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Early Life
Frances’ family immigrated to Canada from Italy starting in the early 1950s. All four of Frances’ grandparents were born in southern Italy. With Frances’ family history came a dedicated work ethic, a passion for culture and heritage, and a desire to help those around her. Since childhood Frances has been fluent in French, Italian and English. Frances has also developed conversational Spanish and is learning Arabic. The combination of these assets has led her to a number of interesting opportunities in her lifetime where she has become a trailblazer in her community.
As a teenager, Frances engaged in extensive international and domestic philanthropic work, while also completing high school and post-secondary education. Most notably, at sixteen years old, Frances completed her first major international project in Naka, Nigeria. In her adult life, Frances has become a human’s rights activist and lawyer. Frances has spoken to many audiences in Canada and around the world. Frances has raised awareness for access to education, ending human trafficking, and mental health support.
Career
Frances completed a bachelor’s degree from St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Following this, Frances attended Norman Patterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University where she completed a Masters degree. This led Frances to achieving her Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa. Frances completed a negotiation certificate from Harvard Law School. Frances was called to the Bar of the Law Society of Ontario in 2016.
Frances currently practices as a general litigation lawyer in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada. In 2017, Frances became an intern and junior consultant in the office of the co-prosecutors at the United Nations Special Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials- Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia. Recently, Frances caught the attention of global media for her international legal work when she negotiated the release of two Canadian citizens imprisoned overseas.
Community & Special Interests
Frances’ core values stem from a traditional and loving Italian family upbringing. When opportunities arise, greatness is expected, and Frances has been engrained with this attitude in both her personal and professional life from an early age. Frances sees the importance in giving back to your community as a means to strengthen the bonds between all members of society. Frances holds a second degree blackbelt in Teakwon-Do, loves music and theatre and is an avid farmer and beekeeper. Frances loves learning about new cultures and has travelled to over 30 countries. Frances loves photography and in 2018 participated in her first ever gallery showcasing part of her “You’ve got a friend in me” Exhibit which aims to remove the stigma around some of the causes she is passionate about.
Some of Frances’ volunteer work includes, but is not limited to:
Volunteering for the Caritas foundation since the age of 15
Using her second-degree black-belt in Taekwon-Do to teach self-defense and empowerment to young men and women
Taught drama classes and directed several productions for the CACL-L’Arche community
Has raised thousands of pounds of food for the Vaughan-Youth Food drive as a co-chair
Vice-president and director on the board of One-Child organization
Elected committee member to COMITES-Toronto
President of Canadian-Italian Heritage Foundation
Vice-President of the National Congress of Italian-Canadians Ontario region
Chair of the 2018 Vaughan Festival of Light
Awards & Recognition
2019 Alumni Award, University of Ottawa
2018 Vaughan volunteer award
2018 Newman Initiative Humanitarian award
President’s Circle of Young Alumni: St. Francis Xavier University
Kappa Gamma Pi National Award of Excellence, St. Catherine’s Medal for Scholastic Achievement and Leadership
Knighted as Dame in the Knights of Malta, Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller
Giovanni Caboto Award, Confederation of Italian World Entrepreneurs
Next Generation Award, Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association
Youth Achievement Award - Order of Merit, National Congress of Italian Canadians—Toronto District
Connect with Frances on Instagram