The Marconi Club has been an essential part of the London Ontario community for over a century. The club was originally formed to be a place for Italian-Canadians to connect, celebrate their Italian heritage and traditions. Being an immigrant, or part of an immigrated family in Canada is a wonderful thing because not only do you get to hold on to the roots of your heritage and take pride in where your family is from and the traditions that it was built on, but you also get the joy of celebrating being Canadian and marrying those two worlds. The Marconi Club was a place for just that. It has become an important piece of London’s history and an integral part of the London community.
The Marconi Club has grown from just being a club for Italian-Canadians living in London. Although the club part is still going strong, connecting Italian-Canadians and celebrating their traditions, it has become so much more. The Marconi Club is an incredible event venue and catering service. It’s a place that hosts incredible events and that helps people celebrate many occasions, from weddings and bat mitzvahs to birthdays, business meetings, and more.
This not-for-profit cultural and banquet centre is located in the Trafalgar Heights neighbourhood, close to Argyle Mall.
History
The Marconi Club has a rich history and has been part of London for over a century. The club started in 1900 and was first named The Italian Canadian Benevolent Society back then. It was originally a place to provide social support for new immigrant families coming from Italy to London Ontario. Then in 1947 it was incorporated and named The Marconi Club to honour Guglielmo Marconi, an Italian man who won a Nobel Prize in 1909 for his physics work and formed Marconi’s Wireless Telegraph Company Limited in London (England) in 1897.
At the very start of the club, members would meet in each other’s homes and stayed connected that way. While that was fine for a start, they quickly discovered the need for a building and found one on Fullarton street. Although it was originally just a men’s meeting place, the club’s true potential was soon discovered and became so much more than just a men’s club.
In the 1930s the club moved to downtown London on Carling Street. It was there, in the heart of London Ontario, that the foundation for the club was established and became a place for Italian-Canadians to socialize and celebrate their culture. That building served the Italian-Canadian community for more than 30 years. But in the early 1960s, there was a surge in the number of Italian immigrants coming to London and the need for the Marconi club soared, and they quickly outgrew the building.
The Marconi club was popular with Italian immigrants. A deep love for sports allowed club members to connect with fellow Italian-Canadians while playing rousing games of soccer, baseball, bowling, and bocce. (Physical activity continues to be part of the Marconi Club tradition even to this day). So in 1964 they found a bigger building (where it stands today on Clarke Road) and moved to accommodate the large number of new members. Here they were able to expand the soccer program and create an indoor bocce court. They also added banquet halls.
The connection to sports quickly expanded. After a soccer field was build in the 1980s, they secured the National Soccer League franchise. In 1985, they even saw a winning season! With this winning season and the creation of the franchise, the Marconi club put London Ontario onto the national soccer league map.
The Marconi Club has continued, throughout the years, to integrate numerous affiliations and programs into their club, including youth programs, Ladies Auxiliary, and family clubs. It grew into a wonderful place for Italian-Canadians and their families and friends to socialize, stay active, and celebrate their Italian roots.
Membership
Members of the club are of Italian heritage, their families, their descendants, and their friends. It’s an incredible place to stay connected with friends, network, and enjoy social activities throughout the year. Belonging to a club like this is a fantastic place for the next generation of Italian-Canadians to re-discover their roots and learn about the rich history and culture of Italians.
Members can enjoy a variety of physical activity as well as plenty of opportunities for savouring traditional Italian cuisine. There are plenty of events throughout the year for Marconi Club members. Banquets and galas that are decorated beautifully and filled with the most mouth-watering Italian meals are regularly attended. Dinner and dancing nights not only showcase delicious cuisine like handmade gnocchi or fresh pasta but also get people up on the dance floor, celebrating and having a great time. Dinner and social nights are great for networking or just connecting with old friends and meeting new ones. Karaoke Nights are always a hit and paint nights often feature paintings of cute Italian villas or other aspects of Italian heritage. Singles Social Dance nights are a great excuse for single people to get out, mix, and mingle, and meet other single people. Meeting people in real life can be difficult, but the Marconi Club offers those events throughout the year that help connect people together. Marconi Club members also have incredible holiday events throughout the year where they can come together, enjoy amazing entertainment and eat traditional Italian cuisine and socialize.
In order to be in the club, you need to be at least 19 years of age, although there are plenty of events throughout the year for club members to bring their entire family, so younger people do get exposed to the fun as well. You also must be sponsored by two club members in order to join. If you meet the requirements, you must attend the general meeting where you’re voted in. There is an annual fee for membership, but with the incredible events and connections that you make the members are happy to do so. Once you’ve been a member for two years and have attended at least 5 meetings in the last year, you also have an opportunity to serve on their board of directors.
Still to this day, after a century of being part of London, Ontario, the Marconi Club is a place for first, second, and third-generation Italian-Canadians to celebrate and embrace their heritage and their choice to live in this great country and be Canadian.
Event Venue
The Marconi Club is an incredible event venue in London. No matter the size or occasion, the Marconi Club can accommodate your needs. They have four rental halls within the venue. The halls range from elegant to casual and are of various sizes to accommodate different event types. From 50 to 500 people, they have a room that can suit your needs. While the Marconi Club is a popular choice for weddings, it’s also a great place for business meetings, anniversary parties, and more.
On top of their above and beyond customer service and abundant hospitality, the Marconi Club offers a full-service event venue. Whatever you need, they can provide it. They have absolutely elegant decor, bartending service, experienced and friendly wait staff, and audiovisual services. Their experts can help you every step of the way and have so many events and occasions under their belt, they can be a wealth of knowledge from their experiences.
Catering
Whether you’re looking for catering for an event you’re hosting at the Marconi Club, or you’re looking for options for events outside of it, the Marconi Club’s catering services are there for you. They can tackle any sized event (even if it’s just for dinner for your family)! Want a casual catered event? They can do that. What about an elegant affair with food that is sure to impress? Yes! They have that covered as well!
Have a breakfast meeting that you need to have catered? The Marconi club offers a continental breakfast, coffees, and teas that will satisfy your associates and take away any stressful planning on your part. For business lunches, you can choose from buffet styled hot meals, plated lunches, or sandwich platters.
If you’re looking for a wedding or party caterer, the Marconi Club offers flexible and delicious options for your wedding. You can take it into your own hands and choose an appetizer, pasta course, main entree, and dessert, or you can pick from one of their six menu plans, which comes with tantalizing courses that will delight your guests.
Whether it’s just feeding your family or a party at your home, the Marconi Club’s takeout options offer delicious Italian cooking for your meal. They have pizzas, pastas, salads, hot entree dishes, and hot vegetable dishes. Hors D’Oeuvres, sandwich trays, deli trays, and desserts are the perfect option for all kinds of parties and occasions.
Lunch Buffet
If you have not had a Marconi Club lunch, then you have been missing out. It’s one of London’s hidden gem lunch spots. Every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm the Marconi Club has a lunch buffet that is to die for. Savour authentic Italian classics like Pasta, Italian Wedding Soup, Caesar Salad, Veal Parmigiana, Salpastamenuami Sandwiches and more! If you’re wondering about having the Marconi Club cater an event for you, trying out their lunch buffet is a great place to sample their incredible culinary skills and see if their cuisine is right for your event.
Friday lunch buffets always offer a featured plate! On the first Friday of the month Tripe is the dish. The second Friday of the month is Quail day. Rabbit satisfies on the third Friday of the month and the fourth Friday of the month is always Cod Fish!
Scholarship
The Marconi Club offers a number of scholarships for hard-working and dedicated students of Italian descent. The recipients are chosen by a committee that takes into consideration cultural involvement, academic achievements, employment, as well as extracurricular involvement. On top of that, the recipients must be related to a member of the Marconi Club and have shown a clear hunger to learn more about their Italian heritage, as well as having participated in Marconi Club events and/or volunteered with Italian organizations. The scholarship is granted to students who are entering into their first year of University or College.
The Marconi Club is a vital part of London’s Italian-Canadian community. It has a long history within this great city. It has been through many changes and is still such an important club for first, second, and third-generation Italian-Canadians. It helps to celebrate the incredible rich Italian culture and keep the community connected to their deep roots. Now it also helps Londoners everywhere celebrate their best life moments. Weddings, birthdays, and parties are held at this beautiful venue and the Marconi Club helps to create those events into memorable occasions.
Think of the Marconi Club for change of pace for lunch during their Buffet Lunches or when you require seriously delicious catering for your next shindig. It’s hard to beat homemade, authentic Italian cuisine. If you need a beautiful place for an event, no matter what the event is, from 50 to 500 people, check out the Marconi Club.
It’s been part of London’s past and is still an integral part of London’s present. And for London’s future? Well, the Marconi Club will have a big part in that too. After all, celebrating roots and celebrating events will always be an important part of our lives.