Author Archives: everigin

Life of Seuyomma Morozoff

21 Friday Sep 2012

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MY MOTHER’S (ANNIE VERIGIN) VERSION ON HISTORY OF Seuyomma (Sam) Morozoff

(Dated January, 1990)

Note: Elmer Verigin, son of Annie Verigin, transcribed from her personal  writings using her own words  (she was a grade four graduate) with no corrections to keep the authenticity.

“……True life about Seuyomma (Sam) Morozoff. He was my grandfather and your great, great grandfather (Elmer’s note: as written to her son Elmer’s children Nona, Lori, Tamara and Kimbal).                                                                                       I had a lot of respect for him. He was a kind man, he tried to help all he could do, if anybody ask him for help, he would give his last shirt off his back. His life was rough hard life. He was born in 1859 in Russia Republic of Georgia Village of Slavlanka. He was the son of Meisha (Mike) and Poilya (Polly nee Dubosov) Morozoff.

There were four (4) sons besides Seuyomma. Their father Meisha was a drinking man. He kept drinking until his sons grew up and told him to quit.

Seuyomma never went to school (I don’t think there was school). They just learn from their parents or from who ever knew how to read and write. Seuyomma was a respectable man. He married and had 5 children of his own, and he was mayor of that village in Russia. They called him Deissatnick. I don’t know exactly what year it was, when Russia demanded that they need so many soldiers but Doukhobors won’t let their sons join the army. They burned their guns, who had, and refused to join the army (Elmer note that was before June 29, 1895 when they burned their arms). They were pulling some tickets, and if ticket (Elmer’s note this happened after the burning of arms and was the penalty accessed the Doukhobors in each family) say to be soldiers, he has to join the army and obey their laws. Seuyomma and his two brothers pulled those terrible tickets and they had to go but refused to go, so they were sent to prison (Elmer’s note: they were sent to Yakurst) for life.

Seuyomma had 5 children. His brother Pete, that had to go too, were also married and had one child. Brother Ely, was a young lad, but he had to go too. Two brothers that were lucky that didn’t had to go were Mike and youngest brother, John. Mike was married and had family, I can’t remember how many, but John wasn’t married.

Seuyomma and his two brothers were sent to prison and meanwhile first group of Doukhobors were emigrated to Canada. Seuyomma and Peter’s families were with that group. While brothers were in prison, Pete got sick and died.

Martha (Seuyomma’s wife) and her 5 children, one of them was my father Seuymeon and he used to tell us later, about sailing on the sea. He was 7 years old and he could remember when the weather was rough and the ship used to rock from side to side, old people were scared and they sit and pray but children like him had fun. They would run from side to side.

They were thirty days and nights on the water. They landed in Halifax in 1899. Lot of kind people helped them in many ways, but they had to work hard to survive. For Martha and other women like here, whose husbands were in prison was a hard life.

I really don’t know how long Seuyomma and Ely stayed in prison. When they were transferred them and other men to cold Siberia forever. There Ely met with one young girl and got married, by name of Matroniya and later the son was born to them as Mike.

There were many things happened, I don’t know exactly now and there is nobody living now that could tell us. Finally Seuyomma and Ely and his wife got to Canada the hard way. Seuyomma (grandfather) used to tell us, it was 10 years passed before they got together with his family(Elmer’s note: the approximate 100 prisoners so impressed the local Governor with their trade(s) talent in the work they performed for the Governor that he recommended their sentence be reduced to 10 years and so they used their earnings, that the Governor had decided to pay them. to permit them to travel to Canada in 1905 . Children grew up and his youngest son George burnt his eyes out. Martha (grandma) was living in some village with other Doukhobors all working together. There was Lordly, Peter Verigin, was their leader.

There was some misunderstanding and soon Seuyomma was pushed out of that village. Seuyomma was quite hurt to think he had suffered so much and being away from his family and saving Doukhobors from going to war, now he was no good any more. God helped him or otherwise he wanted to get rid of himself. He said he had three friends who really helped him: one was Patience, second was Reasoning and the third was Meekness and after he talked with them, he could keep on living.

Pretty soon he found job for himself, and after a while, Martha and their family came joined him. She worked hard too, to keep the family fed. She used to tell us later, that she washed some bodys clothes for a bar of soap. Then use to wash her clothes. They used to have dirt floors. There was no money to buy wooden floors and many had roofs made of dirt too.

The life went on and most of the children grew up and got married. Then time came when homesteads were given for five dollars and Seuyomma got homestead 4 ½ miles Northwest of Veregin but lived in village called Pakrovka but farmed on their homesteads. His second son Seuymeon was married and he had his family living together in same house there in that village. Brother Ely was living in that village but across the street. His oldest son Pete and his second wife moved to their own homestead some place North of Canora. Pete’s first wife died, when she was giving birth to a little girl. So that baby was left for Martha to look after. So Seuyomma and Martha had two big burdens, blind son George and granddaughter Nora to look after. So Seuyomma and his family were living in same house and helping them in many ways.

Little by little, everybody started moving to their own farms and so did Seuyomma and his son Seuymeon and his family too. Everything went smoothly for awhile. Then in November 1918, there was terrible Flu went around and lot of people dying and so it did happen to Seuymeon’s wife Masha died (that was my mother), and she was 28 years old leaving us girls motherless. Soon Martha had to look after us also.

That winter Seuymeon got married to a girl 10 years younger than him. Within a year, their son Alec was born to them, but they still living in same house with Seuyomma and Martha and the family. I can’t remember how long they lived like that and it was getting hard so they decided to break the family in two. So Seuyomma, Martha, the blind son and granddaughter, Nora, would live in old house and on same yard, they pulled house from other farm that was for Seuymeon’s family. I was about 13 years old and same with cousin Nora (she was the same age) when our dear hardworking grandma (Martha) died. She was 65 years old and it was 1924. The life sure changed for Nora. She had to cook and look after grandpa and after uncle George. But we lived in same yard, we helped each other a lot. Then after 10 years or so, another bad luck happened….Seuymeon got sick and died of Cancer in October 27, 1929. He was not quite 40 years old and left 7 children fatherless, 3 from his first marriage and 4 from his second wife, Alec, Sam, Nick and Florence.

Then next spring in March I got married to Bill Verigin and in April, Cousin Nora got married to Nick Chernoff. There was grandfather Seuyomma, left with blind son George. So he asked my sisters, his granddaughters (Polly and Lillian) to moved to his place and help him look after George and him. So girls moved to his place. They thought it will be better to to live there with Grandpa then with stepmother. She was young yet. She decided to get married again, and they will be on their way. So they moved to Seuyomma’s (Grandpa) place and look after their grandpa and Uncle George.

I can’t remember how long they lived like that when Lillian got married to John Sookachoff from Buchanan. Then after a year or two, Polly got married to Fred Chernoff. Then Grandpa asked his Granddaughter Nora and her husband Nick Chernoff, to look after him and George. I can’t remember how long they lived like that. When Seuyomma’s health went down and in December 27, 1938, he died. Nick and Nora and their three girls lived there for a while then bought farm of their own and moved there and took Uncle George with them there too.

When they retired, they built house in Canora. Yes, they took Uncle George along too but it wasn’t very good for Uncle George in town cause he likes to be outside but in town they can’t leave him or he might wander away. They use to put him in the hospital, if they go away for a few days and in 1972 they took him to Nursing Home in Canora and there he stayed till he died in December 27, 1978.

It used to bother Nora for giving him to Nursing Home cause she promised Grandpa to look after him to the last. But she often visit him in Nursing Home and bring him something to eat from home. I and my sisters, we would visit him too. Once in a while, he wouldn’t say anything, bet he would smile as if to say that he knew that we are there and he would stretch his hands to us. We always bring him something to eat. Even now, when I think of him, I could see him with his hands stretched to us.

I can’t remember how long Uncle was at Nursing Home. Then he finally died in 1979. (Elmer note, a conflict in a specific death date as December 27, 1978 stated above). He was in his 80s. His funeral was in Canora at Doukhobor Dom, but he was buried in Veregin Cemetery.

There are no old buildings where Seuyomma Morozoff and his son Seuymeon use to live, just good happy memories where we used to slide down the hill, when we were young.

Those were the Days!

(Elmer note: Anne Verigin was the oldest daughter of Seuymeon Morozoff. Anne died on January 17, 2003 and was also buried beside he husband Bill in the Veregin Cemetery with most of her immediate relatives.

Transcribed by Elmer Verigin September 19, 2012

History of Wasyl Verigin

18 Tuesday Sep 2012

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MY MOTHER (ANNIE VERIGIN) VERSION ON HISTORY OF WASYL VERIGIN

(Dated January 04, 1990)

Note: Elmer Verigin, son of Annie Verigin, transcribed from her personal  writings using her own words  (she was a grade four graduate) with no corrections to keep the authenticity.

“……How much I know history of Wasyl Verigin.

He was your great grandfather, Wasyl Verigin.  (as written to Nona, Lori, Tamara and Kimbal, Elmer and Marilyn Verigin’s children)

I don’t think I know everything, but I will try my best. He was born in Russia, Republic of Georgia in the Village of Slavlanka.

He was born to the Slastukin family. He was the youngest of seven children and when he was little over 2 years old, his father was killed by a horse. There was no welfare in Russia, so his poor mother couldn’t look after them all, but it happened in that village, Fediya and Pareniya Verigin had no children so they adopted him. So that is how it happened that he became to be Verigin.

He was about 10 years old (Elmer thinks this must be an error as he was already married ot just got married when the moved to Canada) when his new parents and he moved to Canada with the first group of Doukhobors in 1899, they say.

It was big freight ship. They had to clean it good before they could move in. It was thirty days and 30 nights on the water. Oh, yes, they boarded the ship in Port Batum in December 1898. The ship arrived in Halifax in January 1899. They were allowed to take limited personal belongings.

After a month long journey, they were glad to be on ground again. There were a lot of kind people helped them but they worked hard to survive.

They spent the rest of the winter in the Selkirk, Winnipeg area. In the spring they were brought by train to Saskatchewan (Elmer note, this was actually North West Territories, then)

I don’t know where the Verigins lived in early days here in Canada. Wasyl grew up, he married girl by name of Malasha. I heard her last name but forgot. They had 2 children, boy and girl. The boys name was Pete but the girl died when she was just an infant. The Malasha died and his second wife was Auxyuta, her maiden name was Chursinoff and the had 7 children, 5 sons and 2 daughters.

The oldest son William (Bill), then daughter Polly, then son John, Then Sam, then fourth son George, the fifth son Alex and youngest daughter Anne, she married Pete Popoff.

I don’t know where they lived at first but I heard they lived in Village by name of Pockrovka about 5 miles North of Veregin town on Ely Morozoff homestead N.E. quarter section 28, township 30.

There were 7 or 8 families were living in that village, 2 families Haleshoffs, Kazakoff, Chursinoff and Verigins. Each family had their own homesteads around but they lived in village and worked their land and started building on the homestead.

Fediya’s and Wasyl’s homestead was not far from the village. It was about 2 miles North of village and ir was near Whitesand River.

Wasyl build beautiful 3 storey high  house. Very few people had that kind of houses in those days. I can’t remember how many rooms this house had but I guess they had to have a lot of rooms for big family like that, Wasyl and his family, Fediya and Paraniya. Peter got married to Nastiya (Elmer’s note, nee Savinkoff) and they had also 2 children at that time and so a lot of space was needed.

I don’t remember how long they lived together in that big beautiful house. When things started to change. Pete and Nastiya and their family moved to their own farm. It was sometimes in the twenties. Mother Paraniya died, the crisis started more than ever. The beautiful house burned down and Pete and his family decided to move to Russia and they did.

His other sons build a cheap house on that place where the beautiful house used to stand and life went on. Bur Wasyl’s health started to fail. His third son Sam got married to Mary Wasenlinkoff and they had 2 children Mildred and Mike. That’s when I, Anne Morozoff got married his oldest son William (Bill) in March 6, 1930 and in 1931 May 9th our oldest son Lawrence was born and in June that summer Wasyl Verigin died at home.

I don’t know exactly how long Fediya lived afterward. Maybe a year or two then he also died. We all keep on living together. Next John got married to Vera Sookoroff, year later they had son Pete. Bill and I had second son Russel and Sam and Mary had their son Sam. Yet we kept on living together.

Polly got married to Mike Ratushny. Sometimes they lived with us and sometimes not. They had son Fred.

When Russel was little over 2 years old, when Bill and I and our 2 little boys moved to different farm to live and about a year or so John and his family moved to different place to live too. I can’t remember exactly when Sam and Mary and their family moved away from that place too.

Then just 4 of them left there, Auxyuta (mother), George, Alex and Anne. The Auxyuta died in October 03, 1953. Anne soon got married to Pete Popoff in Pelly. (Elmer note: this marriage happened previous to this date)  Then George and Alex lived there for awhile. I guess it was hard and lonely for two of them to live by themselves. George decided to finish himself. He came to town of Veregin and right on main street he shot himself. Alex lived for a while with his sister Anne Popoff in Arran, then bought a house in Kamsack. He lived there for awhile and got sick and was in Kamsack hospital for awhile. He died on 29th of March 1976.

That house on Verigin homestead, near river still there with lot of memories. Nobody couldn’t believe then that it could’ve happened like that. When there were so many going on that yard. So there was so many people, so many cows and horses, chickens, geese and pigs. Now just old house and few old barns and many, many memories of hardship and also happy days too.

Transcribed by Elmer Verigin September 18, 2012

**************************** End ********************************

Andrew Markin – Champion Cribbage Player

12 Wednesday Sep 2012

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Do You want a hand of Crib ??

Ever since I could remember, my mother would be excited when she got letters from her birth sisters and sisters-in-law married to her brothers. These letters would be read and reread on the remote farmstead where we lived. Of course, each one would be answered in her grade four English and Spelling. Faithfully, Mom communicated with her family on a steady basis.

I recall that even in preschool years, I could not wait until I to learn enough English that would permit my reading of these important letters. I would look at them all even though I could not read them but soon it was possible to do so myself. You might say that I kept in touch with all these Aunties on a second-hand basis at that time.

Although all the families involved were very important, it was the families in Calgary, Alberta that intrigued me most as I always wondered … Who were they? The local ones I would see at least two or more times a year, whereas, the others were a rare visit because of the distance.

Probably because the family name Markin was a rarity in the Veregin / Pelly area of Saskatchewan, that name seemed to be especially interesting to me. Sister Florence and Andy Markin used to be on my Mom’s lips and then there would be the occasional pictures of them and their children Allan and Diana and then later Kathy and Jerry.

There was excitement galore when one late Fall day in 1948, it was noted that the Markins and Morozoffs were coming from Calgary. Cooking and preparations were rampant until finally they arrived. I recall that Aunty Flo was beautiful with a very handsome husband Andy.  They, along with their two children Allan and Diane, came to our house on a Coupe (a two seated  car with a limited rear storage area and a trunk). I am not sure how everyone fitted in, baggage and all, but they did.

There was some mischief that Allan and Diana got themselves into and I recall Aunt Flo taking them into the far bedroom of our house in Pelly and scolding them. They must have been about four and two respectively, at that time, and I remember vividly their bowed heads from the warning they received. I cannot remember their misdeed nor do I recall if I was part of the conspiracy that got them into trouble in the first instance.

Years passed during which references were made to the Markin Family many times.    In 1957, (I believe) I was returning to Saskatchewan from work with my brothers in Trail, British Columbia by the good graces of Uncle Nick Morozoff. We drove as far as Calgary where he lived. I was then to catch a bus back to Pelly.

During the short time in Calgary, Uncle Nick took me down to Bowness to see the Markin family.  It was not long before Uncle Andy Markin asked me if I played Crib. Saying ‘yes’ was a mistake as my two uncles ‘cleaned my clock”, royally. I realized then, that this may not have been a fluke.

Later, Uncle Andy said “Allan is pitching today in Little League. He is a really good Pitcher. We should go and see him play”.  My recollection is that we had time to watch a few innings and I am not sure if we got a chance to say anything to Allan but we had to leave as I had to catch the bus… but only after Uncle Andy was able to proudly say “Allan is the top Pitcher in this league” and he looked darn good from my vantage point.

Later in my work years, many occasions took me to Calgary and almost always, I dropped in on the Markin family and occasionally, the Nick Morozoff Family. When at Markins, it was always “Do you want to play a hand of crib?” Always it was the same result and after constant defeat, I started to believe that Uncle Andy had to have had a marked deck.

In later years, Marilyn and I would call in to their new house at Christie Park and the room was all set up for cards. The board was there, the deck was there with the beautiful view of downtown Calgary as a background. The results were the same. Total annihilation no matter how many years I played that game, Uncle Andy always had the upper hand.

Unfortunately age and sickness started to show wear and tear on Uncle Andy and it was suspected that he was suffering from Dementia or perhaps a related illness associated with aging that made him despondent at times. I can honestly say that during the short times when we visited, I did not notice this although his usual restlessness became was displayed more.

At these occasions, Aunty Flo would take Marilyn shopping leaving Uncle Andy and me to follow this usual agenda:

  • Play Cribbage
  • Go to the Recreation Center and have a Steam bath
  • Go for lunch
  • Have a wine with lunch (a privilege and a secret between us that could not be admitted to Aunty as alcohol was not permitted to Uncle Andy) which we enjoyed and oft-time we became philosophical.
  • A tour which would take us to Bowness, Cousin Kathy’s house and Nephew Jess’s house which were under construction and later completed
  • Home again and more Cribbage

The end result was always the same….Uncle Andy would let me win one game in twenty just to keep my interest up.

Uncle Andy moved into a senior’s home as his illness continued and his care needed more attention than Aunty could provide. But even there, the question was always the same “Do you want a hand of Crib?” The result continued, no matter how many games were played until he tired.

The last time we visited, Uncle Andy was sitting in the “Common Room” and as Marilyn and I came in through the secured entry, he noticed us across the entire room. We came to him and he was visibly weak and fragile but the first thing he said was “let’s go to my room”. We were told by the staff that lunch was being served in a short time as the tables were all set. So we visited there but I am sure Uncle Andy would have preferred another game of Crib

His parting words were “Be happy!”

++++++++++++++++++++++++End ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If You Love Horses, You Will Like this Chronicle

10 Monday Sep 2012

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THE MYSTERIOUS HORSE LOVER

 We were working with Don Muirhead from the Department of National Revenue (DNR) in his attempt to lower his costs of maintaining the border crossings in British Columbia and Yukon. The original chance meeting in 1971 provided the joint opportunity to provide services for Border Crossings at Patterson, Nelway, Rooseville, Rykerts and Boundary Bay. The scene of this story is Beaver Creek, Yukon in 1972.

Verigin Industries Ltd (ViL) had never worked on projects too far away from the Kootenays and these border crossings were a new experience for our crews and administration challenges for me. All projects were Design / Build as a “Turn-Key” with all the responsibilities to ViL and approval and inspections by Don. The relationship proved beneficial to both parties.

The Yukon projects involved the provision of staff quarters at Pleasant Camp, B.C. and Beaver Creek YT.

There is a story on the procurement of materials and mobilization but I will deal with one incident at Beaver Creek that will be the subject of this story.

Beaver Creek is located on Mile 1220 of the Alaska Highway and I had arrived on site a few days after my crews had mobilized. After spending time on the site, the crews retired to the motel where they were fed and housed by the lady proprietor in the small community of Beaver Creek. It was the end of June an there was little or no darkness at nightfall. I had brought up fresh strawberries as a special treat from Lucy Voykin for her husband Peter and the crews. Our landlady made enough cake so that the RCMP Constable and the other Boarders could enjoy this rare treat.

So it was still daylight when I decided to retire for the night at 2300 hours. I awoke suddenly at about midnight, sensing that someone was in my room. At that time in the Yukon, no one ever locked their doors. So it was that the Landlady was sitting on my bed. I was rather taken aback as I had no idea of her intent when she explained that “a lady is in the bar wanting to see you. “ My response was obvious “I don’t know anyone here”

The Landlady went on to explain that, “This lady lives alone and is sometimes confused but asks to see you right away.” Well I needed to find out what was going on.

I was ushered to her table in the Bar and I sat down across from a wizened elderly lady who obviously spent a great deal of time in the outdoors. She was silent. As I had no idea why I was there in the first instance, I decided to ask her if she wanted a drink.  She nodded affirmatively, so I ordered a drink for each of us.

She was still silent through the first half of her beer when she asked “You are an Engineer, correct?” I confirmed with a simple “yes”

“I have many horses on a spread some distance from town”. “The situation there is that my horses need to cross a creek in the winter and I would like to protect their legs from getting cold. I need to build a bridge. I have a great deal of steel cable and  I need a design for a suspension bridge. Can you design such a structure?”

This was getting interesting! I thought about my answer while she sat patiently again deep in her own world as if I was not there.

“I do not design suspension bridges as this a specialty that some Civil Engineers undertake as there are many disciplines for Engineers available and each Engineer must understand his level of expertise and knowledge and not go beyond that as it is his responsibility to protect the public and exercise safety as his oath to the practice of Engineering.”

Did she hear me? Did she understand what I said? After what appeared to me to be an eternity, she answered, “Will you do this thing for me?”

The Landlady had warned me that the lady may act strange and perhaps she may have the beginnings of Dementia and so I was not sure how to proceed to explain that I had no interest in designing nor constructing such a structure for an unknown span with a specific sized cable that may not be the required capacity to perform under the conditions on the site. So, how do I handle it so as not to insult her and yet gallantly bow out of the scene?

“Like I said, this is not within my level of expertise and I need you to understand that I can accept most challenges in construction but in design, I need to practice within my field. I am a Builder and not a Designer.”

“Will you come with me and have a look?” she responded after a period of “deafening silence”.

How do get out of this I thought?

“ I need to leave Beaver Creek at noon today (it was 0100 hours now) and with the three (3) time changes and four (4) hour drive, should just make the plane in Whitehorse that leaves at 1900 hours today.” After a pause, I added “how long will it take us to get to your place?”

“About an hour” she responded.

“I will meet you at the motel at 0900 hours then” I offered. “We can have a look and perhaps, I can suggest another Engineer or firm to undertake the opportunity”.

With that I got up and left her sitting at the table with a half-finished beer.  I was still unsure if she comprehended my answer and intent.

My duties the next morning were to ensure that there were enough materials, equipment and labor on site to complete our contract and so I had little time to think about the lady.  At noon check out time, I drove away when I noticed her coming onto  the jobsite. “Well, too late” I said to myself and left for Whitehorse, actually, happy that it did not turn out.

My crews told me later that she had come enquiring for me and appeared to not understand why I was not there.

Is this the end of the story?  Read on for an epilogue!

Some seven years later, I dropped in to Beaverdell, B.C. for breakfast on my way to the airport at Kelowna and noted a Truck Driver enjoying the great breakfast for which this restaurant was known.

“Where do you drive and what are your more interesting routes” I started the conversation as there was no one else there.

“All over Canada and the USA” he responded.

“What was your most interesting trip?” I extended the conversation.

“One time I got called to take a cattle van to an address near San Francisco as a truckload of horses needed to be transported to the Yukon.” “It seems that this herd of horses had aged and were in need of being destroyed” The wife of this retired Doctor refused to allow this to happen as she considered them all her beloved pets.”

After spreading strawberry jam on his toast, he carried on “and so the lady rode in my cab as we drove the entire route to Beaver Creek, YT. “We stopped at a “path” access from the Alaska Highway and she led off her horses into the apparent wilderness”

On his third cup of coffee, he added, “I was prepaid by her husband before I left San Francisco and so had no reason to hang around”

“How do you like that story?” he ended.

“I met that lady at Beaver Creek, YT, some seven years ago when she wanted me to design a suspension bridge for her horses,” I ended to a puzzled look.

Take that for a coincidence!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++ END

 

In Memory of Allan Morozoff

09 Sunday Sep 2012

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ODE TO ALOIYSHA PARVATIYA KALOOSHA (Allan Morozoff)

Of a long line of Morozoffs he came

Of true Doukhobor stock was he

Ever curious to know more of his name

Always searching for more history

Like father Alex and so was the son

Ready to make all laugh with a joke

Meet him and your heart was won

His humor was dry when he spoke

His costume choice was rural and simple

His announced himself as Aloiysha

And the cheeks would pop with a dimple

And added, Aloiysha, Parvatiya Kaloosha

The pickings on the farm were slim

Brother Lawrence he left and from Tolstoi

His ingenuity and wit went with him

Moose Jaw, Vancouver and Calgary was his to enjoy

Many pursuits were his to try and follow

Until materials testing came within his sight

In all types of soils he did wallow

Taking to Almor Testing with all his might

He dreamt of flying and looked to the sky

And saw birds suspended way up there

The boy from the farm said “I too could fly”

Go to the farm, to fishing and anywhere

First learn aerodynamics then buy a plane

Then to study and learn from the best

Soon a license to fly, Aloiysha did obtain

His love for planes and you know the rest

For people and their buildings, there on the farm

Nostalgic memories came close to his heart

He only purchased those to preserve their charm

This is the way he would do his part

“I will build myself a Retreat”, he uttered

“Yes I will duplicate the former Shkaratoff ‘stead”

Beside White Sand River many days he puttered

“Maybe I will call Cousin Elmer and use his head”

“Elmer, come quick, Tey Brat Moi

For two Committees have been coming here

One is called Noshtoh and the other Oi  Ya Yoi

They have told me about all I needn’t hear”

His creation we inspected there by White Sand

It needed to be blessed in the usual fashion

Twined our arms, lifted glasses hand to hand

Aloiysha, proudly, flaunted his passion

So I have come to the end of this little rhyme

Our intent is to remember a friend, with this toast

Let us raise glasses and think of another time

When Aloiysha Parvatia Kaloosha was the most!

************************* End ****************************

Hold your loved ones close today

09 Sunday Sep 2012

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HOLD YOUR LOVED ONES CLOSE!

HOLD YOUR LOVED ONES CLOSE TODAY,

WHISPER IN THEIR EAR,

TELL THEM THAT YOU LOVE THEM

AND YOU’LL ALWAYS HOLD THEM DEAR.

FOR TOMORROW IS PROMISED TO NO ONE,

YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE,

AND TODAY MAY BE YOUR LAST CHANCE

TO HOLD YOUR LOVED ONES TIGHT.

Author unknown

(transcribed from a quotation that sister Mary had at her house in Benito, Manitoba as taken October 02, 2010 at 1025 hours)

THe Game of Life

09 Sunday Sep 2012

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HOLD YOUR LOVED ONES CLOSE!

DEAR GOD,

PLEASE HELP ME BE A GOOD SPORT IN THE GAME OF LIFE. I DON’T ASK FOR ANY EASY PLACE IN THE LINE-UP, PUT ME ANYWHERE YOU NEED ME! I ONLY ASK THAT I CAN GIVE YOU 100% OF ALL I HAVE. IF ALL THE HARD LINE DRIVES SEEM TO COME MY WAY I THANK YOU FOR THE COMPLIMENT. HELP ME TO REMEMBER THAT YOU NEVER SEND A PLAYER MORE TROUBLE THAN HE OR SHE CAN HANDLE.

HELP ME, O LORD, TO ACCEPT THE BAD BREAKS AS PART OF THE GAME AND MAY I ALWAYS PLAY BY THE RULES, NO MATTER WHAT THE OTHERS DO. HELP ME STUDY THE BOOK SO I’LL KNOW THE RULES.

FINALLY, GOD, IF THE NATURAL TURN OF EVENTS GOES AGINST ME, AND I’M BENCHED FOR SICKNESS OR OLD AGE, PLEASE HELP ME TO ACCEPT THAT AS PART OF THE GAME, TOO. KEEP ME FROM WHIMPERING OR SQUEALING THAT I WAS FRAMED OR GOT A RAW DEAL. AND WHEN I FINISH THE FINAL  INNING I ASK FOR NO REWARDS, ALL I WANT IS TO BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT I PLAYED AS WELL AS I COULD AND THAT I DIDN’T LET YOU DOWN.

(transcribed from a quotation that sister Mary had at her house in Benito, Manitoba as taken October 02, 2010 at 1015 hours)

Jotting from 50th Wedding Verigin Family trip to Hotel Rui, Mazatlan, Mexico

06 Thursday Sep 2012

Posted by in Family

≈ 1 Comment

NOTATION LOG DATED: Wednesday, December 28, 2011, 1035 hours

LOCATION:  Panchos Restaurant,  Mazatlan, Mexico

“……I am having a cup of coffee in view of the beach. The setting includes many families enjoying breakfast overlooking this sheltered cove. There are protruding rock reefs, rising some 200 feet out of the water. Rolling waves continue to wash the sandy beach. Obviously a private area with some condos competing with businesses.

The truck taxi (Mexican Limo) , dumped us off at this upscale row of shops with Panchos at the end. Granny, Nona, Sean, Kayla, Allie, Kara and Garrett and are already doing their shopping and Gramps is immersed in the atmosphere of this obviously very popular restaurant.

Mazatlan means “Deer Place” as was named by the original natives. Apparently fishing was the original economic attraction but now tourism and vacationing has probably surpassed that original purpose.

I just met a Ukrainian / German couple from Edmonton that is on the same Sun Wings tour as us. She is an RN and he was originally a farmer, somewhere East of Vegreville, AB. Apparently his health started to deteriorate and they were able to sell their farm some 15 years ago. She is now retired as a Care Nurse so it looks like they are enjoying their retirement. 

Canadians are well respected here. The exchange is higher for a Cdn dollar that the US dollar. No matter where we go there are smiles in abundance.

If there would be any complaint, it would be to suggest that the weather could be hotter but certainly the sun is out although obscured by the light cloud cover, just scattered enough to shade the sun so that a jacket would be preferred attire for most Mexicans. The Canadians and Americans are not to be denied the absence of snow and below zero weather to celebrate by wearing wearing short sleeved shirts and shorts.

My hearing aids appear to have succumbed to the humidity and my right aid has given up the ghost but my left aid is desperately trying to maintain some reception. Oops, I just tried to test whether I am getting better than nothing out of the left aid by pulling it out. Bonzai! The damn thing started to receive normally. So there you go, faith has prevailed over depredation (not the best word here but I could not find a word opposite of faith right now).

I note the place is filling up and many patrons are waiting for a table. I am using up space and I gave up my place in respect for the premises.

I am now sitting on a concrete handrail at the street entrance to this “shopping centre”  On the way here I passed a place selling “Ponchos”. Everyone seems to have purchased one in our group and Marilyn wanted to buy one from the Beach Vendors at the Rui. The prices ranged from a high of $25 down to $15 depending on the ability to bargain. I decided that nothing more than $10 will satisfy me.

The hapless merchant that I had passed in this Mall tried Mex $150 and I offered Mex $100 (about 11 Mex $ to the Cdn $1). He countered with Mex $120 and I would not budge. He then laid on $Mex $110, suggesting that he was only making Mex $10 on the deal. I continued past him on to my location now. It will be interesting to see what happens as I have time is on my side and a definite lack of interest in the product. It’s like hunting game, it is wise to stop hiking around in the bush but stop and stay in one spot. Sooner or later the game, that knew you were there, will come out to see what you are up to and walk by.

The merchant knows I am here and he is planning his next move on me.

Who will be the winner? Actually Mex $110 is about Cdn $9 and a good deal.

I see him discussing it with his neighbor, I am sure. I will give him some more rope!

I am trying to get the name of this fronting street but they are “chinsey” on the signage posts for some reason here. Maybe it’s just a long street as I do not see an intersection anywhere.

Across the street is the “Sea Shell City Museum”. This is exactly where we are to meet the infamous Taxi Driver that Nona had engaged in a contract for Mex $150 return trip from the Rui. A good rate since the posted rate at the Rui is Mex $180 one way. It is 1130 hours now and the appointed time to meet is 1300 hours.

People watching is a great past time for me. I find it so interesting to study all the various shapes, sizes, demeanor, dress, color and preoccupation. Nothing more interesting than people.

Some are in a hurry, obviously with purpose. Others just stroll, enjoying the moment, perhaps shopping.

1235 hours

I decided to walk around. Across the street was a narrow opening that turned out to be the entrance to an entire array of shops with similar “junk” as everywhere else.

So I was checking out the “panchos” and an aggressive sales lady,who must have envisoned a potential sale where otherwise there was nothing happening. She started at US$18 “but for you US$15”. I was a fool to respond that US$10 was my top offer. She went down to US$14 but I was unmmovable.

She slipped away with “un momento, senor” to check with her boss and came back with US$12, “two for me and two for you, plastic handbag included!”

I started for the exit when she uttered another “un momento” and came back with the “boss lady” who decided that I could have my pick of color for US $10. I was stuck because I really didn’t need a pancho but the girl did a premium class sales negotiation and I could not refuse.

So I got myself a poncho!  I am now like everyone else in the family group.

The original merchant was a bit cheaper at Mex$110 but I couldn’t go back after all the waiting and scheming.

So I had an interesting experience in Mazatlan. Especially when Marilyn arrived with a purchased poncho for me which she bragged was US $12. Well okay!..……….”

******************************END ********************************

A tribute to Pete Oglow (deceased) and permitted in this Blog by his son Ivan Oglow September 05, 2012

05 Wednesday Sep 2012

Posted by in People

≈ 7 Comments

A REAL PETE

Jack Charters, a well-known local Writer, offered this statement of respect at Pete’s funeral:

“….To Pete, the idea was an Action Plan and he immediately set out to create what was conceived…”

That is the way I knew Pete Oglow (deceased). No matter how we met as

  • A chance meeting with “How are you?”
  • A phone call with “What are you doing? Can we you come down and let’s talk”
  • A discussion after the many common get-to-gathers at various community meetings
  • A social occasion

There would always be that statement “what do you think should be done about___?___” There it was, this matter needed to be discussed. The discussion never ended without an action plan as to what the next step would be.

Yes, I knew that I would get involved in whatever the plan was as Pete asked questions that only a yes answer could be the answer Well you now know the ability of this man to get people involved in doing things he considered important.

There is no intent here to write a biography about Pete but just some glimpses and vignettes of the various events that we had mutually enjoyed over the fifty (50) odd years that I knew Pete and his family as we were neighbors for many of those years. These incidents are not in any particular order of significance nor sequence but only as they come to my mind.

  1. In 1969 he met me in front of the Liquor Store in Castlegar on a Saturday afternoon when my guard was right down and proceeded to ask a series of quick questions:
  • “Can you draw plans?”
  • “Do you believe that a Doukhobor Village should be resurrected?”
  • “Would you like to accompany my brother Bill and tour some of the remaining original villages?”

Of course the answers to these questions were a naïve, yes.

“Well Bill and you will go tomorrow and visit Glade, Shoreacres, Ooteschinia and Pass Creek Villages and take measurements”.

There it was, I was committed without too much ado. Slick? Yes, very much so!

That started many years of volunteer time working beside Pete and many other dedicated people to build a full scale Doukhobor Village as a Destination Tourist Attraction, across from the Castlegar Airport.

That involvement meant many years on the Board of Directors with several terms as President. It was a challenge from fund-raising for construction to funds for operation which were much more difficult.

Throughout all this entire time, Pete dedicated his time, resources and money to achieve the end result, in a tireless and a total committed fashion.

There is a long story about this project that deserves a future article in itself which I am committing to write at some time later.

  1. The last two-storey unit in the original Doukhobor Village was left to construct and it appeared that all grants and other funding had disappeared. Pete called me in for a drink of Scorch and conversation. “Elmer, how are we going to complete this Village?” It was the drink or perhaps a surge of intuition that caused me to suggest that perhaps a direct approach to the British Columbia government was in order. “You have to go to the Minister involved directly to get the cash necessary”, I suggested.

“Well let’s do it, “Pete responded matter of factly and immediately set the wheels in motion by suggesting “get in touch with them and let’s go see them!”

There I was committed again to an obligation which I could ill afford at that time of my life.

“Pete, I think the Provincial Cabinet is travelling the Province and has a scheduled Meeting at the Inn of the South in Cranbrook from what I saw in the Trail Times,” I recalled.

“Well get let’s go and see them”. The idea and the action were synonymous for Pete.

The weekend that I was scheduled to watch my son Kim play hockey in Spokane, Washington, was now compromised by a trip to Cranbrook and so I made a deal with Pete, that early in the afternoon that Saturday, I would have to leave so that I could be with my family that evening at least and watch a game on Sunday.

We were off on separate vehicles and upon arrival at the hotel, immediately we started the process of trying to arrange appointments with whichever Minister we could. A meeting with the Highways Minister and the Mines Minister were all that we were able to accomplish by 4:00 o’clock but they both advised us that they had no resources for a project such as the Doukhobor Village and we would need to see the appropriate Minister.

“I cannot stay longer. I need to go,” I advised the disappointed Pete.

“What am I supposed to do with these seventeen (17) wooden ladles and one (1) huge ladle which I made for the Ministers and Premier?”

“I don’t know,” I was getting tired and had enough of all this as we were walking down the hallway of the hotel looking for the exit. Just then I noticed the Press Secretary for Premier Bill Bennett talking to someone from Press, of course. I grabbed the large brown paper bag from Pete and offered it to the Press Secretary.

“We are from the Doukhobor Village in Castlegar. We wanted to meet the Premier but were unsuccessful in arranging an appointment. Pete crafted these ladles for the seventeen (17) Ministers and the large one is for the Premier. Can you pass this along to them?” I continued on my exit.

“You can make the presentation yourself at the Dinner tonight,” was the quick response.

“I am sure you have a full program that would not allow for this”, I countered and again, tried to leave.

“You are the program now as our guests,” the quick-thinking Press Secretary concluded. “See you at 6:00 o’clock in the Banquet Room!

“Pete, that is fine, you attend the banquet but I have to go now”.

“No, you need to be here and help me,” Pete pleaded.

And so there we were sitting on this table with a few Ministers and chatting like “old hats” about many matters that were affecting the economy of British Columbia when the Press Secretary stood up and began introducing the representatives from the Doukhobor Village in Castlegar.

“Okay, Pete, you go up there and make the presentation”, I started pushing him when he responded with “I made the spoons but you do the talking.”

There was no way that ‘you can push or pull a stubborn mule’ they say, so I got up with the large brown paper bag and asked for the Premier to come forward and accept a gift. I went on about how at the Doukhobor Village in Castlegar, where the best Borsch was made, and that the Kootenay Doukhobor Historical Society (KDHS) is inviting the Premier and all his Cabinet for a ‘free lunch’, hitting on the Premier’s favorite by-line and then offering the largest ladle for him to dispense the Borsch to all his seventeen Cabinet Ministers when they came to the Village.

With smiles abounding, Premier Bennett, responds with “there is no free lunch, Elmer. You know that! So what do you want?” as he accepts the gifts.

“Premier Bennett, the KDHS has one more building left to complete the reconstruction of the Doukhobor Village and you can bring a cheque for $120,000 with you when you come”, I bravely offered the challenge, thinking that I might as well ‘throw the line out!’

“Well there you go,” the Premier responded with clapping and guffaws, etc., which indicated that the assembled group was enjoying all that was transpiring.

I said my adieus to Peter and we parted company at the Kingsgate Junction as he carried on home and I to Spokane.

About three (3) months later, I get a call from the Premier’s Staff that advised me the Premier was going to be in Castlegar and could I meet him at the Doukhobor Village. The man was short on information but I decided to take the positive approach and asked Pete Samolayoff to bring his Stanley Humphries Youth Choir out along with Pete.

Yes the Premier did bring a cheque in the amount of $120,000!

Another example of Pete taking the ‘idea as the action’!

  1. Another time Pete just broke out in conversation, “Elmer, we need to pave the access roads at the Village. There is no way that a Tourist Attraction can be operated in the horrid conditions of the access roads along with the dust. Something needs to be done!” This was typical with Pete. There is the situation and so there needs to be some action right now and in his mind, the action must take place.

“I hear that the Highways Minister Alex Fraser is coming to the Kootenays. Maybe I could convince him to drop in to the Village”, again I naively was being brought in by this man.

With a bit of good fortune and some finesse, I was able to convince Fraser’s Staff that it was absolutely imperative that Fraser, his Deputy Minister and entourage drop into the Doukhobor Restaurant for a bowl of Borsch before they fly off back to Victoria that day.

So it came to pass that the two men and Don Muirhead, the local Highways Manager were provided with the hospitality of fresh Borsch and home-made bread from Harry and Vera Voykin and the ‘chit-chat’ carried on with the wise Alex suggesting that there as more to this than a social call. “Did you lose the shocks on the car on your way in” I started?  “Rather a decrepit exposure for a Provincial Tourist Attraction isn’t it?” I carried on.

“What’s involved?” Alex threw it back at me between buttering the bread and wiping his lips.

“The entire collection of roads need pavement, all the way around the Kootenay Gallery and Doukhobor Village would be just fine,” I responded. “Might as well go for the works rather than piece-mealing the request”, I thought.

Alex turned to Muirhead and asked if he has any excess asphalt ‘kicking around’.

“You’re the Boss,” Muirhead responded. “If I am supposed to have excess asphalt, than I will certainly ensure that I have,” he ended.

“Well see what you can do,” relied Alex and his Deputy as they stood up and took the brown paper bags, accepting the customary Doukhobor hospitality, by taking a loaf of bread and a quart of Borsch home to their families as souvenirs and off they flew.

The roads got paved and Pete went from the idea to the action.

  1. Pete was a very religious man and followed the Doukhobor Philosophy diligently and faithfully. He also believed in the spiritual leadership qualities in all the Doukhobor Leaders without question.

When the Land Question was finally settled and the British Columbia Doukhobors could purchase the confiscated lands from the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB) during the imposed foreclosure by Northwest and Sun Life Trusts of 1939.  In the late 1950s and 1960s, substantial blocks of land were set aside for future partition, disposition and purchase by Doukhobors.

John J. Verigin Sr., the then Leader, had asked certain select Doukhobors, in various parts of the Kootenays and Boundary, to ‘hold’ some large parcels pro tiem (for a time) until the necessity would present itself for future Doukhobors to purchase. Such parcels were under the trusteeship of the Voykin / Diekoff families in Pass Creek, the Kabatoff family in Oostechinia, Pete Oglow for over 900 acres (Blahadnatniya or Champion Creek) and various families in the Boundary area.

True to his dedicated beliefs, Pete faithfully paid the taxes on his responsibility (then entire 900 + acres that was the original villages of Blahadatniya or Champion Creek), well into the early 1970s and then went to JJV Sr and wanted to pass over the land to the Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ (USCC), the successor to the CCUB. All he wanted was the value of taxes paid as well as other expenses which was a small amount. After many frustrating attempts, the title finally became USCC and Pete relinquished his ownership, without any other compensation or formal expression of gratitude from the USCC.

The others eventually kept their ownership as their right to sell and / or subdivide for their own personal benefit.

I witnessed public disdain and personal criticism of Pete for this and other unspecified reasons from the USCC which was totally unfair to someone that consciously, met the commitments and responsibility that he had made to his Leader in the traditional fashion.

I found this attribute of Pete something that impressed me and caused me to note this and consider as him as a ‘Role Model’ for my involvements with social and religious matters.

  1. Pete was always candid about his birth and enjoyed explaining how he came to this world while his parents and his older brother were travelling on a train from Veregin, Saskatchewan to Brilliant, British Columbia in 1909. So he is still not sure whether his birth certificate should have recorded, Saskatchewan, Alberta or British Columbia and then again, which community or municipality

He would get that funny look on his face and then carry on with his other stories.

6. There were the stories about his early days learning construction from his talented father and other contemporaries. The days in taking contracts to build houses in Trail that included excavating the basement by shovel and wheelbarrow, mixing the concrete by hand and the rest of the construction with hand tools.

Amazing feats now when we think of it!

  1. Watching Pete taking the various species of wood and setting them aside to dry in sawdust slowly so as not to check the wood. Then doing the preliminary fashioning, more curing and finally sanding, treating and final polish before the finish product of all types of spoons ladles, various furniture items.

He was especially proud of the tables he had cut from burls with the twisted natural tree trunks that he had searched and found. The special table with all the Doukhobor Leaders embossed in lacquer that still stands today at the Brilliant Cultural Center.

Most of his work was donated to all kinds of events to illustrate to the larger community, the depth and capacity of the Doukhobor Craftsmen.

8. He was an enthusiastic participant in a mission by the Council of Christians and Jews when they made a special journey to the Holy Land with participants like the ArchBishop of Canterbury, the Pope and many other world Leaders including John J. Verigin Sr.

Upon his return, he made some special wooden tributes to each of these world leaders and had then delivered to them by special courier, all at his expense. His message was simple but a somber wish for Peace in the World.

8. He participated in the first major trip of Doukhobors back to their homeland in Georgia to deliver a plaque that commemorated the Burning of Arms on the actual site where the event took place in 1895. This was a very difficult task as the “Iron Curtain” was still in place and travel anywhere in Russia and its Satellites was near impossible. Pete used his own resources and that of his contemporary, Pete Konkin, to make it all happen.

Again, it was just something that needed to be done and Pete was ready to do his obligation to enable a necessary event in history.

9. The Kootenay Gallery of Art History and Science was originally a Federally funded project and named Exhibition Center that was created with the ingenuity of Bill Merrilees one of the Founding Members of the Kootenay Doukhobor Historical Society. He had heard about funding for seven (7) such projects in Canada that would display the artifacts from the Museum of Canada in Ottawa as an objection to decentralize and share with all Canadians.

Bill was successful in the original grant, but by the time it got awarded, a few years later, costs had doubled. Enter Pete and his flair for “making something out of nothing” and the challenge was set. Pete was talking to everyone and got the local MLA Chris D’Arcy to work on a grant to get more money from the Province along with many local Suppliers and volunteers and the project got started.

Site grading is very expensive on all projects and it was no different in this instance. There was no budget left but it needed to get done otherwise the total effort was for naught. Pete went to see Mayor Audrey Moore of Castlegar to request City machinery be donated. He now had the machinery but the machinery insurance required City Employees to operate them and there was no funding for that cost.

So Pete went to talk to the City Workers about donating their time after hours and a convincing man he was because soon the job was getting done with the expertise of the City Works crews. Pete would ensure that the Workers all got “treated” royally after their contribution. He even got the Workers enthused to cook hotcakes and a fund-raising breakfast in the end.

What can one say?

9. The Parkside Villa, thirty-five (35) units of seniors housing was the first project undertaken by the Doukhobor Benevolent Society in Grand Forks in the early 1980s. Prominent Directors were Pete Oglow, Pete Bloodoff and Pete Popoff along with several others that did not attend meetings too often.

I was asked to be the Project Manager and get all the necessary work like drawings, budgets, etc., organized along with the tendering process before construction.

It was a treat working with these three (3) seniors as they were dedicated to the end result and worked tirelessly to that end. I nicknamed them the “TRIPLE PETES” as they definitely were a team and fearless in their commitment to success of that project that no end of challenges.

The project was designed for a location just below the Catholic Church in Grand Forks but a rezoning public hearing had residents object very convincingly so that the application was rejected.

Frank Bertoia, the Regional Manager for British Columbia Housing in Cranbrook, decided to take matters into his hands and met with City Council and advised them, in no uncertain words, that they had one week to find a parcel of land that would accommodate this seniors project otherwise it would be built beside the USCC Grand Forks Cultural Center.

And so the story unfolds to a location beside the former Grand Forks Airport on the West side… Although the design was for a sloped site, there were no funds to redesign this project and so the siting on the new site was orientated the best that could be done by the Architect Pafford Clay.

Financing was arranged through the Carpenters Union Retirement Fund under the recommendation of Pete Bloodoff a retired Carpenter. The Tenders were called and Bill Pepin was low Tender within the budget. A second tender, a union bid, was 50% higher.

Then another challenge unfolded as the Carpenters Union advised that their financing would not be available unless the high Tender (Union certified) would get the award. Of course, this was not possible as the budget would not permit this.

Pete understood contracting and union challenges and so the Society became the Contractor and engaged me to manage the construction. Another Mortgage Company was contacted and with the CMHC Guarantee, financing was accessed.

Again, it was Pete who was able to provide the leadership in this first seniors project sponsored by the Doukhobor Community and make it happen!

There was no picket line in the end analysis.

10. The human side and caring part of Pete became very evident when his wife Mary was crossing a marked crosswalk from the Grocery Store over Columbia Avenue to the Oglow Subdivision where Pete and Mary lived. A car travelling along Columbia Avenue accidentally struck her and threw her body a great distance that resulted in many injuries and broken bones.

Her battered body was transported to the Trail Regional Hospital with Peter by her side.

She regained consciousness and entered various times of unconsciousness. It was at one of these instances that Pete asked Mary “are you leaving me?” She immediately awoke to reassure him that “not yet.” Pete never left her side for a lengthy time, assisting her to eat and all other necessary care that Mary was unable to perform herself.

He then continued to nurse her at home until she was able to walk even though all the Doctors predicted that she would not.

It is hard to imagine that a “Macho Man” like Pete would display such loving care for his one and only mate.

11. Pete finally succumbed to old age and had to leave his wood-working tools and love of the wood crafts in his home and was confined to the Trail Hospital. His request to my wife Marilyn, was that she find a picture of Mary and place it unto a necklace so that he could have her close to him at all times.

Marilyn did so and Pete wore this necklace right to his dying day.

12. Pete was always interested in other Doukhobor-initiated projects and assisted to establish White Birch Manor the Lower Mainland Doukhobor Benevolent Society that was able to construct forty-eight (48) units of subsidized seniors housing on 80th Avenue and 120th Streets in Delta, B.C.

He was very accommodating in permitting the constitution of the Doukhobor Benevolent Society to be used as the fundamental constitution of the fledgling Society.

His continued encouragement was evident when he travelled at his own expense to the opening ceremonies of White Birch Manor.

13. Pete had earlier assisted in helping the Doukhobor Cultural Association to build Rosewood Manor, a ten (10) unit assisted seniors housing project on 2nd Street in Castlegar, B.C. under the banner of the Doukhobor Benevolent Society

Every way and anyway, Pete was always there with encouragement and advice.

14. When Pete heard that the Doukhobor Cultural Association was considering building a Retreat at Whatshan Lake, Pete again encouraged and gave advice as to how this might be accomplished.

Pete visited Whatshan Lake Retreat several times during the construction:

  • Once with John J. Verigin Sr during construction to encourage all the volunteers
  • Again with his three brothers, Bill, Nick and Paul, when they all contributed a cash donation of $500 each for a total contribution of $2,000 to the construction

For the opening celebration, Pete carved a large ceremonial serving ladle and it hangs there in the Meeting Room alongside his grandson’s smaller ladle as an emblem of Doukhobor craftsmanship.

***********************End*********************