Italian Heritage Month is proudly recognized during the month of June at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) since May 2012. The Province of Ontario also marks Italian Heritage Month since 2010 because the Italian Heritage Month Act was passed.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Christie Pits riot that took place in Toronto in August 1933. To commemorate this moment in history, the TDSB’s Jewish Heritage Committee in collaboration with the Italian Heritage Committee are offering TDSB students a chance to learn about the largest race riot in Canadian history.

This program is part of the committees’ commitment to plan annual educational opportunities and to enrich the curriculum for further learning. With these actions our staff, students and our TDSB communities celebrate and learn about the diverse cultures of individuals within our schools and communities. Together, both committees created a program designed for students in Grades 8 and 10 to learn about the riot through a re-enactment, workshops, and a visit to a newly created TDSB Peace Garden at Christie Pits Park. For students unable to attend due to limited capacity, resources were also prepared for in-classroom teaching and discussion.

This program is part of the committees’ commitment to plan annual educational opportunities and to enrich the curriculum for further learning. With these actions our staff, students and our TDSB communities celebrate and learn about the diverse cultures of individuals within our schools and communities.

To commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Christie Pits Riot, the Toronto District School Board Jewish Heritage Committee and Italian Heritage Committee have gathered daily quotes from notable individuals. These quotes demonstrate the effects of the riots on our Canadian history that we remember today and always.

In addition to commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Christie Pits riot, the Italian Heritage Month planning committee has planned several virtual opportunities to celebrate the Italian heritage. One is honouring our Italian seniors. Maintaining Italian traditions and customs from generation to generation are very important and our elderly members within our families and communities are the key to preserving the vibrant culture of the Italian heritage. As part of Italian Heritage month, we also celebrate Seniors Month and have launched an activity for students from various Toronto District School Boards, to draw and write a message on a postcard that features a white lily, the national flower of Italy. These postcards will be distributed to the residents of Villa Colombo Home for the Aged during the month of June.

Please follow Italian Heritage Month @ItalianHer1.