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Summerland couple has long connection to community

Cristante family arrived from Italy in 1909
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Marylin and Don Cristante are celebrating 65 years of marriage. (Contributed)

Don and Marilyn Cristante, a longtime Summerland couple, are marking their 65th anniversary this year.

The couple married in 1957, but their connection to the community extends much further.

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In 1909, Don Cristante’s father, Giuseppe Cristante, came to Canada. In 1925, Pasquina Polesello, also from Italy, came to Summerland, where the two were married. They had two children, Don and Doris.

The Cristante and Polesello families were orchardists and have farmed a number of properties in Summerland over the years. Today, Don Cristante and Jerry Polesello can still be found farming on these same lands.

Don Cristante married his longtime Summerland sweetheart Marilyne Wade in 1957 and the two are celebrating their 65th anniversary this year.

Today, Don Cristante has hobby grapes on land which was once one of the top producing orchards in the community.

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At 90, Don Cristante continues to tend to his apple orchard in Summerland. (Contributed)


John Arendt

About the Author: John Arendt

John Arendt has worked as a journalist for more than 30 years. He has a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Journalism degree from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
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