip for vegetables.

Sardu

Sardinia
Ajรฒ ah-YOH
Come on! Let's go!
A kent'annos ah kehn-TAHN-nos
A toast: may you live to a hundred.
Mannu MAHN-noo
Big, great.
Pane carasau PAH-neh kah-rah-ZOW
Thin, crisp Sardinian flatbread.

At the card table

Words you will hear
Scopa!
You swept the table.
Settebello
The seven of coins.
Brรฌscula
Briscola, as Lombard, Sicilian and Neapolitan speakers say it.
Carichi, lisci
Point cards and zero-point cards in briscola.
Busso, volo, striscio
Partner signals in tressette and marafone.
Accusare
To declare a combination in tressette.
Cappotto
A shutout. The losing side scores nothing.
Maraffa
The 3, 2 and Ace of trumps held together.

Italiese, the Italian of Canada

Everyday speech in Italian-Canadian families

When families moved to Canada, English words got Italian endings. These are common examples, and spelling varies from family to family.

Giobba JOB-bah
The job.
Bosso BOS-so
The boss.
Il carro eel KAHR-ro
The car. Standard Italian says la macchina or l'auto.
Fenza FEN-zah
The fence.

Pronunciation in five lines

  • Pronounce every vowel clearly, and keep it pure.
  • C before e or i sounds like "ch". Ch sounds like "k".
  • Gli sounds like "ly", and gn like "ny".
  • Hold double consonants a beat longer: sete (thirst) and sette (seven) differ.
  • Stress usually falls on the second-to-last syllable.

Your family's words

Calabrian, Abruzzese, Molisano and other southern dialects are common in Italian-Canadian communities. I left them out rather than guess at spellings. Send me the words your family uses, and I will add them to the site and to the word of the day.

La cultura

Why the cards matter

Cards are how generations of Italian families fill a long afternoon. The games carry rules, rivalries and a little theatre, and they travelled with the immigrants.

The deck's long road

Playing cards reached Italy from Mamluk Egypt in the 1370s. The polo-stick suit became batons, since polo was unknown in Italy. Until 1972, Italian decks needed a tax stamp, which is why the Ace of Coins is often plain or has a blank circle.

At the club

A 1975 Toronto Star photo caption shows retired men aged 65 to 72 playing briscola at an Italian immigrant-aid agency in North York. The game has long been how newcomers found each other.

In the family

In a Globe and Mail first-person essay, Shirley Phillips describes learning Scopa from her Sicilian husband. It became a way for the family to bond, settle disputes and connect with others across generations.

Table manners

Players turn the card used for a scopa face up in their pile, partly to keep score and partly to taunt. In tressette, partners must keep quiet about their hands. Players agree on house rules before the game, since there is no official rulebook.

A book to find

Preston Street โ€“ Corso Italia: An Informal History of Italians in Ottawa (VIA Folios #154) explores the street's social groups and landmarks.

Italian Week's cars and Vespas

The finale weekend turns a 1.3 km stretch of Preston into a showcase of rare automobiles, with a Vespa and Lambretta village among the vendors.

La bottega

Made by hand, inspired by the community

Handmade and 3D-printed pieces inspired by the Italian community of Ottawaโ€“Gatineau.

The first pieces are on their way

Photos and prices will appear here soon. Check back shortly.

How ordering will work

  1. Choose a piece and tap its Order button.
  2. An email opens. Send it to ask whether the piece is available.
  3. The seller confirms the price and when it will be ready.

Pickup and shipping

Pickup in Gatineau. Shipping is available on request.

Payment

Pay by e-transfer, or in cash at pickup. Prices are in Canadian dollars.

The pieces sold here are not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any club, team, brand or organization mentioned on this site.