Our History
Il primo a suggerire agli abruzzesi di Vancouver l’idea di riunirsi in un circolo fu un frate missionario venuto a Vancouver in vacanza. L’abruzzese Padre Luigi Falone, con l’aiuto di Padre Giuseppe Monti, tracciò la strada che molti abruzzesi a Vancouver avranno poi seguito in qualità di soci.
In 1966, a highly active group of volunteers decided to officially found the Circolo Abruzzese. Their goal was to promote and safeguard Abruzzese traditions, foster mutual support among immigrants from the region, and help newcomers from Abruzzo adapt to life in the Lower Mainland.
Despite a challenging first year marked by misunderstandings and growing pains for the club, the tenacity of the founding members allowed them to overcome these early obstacles.
By 1968, the Circolo Abruzzese established the core identity that it still preserves to this day: a dedicated group of "forte e gentile" (strong and gentle) Abruzzesi doing everything they can to support one another and share the beauty and traditions of their home region with everyone.
1968 also saw the birth of the Lega Femminile (Women's League) of the Circolo Abruzzese. Much like the main club, it faced several difficulties in its early years. However, all obstacles were overcome thanks to the determination and tireless passion of its female members.
Once these initial hurdles were cleared, and with the support of the gentlemen of the Circolo, the Women's League successfully brought numerous projects to life, driven by the dedication of its members and the vision of its presidents and boards.
Through years of changing leadership, the women of the League never stopped thinking about and planning for the future.
In 2002, by mutual agreement between both clubs and all their members, the two groups decided to join forces under a single banner: the Circolo Abruzzese.
Following the merger, the Circolo deepened its presence at the Italian Cultural Centre ("Il Centro"), where it was proud to have been one of the 13 original founding societies back in 1977. Key annual events—such as the Summer Picnic at Burnaby's Confederation Park, The Festa D'Autunno (Autumn festival) held at ICC, the Christmas Banquet, and Mother’s and Father’s Day dinners—became vital hubs for local families to connect, keep their dialect alive, and celebrate their shared heritage.
In 2016, the Circolo Abruzzese proudly celebrated its golden 50th anniversary milestone. Five decades after Father Luigi Falone first envisioned a gathering place for local immigrants, the club stood strong as one of the most resilient and active Italian regional associations in Western Canada, honoring its pioneers while looking ahead with optimism.
During this period, a dedicated focus was placed on engaging younger, next-generation Italian-Canadians. The club established the "Circolo Abruzzese Loreto Zaurrini Bursary" alongside other annual scholarships to support post-secondary students of Abruzzese descent in British Columbia. True to the generous spirit of Abruzzo, the society raised and donated thousands of dollars to critical local charities, including Canuck Place Children's Hospice and the Variety Club. Additionally, cooking and serving traditional arrosticini (lamb skewers) and Italian sausages at the annual "Italian Day on the Drive" became a massively popular public highlight.
Sixty years of community, culture, and deep connection. Today, guided by a dedicated and forward-looking board, the Circolo Abruzzese of Vancouver leverages modern digital spaces to keep local families connected across generations and foster professional networking among Italian-Canadians. Six decades later, we remain fiercely proud of our roots, continuing to embody the classic Abruzzese spirit: forte e gentile.
