 The Belgo Canadian Fruit and Land Company came into being in 1909. They purchased raw land on the north side of Mission Creek, about eight miles east of Kelowna. Water rights on the north fork of Mission Creek were acquired, thus allowing them to irrigate 600 acres. Ditches, pipes and syphons were needed to distribute this water to the Gallagher / Joe Rich road area. For construction purposes, this area was to become known as No. 1 Camp Site. Next to this area, a small townsite was planned, with a magnificent view overlooking the whole of the central Okanagan area. A crew of Italian immigrants (87 listed on 1911 Census) was hired to do the pick and shovel work and clear the right of way. Only a few of these men remained in Kelowna, but all were an integral part of establishing the fruit industry in the area.
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The First Italian Families of Kelowna - Le prime famiglie italiane di Kelowna: Our 2021 Stories5/31/2021  Once again, we will be featuring 30 different profiles of Italian Families - one per day - throughout June in celebration of Italian Heritage Month. Our Family Researcher Don Rampone has been hard a work collecting and compiling the following family histories. As a sneak preview, we're also sharing an article about the Italian sojourners who worked on the irrigation project up in Belgo. Finally, we rap up with an article on Italian families in Kelowna written by Brenda M. Shaw.
Look for them all on our website and on Facebook!. Here are our 2021 Families Editorial Line Up: Belgo Canadian Fruit and Land Company Camp in the 1911 Census 1. Luigi and Ersillia Guidi 2. Angelo (Andy) and Agnes Gaspardone 3. Nicola (Nicholas) and Elizabeth Ceresi 4. Egisto Bigattini 5. Augusto and Luigia Maria Ongaro 6. Angelo and Maria Rosa Letizia Guidi 7. Agostino and Marietta Cacchioni 8. Riccardo (Dick) and Mary Bertoia 9. Ernesto Angelo and Sabina Paula Bianco 10. Oreste Luigi and Katie Francescutti 11. Alfredo Giuseppe and Angelina Guidi 12. Jim and Nellie Campbell 13. Geniale and Maria Russo 14. Lorenzo and Giuseppa Siviglia 15. Mario and Sabina Dapavo 16. Pasquale and Vittoria Pasqualina Iafrancesco 17. Giovanni and Gina Petretta 18. Sergio and Clelia Bertolami 19. Emilio and Marianna Verna 20. Guerino (Gary) and Ida Russo 21. Pietro and Esterina Turri 22. Domenico and Maria Petretta 23. Alfredo and Valentina Calissi 24. Amedeo (Andy) and Armerinda Russo 25. Rosario and Iolanda Filice 26. Luigi and Silvia DiRenzo 27. Frank and Romi Marcanio 28. Pietro and Erika Calissi 29. Rosario and Giovanna Di Maria 30. Domenico and Nicolina Zaino The History of Italian Families in Kelowna, BC by Brenda M Shaw |
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