Alex Ewashen (February 21, 1032 – May 20, 2019)

My health complications made it impractical to attend Alex’s Funeral and so these notes will demonstrate the manner in which I knew Alex and his family.

Alex was a member of the Canadian Doukhobor Society, one of the three parent registered parent Doukhobor Societies operating predominately in British Columbia. In the most recent years, his brothers Robert and Larry, lived with their families in Creston, B.C.

No matter what Doukhobor event was taking place in Western Canada, I would find Alex in attendance as an active participant.

When the Doukhobor Cultural Association (DCA) was considering development of their Lands at Whatshan Lake, B.C., I asked JJ Verigin Jr., representing, the Union f Spiritual Communities of Christ (USCC), Alex Wishlow and the Ewashen Brothers, representing the Canadian Doukhobor Society (CDS) and representatives of the Freedomite Community, Bill Makortoff and Steve Lapshinoff. in the Summer of 2005, as to the philosophy and operations terms of reference, that would be acceptable to all Doukhobors. It was unanimously agreed that the resulting construction and site would welcome people from any Doukhobor background as well as all our neighbours.

The site would not be designated religious and permit any reasonable event to take place as long as it was peaceful and in good taste.

By and large, these dedicated people participated in the resulting development with Alex Ewashen donating 125 chairs to the Retreat Center. Alex and Julie also attended almost all the Music Festivals including the last one in July 2018 where Alex asked me to dance:

See post on Word Press file ; IMG_0960.TRIM.MOV-One Drive dated Tuesday June 18, 2019. (this is the only way I was able to get it into Word Press with my limited expertise)

This video has more of an explanation of Alex than I can in words. This was only last year in July 2018. I was ‘acting up’ and Alex just walked up to me, tapped me on the shoulder with his cane and said “can I have this dance with you?”

Dance we did. What a memory of Alex and his sense of humour.

At another music Festival, it appeared that the society may have difficulty breaking even. So it was decided that we would shave Elmer Verigin’s head if enough money could be raised. And so the band offered a fiddle and a guitar and started playing as a hat was passed around. Alex contributed well over $300 as the total was about $700 and the event was able to be profitable.

Whatshan was not the only organization where I was able to share experiences and discussions with Alex and Julie.

Alex joined the ad hoc Doukhobor Choir (about 60 members) that travelled t Veregin, Saskatchewan in July 0f 2017 to celebrate the centennial of the construction of the original Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB) offices completed when CCUB was incorporated in 1917 and registered in the Province of Saskatchewan, main office in Veregin Saskatchewan. This was a great opportunity for Doukhobors across the four Western Provinces to visit and celebrate together. Alex and Julie took the opportunity of touring the original villages built from 1900 through to 1919, on buses with the excellent narration of Jonathan Kalmakoff, local historian.

Alex read my blog religiously and offered many constructive comments

Under construction June 07, 2019 Elmer Verigin

I emended this blog at 1350 hours, Tuesday June 18, 2019. This blog needs o be read with a blog entry of this date and named IMG_0960.TRIM.MOV-One Drive.