Our Italian Heritage (and Stories) continue

7/3/2019

Click on photo to enlarge

During Italian Heritage Month in June we paid tribute to thirty of the pioneer Italian families that were in Kelowna prior to 1919. We welcome your comments, corrections and additions to these stories. Our thanks to Shirley Larsen (Risso), Gertie Bachmann (Culos), Brenda Shaw (Pioli), Linda Ghezzi (Mussato), Becky Chapman (Orsi), Gina Yarrow (Alimonti) and Elmo and Emma (Turri) Rantucci for their help in gathering this information. Special recognition to Bob Hayes (Okanagan Historical Society) for his inspiration and guidance.

Other families arriving here before 1919 include: Bertucci, Rossi, Dal Col, Biagioni, Ceresi, Cavani, Betuzzi and Pellini. We have started collecting information on these families and welcome any help you can give us. By the 1920’s many more families made their journeys to Canada. We would love to have their stories recorded as well.

1 Comment

Pete & Diana Guidi

5/13/2020 09:50:59 pm

Hey great article of each family. Didn't see very much on my Grandfather Angelo Guidi but nice to see his name mentioned and his daughter Lucy in the first Italian picnic picture. I've got a lot of good memories from visiting Angelo and Leticia's home by the old railway station back when I was just a little kid. Rudy Guidi was my father. Clara and Lucy were his sisters. All the best and thanks. Pete & Diana Guidi.

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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.

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