The surviving members of the Doukhobor Cultural Association (DCA) met at the Sandman Inn, Castlegar, B.C., to socialize and bid adieu to each other.
Extreme left to right clockwise:
-
- Joe Podovinikoff (back to photo)
- Betty Zarikoff
- Irene Tamelin
- Mary Picton
- Kathy Popoff
- Ann Zibin
- Lawrence Popoff
- Marilyn Verigin (standing)
- Wanita Hunter-Oglow (Caterer, standing)
- Pat Picton
- Elmer Verigin (standing)
- Fred Chursinoff (standing)
- Dorothy Dergousoff (standing)
- Molly Konkin
- Nellie Kerieff
- Ann Chursinoff
- Bill Voykin
- Paris Voykin (photographer)
Sunday, November 18, 2018, marked 50 years since the Doukhobor Cultural Association was established. It is also a few years since it has disbanded.
17 surviving members met for a dinner organized by Ann Zibin and Marilyn Verigin to share memories at the Sandman Inn.
I want to thank all those who were members over the years that successfully proved that if people listen to each other, hear and understand what is being said that equal representatives from the three Doukhobor groups in 1968, could live and work together.
We also learned how to have fun together!
Achievements are:
- Full development of 48 seniors units in Delta, B.C., with local interested people
- Full development of 10 seniors units at Rosewood Manor in Castlegar, B.C.
- Assisted In development of 28 seniors units at Parkside Villa in Grand Forks, B.C.
- Assisted in development of the Doukhobor Village in Castlegar, B.C.
- Development of Whatshan Lake Retreat at Edgewood, B.C., and establishing the Doukhobor Heritage Retreat Society #1999 (See Miracle at Whatshan in my blog)
- Funding of feasibility study and organization of the Kootenay Columbia Seniors Cooperative and start construction of over 100 housing units at Grandview Housing in Castlegar, B.C. (See Seniors Speak from the Ledge in my blog)
- Green City “Functions”
- Contributing funds to The Castlegar Hospital and Hospice
- Many other contributions too numerous to list here
- They also took a course at Selkirk College in parliamentary procedures and successful association so that all members learned how to Chair and handle an organization successfully
I am proud to have been associated with such a group that have now moved into the sunset.
You have made this place a better place with your efforts
Thank you!
Posted November 29, 2018 by Elmer Verigin
Those who may be interested to know more about the DCA may search my blog for reports and other articles on this society.
Elmer Verigin 
Hi Elmer,
You won’t remember me, but I remember you, and I can still see you walking by our house as you made your way home from school across the field. I believe the land belonged to Mike Berezowski . Your mom used to walk into town that way and always stopped for a visit.
My name is Cassie Rogoski, nee Popoff . My mom, Fanny, was a widow and was good friends with your mom. I had two brothers, younger brother Harry was killed in a car accident in 1965 just before his grad, and my older brother, Paul passed away 2 years ago in Powell River. I was in the same class as SoniaTarasoff. I divorced in 2001 and came to live in Kamloops with a school mate, Don Henderson. I lived in Winnipeg for forty years, and tho the winters are milder here, I dearly miss Winnipeg and all my friends and family back there, and the beautiful clear sunny blue, ( and cold) winter skies.
Don and I go back to Pelly every summer, visit Connie Vogel, Barry Robson, his brother- in – law, go to the cemeteries, etc. We also visit my uncle , Peter Legebokoff in Yorkton. We do all this on our way home from Winnipeg , where we spend most of July and August with my daughter who lives there. As we head for Kamloops , we visit Larry and Ruth in Dauphin, Wayne and Donna in Regina, and Dick and Joyce in Calgary. Bob passed away in 2004, and Ken passed away in 2017. I ran into your sister Mary at the 2005 Pelly reunion. I think Arnold Hrabchak was trying to hook up , but she set him straight.
Anyway, I enjoy reading your columns, very interesting. It’s nice to see that some of the Russian people really stayed involved in our culture. I can recall as a small child, being at the “dome” just east of Pelly, listening to the choir singing, with all the beautiful harmonies. I hope you and your family are well, and I look forward to reading more of your writings.
Cheers,
Cassie
Cassie
Of course, I remember you!
I walked with you sometimes as we both walked from school.
I also met Don and you at the Pelly Centennial for too short a time.
Mary told me how your mother came to our time in need and volunteered to cook the funeral meal for my father’s sudden death in 1958. That was an exceptional offer at that time. I only heard about in 2011 when we saw you and I was advised.
Thank you and your mother’s memory for her kindness.
I was room mate with Sonia’s husband Keith. We were the best of friends. We see Sonia every time we are in Saskatchewan as she is still very involved in Doukhobor activities.
Send me your street address in Kamloops as we do go by there from time to time.
Don and you should consider coming to the Whatshan Jam in the first weekend of July 2019. It is moderate music and the campsites are fantastic. We have a limited amount of cabins available but you would need to apply early. The website would have it but if you enter Whatshan Jam 2019, you would get all the information.
Thanks for writing!
Elmer
Hi Elmer,
Now that you mention it, and if I think hard enough, I do recall your dad’s sudden passing, as I was still home. Don could tell you a story about delivering gas to your farm and how strong your dad was!! I remember Keith, too. There was a choir that came from Saskatoon to Pelly once upon a time and I believe that is probably when Sonia met Keith. I sang in that choir , my mother made me, but I was pathetic because people would tell you I cannot carry a tune. I didn’t sing very loud. I double dated with Sonia once or twice, I can’t remember his first name, but I think his last name was Kabatoff,friend of Keith’s.
For sure, we’ll check out that site, it would be fun. And if you and Marilyn are ever out this way, our phone number is 250-3749953, cell number is 250 371-1674, address is 902-525 Nicola St, right on the corner of Columbia and 5th. We’d love to have a visit. I usually leave for Winnipeg about the second week in July as my daughter is vice principal and off for the summer, but Don usually stays around till end of July and then drives there. Anyway , maybe we’ll be able to see you at the Whatshan Jam.
Enjoy your weekend, nice to hear back from you.
Cassie
Cassie
I have your phone numbers and address entered in my cell as that will be the best for me to keep track.
I recall when your family moved into Pelly and that you did not have a father at that time.
My father was a strong and hard-working farmer but was out of control on his alcohol consumption which eventually was his demise. He did teach me unconditional family love and how to work hard to survive. He was famous for his strength and could lift 45 gallon drum of gas (about 400#) from the ground to a wagon box (a feat that I never achieved).
I was teased as being a “drunk’s son” and a “Dirty Douk”, long before I knew what the latter name meant. I learned a great deal about Doukhoborism and I find myself proud of my heritage. I sing in the Kootenay Men’s Choir here in Castlegar. We have CDs and tapes.
If you are able to bring the Whatshan Jam into your itinery, you will meet all four (4) of our chikdren and most of our ten (10) grand children as they are all involved in its production and promotion. When you read my blog named “miracle at Whatshan Lake” you will see how it got developed. It is not a coincidence that we sponsor Freedom Quest, a youth drug and alcohol treatment with some of it taking place at Whatshan.
We now also have a traditional “Baunya” (wet sauna) at Whatshan. Perhaps Don and you can have this as part of your “Whatshan Experience”!
Nice talking to you
Elmer
Hi Elmer,
It is now March 30, 2020 and I discovered your reply to my last email now. I don’t know why I never looked back at the site, totally lost on that reason. I came across it again because I googled my name as I needed my address for a form I’m filling out, and I completely forgot the first part of my postal code, V…? Really , it’s scary!
Anyway, as you know we are in “ social distancing” because of the Coronavirus and I sincerely hope that you and all you family, friends and neighbours are staying healthy and safe. As well, other than the virus, I hope that all of you are staying in good health, as good as it can be for us seniors. We are doing ok, walking everyday by ourselves far away from all people, and hoping everyone does their part. There are two condos in our building in total isolation due to travel. Dam virus, that’s what happens when you eat bats!
We spent February and March 2019 in Palm Springs, which was different and nice , as we usually go to Puerto Vallarta for 10 days. Have to say, the weather was very cool in February , and we found that it was too long a time away for us . Unfortunately Don got a very bad bout of rheumatoid arthritis starting in February , so we should have left then , but we stayed on till mid March and he suffered. When we got home , after doctoring, it took about 2 more months for him to feel right. Part of that was due to the meds he was taking which made him very sick. Anyway, touch wood, he’s doing fine now .
Wayne’s wife, Donna is in a nursing home in Regina, due to her Parkinson’s , and he’ll be moving in with her as soon as the house is sold. Larry passed away last April , and Ruth is still living in Dauphin. Dick is still living in Calgary, and his wife Joyce is not doing well with her asthmatic respiratory condition , failing now.
In reading your message about your dad, Don’s story was about him delivering a gas drum to your farm and how your father lifted it up, very much to Don’s eye popping amazement!! Yes,I was teased as well,”Dirty Douk” and “DP” and other names pertaining to my extreme blondness . How times have changed, one cannot say a word about anything or to anyone.
I’m glad I came across your message, and I hope this message finds it’s way to you.
Cassie
Cassie
I wondered what happened to you and I assumed that you had other commitments and were attending to them.
Thanks for updating me on the Henderson family. Hendersons were involved with the fuel delivery as well as the Pool Hall and Barber Shop.
After I graduated and came by Pelly for a visit, I dropped in on Don (I think that was his name) at the Pool Hall to chat and get a nostalgic hair cut. He asked me how I was faring and I gave him an update on two daughters, a wife and a job as an Engineer at a Pulp Mill in Prince Rupert. He stopped the haircut and exclaimed; “I recall all the boys teasing you as a Drunk’s Son and a Dirty Douk. Well this is a very pleasant surprise!” After he completed the haircut, he said “no charge, I am so pleased to see a product of Pelly achieve what you have!”.
I would be interested to hear what ever happened to your Mom’s relatives, the Legebokoffs from the North side of Swan River. One of the girls (about your age) ended up married and in Richmond, working for a lawyer, Hoodicoff, (his family came from Kylemore). Marilyn and I needed to register the purchase of a house. So I called and the secretary took my name and then………..silence. So I broke the spell with “are you still there?” Finally she gave me her maiden name and we enthusiastically recalled Pelly and everyone.
Small world and interesting how everyone scattered for that “one horse town”, Pelly.
Elmer