Dear Friends, 2016 marks 60 years at UBC and 25 years at SFU since Italian courses were first offered at these institutions. The UBC Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies and the SFU Italian Program (in the Department of French) invite all past students who have enjoyed our Italian classes and community members to celebrate with us these significant milestones. With generous support from the Consulate General of Italy in Vancouver and the Italian Cultural Centre Society, we will be hosting a special Italian Studies Celebration at the Italian Cultural Centre on Friday, April 1, 2016. Please join us for an evening of great food, music, dancing, and cherished memories as we commemorate the proud history of Italian scholarship in Vancouver. You can register for the event by visiting the Italian Cultural Centre website. For seating preferences, please call the Centre at 604-430-3337. As part of the evening’s program, we hope to showcase written testimonials, photos, and other memorabilia from colleagues and past students. If you have any stories you would like to share, please contact Stefania Ciccone at sciccone@mail.ubc.ca. Visit our Facebook page for more information and help us spread the word! Sincerely, Stefania Ciccone, Professor Emerita (UBC) Maria Benimeo, Visiting Lecturer (UBC)