Hon. Tony Loffreda: Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute to the Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association, or CIBPA.

Many Italian immigrants and their families, not unlike other immigrants, often struggled when they first reached our shores. Many would have difficulties fulfilling basic human needs such as finding appropriate shelter, buying groceries or securing employment.

It is against this backdrop that the first CIBPA chapter was founded in Montreal in 1949. Like its successors, including the Toronto chapter, the CIBPA’s main goal was to offer support for Italian immigrants who desperately wanted to integrate into Canadian society.

Today, with 10 chapters across the country, the CIBPA continues to promote and cultivate its members’ business, professional, cultural and social interests and serves as their local voice.

[Translation]

The Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association’s contributions extend well beyond the business community. It has a generous bursary program through which it invests in future generations of Italian Canadian leaders. The Montreal branch is holding its annual reception next month.

Suffice it to say that the association has been an integral part of the lives of Italian Canadians for more than seven decades, and its reputation as a pillar of our community is undeniable.

[English]

And on Friday evening, for the seventy-first time, the Toronto chapter hosted its annual President’s Ball. I had the honour of joining hundreds of guests for this black-tie event that gave us the opportunity to pay tribute to our rich history and to celebrate the many accomplishments of Italian Canadians.

One of the highlights of the evening was the awards ceremony, which saw six outstanding Canadians being recognized with a 2023 CIBPA award.

I wish to take a moment to congratulate the recipients.

The President’s Award was given to Dr. Gianluigi Bisleri, the Director for Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery at St. Michael’s Hospital.

Rocco Rossi received the Business Excellence Award for his work as President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

Professor Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, Provost and Vice‑President of academic affairs at Toronto Metropolitan University, was awarded the Professional Excellence Award.

Victoria Mancinelli, Director at LiUNA, is this year’s Woman of the Year, while Carmen Principato, Assistant Business Manager at LiUNA, was honoured with the Community Award.

Finally, this year’s Next Generation Award went to Anthony Ricciardi, a multidisciplinary artist.

Honourable senators, please join me in congratulating this year’s recipients of the CIBPA awards and in extending our very best wishes to the entire CIBPA family for everything that they do for Canadians of Italian descent.

As the saying goes, what you do for yourself is forgotten and dies with you, but what you do for others is immortal and lasts forever.

Congratulations and thank you. Grazie.