If there was to be a king of Little Italy, it would be Johnny Lombardi who was a pioneer in the promotion of Toronto's cultural diversity. He opened an Italian grocery store on College St in 1946, and then went on to start CHIN Radio which now broadcasts in 30 languages and the CHIN Picnic which attracts more than 250,000 people for 3 days each summer. After his death in 2002, the city, local businesses and his family created the Piazza Johnny Lombardi at College & Grace St which is where you will find this bronze sculpture of Johnny surveying the scene and talking to a young boy! The artists were Veronica & Edwin Dam de Nogales.
0 Comments