Teresa Barbera
Community Pillars
Teresa Barbera has helped to engage, empower and improve the lives of seniors within Ottawa’s Italian-Canadian Community.
Ms. Barbera’s commitment to Villa Marconi Long-Term Care Center has been remarkable. For 12 years she has volunteered daily at Villa Marconi’s “Marconi Centre” – a community outreach hub that addresses the needs of and provides services and activities for, seniors living at home. She has been a key volunteer with the Centre’s Bistro operations that help provide funding for enhancing the quality of service and healthcare provided to Villa Marconi’s Long-Term Care residents. Also, she has volunteered her services in other Villa Marconi fundraising events and projects.
More importantly, however, is Teresa Barbera’s exceptional commitment to Villa Marconi’s L’Eta d’Oro (Golden Age Group). This group has a large membership of nearly 300 community seniors who actively engage in events and activities that help promote their physical, social, and mental well-being. For over a decade, she has been instrumental in its growth and development and her tireless dedication has been a key component to its success. Her journey began as a committee member from 2008 until 2012 when Ms. Barbera was elected as Chair of L’Eta d’Oro. In her capacity as Chair, she has organized activities and programs for seniors to their benefit. She was instrumental in helping to launch and to expand its exercise program that operates 2 classes, twice per week. In addition, she has organized many activities including its monthly luncheons, weekly bingos, bocce ball tournaments, community outings, and socials. Motivated by a strong passion for Villa Marconi, she has been the active fundraising arm of L’Eta d’Oro by organizing bake sales, raffles, and events that help supplement Villa Marconi’s funding.
In addition to her leadership at L’Eta d’Oro, she is also actively involved at various levels. She employs her skills as an excellent baker to provide home-made baked goods for the bake sales and monthly luncheons (often at her own expense) and she regularly donates items for the raffles. In addition, she has actively participated in providing input and delivery of grant programs to the benefit of community seniors.
As Chair of L’Eta d’Oro, Teresa Barbera’s collective efforts have helped raise approximately $60,000 annually for Villa Marconi Long-Term Care Center.
Ms. Barbera has also supported and continues to serve St. Anthony’s Church. For seven years, she has been an usher at its weekly masses and has participated as a volunteer at its fundraising events.
In appreciation for her service to the community, the National Congress of Italian-Canadians – National Capital District recognized her leadership at a community event held at the Historical Centre.
Ms. Barbera’s dedication to seniors has helped reduce language barriers faced by many seniors within Ottawa’s Italian-Canadian Community enabling them to feel connected to each other and to the greater community as a whole.
