FOUNDING of AMO
AMO (Associazione Molisani di Ottawa)
Was founded in 2008 by a group of Italian-canadians. It was at an event organized by Prof. Giovanna Panico (Ripabottoni – CB), who was at the time organizing a series of “Pomeriggi regionali”, a number of events which highlighted the costumes and cuisine of the regions of Italy represented in the city of Ottawa, where the founding took place. The event in November of 2008 drew about 300 people and guests from out of town (Tony Vespa from Montreal of the Federation of Molisani Associations of Quebec and Paul Farrace, from Toronto, President of the Federazione Canadese Associazioni Molisane).
Since its inception, there have been two Presidents (Paolo Siraco – Roccasicura –IS and Giovanni Saracino – San Martino in Pensilis – CB) – under whose guidance AMO has organized many cultural, social and commercial events.
From the sponsoring of an artist (Santilli), the performance of a group of drum players originating from Casacalenda (CB) in 2010 to “A Taste of Molise” in 2012 (where wines from Molise were featured at successful culinary events), and the sponsoring of concerts with the participation of the Zampognari di Polo Matese (Boiano – CB) in 2008 and 2010, the featuring of the Region during the Settimana Italiana in Ottawa in June of 2011 the association has been busy.
Every year the Association sponsors an annual event with programmes intended to highlight the history and culture of Molise , such as the symposium given by Prof. Filippo Salvatori in the spring of 2013 and a home made pizza contest in the same year.