Rooted deeply in her Calabrian heritage, Brittany writes from a place where culture, memory, and identity are inseparable. Raised in a large, close-knit family she grew up surrounded by the rhythms of tradition where food, storytelling, and togetherness were not just customs, but a way of life.

Her paternal grandparents immigrated to Canada from the small village of Carpanzano, carrying with them sacrifices and resilience. Their story instilled in her an early understanding of what it means to build a life between two worlds, honouring where you come from while embracing where you are. Much of her childhood was spent gathered around family tables, where her Nonna’s kitchen became the heart of it all. Memories of which still evoke a sense of longing for times past. 

La famiglia non è una cosa importante. È tutto.

Her earliest travels to Italy deepened her connection to her heritage, revealing a country far more layered than she had imagined. It was there she came to understand that Italian identity is not singular, but richly regional-defined as much by its differences as its shared traditions.

As an Italian Canadian, her perspective is shaped by both pride and duality. A childhood memory—asking her Nonno who he would support if Italy ever faced Canada in the World Cup—left a lasting impression when he answered, without hesitation, “Canada,” in gratitude for the life he had built there. Today, she carries that same understanding: that Italian Canadian culture is its own meaningful expression of heritage, one worth preserving and celebrating.

Now a mother, she is intentional about passing down these traditions to her children, whose backgrounds reflect a blend of Italian, Portuguese, British, and Scottish roots. In her home, family remains the centre of everything, a guiding principle that informs both her life and her work. She is proudly Calabrese, deeply connected to Carpanzano, and honoured to share her evolving story of what it means to be Italian-Canadian.