KELOWNA CANADIAN ITALIAN CLUB
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Emilio picariello

The Rise and Fall of a Bootlegger

​EMILIO PICARIELLO: THE RISE AND FALL OF A BOOTLEGGER
Wednesday, December 15, 2021

WATCH THE FULL PRESENTATION - AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE
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Emilio Picariello remains one of the enigmatic personalities of his time, capturing the imaginations of Canadians today almost as much as he did during his sensational murder trial and death by hanging over ninety years ago.

From his arrival in Canada to his death, Picariello was a larger-than-life personality.  In 1899, at the age of 20, he immigrated to the United States.  He came to Toronto in 1902 and arrived in Fernie in 1911.  He was a loving husband to Maria and proud father of their six children. 

Picariello became a bootlegger operating between Fernie in British Columbia and Blairmore and Lethbridge in Alberta, as well as the American Pacific Northwest. 

On September 21, 1922, the A.P.P. and local police set up a sting operation in Coleman and Blairmore to entrap Picariello and his men while engaged in a bootlegging run.  Chased by the police, Picariello’s son Steve was shot in the hand by A.P.P. Constable Stephen Oldacres Lawson.  Picariello, accompanied by a young family friend, Florence Lassandro, confronted Lawson about his son’s condition later that evening at the A.P.P. detachment in Coleman, and Lawson was shot.

After a sensational trial in Calgary in which Picariello and Lassandro were tried jointly, they were found guilty of murder and sentenced to hang.

​
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Special Guest: Adriana A. Davies

Adriana A. Davies has worked as a writer, editor, lecturer, executive director and curator in England and Canada. Professional accomplishments include: Science and Technology Editor, The Canadian Encyclopedia; Executive Director, Alberta Museums Association and Heritage Community Foundation; and Editor-in-Chief Alberta Online Encyclopedia – www.albertasource.ca. 

She has undertaken a range of curatorial work much of it supported by publications such as: Collins' Encyclopaedia of Antiques (1973); Dictionary of British Portraiture, Volumes 1 and 4 (1979); From Realism to Abstraction: The Art of J. B. Taylor (2014); The Rise and Fall of Emilio Picariello (2016); The Frontier of Patriotism: Alberta and the First World War (co-editor, 2016); and From Sojourners to Citizens: Alberta’s Italian History (2021).

Honours include Order of Canada (2010); Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012); Italian Knighthood (2015); Alberta Museums Association Life Time Achievement Award; Alberta Centennial Medal; Global Woman of Vision; and YWCA Woman of Distinction. 

Her talk will focus on the tragic events arising from bootlegging in the Crowsnest Pass resulting in the murder of Constable Stephen Lawson, and death by hanging of Emilio Picariello and Florence Lassandro. She will examine the role of racism in the treatment of the accused and whether or not they received a fair trial. ​


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coming soon to kcic!  - click below to find out more

Giuseppe's Cafe - March 30
JOE AVATI COMES TO KELOWNA JUNE 2
SPAGHETTI WESTERN APRIL 18
57th Anniversary Dinner and Dance

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Phone: 250 762 0900

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The Kelowna Canadian Italian Club acknowledges that our clubhouse is situated on the beautiful unceded traditional territory of the Syilx/Okanagan people. Who, for thousands of years, have lived in harmony with nature and continue to this day to offer us so much culture and understanding.
  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • About KCIC and Our History
    • President's Message
    • Vice President's Message
    • Executive and Directors
    • Membership
    • Volunteers
  • NEWS & ARTICLES
    • The Grapevine Newsletter
    • THE ITALIAN GARDENER
    • Kelowna's First Families
    • Pietro's Spazio Sport
    • Book Reviews
    • Mangia Mangia Recipes
  • WHAT'S HAPPENING AT KCIC
    • 2023 Calendar
    • Club Happenings >
      • Joe Avati World Tour
      • KCIC Dinners & Special Events
      • La Nostra Famiglia Italiana >
        • Upcoming NFI Events >
          • NFI - Spaghetti
        • Past NFI Events >
          • NFI - Bisnonno
          • NFI - L'Acqua
          • NFI - Terrazzo
          • NFI - Guerra
          • NFI - Lilia
          • Coming to Pier 21
          • Dalla Terra
          • Dialetti!
          • Sveva Caetani
          • Emilio Picariello
        • Family Tree Workshops
        • Between Neighbours
      • Giuseppe's Cafe
      • La Bella Tavola - Cooking Classes
      • Bocce
      • La Scuola Italiana - Italian Language
      • KCIC Library
    • Il Nostro Lascito Legacy Project
    • Our 55th Birthday!
  • More From Us
    • CONTACT US
    • 50th ANNIVERSARY >
      • 50th Anniversary
      • Mercato
      • Dinner & Dance Gala
    • Miss Kelowna Cdn. Italian Club
    • PHOTOS >
      • Photos
    • Calendar Page
  • Take Out Dinners
  • New Page