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Sunday, December 1, 2024
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1924 – A small group
of visionary Italian immigrants began what has become
the Giovanni Caboto Club. The goal of this group was to help
new immigrants adapt to Canada and become model citizens,
while still holding on to their rich Italian culture.
Over the years, the Caboto Club has |
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provided funds, goods and services
worth millions of dollars to Windsor |
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charities
of all types, including Youth Recreation and scholarship
programs. The Caboto Club is one of the largest, most successful
and influential clubs in North America.
It was during the Club’s humble beginnings,
in a rented school's gym facility, on the corner of Niagara
Street and Marion Avenue, where meetings, dances and banquets
were
held, that the Club’s basic philosophy of “what can I do to
help” was established. To this day, that philosophy is all
that’s required to become an honourable member of the Club. |
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P10781 - Giovanni Caboto Club
Courtesy of the Caboto Club,
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P10592 - 60th Anniversary celebrations, Caboto Italian Women’s
Club, 1990.
Courtesy of the Caboto Italian Women’s Club
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| 1925 |
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On the 24th of January, the first elections of
the Border Cities Italian Club were held, and Mr. Mariano Meconi
was voted president. |
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| 1925 – 1927 |
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These were the most eventful years in the Club’s history.
The Club quickly grew to become a focal point of the Italian
community of the Windsor area. Club members and friends flocked
to the weekly dances held at the school and family picnics. |
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| 1926 |
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On September 1st, the Club established a mutual fund to assist
members in the event sickness prevented them from working.
In these early years, the fund was supported on a voluntary
basis by Club members. |
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| 1927 |
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On April 1st, The Border Cities Italian Club was incorporated,
and on the 28th of May, the club banner was officially unveiled
in City Hall Square. The club was later renamed the Giovanni
Caboto Club in honour of the explorer Giovanni Caboto (John
Cabot). |
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| 1930 |
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The Italian Women’s Club was established, and Mrs.
Teresa Oldani was elected its first president. It quickly became
an integral part of the main Club. |
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| 1933 |
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The Mutual Benefit Society of the Caboto Club was officially
registered with the Ontario Department of Insurance and, today,
is only one of a handful left in Ontario and one of the most
financially sound. |
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| 1934 |
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The Club activities had become so numerous that a permanent
location became necessary. So, even in the middle of the Depression,
the Club members raised $5,000.00 and purchased property at
966 Wyandotte Street East. |
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P9396 - First
Anniversary of incorporation of the Caboto Club, April
1928.
Courtesy of the Caboto Club
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P10790 - Clarinet players from the 1st Caboto Club band, 1930.
Courtesy of
the Caboto Club,
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During the Second World
War, the club’s membership played an active role in supporting
various War Charities, including the Smoke Fund and the Red Cross.
After the War, with new immigrants swelling the membership rolls,
it was decided to purchase a large piece of land and build a
modern club with the best facilities. |
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| 1949 |
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Under the leadership of President Angelo Zamparo,
the land on which the present building sits was purchased and
construction began at 2175 Parent Ave. |
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| 1950 |
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The official opening, on the 3rd of April, was a joyous occasion
that celebrated all the hard work that had gone into the planning
and execution of the project. The Ladies Auxiliary supplied
the kitchen equipment and window drapes, to make the facilities
complete. The finished building was an inviting place for both
members and the general public. |
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| 1971 |
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Under the Presidency of Dominic Cantagallo, a major expansion
of the Club property and facilities was undertaken. |
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| 1972 |
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The official opening of the new facilities saw the club grow
to more than twice its previous size. Saverio Galli added the
finishing touch with the two spectacular historical murals
that stretched over a whole wall in each of the new halls.
The paintings depicted the Italian contribution in areas such
as the Arts, Sciences, Literature and Law. |
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| 1986 |
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The latest and most ambitious expansion took place in that
year. Under the leadership of the President Ron Moro, a $5
million renovation was initiated, once again doubling the Club’s
size and bringing its facilities to a world-class level. The
Club’s impressive beauty and atmosphere of understated
elegance have helped make the many affairs it has hosted over
the years all the more memorable. |
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1990 Caboto Folklore Dancers
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P9394 - Laying the cornerstone, 1949. Courtesy of the Windsor Star
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Patrons and visitors
alike marvel at the craftsmanship of the woodwork, terrazzo,
marble, and overall
décor. Many remark that the Caboto Club must have hired
hundreds of artists over the years to accomplish its present
state of magnificence. They are genuinely surprised to learn
that almost all of the work was done by volunteer artisans
in their spare time.
Today, as in the beginning, members of
the Giovanni Caboto Club continually recommit themselves to
doing their share to improve the entire community demonstrating
their deep pride in being part of Canadian society.
Numerous Caboto Club members are leaders in many civic and
charitable endeavours, a reflection of the enduring attitude
of “what
can I do to help?” originated
by the Club’s founding fathers. Through the generations, this simple
yet invaluable principle has been passed on and strengthened from father
to son to grandson.
As Southwestern Ontario’s largest
and oldest Italian club, the Caboto Club is also a premier
facility for many special events and occasions in the Windsor-Essex
County Region. The Caboto Club offers its facilities to serve
the general public with a capacity to cater up to 3000 people
at
any given time. The club takes great pride in the fact that
it has never accepted, nor requested any grants from the government
to offset the costs of any of their events. It has also donated
millions of dollars to many Windsor charities. |
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| The Women's Auxiliary Club |
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The
opinions and interpretations in this publication are those of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada. |
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