Louis (Luigi) Biamonte Mike Biollo Father Giovanni Bonelli Camillo Bridarolli Mr. & Mrs. Henry Butti John Camarta Domenico Chiarello Joe Fabbri Mario Grassi Victor Losa Filomena Michetti Mrs. Mamie Meardi Tony Nimis Giorgio W. & Norma Pocaterra Mr. & Mrs. John Segatti Romano Tedesco & Mrs. Irma Giacobbo Angelo Toppano

Mr. Mike Biollo talks about his father, Mr. Olivo John Biollo

• O.J. Biollo was born in 1886 in Venice, Italy
  
  
• he came to Winnipeg c.1900 where he married.  His wife came to Canada from Poland in 1899, at the age of 8.
  
  
• in Winnipeg with his two brothers, he tried his hand at a couple of commercial enterprises - a restaurant, a hotel - but lost everything
  
  
• came to Edmonton and, with a number of others, formed a farming colony in Venice in 1914
  
  
• O.J. Biollo gave the town of Venice its name (a lot of lakes around the town reminded him of home in Italy)
  
  
• he was a businessman; operated a store and post office, built a grain elevator and sawmill, built a Catholic church (for the entire community)
  
  
• moved to Edmonton in his old age, where he passed away.
  
  

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