09/19/2026
This week, I was honoured to receive an Inclusion Award for our work at Italiano Please! - a recognition made even more special as it was presented by Bea, who is part of our foundation story, as she received the same award last year.
The words crafted for the presentation by the passionate people working at the DDRC ring so true that I am moved to share part of them and I hope that they will resonate with you also:
Great things often begin with small acts of kindness, brought together over time. When we look around this room at tonight’s winners and nominees, we see the incredible impact those small acts can have.
And that brings us to our next Inclusion Award winner. Her impact reaches far beyond Calgary - beyond Alberta, and even beyond Canada. Her vision for a more inclusive world began years ago in the city of Rome.
While living in Italy Barbara’s son Federico, was diagnosed with a rare degenerative illness. This brought immense challenges to her family but Barbara also saw an opportunity to turn that experience into something positive - to build community, create opportunities and help other families facing similar challenges.
Together with her husband Lucio Barbara, united with other families, founded La Fenice Operosa (or The Industrious Phoenix) an organization dedicated to supporting people with disabilities and to raising awareness.
Then, in 2016, Barbara and Lucio took that vision one step further. They launched Fenix Eventi, a cooperative providing catering and event services while creating employment opportunities for young people with disabilities in a supportive work environment.
Years later, Barbara and Lucio brought their family and vision for inclusion to Calgary and they opened Italiano Please!, bringing Roman-inspired dishes to Calgary’s downtown core while continuing to create opportunities for people with disabilities.
Since opening in 2021, they have employed more than 12 disabled youth. But their impact goes beyond employment. They have created a space where people from many different communities can come together, connect and feel welcome.
And that is what makes Barbara’s work at Italiano Please! so special…
