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Centro Caboto Centre

Celebrating and promoting Italian Culture in Manitoba for over 20 years.

About the Centro

Centro Caboto Centre, which is owned and operated by the Italian Canadian League of Manitoba, opened its doors on June 14, 1998. Its mission is the same as today. It’s a meeting place and activity centre for the Italian community to celebrate the Italian culture and lifestyle, now and into the future.


What’s outside the Centro

Our 27,000-square foot centre on Wilkes Avenue in south Winnipeg is proudly situated on 7.2 acres of land. It has calcetto fields, where the summer league plays from May to September. 


At the rear, there are outdoor bocce courts with games beginning in June. The Sons of Italy Piazza Garibaldi offers loads of seating for picnics and other outdoor events. Our Commemorative Wall next to the Piazza is engraved with almost 600 names of loved ones that have passed. The Centro also has a children’s play structure and swings.


For added convenience, the Centro has a large parking lot for about 150 vehicles.


Inside the Centro

Stepping inside, you’re immediately struck by the grand Foyer Degli Amici. It’s named after three honoured but not forgotten members of the Italian Canadian community in Manitoba, John Mottola, Tony Sherbo and Gus Cosentino. The foyer’s high vaulted ceiling marked by a tower at one corner, lets the sunlight stream through.


Past the foyer is the Mauro Conference Centre, a large banquet and conference room. It can seat over 400 people for dinner or 600 theatre-style. The Centro has a full-service kitchen. A glassed galleria is sandwiched between the Conference Centre and Piazza. The galleria can comfortably seat 80 people for dinner, shower, birthday or any occasion. 


The fully licensed Centro offers top-notch food services through our food services manager, Sorrento’s on Ellice. We offer a wide range of menu options, whether it’s an authentic Italian menu or a selection of the tried and true. 


The Centre’s library has several thousand books available to read in the library or borrow for up to three weeks at a time. The space can be equally used to host meetings and dinners. 


You can linger over a steaming cappuccino or refreshing gelato in Café 13, named for the 13 members of the project team who developed the Centro. Also, you may play a game of bocce on one of the two indoor courts. The Café is also a frequent place for a casual event of up to 100 people. 


The Centre also includes a board room and office space. It’s also home to the Vice-Consul of Winnipeg and the Casa Montessori School and Daycare. It hosts the offices of Sorrentos Event centre, Lesa Ann Campbell; physiotherapist, Tali Interiors, the Sons and Daughters of Italy Garibaldi Lodge and the Iranian Association of Manitoba.


The Centro has hosted the Italian and Argentinean Pavilions during Folklorama, Café 13 Bocce League, and Summer Calcetto League. It’s a rehearsal centre for the Splendore D’Italia Folk Dancers, Viva L’Italia Choir, Folklorama productions and much more. Plus, it’s the activity centre for our well-attended Wednesday seniors program from September to June.



Truly a meeting place and activity centre

At the Centro Caboto Centre, there is so much to do: experience and enjoy. It’s a place to explore a rich cultural heritage and history. The environment allows you to participate in recreational and social activities/events,for all ages. Furthermore, it’s a place to meet members, families and form friendships over an authentic Italian meal or beverage! 


We come together at the Centro every day for many reasons. There are many evident reasons to come and join us! Help us continue enriching our community at our meeting place – Centro Caboto Centre! 


Our Story - La Nostra Storia

While it originally opened its doors in 1998, the Centre was conceived almost 10 years earlier. At that time, it was clear that the current facility – Casa D’Italia – on Notre Dame was too small and limited to meet the needs of the community.

The Italian Canadian League of Manitoba struck a project team. It was tasked with creating a centre for future generations. In the words of one of the earliest and generous supporter of the Centre, Arthur C. Mauro, the Centre “will do more than honour the contributions that members of the Italian Community have made to Manitoba and Canada. It will stand as a symbol of our gratitude to this great country.”

By 1993, the wheels were in motion. The Team was able to lease land from the City of Winnipeg at $1 per year for up to 70 years. They got commitments of $900,000 each from the federal and provincial governments. The project team aimed at raising an additional $1.1 million. It also developed a blueprint to ensure that it was self-sustaining once built.

The architectural and interior design plans were carefully and cleverly created. They allowed that almost every space in the Centro could transform itself into many different uses.  

The project benefited from a strong fundraising strategy. It was driven largely by volunteer efforts. Meeting that target got off to a quick start with the sale of the Casa D’Italia and $100,000 donations each from Arthur Mauro and the Italian Unione Club. 

Other organizations within the community joined in the fundraising efforts. They included Amici Abruzzesi, Bari Club, Club Siciliano di Winnipeg, Dante Alighieri Society, Fratellanza Amatese, Gruppo Alpini di Winnipeg, Italian Canadian Memorial Foundation, Italian Manitoba Heritage Committee, La Lupa di Roma Lodge, Roma Society, San Mango D’Aquino Society, Sons of Italy Garibaldi Lodge, and Villa Cabrini Seniors Residence.  

The Team also got valuable financial contributions from foundations, corporations and individuals in both the Italian and non-Italian community.

The final piece was the creation of Italian Chamber of Commerce in Winnipeg. The new chamber would help local businesses benefit from more international trade links. It would also work to generate sustainable economic growth through a world-wide network of Italian Chambers of Commerce.

In late 1996, the official sod-turning ceremony took place and construction began. At the time, key components of the Centro were built. Besides the banquet and meeting facilities, café, bocce courts and piazza, were offices for Italian Canadian organizations, the Vice-Consul of Italy office, Dante Alighieri Society Resource Centre and School and the Italian Chamber of Commerce.

The $4 million Centro officially opened on June 14, 1998 before a capacity crowd and the Project Team. The team included Vivian Albo (Development Chair), Marina Albo, Reno Augellone, Mario Audino, Joe Bova, Rosanna Caruso, Tony Catanese, Remo DeSordi, Greg Fiorentino, Maria Grande, Eliana Handford (Sustainability Chair), Tony Nocita and Katia von Stakelberg.

Today, after over 20 years of operation, some of the Centro’s programs, tenants and organizational structure have changed. But, its original mission remains as a meeting place and activity centre for the Italian community and community at large that celebrates the Italian culture and lifestyle today and into the future.  


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