person a channel like TLN appeals to. “I personify the blend of cultures that TLN is seeking,” he said, before adding that there are many people like himself throughout Canada. While the channel is debuting a number of programs and initiatives designed to celebrate its quarter-of-acentury in existence, Di Felice said TLN won’t be throwing itself any anniversary parties anytime soon. “We always have parties in the summer anyway,” said Di Felice, mentioning that TLN will host the annual “Salsa on St. Clair” street festival in summer 2009. The festival, V I D E O • A G E JA N U A R Y 2 0 0 9 24 S a l u t e t o T L N ( c o n t ’ d ) TLN president Aldo Di Felice TLN headquarters in Toronto (Continued from Page 22) MAKING A BETTER CANADA To celebrate TLN’s 25th anniversary, a yearlong campaign, “Making a Better Canada,” was designed to celebrate and showcase the profound impact ethnic immigrant individuals, families and communities make on Canada. The campaign includes: Remembering Our Past: TLN’s Remembrance Week TV Specials In recognition of the 65th anniversary of World War Two’s Battle of Ortona, Italy, on Remembrance Day, TLN honors the Canadian Armed Forces’ contribution to the Allied efforts in Europe and Italy with the launch of three documentaries: Canada Remembers Italy, Ortona 1943: A Bloody Christmas and Primo Levi’s Journey. Learning About Who and Where We Are: TLN’s “Welcome to Canada” Children’s Literacy Program Working with Kids Can Press, Canada’s largest children’s book publisher, TLN will distribute 40 sets of 60 titles each to select schools, centers and libraries as a welcome kit to young newcomers of Hispanic descent. The books feature titles like “The Kids Book of Canadian Geography” and “The Kids Book of Canadian History” and will promote learning about such aspects of Canada as its geography, history and multiculturalism. Developing Strong Voices: TLN’s “Mundo Canuck” Essay Contest TLN and Toronto’s York University will launch an endowment program that will annually award a grant to a York undergrad student who writes the best essay about Hispanic life in Canada. Supporting Canadian Cultural Expression: TLN Participates in the Transformation AGO campaign Last November marked the opening of the Toronto-based Art Gallery of Ontario’s (AGO) Transformation campaign. TLN joined with 25 prominent Italian-Canadian families in an unprecedented C$13 million milestone pledge in support of the new building designed by architect Frank Gehry. In acknowledgement of this contribution, and the leadership of the Italian-Canadian community in helping to realize this legacy, the AGO’s sculpture promenade was named Galleria Italia. WHO’S WHO AT TLN Aldo Di Felice President of Telelatino Network Inc. (TLN) A former business lawyer, Di Felice joined TLN in 1998 following the 1997 completion of a minority shareholding investment in TLN by Shaw Cable, Canada’s second largest cable company. John Montesano General Manager, TLN Montesano joined TLN nearly a decade ago following a stint as a columnist for The Toronto Star newspaper. He had also worked for 10 years as a media content creator for print, radio and TV. During this same period, Montesano was also the coowner and editor of Eyetalian, an English-language magazine about Italian culture in Canada. Lily Caputo Spanish Programming Manager An Argentine-born Canadian who has been with TLN for 10 years. Caputo also oversees programming for TLN en Español, Canada’s first all-Spanish TV station. Sonia Marcuz Italian Programming Manager Born in Italy, Marcuz has lived in Canada for over 10 years and joined TLN in 2001. Marcuz also oversees programming on TLN’s all-Italian-language digital channels, SkyTG24 Canada and Video Italia Canada. Monica Monroy Marketing Manager Originally from Colombia, but in Canada since 2001, Monroy has been with TLN since 2006. Monroy also coordinates TLN’s Hispanic promotional initiatives across multiple platforms, including its online and live event marketing activities. which attracts over 750,000 Canadians each year, is a collaboration between TLN Television and the city of Toronto, and celebrates Latin culture with a parade, a carnival and general revelry. “We didn’t want to wait 25 years to celebrate,” he said with a chuckle. “We always celebrate.” Di Felice hopes that the anniversary and all its initiatives will show Canucks that the Latino community there is chock full of good will and good intentions. But most of all, he hopes that people will continue to be entertained by the channel. “What we, as a channel, always seek to do is to entertain,” he said. “However, we’d also like to cultivate some pride among the communities that we represent, as well as to be welcoming to newly arrived Hispanic Canadians. We want to celebrate them and to promote Latin culture to mainstream Canadians all under the mandate of entertaining.”
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