Leave it to Italians to walk the talk, wrote the Toronto Sun Aug. 22 in a story about the Italian Walk of Fame (IWOF), which took place in the heart of Little Italy on Grace Street.

It was the talk of the town. And it was the vision of two Canadians of Italian origin who brought what was a mere pipe dream to solid fruition with an event that was so successful – the second annual IWOF is now being planned for early September.

“Last year’s response was so amazing that it was a given we’d have a second one,” Jimi Bertucci said in a recent interview. Bertucci co-founded the event with Marisa Beaco-Lang (BA ’83), both good friends who grew up in the same neighbourhood and who now both work in the entertainment industry dividing their time between Los Angeles and Toronto. “Italians worldwide have distinguished themselves with their accomplishments in all fields and industries, and continue to actively contribute their talents and gifts…. This Italian Walk of Fame is our way to celebrate their accomplishments.”

Lang was born in the Trieste region of northern Italy and she, too, came as a child with her family. A graduate of York University with a major in psychology and an established academic career in psychiatric research, Lang’s real passion was always in the entertainment field. Over the years she would go on to manage artists…and continue in the entertainment field in a variety of avenues.

News Source: YorkU.ca