Valenty Charles Urban

Val was a dynamic, much-loved person whose warmth, determination, and positive outlook left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him. He will be deeply missed by his wife, Giacomina; his daughters, Vanessa and Kristina; his sister, Irena; his sisters-in-law, Elena and Celestina; his brothers-in-law, Joe and Aurelio; and his many relatives, colleagues, and friends.

The son of Violet and Walenty Urban, Val was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1943. After completing high school, he began his career in insurance and, after only three months, was transferred to London, where he learned underwriting and developed many of the skills that would shape his future career. Val later immigrated to Canada with his family and settled in Montreal, where he met his wife. In 1977, they welcomed their first daughter, and in 1978 the family moved to Vancouver.

Val welcomed his second daughter in 1982 and continued to build an impressive career in the insurance industry, working with different companies and gaining experience in a variety of roles. Through hard work, dedication, and deep industry knowledge, Val became a respected and admired figure in his field. He concluded his career at Central Agencies, operating nationally as Broker Canada, where he thrived alongside many outstanding colleagues and professional connections. In 2025, Central Agencies honoured Val with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions and excellent service. More recently, he was also recognized for his contributions while serving on the Board of Directors of the Insurance Brokers Association of BC (IBABC).

Val was a soccer player and a devoted fan of Tottenham Hotspur F.C. He was also an avid reader especially regarding European history. He will be remembered for many qualities, including his tenacity, persistence, and positive outlook on life. Val enjoyed Italian food, and on weekends he often liked to spend the afternoon reflecting on life while having some coffee and a sweet treat.

A private viewing will be held at First Memorial on Lillooet Road in North Vancouver, BC, on July 26 at noon. Burial will follow at North Vancouver Cemetery at approximately 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the BC Cancer Foundation would be appreciated.

Special thanks to Val’s caring colleagues and close associates, including Kathy, Mo, Tibor, Jyoti, Suzanne, and many others. The family would also like to extend special thanks to the team of health professionals who cared for Val until the very end, including Dr. Erica Peterson, Dr. John Yu, Dr. Nigel Walton, Dr. Vanessa Giesbrecht, and the ICU team at Lions Gate Hospital.