 The Orsi Family. Elsie and Egidio Orsi, Leslie, Gladys and Arthur. June 1925. In 1910, the first Orsi family member to arrive here was Pasquale. In 1915 he married Maria Coli. Next was his brother Egidio, who arrived in Kelowna in 1913. Egidio met his future wife, Elsie Woods, at the “Kelowna Evaporator” where they were both working. Here, fruits and vegetables were dried and sent overseas to England for consumption by the troops serving in the First World War. Egidio spent ten years in Seattle as a member of the San Carlo Opera Company. By 1925 he moved back to Kelowna where he became a masonary contractor eventually forming Orsi and Sons Contracting. Elsie, who had arrived from England in 1914, was well known for her athletic prowness, particularly swimming, bowling and fishing. They had three children: Rino Les (Elsie), Gladys (John Chapman) and Arthur (Virginia).
5 Comments
kate dyson
4/19/2025 01:02:00 pm
My Auntie 'Vee' Virginia Dyson Orsi. Many memories of the annual summer party and Boxing Day gatherings at Auntie Vee and Uncle Art's across the lake!
Julie Tessier
1/2/2026 04:55:34 am
Hello, I'm looking for family members of the late Gladys Mary Orsi Chapman who was married to John A Chapman. It is regarding an important matter. Please contact me directly to my email: [email protected] and please indicate file number: 0964138-4. It would be beneficial for the family to contact me.
david kerkkonen
7/2/2025 09:54:57 am
was it Egidio Orsi who made the Ogopogo sculpture? what year?
Gordon Hotchkiss
7/21/2025 05:17:34 pm
Yes- it was Egidio. Here is a blurb from our post about this from this year's Facebook series: Ever wonder about the origins of the Ogopogo Statue? In 1949, Egildo Orsi and his sons built the Ogopogo statue in front of the garage of their family home on Glenwood Avenue in Kelowna. It was built for the Lady of the Lake Queen and Princess, for their parade float. It was towed behind on a flatbed trailer. As they were about to enter City Park, the driver said we have to stop and unload because it was too heavy for the trailer. No sooner had they emptied the sections off the trailer and assembled them, people started coming up and taking pictures and climbing on it. So they decided to leave it there. It sat there until its replacement with an updated statue in 1960, which still sits there today. �
Kari-Joy Streleoff
2/4/2026 03:20:11 pm
Hello, I'm looking for a Orsi family member who created the plaster and cement statue of the Ogopogo. Leave a Reply. |
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