Edward Valenti

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Edward Valenti, well known in North Bay for championing community sports and history projects, is a dedicated volunteer for the Davedi Club. His history calls him to this Italian/Canadian Club.
Ed is a third generation Canadian. His family name was originally Valente with an “e” and there is still a tiny street in Pedace, Provincia Cosenza, Italy, called after this family. Over the years since his grandparents emigrated from Italy, the spelling has changed for all the Valentis.

Ed is fascinated by the family history. Grandparents Francesco and Giulia arrived in Canada in 1920 after a stormy courtship; Giulia’s family did everything they could to oppose the marriage. Francesco built a house on Morin Street by making his own bricks and they raised a family of three girls and five boys. Son Fredo met Ed’s mother Jacqueline in Quebec when he was playing minor hockey. After knee injuries destroyed his hockey career he partnered with Cousin Lou to run Valenti’s Restaurant. Meanwhile Jacquie ran the Joint Film Library for local school boards. Ed remembers spending Saturdays watching educational films with his brothers, part of an education which led to future success: Frank, now Design Roofing, Paul now working in purchasing for the hospital and Peter and Ed who work together in Century 21 Real Estate sales. The family tradition of success continues with Ed’s children, Miranda in Film Studies at Brock University and Tamara in Animal Biology at Guelph University.

Ed’s volunteer energy involved him in baseball and hockey and he was President of the Sportsman’s Hockey League for 10 years. He was the founder of the North Bay Ultimate Frisbee League, a game he learned with his friends on the front lawn of Scollard Hall. His career in Real Estate opened the opportunity to serve on the City of North Bay Planning Advisory Committee for 14 years. A growing interest in historical roots of buildings here led him to become chair person of the Dionne Quints Heritage Board, involved in saving a historical building.

History and family connections bind Ed to the Davedi Club where he has been Treasurer since 2013. Five of his uncles are in the picture of the founding fathers which is in the lobby: Carlo Lucenti, Fred Valenti, Richard Valenti, Louie Valenti and Lou Valenti. Ed values the way the Davedi Club continues to give back to the community by accommodating fund raisers for organisations like the Hospice and Food Bank.

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