The Good Old Hockey Game

Please note change to game times.

Hockey Club Mentana: Coach Bob Wakefield (seated centre), Assistant
Coach Paul Ares (seated left), team doctor (seated right)

The Hockey Club Mentana (HCM) is inviting all Canadians, and friends, to their two final games of the regular Serie ‘C’ season in Mentana on the weekend of March 12 and 13. These two games will be against the ‘Bulldogs’, an ice-hockey club from Tor Felice (Torino) from northern Italy. It’s a win or lose situation! If HCM wins both games, the club will be in the playoffs to be held in northern Italy at the end of March.

There are sixteen teams in the Serie ‘C’ ice hockey league managed by the hockey federation of Italy. HCM is the only team existing south of Bologna. It has won all but one of its regular season games and is now well-positioned to go to the finals.

Much of HCM’s success is due to the efforts of their Canadian coach, Robert (Bob) Wakefield, who, over the last two years, has taken the team from a ragtag pickup hockey club to a well-organized, skilled and dedicated group of hockey players. CCR member Paul Ares, another Canadian and one of the former HCM pickup hockey players, is assistant coach.

When: On Saturday, 12 March, the game is from 12:00 to 15:00

On Sunday, 13 March, the game is from 12:30 to 15:30

Where: The games will be played at the Palaghiaccio located at Centro Sportivo

Mezzaluna in Mentana (close to Monterotondo).

GPS coordinates:

Piazzale della Mezzaluna, 52

Mentana, 00013

Mentana and its hockey club have a special connection to Canada. The Bar at the rink is called ‘Canadiens’ and is decorated with hockey souvenirs from the Montreal Canadiens, as well as from other Canadian hockey teams. Overlooking the rink is a pizzeria/pub where the homemade pizza and fresh beer brewed in large vats on the premises draw a regular crowd of locals.

Join us to cheer on this great group of guys who have embraced one of our National sports with enthusiasm and that great sense of Italian brio.

Ottawa Youth Orchestra - A Canadian Event of Interest

The Ottawa Youth Orchestra is a symphony orchestra of sixty of the finest young musicians from Canada’s capital region.  Under the leadership of Music Director John Gomez, the ensemble has become recognized as being one of the top youth orchestras in Canada.

Their mission is to provide high quality orchestra training and performance opportunities in a supportive musical environment.  The orchestra will be visiting Italy from March 9 to 19, 2011 and will be performing 4 concerts here.  The goal of the tour is to expose young Canadian musicians to the art and culture behind the Italian repertoire.  Their Italy concert tour will include a performance here in Rome and Peter Egyed, CCR Member and Counsellor for Public Affairs, Culture and Academic Relations at the Embassy, has issued an invitation to CCR member to attend. The event is free but advance registration is required as space is limited.

When:  Monday March 14, 2011

Time: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Where:  Santa Cecilia Hall

Via dei Greci 18

Register with Peter Egyed or directly with Prof. Silvan Dolce at the Accademia at s.dolce@santacecilia.it or (06) 8024.2342.

This concert will be given with the JuniOrchestra of Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and the two youth orchestras will be presenting individual works and the concert will end with a joint piece by these fine young musicians.

Events of Interest: The Rome Savoyards

 THE ROME SAVOYARDS

present

TEATRO SAN GENESIO

via Podgora 1 (near Viale Mazzini, nearest metro Lepanto)

TICKETS:

Full 15€

Reduced 12€  SPECIAL CCR MEMBERS PRICE

(students, children, groups of 8 or more, senior citizens above 65)

PERFORMANCES:

Tue to Fri 8,9,10,11 February at 20.30

Sat and Sun 12, 13 February at 17.30

Bookings and info:

playsinrome@yahoo.com

347-8248661 or 320-3099873

"Air-Bel" - Invitation to a Presentation

The Canadian Embassy is pleased to invite the CCR Book Club and the members of the Canadian Club of Rome to the presentation of Canadian author Rosemary Sullivan's recently published book:

Villa Air-Bel: World War II, Escape and a House in Marseille
(Air-Bel: Seconda Guerra Mondiale – Una casa in Francia per artisti in fuga )

When: May 20th, 2010

Time: Registration 10:30 AM
Presentation: 11:00 AM

Place: Embassy of Canada in Rome
via Salaria 243

a light, stand-up buffet lunch will follow

Villa Air-Bel: World War II, Escape, and a House in Marseille

France, 1940. The once glittering boulevards of Paris teem with spies, collaborators, and the Gestapo now that France has fallen to Hitler's Wermacht. For André Breton, Max Ernst, Marc Chagall, Consuelo de Saint-Exupéry, and scores of other cultural elite who have been denounced as enemies of the Third Reich the fear of imminent arrest, deportation, and death defines their daily life. Their only salvation is the Villa Air-Bel, a château outside Marseille where a group of young people will go to extraordinary lengths to keep them alive. A powerfully told, meticulously researched true story filled with suspense, drama, and intrigue, Villa Air-Bel delves into a fascinating albeit hidden saga in our recent history. It is a remarkable account of how a diverse intelligentsia—intense, brilliant, and utterly terrified—was able to survive one of the darkest chapters of the twentieth century.

Rosemary Sullivan has written poems, short stories, biographies, literary criticisms articles and works of non-fiction. She is the bestselling author of Labyrinth of Desire: Women, Passion, and Romantic Obsession and The Red Shoes: Margaret Atwood Starting Out. Her biography of Gwendolyn MacEwen, Shadow Maker, won the Governor General's Literary Award for nonfiction. A poet and a Professor of History and English Literature at the University of Toronto, Rosemary lives in Toronto with her husband.

In addition to Prof. Sullivan, other speakers will include Anna Foa, Professor of Modern History at the Università di Roma "La Sapienza", and the Roman journalist and author, Luciano Tas. The audience will consist of other historians and journalists, students, Italian government officials and representatives of NGOs, religious communities and foreign diplomats posted to Rome. The event will also include the screening of "The Road Out", a 10-minute documentary on "Villa Air-Bel" featuring Rosemary Sullivan. The debate will feature a discussion of human rights, inter-ethnic and ideological tolerance and the role of intellectuals and artists in modern society. The presentations will be made in English by Prof. Sullivan and in Italian by Prof. Foa and Mr. Tas, with consecutive translation of Prof. Sullivan's presentation to the audience.

We look forward to your participation and ask that Club members confirm their registration as soon as possible, but no later than the morning of May 18th.
RSVP to: peter.egyed@international.gc.ca.

For the information of members planning to attend please note that only Rosemary Sullivan will be speaking in English with translation into Italian. The Italian speakers will be translated in English only for Prof. Sullivan's benefit.

Please note that Villa Air Bel is the current read for our CCR Book Club.

The Scotch on the Raj Experience

Another great evening of Scotch tasting with CCR member Rachel Rennie accompanied by wonderful Indian food crafted by member Chef Allen Rahman. For anyone who was skeptical that Indian food could be married with the finest scotch, this evening proved that fine ingredients do go well together despite not having an obvious connection.

Rachel and Allen (above) did a lot of work in preparing this evening and left nothing to chance, thus ensuring that all participants would come away enchanted with the experience.

Rachel gave us a masterful and very interesting talk on the different scotches we tasted and Allen outdid himself in the excellent food he prepared for us. He also gave us a little of the history behind each dish; explaining the correct ingredients, measurements and spices that perfectly enhance the delicate taste of each dish. And we also learned of the Canadian connection with Indian food: people such as Lords Dalhousie, Metcalfe and Minto, all who served as Governors-General of Canada, played important roles in influencing local cuisine while Viceroys of India. The exquisite food was a delight accompanied by some surprises, such as the use of edible silver paper in the delicate carrot dessert Halwa. And to add an even more Canadian touch we were serenaded by music from India played on the Peace Tower Carillon on Parliament Hill.

We tasted 4 different scotches, Glenmorangie Original, 15 year old Dalwhinnie, Bowmore Surf and 12 year old Highland Park. As many participants found out, you do not have to be a Scotch drinker or even knowledgeable about Scotch or Scotland for that matter to enjoy the presentation by Rachel. Just listening to her enthusiastic and informative talk is a delight in itself.

Two prizes were drawn at the end of the evening. Another memorable evening. For those of you who missed out, don't despair! Allen and Rachel are planning another great food and scotch experience in May, this time in the countryside. Do not miss this great event! Details will appear on the CCR blog.

Laurent Beaulieu

Scotch on the Raj

Scots love Indian food - ‘curry’ is more or less considered a Scottish national dish nowadays - and Indians love Scotch whisky - in fact India represents the largest whisky market in the world.

The concept of ‘Indian food’ is hard to define – the country is vast and varied and its array of dishes likewise, but of one thing we can be certain – spices reign supreme!

The complex flavours to be found in Indian dishes are reflected in the layers of aroma to be found in Scotch whisky. The organic compounds contained in spices such as cumin, cardamom, cloves or nutmeg to name but a few, are soluble in alcohol. So guess what? That’s right! Whisky accentuates their flavour and gives you, the taster a more intense gastronomic experience!

You don’t believe us? Well come along and find out for yourself!

CCR members Rachel Rennie, a Native Scot, and Allen Rahmam, a native North East Indian, invite you to Allen’s home for a tasting of four selected Scottish single malt whiskies paired with sophisticated (but substantial!) Indian ‘street food’.exotic mix.

Where: Via Cesare Pavese 304/14, 00144 Rome

When: Saturday March 20, 2010 from 18:30 – 21:00 hrs.

In the tradition of Whisky, Wine & Words the malts and the snacks will be accompanied by entertaining and informative historical and cultural anecdotes.

The cost of this promotional event will be €35 for CCR members and €40 for non-member.

We ask you to put your €35 in cash in a sealed envelope with your name and email address printed clearly on the front and place it in the whisky barrel you will find when you come in. At the end of the evening we will draw one envelope from the barrel and there will be a prize for the lucky guest.

Please reserve your place no later than Wednesday March 17 in one of the following ways:

• By replying to rachel@whiskywineandwords.com


• By e-mailing Allen - allenrahman@tiscali.it


• Through the Whisky, Wine and Words website