Biagio Tade

Biagio was born 1923 in Belovici, Italy (today Belavići, Croatia). His home region in Istria changed hands from Italy to Yugoslavia. Today Istria is under Croatia’s flag. 

He was the only one of his 3 siblings: Josip, Ana and Ivan – to exile himself from his home in Pola (today Pula, Croatia). In order to remain Italian, he, along with many other local ethnic Italians, left his home during the Istrian–Dalmatian exodus post-World War II. The Paris Peace Treaty assigned eastern Istria to Yugoslavia. In June, 1957 he boarded the Italian passenger vessel “Vulcania,” making the journey from Napoli to Halifax, Nova Scotia. He travelled by train from Halifax to Kelowna, BC, registered as an agricultural worker. 

While in Pola, Biagio worked at the Uljanik shipyard as a “Carpentiere in legno” for close to ten years. In Kelowna, he worked for Luigi (Lou) Guidi, as a carpenter, until he retired.

He was granted his Canadian citizenship in 1963. In 1969, Biagio met Sheila Potter, who lived in Kelowna with her son Glenn Potter. They married and had two children: Denise Tade and Brian Tade. He and Sheila would eventually get divorced in 1986. 

For many years,  family and friends knew Biagio as “Ted”. This came to be because when he introduced himself he would start with his surname, first. “Tade” was misunderstood as Ted, and so the nickname stuck for some time.

He met Anna in 1990, and moved to Summerland, BC, where he enjoyed the best years of his life. He had a life-long friendship with fellow Kelowna Canadian Italian Club founder, Alfredo Bonaldi, who also lived in Summerland. 

Biagio worked hard to provide for his family and had a knack for growing amazing gardens. A talented wine maker, he started with grapes and used traditional oak barrels. He was happiest fishing and camping at his favourite spot, just outside of Summerland. He lived his last years in the Fraser Valley and passed away in 2020 at the age of 97. 

Denise Tade, daughter