Teresa Spinelli
A sense of community is something that permeates Teresa Spinelli’s projects, programs, and practices. She is a staple of inner city Edmonton and Little Italy, providing leadership, vision, and selflessness in an effort to better the lives of those who cross her path–even indirectly.
Spinelli stepped in to lead the Italian Centre Shop in 2000 guiding the family business through expansion and growth, but never forgetting the community and sense of belonging within the centre’s walls that brought the company success through its previous 40+ years. Today, the Italian Centre serves as a valuable European goods importer and distributor, in addition to expanding its retail chain to 5 locations between Edmonton, Sherwood Park, and Calgary. Despite the growth, Spinelli’s locations remain important social hubs serving their communities with great food, great atmosphere, and great service.
While her businesses explore new horizons, Spinelli remains personally committed to the inner city communities that she and her family’s business grew around. She has dedicated her time and energy outside of the Centre to organizations like the McCauley Boys and Girls Club, she was a founding member of the Avenue of Nations business revitalization zone, and served as a member of the Boyle Renaissance Advisory Committee for the City of Edmonton, which has established affordable housing units, a new community centre, and additional developed park space in the downtown community. Spinelli has also led key renovations for Giovanni Caboto Park, which sits across the street from the Italian Centre’s Little Italy Location.
As an Italian Canadian, Spinelli has been recognized for her numerous contributions and commitments to her local and global communities. As a businesswoman, she has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs and was named a Global News Woman of Vision.
For Spinelli’s contributions to community and society, she has received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for Community Involvement, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of Contributions to Canada, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for Alberta, and the Ordine Della Stella D’Italia Onorificenza di Cavaliere Award (Order of the Start of Italy) from the Italian government, to recognize Italians abroad who have best assisted in the reconstruction of Italy.
Please join Concordia University of Edmonton in congratulating Teresa Spinelli for her honorary degree.