Hi friend,
I hope you're doing well!
As 2025 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the fact that community is a work of heart and hands.
Toronto’s Little Italy gives us a meaningful illustration of this truth.
In 1968, entrepreneur Rocco Mastrangelo Sr. opened Café Diplomatico on College Street together with his brother and their father. Born in Anzano di Puglia, Italy, Rocco immigrated to Canada in 1958 and worked hard to establish businesses that would support his family and serve the growing Italian Canadian community. Café Diplomatico began as a welcoming espresso bar inspired by the cafés of Italy, where conversation and connection were as important as the coffee itself.
At the time, outdoor dining was still rare in Toronto. Yet Café Diplomatico became one of the first restaurants in the city to introduce a European style patio. It quickly evolved into a natural gathering place for neighbours, students, professionals, families, and visitors alike.
Over time, the café grew from a modest espresso and gelato bar into a full service restaurant. Locals affectionately came to call it “The Dip.” Rocco Sr. remained a consistent presence in the business for decades, while his son, Rocco Mastrangelo Jr., later joined him in ownership and helped build its reputation as a community hub, including as a major gathering place for soccer fans during World Cup and Euro tournaments. In 2018, Café Diplomatico celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, marking more than longevity in business. It marked five decades of shared stories, continuity, and neighbourhood identity.
Students have studied there. Business partnerships have begun there. Friends have reconnected there. Families have marked milestones there. And generations of Torontonians have come to associate the café with warmth, belonging, and continuity.
The story of Café Diplomatico reminds us that community is not created through one grand effort alone. It grows through daily relationships, consistent service, trust built over time, and people choosing to gather rather than isolate. Community, at its best, is the combined work of heart and hands.
As you explore your city each day, you can see the same patterns. A thoughtful conversation can make a difference. Reliable support builds belonging. Showing up consistently matters more than we realize.
As we're about to begin 2026, it may be helpful to reflect on the community you are part of. Your family. Your workplace. Your neighbourhood. Your circles of friendship and mentorship.
Your ongoing presence and your everyday actions help shape them.
Three suggested action items:
- Reflect intentionally on 2025. Consider what you accomplished, how you grew, and how you contributed to others last year. Then set thoughtful priorities for 2026 that strengthen both your personal growth and those around you.
- Experience Little Italy in person. Consider joining the upcoming #ExperienceTO Little Italy Historical Tour to explore the heritage, stories, and everyday places that continue to shape the neighbourhood. The details are available here.
- Strengthen one relationship this week. Reach out to a colleague, neighbour, or friend. Offer encouragement, support, or simply time together. Community grows through consistent expressions of care.
Thank you for reading and being part of this community of people who learn, reflect, and grow together every week.
Wishing you clarity, direction, and a meaningful start to the new year!
Until next time,
Alex Rășcanu
P.S. If you'd like to read the past life lessons-focused e-newsletters, you can find them here.
P.P.S. See you at one of the upcoming monthly #ExperienceTO historical tours.
