Have you heard Nick Cinanni play the accordion yet?

I recently had the opportunity to! I heard Nick play and interviewed him at the Tele 30 Fundraiser where he volunteered to entertain the participants with his accordion. Wow!

Nick (Anselmo) came to Ottawa when he was thirteen with brothers Joe, Domenic, Cosimo, Giovanni, Bruno and sisters Tina and Maria. The Cinannis settled in lower town on St. Andrew Street. The family came from Locri, Reggio Calabria. Antonio, Nick’s father, became a bricklayer and contractor and was involved in rebuilding St. Anthony’s Church.

Nick and four of his brothers have contributed a great deal as teachers and administrators throughout French Canada.

Nick has a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Ottawa. At age 22, he became a teacher and loved it so much that he taught and held various coordination and administrative posts for more than 34 years within the Ottawa French School Board! Today, Nick is retired. But is he really? Recently, he has given leadership workshops throughout Canada and presently he works part-time as “Practicum Coordinator” at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Education.

Nick is married to Margaret Disipio whose family is from the Abruzzo Region. They have two sons: Marc and David.

Music is clearly a passion for Nick! He says “Through music I feel and see the beauty in every human being.” His mother, Rosa, was a resident at Villa Marconi Long Term care Centre for two and half years. She was the motivating force that began his volunteering “career.”

Gloria Ramirez, originally from Columbia, accompanies him on the hand drum every Monday at Villa Marconi. “Nick and Gloria always sing and play to a captive audience! They create an atmosphere of joy and happiness!” said one staff member at Villa Marconi. Gloria moved to Canada some eight years ago with her husband Simon, who works for the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and their two children: Danny and Alison.

Every week, Nick and Gloria create beautiful music in many of the seniors’ residences in the Ottawa-Gatineau area.

Congratulations Nick Cinanni and Gloria Ramirez for volunteering with our seniors!