I was sorting through my collection of photographs this morning and thought I should write something about these family photos and their part in the development of Whatshan Lake Retreat at 645 Whatshan Lake Road, near Edgewood, B.C.

The Oglow Bros were raised at Glade, B.C. They learned the Carpentry Trade from their father who was a skilled artisan. In the beginning, they obtained their work experience by participating in projects undertaken by others. They then decided to work together and established a construction company, Oglow Bros. Construction Ltd. This followed with construction of a building to house a Building Supply Store, Oglow’s, in Castlegar, B.C. They supplied their construction operations as well as the public.

They are shown here, after retirement, when they travelled to Whatshan to encourage construction of the Retreat building and make a financial donation. William is in the front row on the left with Pete, Nick and Paul in order on his left.

Verigin brothers migrated from a farm in Saskatchewan and became involved in construction with a start of working on the Waneta Dam. They later formed a construction company, Verigin Construction Ltd and eventually purchased a Sash and Door Shop, Obal Glass. This operation was later converted into a Millwork Plant (supplying millwork to schools and hospitals throughout Western Canada) at Trail, B.C.

In the photo, Elmer is in the back row on the left, brothers Lawrence and Russel are in order to left of Elmer.

The partially completed Retreat as in the background.

Verigin started dealing with Oglows in the early years and thereby established a relationship that remained to the date of the photo in 1998. Oglows were very interested to see the Whatshan site where the Verigins were donating labour and expertise.

This photo is also unique in that Elmer, is the last remaining person alive at the tim eof writing this blog.  The “Last Moehican” we might say!

Florence (Aunty to Elmer and his family) and Andy Markin became interested in the Whatshan Lake Retreat project during their visits to their nephews living in the Kootenays. The Markins encouraged financial donations to the Whatshan Project.

In this photo, Florence invited much of her family to attend the Music Festival in the early 2000s and here they all are posing South of the Band Shell at Whatshan.

The names are too numerous to identify here.

Aunty Flo, organized as many of her family as she could, every year starting 2000 to attend the yearly Music Festivals until she passed on. Some members continue to attend every year.

Marilyn and I were habitually at Whatshan on every work party. In this photo, my immediate families came to visit us and see what it was that drew us to the project.

Front row left to right: Kara Chahley (Lori’s daughter), Kayla MacKinnon (Nona’s daughter), Garrett Kucher (Nona’s son), Nigel Burk (Tamara’s son), Allie Kucher (Nona’s daughter), Sean Chahley, (Lori’s son).

Second row left to right: Marilyn Verigin, Nona Kucher, Lori Chahley, Lora Verigin, Kim Verigin holding his daughter Abby, Tamara Verigin-Burk holding her son Solomon

Rear: Elmer Verigin, Larry Kucher, Kyle Burk holding his son Solomon.

To this day, every member of the family is still drawn to Whatshan where they continue to volunteer as well as enjoy the development. The family now numbers 33 including partners, grandchildren and great grandchildren. They all try to attend scheduled Work Weekends as well as other occasions such as major events.

Completed and posted 1730 hours, July 20, 2020 EWV

The original Doukhobor Village at Castlegar, B.C., is operated by the Kootenay Doukhobor Historical Society and is now renamed the Doukhobor Discovery Center.

I was part of the founding members that constructed the buildings on the site across from the Castlegar Airport. I also was part of the committee that researched the Doukhobor Villages in the Kootenay Region and drew the original drawings.

One day in the late 1970s, I received a phone call from Jim Cameron, Public Relations Officer for Cominco Ltd (now Teck), asking me if could assist him in a arranging a tour of the facility as he was challenged with a request from the Federal Government to conduct an educational experience for approximately forty (40) young entrepreneurs from the province of Quebec. This was to be a program to bring citizens from Eastern Canada to the West and encourage better ties with each other.

Jim and I were Trail Rotarians and so it was easy to have me accept the request.

I was to greet this entourage led by Ed Schreyer, former Manitoba Premier and ex-Ambassador to Australia. Jim allotted one full hour for a tour of the Village and provide a descriptive education on the Doukhobor peoples residing in the area since 1908.

Once completed then the bus would take them to the rest of their tour.

So I needed help and I solicited the following:

1. Harry and Vera Voykin, operators of the Doukhobor Restaurant agreed to meet the group in the traditional Doukhobor fashion. He would then serve them a bowl of Borsch and freshly baked bread. This had to be achieved in fifteen (15) minutes.
2. Members of the Doukhobor Cultural Association (DCA) and I would lead them through the restored orchard (about 300 meters) to the Village Compound)
3. Peter Samolayoff. Conductor of the Kootenay Choir (about 12 young couples), assembled his Choir (all dressed in traditional Doukhobor customes), in the courtyard of the Village and would start singing hymns (in Russian) as soon as the entourage left the restaurant.
4. As soon as the group all entered the compound they were met by members of the DCA who spread them out facing the choir and permitted them to listen for about five (5) minutes.
5. The DCA had prearranged guides that would separate the group into three (3) parties:
   1. One group started the tour of the U-shaped buildings to the right
   2. The second group entered the two story community building
   3. The third group wen directly to the audio-visual Center (the second two story community building
   4. The idea was to provide thirteen (13) minutes in each selected location so that all would be shown and artifacts explained
   5. All the while the Kootenay Choir would sing

Everything took place like clockwork and the group reassembled  at their bus after bidding adieu to the Choir.

A few years went by and my construction company was in contract to construct a one acre sized First Nations School at Nelson House Manitoba. I was travelling from Vancouver to Winnipeg and I looked up as this gentleman walked by me. It was night and the visibility in the plane was poor and I returned to my thoughts.

A few minutes later, this same gentleman was returning from his bathroom visit when he stopped to look at me. “Yes now I remember now…..the Doukhobor Village at Castlegar, B.C. in 197_?, right..”

I was surprised as then I recognized Ed Schreyer.

“I will never forget the acappella singing, the Borsch and the Village Tour..” as I sat there with my mouth open. It was astounding at this man’s memory!

We chatted a bit more and he carried on to his seat.

It has been a long time but I wanted to record this beautiful memory.

Posted 1315, Tuesday, July 07, 2020 by EWV