Tony and Tina Borgnetta

Tony and Tina Borgnetta

Giuseppe Antonio (Tony) Borgnetta arrived in Canada on March 27, 1927.  Tony was the youngest child of Antonio Borgnetta and Severina Varesio from Bricco Borgnetta, a community area of Frinco, Asti, Piemonte, Italy.  He landed in Halifax with his destination of Kelowna, BC, at the invitation of his sister, Giuseppina Borgnetta Rampone, who with her husband Domenico had started farming in Kelowna in 1926.  Tony helped work the farm for several years, growing crops including onions, melons and tobacco.  In 1937, be came a Canadian citizen, applied for a passport and made a return trip to Italy.  On June 9, 1938 he married Agostina (Tina) Cantino, daughter of Giuseppe Cantino and Teresa Barrera.

In 1938, Tony and Tina travelled from the Port of Genoa, Italy arriving in New York on August 4.  From here they made their way to Kelowna.  Once here, Tony began work at Springdale Farms (KLO and Spiers Road), that was operated by his nephew, Camillo Rampone.  When it came to farming, Tony was of many skills.  He was responsible for many aspects of the fruit growing business, bringing with him many European methods of pruning and cultivation.  Tina helped with many of the manual jobs on the farm.  She prided herself on gardening, cooking, baking and preserving food.

Tony and Tina had three children. The oldest, Rinaldo, died at age 17.  Their only daughter, Rita, married Wayne Klassen.  Youngest son, Carlo, married Evon Bowser and they had four girls: April, Tracy, Tina and Carla.  Tony passed away in 2001 at the age of 98 and Tina in 2005 at age 89.  They are both at rest in the Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery.