(Deceased April 27, 2021)

“This is my brother Joe,” as Natalie Voykin proudly introduced  Joe Podovinikoff to me at a Doukhobor Cultural (DCA) Meeting back about 1972 or so.

And so it followed that I was able to establish a lifelong friendship with Joe as we lived, worked and enjoyed life together in the Kootenays of British Columbia.

Joe, was a Journeyman Boiler-Maker, specializing in welding and fabrication. When he decided to stop moving around as his trade demanded, he settled down in Slocan Park and established a Welding Shop, offering a much needed service to all the Loggers in the area when he would answer a breakdown call by driving his specially equipped truck to the remote areas where the broken down machine was located. His expertise became well known and Joe became familiar with every logging road in the Kootenays.

We were discussing my short period of time, at Prince Rupert, at one of our visits when the subject of a major snow slide disaster at a Mine near Stewart, B.C. entered our conversation. Joe said “I was there and was part of the gang of surviving Workers who dug relentlessly in the deep snow, searching for survivors. It was brutal and quite stressful. I got out of that job as quickly as I could.”

Joe became a life-long member of the Doukhobor Cultural Association (DCA), which averaged about fifteen (15) families who came together from the three (3) parent Doukhobor organizations at that time. Joe served a term as President and participated in many of the acting Committees. We found that we had members from all the Trades and Careers, so that we could undertake all types of projects that was our interest, so that the Doukhobor philosophy could be expressed with our positive actions and be a benefit to the general public. Joe was always eager to be part of this partial list of DCA endeavours:

1. Construction of a  Baunya at the Doukhobor Village across from the Castlegar Airport. Joe confirmed his Boiler-Making knowledge by designing a stove that was able to heat the water in a steel jacket around the stove. A new innovation to a Slavic system of bathing that he had already tried at his personal Baunya. This became the basis to create the UBOBU (United Brotherhood of Bathhouse Users) to honor his strong union background. Judges, Lawyers, Police Officers and many Doukhobors bathed together and bonded in the community.
2. The DCA decided to investigate the possibility of communal living and Pete Oglow offered the land he was reserving at Blahadotniya (Champion Creek) at the request of John Verigin Sr., for Doukhobor use. Joe enthusiastically participated in this Feasibility Study which considered agriculture activity to develop a market garden along with housing for families and seniors. This report was submitted to the Owners, USCC, but the offer to project manage such a project by the DCA was politely rejected.
3. One of the most enjoyable cultural events was to organize an exchange with our Doukhobor brethren in Saskatchewan. So a large number of DCA members travelled to Saskatoon and Veregin were we sang,  socialized and enjoyed fellowship. Joe was very much part of the spirit of the trip.
4. Joe was a strong supporter of the Doukhobor Sports Day event organized by the DCA at Campbell Field in South Slocan. He was instrumental in the Greasy Pole, Nail Driving and many other novel events enjoyed by the Doukhobor population as well as members of the public. All monies raised were donated to deserving organizations in the area
5. At the suggestion of his partner Shirley, the DCA sponsored a child overseas to obtain an education and essential support. Joe was very much a supporter of this.

After the Blahadadotniya project, the DCA kept searching for a major project and in 1981 the Whatshan Lake property became available. Joe was very supportive of Walter and Ann Demoskoff who selectively logged the land to pay for the purchase. He initially, secured a loan at the credit union with most of the other DCA members, to purchase the property. Eventually he supported that the entire project be donated to the Doukhobor Heritage Retreat Society #1999. He used his expertise to assist in the construction of the Whatshan Lake Retreat:

1. To construct the Retreat Buildings
2. Install the Infrastructure
3. Construct Baunya with his innovation stove design
4. Used his Pancake cooking speciality for breakfasts for all the volunteers

Somehow, Joe seemed to have that strength and commitment to assist in the formation of the  USCC Kootenay Men’s Group. He was able to share the enthusiasm and commitment with twenty-six (26) other men and as President developed:

1. The assembly and publishing of “Vechniya Pomat”, a Doukhobor guide to celebrate weddings, funerals and religious events by publishing words to customary psalms and hymns
2. The creation and organization for manufacturing wooden coffins by constructing a facility where the men could conduct wood working on the lower floor and women could create crafts on the upper floor. A very successful project!

Joe supported a $50,000 DCA Feasibility Study and Development of Grandview Subdivision and was part of the creation of  Kootenay Columbia Seniors Housing Cooperative. Joe considered living at Grandview but his love for his home place at Slocan Park kept him back. He made sure he visited us many times.

A business proposition to develop a housing project at the South end of Castlegar resulted in his cousin Fred and Joe to invest in Schoffield Creek Joint Ventures. This development was rezoned and financing obtained but the timing was not appropriate to proceed with the project. It was sold to others and now is developed in part as Emerald Green.

When I prepared a feasibility study for the Warfield Credit Union known as Emerald Ridge at Warfield, B.C.  Joe expressed interest and  invested in Emerald Ridge Properties Limited. This project has developed considerably but was curtailed when Warfield Credit Union becameabsorbed by Kootenay Savings Credit union.

Joe and his cousin Fred Padowinikoff  created I & I for Sawmill Maintenance Construction that offered a complete maintenance service to Sawmills in the area. Joe and Fred used their combined expertise to develop a very successful business.

Joe made friends easily and continued that personal attribute throughout his life. Most of us were blessed with his Phone calls at Christmas and other times no matter whether we were in Castlegar or on the Coast. That slow voice on the phone was always a welcome sound.

Everybody can speak for his Community Assistance. When he could recognize his help was required, he immediately made himself available. Most of us have been  blessed  by his actions.

Most of all his allegiance to his extended Family could be recognized as I am sure the family will speak to this in due course.

What was most impressive to me was his ability to handle personal crises. When he lost his newly constructed home to alleged arson, it did not take Joe long to start reconstruction in the ashes and rebuild the home better than it was. It takes a special person to be able to overcome disaster in the manner that Joe did.

He was never a man to complain about his failing health as his involvements  decreased with time.

Joe will be remembered for time eternal!

Elmer Verigin

Posted May 10, 2021 0650 hours