Born in Calabria, Italy, on October 4, 1933, Giovanni immigrated to Canada with his wife, Rosina, and their one-year old daughter Maria, in 1954. After settling in Kitsilano in Vancouver, BC, they had 4 more children - Franco, Natalino, and twins, Lisa and Anna.

While he was on this earth, Giovanni instilled a passion for life in his family and all who knew him. He was a most generous man, who would give the bread off of his plate to visitors before taking some himself.

He knew how to celebrate life and passed this legacy to his sons and daughters. If Giovanni was here today, his advice to us would be "Life is for living — live it!"

While being treated in hospital, Giovanni couldn’t help but notice the children who were also suffering. He often commented that he had been fortunate to live to the age of 54. He knew that some of the children he met would not live another year. He wanted nothing more than for them to be well.

It was with this spirit that the Giovanni Bastone Foundation was launched in November 2003.

The Giovanni Bastone Foundation is dedicated to his memory and his "Life is for Living" legacy.