Corrado Paina, the long-time executive director of the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario Canada (ICCO Canada), has passed away.
Members of ICCO Canada say he was a “larger-than-life figure, and the heart and soul of ICCO Canada.”
Paina called Italy and Canada home and was recognized for his visionary leadership and for promoting cultural and business relationships between the two countries. For his efforts, he received the “menzione civica – Ambrogino d’oro” award from the city of Milan. In 2016, he was appointed Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy, and in 2023, he received a Commander of the same Order for his work in promoting the business and trade relationships between Italy and Canada.
He was part of numerous boards and organizations where he served as board member, vice president, and chairman. An organization that was close to his heart was The Italy Earthquake Relief Fund, founded in 2006 following the earthquake that devastated L’Aquila in Italy, where he served as vice president.
He organized many delegations and trade missions from Canada to Italy and from Italy to Canada during his roles as a communication assistant of an Ontario minister in several portfolios, as a journalist at the press gallery of Queen‘s Park, as an official of the Italian Trade Commission and as executive director of the ICCO Canada.
