Ciao tutti!
Since July of 2025 I have had the distinct honour of serving as President for the Canadian Italian Advocates Organization (CIAO). CIAO is has been indebted to the great leadership exemplified by past presidents and board members since its inception in 1984. Our Past President Vince Pileggi deserves particular recognition for fourteen great years serving as President of CIAO. Without Vince’s passion for our shared culture, values and love for the law, we would not have the flourishing organization that is CIAO today.
I am personally indebted to CIAO for the way it has given me a start to my own legal career. When I was a newly called lawyer just starting my practice, it was the mentorship I received from the members of CIAO that helped me navigate the complexities of opening a practice and excelling as a lawyer. During my tenure as President I am committed to ensuring that CIAO can be the springboard for other new lawyers to have an edge at the start of their legal careers, and beyond.
CIAO is dedicated first and foremost to facilitating the professional development and education within the legal profession. It is a space that is welcome to all, whether you are Italian born or of Italian ancestry, or if you are lover of all that Canadian-Italian culture has to share.
CIAO has recently embarked on finding ways to pay it forward to the next generation of lawyers through networking events, career panels, and events for students to meet and learn from licensees and members of the judiciary. It is crucial for CIAO to be a part of welcoming future and new lawyers to the profession, and create opportunities to find a place in the legal profession. I foresee CIAO continuing to foster its relationship with law students across all law schools and collaborate to create impactful events and programs.
CIAO will continue to provide educational and current Continuing Professional Development seminars with accreditation by the Law Society of Ontario. Why choose CIAO for your CPD needs? Aside from the quality of the education we provide, we do it with a side of pasta and espresso!
Looking forward, we aim to continue to find new ways to bring colleagues together in a way that celebrates our unique culture, and shared goal of contributing to the integrity of our noble profession. I am always willing to talk about new ways to build excitement in our community, so that we can grow together and forge bonds that will last a lifetime.
If you would like to share your thoughts about CIAO or have new ideas to bring to the table, you are invited to contact me any time at president@ciaocanada.com.