TORONTO – 3.7 million hectares burned: the area hit by wildfires – so far – this season is the second largest on record in Canada (after 2023), according to data released by the federal government today. And the summer has still to begin.
TORONTO – Many in the Italian film industry lament the lack of ethnic accuracy concerning casting for Italian roles. With the abundance of talent in Italy, it’s incomprehensible that foreign casting agents opt for non-Italians, especially for non-fictional roles in Italian based biopics. For example, Ferrari and The House of Gucci. There is a counter argument, however.
TORONTO – The fire runs. After forcing thousands of people to evacuate in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario, wildfires are also approaching residential areas in British Columbia, where there are 94 active fires – the data is from today, source BC Wildfire Service – including all types of fires: out of control, being held (under control, but still smoldering) and under control. Of these, 48 are still out of control. →
TORONTO – In 1992, the son of Francis Ford Coppola, Roman Coppola, implored his father to cast a then-unknown Monica Bellucci in his film Dracula. Mostly a model at the time, Bellucci was a photographer’s dream, and her appearance in Italy’s Zoom Magazine caught the eye of young Coppola. So impressed was Francis with her look that he cast the inexperienced actress as one of the three brides of Dracula in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Thirty years later, yet another Italian actress is set to explode – internationally – after being cast in the next iteration of Dracula.
HAMILTON – The Hamilton Italian Heritage Festival is the city’s inaugural celebration of Italian culture and traditions, set to take place in June 21,22, 2025.
This exciting new event will be a free festival, bringing the vibrant Italian heritage of Hamilton to the forefront with a diverse range of activities, performances, and exhibits. The festival will feature live Italian music, delicious food vendors, art displays, cultural performances, and family-friendly activities.
Located on James Street North, in Hamilton’s Little Italy, beside LiUNA Station—the very area where many Italian immigrants first arrived in Hamilton—this event will offer a unique opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in Italian culture, history, and traditions. With its focus on community, celebration, and cultural exchange, the Hamilton Italian Heritage Festival promises to be a memorable event, creating a space for all to enjoy the richness of Italian heritage in the heart of the city.
For more information visit the website www.hamiltonitalianfest.ca or write an e-mail to hamiltonitalianfestival.@gmail.com
