The success of Whatshan Lake Retreat is all in the ability of the Volunteers that dedicated themselves to creating something that would be a benefit to Society in general.

At this time some ten (10) or so Volunteers, locate themselves in Recreation Vehicles that either stay in a Volunteer Campsite area or are moved on and off as their active lives necessitate.

Recently there has been a surge of younger people who have shown enthusiasm for continuing the work at Whatshan with new ideas as to how the site could better serve the public.

One of the inconveniences for the Volunteers, is that washrooms and showers are located at the Retreat and the Volunteer Campsites are well separated from the activity at the Retreat. Although this was purposely planned so that any rental and performance can be privately achieved by that group that reserve the site. The Volunteers obviously cannot use the facilities are being used other than an activity sponsored and presented by the Doukhobor Heritage Retreat Society #1999 (DHRS #1999).

So the idea of building this separate facility in the Volunteer Campsite area has been actively discussed since the year 2001. Discussion is fine but finding funding for such a facility cannot be compromised by essential funding necessary to develop the Retreat for as an active operation.

It was in 2012 that the original planners for Whatshan Lake Retreat, the Doukhobor Cultural Association was in process of disbanding and allocating their funds to worthy groups. The idea of allocating $10,000 as “starter funding” for a Volunteer Change Room was approved and paid out to the DHRS #1999 which was set aside until action could take place.

Although the DHRS #1999 Directors had this item on the agenda, no action took place until the beginning of 2016 when a Committee headed by Nona Kucher and John J Verigin, started active discussion. Some ideas were suggested and final an actual drawing was presented to the Committee in February, 2016 for more discussion.

And so a 16′ x 28′ building was conceived with separate washrooms (toilet, shower and vanity), a small kitchen for volunteer get-togethers and it was suggested that a Banya (a sauna) and dressing room be part of the project. There would be a 5′ patio on one end and a 8′ patio on the other with a 4′ veranda in front of the entrances to the two washrooms and Change Room. The entire floor area is now 20′ x 41′.

The thinking is that the Doukhobor tradition includes a wet steam bathhouse and it was felt that First Nations enjoy Sweat Lodges where spirituality becomes their tradition. The society is working closely with First Nations in the hopes that more First Nations activity can take place at Whatshan, so perhaps including a Banya would be good planning.

The Doukhobor Cultural Association (DCA) was promoted by Peter Dergousoff, a member of both the DCA and the DHRS #1999 for the $10,000 be allocated to this project. Peter has since deceased but the project gained momentum and the DHRS #1999 has since matched this donation and the total funding is now at $20,000.

All this good planning needed an important step: what would be a total budget?  The most serious challenge is the need of a septic tank and disposal system which can run $15,000 or more. This would use up most of this cash.

So it was that a poll of many local business resulted in interest to develop the following sourcing:

1. Kalesnikoff Lumber Co Ltd donated all the framing lumber
2. Porcupine Lumber donated all the interior cedar panelling
3. Korpack Cement donated the chimney block and flue liner
4. WSA Engineering Ltd donated the design and undertaking for the septic tank and field
5. E Verigin Consulting provided the building designs and drawings
6. Peters Doors and Windows is providing the exterior doors
7. Fred and Joe Padowinikoff along with Brian Verigin are providing the water heater and stove
8. An Electrical Supplier is providing the electrical supplies
9. Rick Woodhouse is providing his truck to tow the trailer that is transporting the supplies
10. Jerry Woodhouse is supplying the trailer to transport the supplies
11. Other Suppliers are providing substantial discounts on materials
12. We have some volunteers that are already providing labor and others are welcome to join us. This includes Plumbers, Electricians and many “Handy” but still no Carpenters.

The project has a contractual value of about $80,000 and all the above donations will assist to ring this closer to the available cash but much more fund-raising is necessary to a successful and full project completion.

This entry Elmer Verigin is made June 24, 2016. At this time the footings are partially installed with concreting (by hand) expected July 07, 2016.