By Amy Pigeon
There are certain events in Toronto where you can physically feel the relationship between Italy and Canada still evolving in real time.
Not through nostalgia. Not through performance. But through action — through business deals being discussed over espresso, multi-generational entrepreneurs embracing near the stage, restaurateurs introducing suppliers to developers, and executives speaking just as passionately about family roots as quarterly growth.
The ICCO Air Canada Business Excellence Awards has long been one of those moments.
Held this year at Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex, the annual gala by the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario once again brought together leaders across aviation, finance, hospitality, healthcare, construction, fashion, manufacturing, culture, and entrepreneurship for an evening celebrating Italian-Canadian excellence. Yet what continues to make the event so distinctive is that it never feels purely corporate. There is warmth to it. Familiarity. A sense that the people attending genuinely want to see one another succeed.
And that atmosphere does not happen accidentally.
For years, the ICCO has worked tirelessly to foster meaningful relationships between its members, actively helping businesses connect, collaborate, and grow between Italy and Canada. As an editorial publication rooted in Italian storytelling ourselves, it is something we have experienced firsthand. The organization consistently creates spaces where introductions become partnerships, where conversations become opportunities, and where Italian identity is not simply preserved culturally, but strengthened economically as well.
This year’s refreshed format leaned into that mission even further.
The evening embraced a race-inspired theme ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, creating a more interactive and social atmosphere throughout the gala. Guests arrived to cocktail receptions, curated tastings, pasta stations, and networking experiences that felt far more dynamic than a traditional seated awards dinner. Even Premier Doug Ford made an appearance among the crowd, underscoring just how influential the event has become within both the Italian-Canadian and broader business community.
At the centre of the aperitivo hour, guests gathered around the unveiling of the new Lamborghini Temerario while Niagara 5000 introduced a Formula 1 racing simulator experience that quickly became one of the night’s most entertaining conversation starters. At the step-and-repeat, attendees could generate AI portraits of themselves as Formula 1 drivers — though in my case, the technology was perhaps a little too speedy, accidentally branding me as an “Air Oneada” race driver rather than an Air Canada one. Close enough!
But perhaps that imperfect little moment oddly reflected the spirit of the evening itself: ambitious, forward-looking, playful, and deeply invested in creating memorable shared experiences.
Throughout the night, the ICCO’s extraordinary network of partners and sponsors could be felt in nearly every detail of the experience. From Air Canada, RBC, Rogers, UniversalCare, Masters Insurance Financial, LiUNA!, IC Savings, EY, and Unico Primo, to hospitality and lifestyle partners including Liberty Entertainment Group, Pizza Nova, Lavazza, Liquid Portfolio, San Pellegrino, Cinzano, Vecchio Amaro del Capo, and Ferrero, the evening became a reflection of just how broad and interconnected the Italian-Canadian business ecosystem has become.
Luxury automotive and design brands including Lamborghini and Pininfarina brought added spectacle to the race-inspired atmosphere, while contributors Rossi Limoncello, Osteria Gente, and Chef Luciano Schipano helped shape the evening into something deliciously satisfying. Amongst other great companies sponsoring the event was Toronto Fashion Academy, DMA Events, SimStaff, RGA Woodworking, Leadership Contract Inc., ITL Inter-Transport LTD, Mirabelli Power Group, Filippo Berio, Belle Donne Spices, and Tree of Life.
And at the heart of it all remained the award recipients themselves.
John Bianchini received the Business Excellence Award, recognizing his outstanding leadership and impact within the business community. Nadia Corrado was honoured with the Businesswoman of the Year Award, celebrating her accomplishments and leadership within Canadian business. Basil Policaro received the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing decades of contribution and influence that have helped shape the Italian-Canadian entrepreneurial landscape itself.
Dr. RJ Cusimano was presented with the Science & Culture Award, acknowledging his meaningful contributions bridging academia, healthcare, and cultural advancement. Meanwhile, Team Revolution received the Community Building Award, recognizing the importance of organizations and individuals who continue strengthening community through collective action and engagement.
One of the evening’s most resonant moments came with the presentation of the Corrado Paina Italy-Canada Award to Air Canada Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Mark Galardo.
The recognition is presented to individuals who have meaningfully deepened the relationship between Italy and Canada — a fitting honour for someone whose work has dramatically expanded connectivity between the two countries over the past two decades.
In remarks shared following the award, Galardo reflected on Air Canada’s remarkable growth in Italy since he began his career with the airline in 2004. At the time, Air Canada operated only one daily seasonal route between Toronto and Rome. Today, the airline operates 44 weekly flights to Italy during peak season across seven routes and five destinations, carrying over 700,000 passengers between the two countries annually, alongside more than 13,000 tons of cargo.
And the growth continues.
In just days, Air Canada will officially launch its new direct route to Catania, Sicily — another meaningful step in bringing Italy closer to Canadians while strengthening economic, cultural, and tourism ties between the two nations.
For VeraVita, that particular mission naturally resonates deeply.
Because beyond the awards, beyond the luxury cars, beyond the speeches and prosecco pours, evenings like this ultimately serve as reminders that the relationship between Italy and Canada is still actively being written every single day by people willing to build bridges between both worlds.
Sometimes through aviation.
Sometimes through finance.
Sometimes through hospitality, food, fashion, manufacturing, or culture.
But always through people.
And perhaps that is what the ICCO continues to understand so well.
That true business excellence is never only about numbers.
It is about connection. – VV
