17 Sunday Jul 2022
Posted in People
I was fortunate to know Ruby from the “Frank and Ruby Konken Family” of many Russian songs. I want to thank Ruby for sharing her story about her paternal father. Special thanks to members of Ruby’s family that assisted with editing and creating the final version. Ruby provided acceptance to post this story on my blog, today, July 17, 2022.
07 Tuesday Nov 2017
Posted in People
THE STONEBOAT CAPTAIN
It was 1983 and I was doing intermittent Project Management work for Brian McMahon who was in charge of the Travel and Industry Subsidiary Agreement (TIDSA), a granting agency for the Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Tourism. This program was to stimulate the Travel Industry and was funded by a partnership of the Federal and Provincial Governments.
Whenever Brian found any of the funded projects were not performing according to an agreed contract schedule, he would access my services and I acted as a Special Project Manager. I would go into a community and investigate what the problems were and report to Brian whether the project would succeed and / or what actions were necessary to make it all happen as per the contract with that Municipality.
I came home, to Castlegar, B.C. from an exhausting business trip, to enjoy my family and I was on the floor playing with my children and enjoying the TGIF day and looking forward to the weekend when the phone rang.
“Elmer, is that you?” and it was Brian on the other end. “What are you doing tomorrow?
“Well I certainly have my share of things to do around the yard as it is fall you know,” I responded.
“You and I are having a meeting in Whitehorse, YT., and tomorrow evening about Port Alberni. You will take the plane out of Castlegar tomorrow and meet the plane to Whitehorse in Vancouver which should reach Whitehorse by 7:00 P.M. I will meet you at the airport,” he advised matter-of-factly like as if he were telling me to sit down for dinner.
“You must be joking” I pleaded. ‘How can we discuss the Port Alberni development in Whitehorse when I don’t even know what it is that we are talking about?”
“Besides there are drawings required and other documents; it is not a practical process, Brian,” I pointed out, hoping he would agree and I could just go back to planning my weekend home with my family.
“The plans and documentation will be on the same plane with you when you get here”, Brian advised.
“There is no way around this as you will need to organize a meeting with the Port Alberni Harbor Front Committee on Monday night. So quit stalling and pack your suitcase,” he ended the telecon.
“What’s going on?” Marilyn looked at me with disbelieving eyes, suspecting that her husband was going away again and the weekend preparations with family were over.
I tried explaining as best that I could but I really had very little to go on except it was obviously a project in Port Alberni, B.C., and that I had to go to Whitehorse Y.T., to get briefed by Brian.
“Elmer, this is ridiculous” she opined and shuffled down the hallway to get started on my suitcase.
“How long do I pack for?” was the next sarcastic remark.
“Probably, Wednesday as I have to be home for a few meetings in Trail,” as I started my thought process as to what this thing at Port Alberni was all about and what I may have to do to get it on track.
Well, Brian was smiling at the Whitehorse Airport as I got into the Terminal, “you travel light, I see”
“Thanks for warning me as to where I would have to go, otherwise I would have packed a tent and camping gear,” I sniped.
“We better remember to pick up the documents at the express baggage” Brian noted. Sure enough there was a small roll labeled HOLD FOR PICKUP and away we went into Whitehorse.
Brian was a very efficient Administrator and had a room already booked for me in the hotel and suggested “I’ll see you in 208 as soon as you get yourself checked in. We will get the orientation over with before we go to eat”.
“That’s all you got” I commented at the one page schematic of the Port Alberni Harbor Front Development that had Hotson Architects title block.
“Well the grant is for $2.8 million and there appears to be some disagreement not only amongst the Committee but also between the Committee and the Architect,” Brian admitted. “The agreement is that the project must be complete and funded by June 30 next year. If they cannot execute, the grant returns to the Tourism Ministry”.
“Hey, Brian, this is October and there are no drawings, unless I am missing something, how do you expect drawing completion, tenders to be called and project completion by June 30? Don’t be ridiculous!” I expounded rather emphatically.
“So why did I have you come up here? You are to meet with this Committee on Monday afternoon and determine what issues they may have and report back to me by Friday with your opinion as to whether this project is salvageable”, Brian just carried on as was his style.
“Is the Committee aware that I am coming?” was my obvious question.
“No! You will make contact with them once you are in Port Alberni” he answered.
“So why don’t we just go there together?” seemed like an obvious suggestion as I groped with an understanding of this impending challenge.
“I will be 200 miles into the hinterland inspecting a fly-in Hunting and Fishing Lodge and then I will be visiting some other potential funding sites and I will not be available for any contact till Friday” and with that Brian announced that he was very hungry and we should go and eat before everything shut down for the night
Brian was a good host and we spent the evening watching a Hypnotist performing his feats on an unsuspecting audience. The next day I left for Vancouver knowing that there was absolutely no way I could contact Brian until Friday when he came out of wilderness.
At 9:00 A.M. Monday, I was in Hotson Architects offices on Howe Street, meeting with a very surprised Hotson who refused to provide me with any additional plans than what Brian already gave me and was even less communicative about the status of the project. He admitted, though, that he was having difficulty determining what the Port Alberni Committee wanted from this project. Hotson Architects were the Architects for the very successful harbor development on Granville Island in Vancouver. We concluded the short meeting with an understanding that he would only release information when he had direction from his client.
“I will be back tomorrow morning” I advised as I left to get on with the rest of my investigative process.
I had never been to Port Alberni and never to Nanaimo which was the local airport on my way to Port Alberni from Vancouver. A rental car and a beautiful drive brought me into unfamiliar surroundings within the City of Port Alberni.
I decided that City Hall was my best bet and asked to speak to the City Manager who sat there in disbelief as I outlined my reasons for being in Port Alberni.
“Do you have anything from Brian McMahon? He wanted to ensure that he had this all straight before he called the R.C.M.P.
“No, but I do have this plan he gave me and his address and label is on it”, as I offered same to him for his inquisitive review.
“You realize that is an extraordinary situation that you describe,” he commented. “I will need to have an emergency meeting with the Committee in order to provide you with any more information as this is entirely beyond my authority.”
“May we meet this afternoon?” I responded. “We don’t have too much time and I need to report to Brian this Friday.”
“I will make the calls to the Committee and see what can be done by 4:00 P.M. this afternoon in the Council Chambers,” he reluctantly advised.
I decided that this was a good time to inspect the site for the project and I was not surprised that it was going to be a challenge to not only complete the project on schedule but to also get the site prepared for this development. It would take a considerable amount of cooperation by everyone and all agencies to get the documents for tender into place. It would take a very organized General Contractor with experience in “tight scheduling” to get all this done by June 30.
What am I getting myself into, I mused?
As I walked into the room and counted at least ten (10) committee members in attendance which I am meeting for the first time, I could not miss noting that there was a great deal of disgust on their faces and a readiness to “Tar and Feather and roll out on a rail” this Dude that hailed from Trail, B.C., that was attempting to deride Port Alberni’s ticket to Tourism.
The meeting opened and they all stared at me as I explained the TIDSA agreement that they were signatory to and the requirements to complete on time and budget. I referred to the clause that permitted the Ministry to employ a “Special Project Manager” should there be any concern and / or doubt that completion may not be met.
“I am He,” I announced.
“So where is Brian McMahon?” was the question from the Mayor.
“I am sure you have already tried calling him and were unsuccessful,” I commented. “He is in the far reaches of the Yukon right now and will return on Friday when he expects me to provide my assessment.
“We don’t have much time,” I added.
There was an interesting man at the end of the table that just glared at me the entire time and I tried to remember who he was from the introductions and I now remembered his card as being the Head of the Harbor Commission.
“This is not going to be easy”, I tried to reassure myself as I presented the false presence of confidence to a very antagonistic group who still could not believe that all this was happening to them.
“Let’s start with Hotson Architects”, I instructed. “You need to tell him what you want in on this project so that he can develop the drawings for tender, immediately”.
“He will not do what we want,” they confided. “We are in disagreement with him and his ideas.”
“You will go over his proposal right now and let him know what your parameters will be,” I made it clear as to how the process would unfold. “I will be in his office tomorrow morning to get an update and a copy of his plans to date.”
“Do we want the “Harbor Quay” to get developed or do we just “cash in” is the question here,” I ended my presentation to the Committee. “Are we ready for the challenge?”
“Yes!”
I could feel the daggers being thrown into my back as I left the room and heard the animated discussion pick up.
There were friends in Port Alberni that I knew and I called them up as it was too late to get back to Vancouver. These friends were very much part of the community and it was good to get an appreciation of all the Committee Members and what they represented. This all helped considerably in my understanding of how I could possibly make all this happen.
I dropped into Hotson Architects the next day and it appeared that everyone was going to cooperate and so a meeting was set for the following week in Port Alberni, when Brian could attend as well.
It was that meeting that I noted that the Committee Member from the Harbor Commission seemed to passively study me the entire meeting as the Committee set up a schedule that included approval of drawings and going to tender, etc., the normal project process so that I could recommend to Brian that we were now “on track”.
After the meeting the Harbor Commissioner walked up to me and invited me to see his Harbor operation. I kept wondering how this was to “unfold” but I readily agreed to follow his vehicle down to the Harbor.
I went after him up the stairs and into the Harbor Master’s office. There behind the desk sat a smiling man with an identity plate in front of him that said:
KEN FERTUCK
HARBORMASTER
The Harbor Commissioner asked “do you know this man?”
“The only Ken Fertuck that I know was a classmate of mine in Pelly, Saskatchewan” I blubbered, not believing my eyes and twenty-five (25) years made recognition difficult.
“The same”, came the response from the man behind the desk, smiling even more now.
“Well how in the blazes did a kid from the prairies get a job as Harbormaster on the coast,” I questioned.
“Well, I just wrote down on my resume, that I was a Stone-boat Captain in Saskatchewan and they considered that to be all the experience necessary for this job”, as we all laughed uncontrollably.
It is necessary to explain to those of you who are not “Stubble-Jumpers”, that a stone-boat is approximately 6 feet x about 8 or 10 feet long built with 2 inch to 4 inch wood planks laid on two (2) 8 inch x 8 inch wood runners that is pulled behind a team of horses. Its uses on the farm are multiple with following common adaptations:
Being a “Captain” of a Stoneboat would be similar to being a “King of the Castle” as children would play. The largest body of water adjacent to Pelly was at best a slough and a larger swamp. Both of these “bodies of water” were used by youths to float a makeshift raft of loosely tied logs and pushed around with a pole in the spring when there was water. Everyone from the Prairies knows that having a nickname of “Stone-boat Captain” is quite similar to being a “Stubble-Jumper”, any such reference would clearly indicate heritage from the Prairie Provinces.
Then the Harbor Commissioner explained how he had returned from that first meeting with some “jerk” called Elmer Verigin from Trail, B.C. that totally insulted the intelligence of the Committee who had worked so hard to get the Harbor Quay Development going and now suggested that he has taking over.
Ken asked him where this Elmer was from as he only knew one Elmer Verigin and he was from Pelly, Saskatchewan. Perhaps this guy should be given a chance to prove himself.
Well we spent a great time after, reminiscing about old times and places and I found out how Ken came right to Port Alberni in 1956 and worked himself to the top by starting from the bottom “on the docks.”
The epilogue is that Ken still lives in Port Alberni to this day but unfortunately, he had a stroke and I understand that he is dealing with a handicap quite well. The project did get completed by June 30 as required with a surplus budget that was utilized for other purposes on the Harbor Front Project. The designs by Hotson Architects were in keeping with their creative ability on Granville Island in Vancouver. The Contractors outdid themselves in quality and performance. My on site Clerk of Works was a God send that ensured quality control. The Committee was an excellent group to work with.
The breakfasts in that tiny Diner near the waterfront are still a mouth-watering memory that will be hard to forget.
My purpose was successfully exercised in Port Alberni.
Brian McMahon and I made contact from time to time, later, and he was able to secure $1.3 million in establishing the Doukhobor Village in Castlegar B.C. as a destination point tourist attraction when disagreement of local politicians forced the funding to move elsewhere. That will be the subject of another story.
++++++++++++++++++++++End++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Posted by EWV November o7, 2017 from EWV Archived Files for use in his Adventures Story being composed for his family
21 Monday Mar 2016
Posted in People
This all takes place on location bounded by 16th Avenue and 4200 Grandview Drive, Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada.
There are many opinions and conclusions as to what caused the failure of a beautiful seniors housing dream conceived by a group of seniors in Castlegar, B.C.
The intent of this blog entry is to provide information for anyone who may be researching cooperative movements with the purpose of designing and delivering seniors housing. This could also assist those groups who may be researching a housing project to become better prepared for the hurdles that may arise in their path to a successful project.
The various levels of government might take time to consider removing hurdles that encumber development by “grass roots” community groups who try to be part of a seniors housing solution. This could contribute to a decrease in the current seniors housing crisis
This action is designed to provide the reader with a background so that an independent opinion can be developed.
Written from documents and observations from the viewpoint of a Project Manager, drafted and dated December 11, 2015, by Elmer Verigin
22 Monday Jun 2015
My Granddaughter’s, Abby, graduation this year (2015) from J. Lloyd Crowe High School in Trail, B.C., stimulated this fond memory of her Grandfather’s grad from Pelly High School (1958). This was further reminded by the recent tragic fire that destroyed the two storey brick Pelly Museum which was the former high school for those graduates.
The pomp and ceremony for some 168 Grade 12 Class members in the Cominco Gym, the $500 plus beautiful gowns and even a chauffeur-driven Limo for some, was in sharp contrast to the drab Pelly Memorial Hall for 13 of equally starry-eyed potential “Movers and Shakers” who could only afford ill-fitting suits and the female class members showing off their best dress, purchased at Nadane’s in Kamsack, Saskatchewan, at a sale.
There was no parade, in Pelly, and my parents came in their best Sunday dress on a buckboard pulled by their faithful horses (my family was the only one who could not afford a car).
Lloyd Davidson (deceased) was a favorite candidate for Valedictorian, which was customary for a student with the top class marks. He allowed his A average to drop at Easter when he realized that he would need to make a speech at Grad. He was not even going to attend the Grad dinner because Tony Pryslak and him did not have a date and they heard that it was customary to have one.
Yes we took a group picture of Grads and parents as well as individual pictures of grad / escorts and grad / parents which we thought was a waste of time but now are treasures when they can be found.
I recall standing to recite a poem that I had written to myself “Give Me a Guiding Light” and then shared with my Principal Mr. Parks. He suggested that I read it as part of my remarks as Salutatorian (second class marks) custom.
“……..GIVE ME A GUIDING LIGHT
Who will give me a guiding light?
Who will show me the way?
Who will teach me to have sight?
So I do not go astray
I have come to the crossroads of time
One path I must take
I call on sense sublime
Mistakes, I must not make
Great men come and go
Their mistakes are easy to see
But it is not mine to know
The mistakes that may come from me
Give me power to go alone
To use my knowledge for gain
To make all intelligent thoughts come known
And let my plainest sense not wane
Give me men who are like me
So together we may go forth
Some day the guiding lights to be
To shine like the Star of the North
EW Verigin May ?, 1958, recited at the Grade 12 Graduation as a Salutatorian Speech (uncut)……”
My parents sat across from me at the banquet table. I noted that my Dad had tears in his eyes as it was unbelievable to him that one of his blood had achieved high school graduation. His educational journey was walking through a school for one day when he was obligated to plow the field before school convened in the morning and again in the evening. This became onerous for him and he opted to the “more important” function of family survival and stayed ungraduated.
Veregin High School had only a few grads and so my cousin Nora Trofemenkoff (now deceased) wrote me a letter asking if she could come to be my escort and enjoy a ceremony that she was unable to in Veregin. She arrived that afternoon on the STC bus, all decked out in her best dress. We made a “striking” couple and me in the white sports coat that I was able to purchase with my summer earnings from working, building houses, with my two brothers in British Columbia.
My friend Nick Strukoff was an undergrad and was able to get to use his Dad’s car so that we could drive around after the ceremonies. For whatever reason, I decided to buy two packages of wieners so we could roast them somewhere that evening to “celebrate”.
So later that evening the “special” party included my other friend Fred Konkin and his sister Sonia. We arrived at the Assiniboine River near the former site of Fort Pelly and built a campfire by the water’s edge. I need to note here that this group of friends did not imbibe in alcohol so it was soft drinks, roasted wieners and buns.
I managed to eat far too many wieners (I liked them very much). The story would likely result in grads drinking too much alcohol and “throwing up”. Well I did “throw up” but it was the wieners, which my body was not familiar with, for the same result.
Not that exciting in 1958 but still a story!
June 21, 2015 in my Office at 145 – 4200 Grandview Drive, Castlegar, B.C. 0820 hours
04 Tuesday Nov 2014
Posted in People
OLD-FASHIONED FUN AT DUSTY HALL (“BUCKET OF BLOOD”)
When we reach the ripe age of 74 we keep believing that we can share stories with our great grandchildren (I am happy to admit to having one now), I would like to suggest to them how they should live the righteous life when I was young. I want to guide them the best that I am able.
Let’s take us back to 1957, when I was just about 17 and was pretty well an authority on everything, certainly a lot smarter than my parents who had not even passed grade school. They used to tell me about the raucous times that took place at some of their Dances but that things had settled down now.
So my buddies Nick Strukoff and Fred Konkin decided we should travel to Dusty Hall this one Saturday. In those times, there were many youth in the area and dances could be attended Friday and Saturday within the 20 mile radius of Pelly, Saskatchewan. There was many halls and country schools who were all trying to raise funds for some community event and so a dance was both entertaining as well as financially, a good source for these funds.
We had heard just how notorious this Dusty Hall was as it had a nickname “Bucket of Blood”. Adventure was on our minds as well as just what the girls must look like way down at this place. Its location was East of St Phillips School just off the Kissakoosee First Nations and midway to Kamsack from Pelly off Highway 22.
As luck would have it, it had rained all day Saturday and the roads were “greasy” and at best impassable for the sensible people but the “Three Amigos” were undaunted in their resolve to explore, taste and conquer territory that we had not explored up to that time.
We had “sketchy” directions to this place and believed we made the appropriate left turn off Highway 22 and realized that the road was even worse than we had imagined as our headlights tried to penetrate the fog and the absolute pitch black darkness.
Fred was for turning around but where could we do that? We stopped to consider our options when we heard what sound like fists hitting flesh and cursing. “Should we investigate” we asked each other?
Whatever was taking place appeared to be happening in the ditch. Of course we had no flashlight and were oblivious to what was actually taking place there.
“Hey whoever is there”, we shouted and the wild action ceased temporarily. “Any idea where Dusty Hall might be?”
“Just turn right a 100 feet ahead and you should see the lights a short while down on the Left” was an answer from someone.
“Thanks” as we were getting into the car the hitting and cursing started again.
So curiosity was rampant within these three lads now. “No sense going back now”
We slid and spun our way into this hall that was all lit up only over the door and the outline of cars in the parking lot with no visible people about.
“Well are we going in?” we asked each other.
“Might as well since we are here!” we were unanimous at this point.
We opened the right leaf of the double door and this is the scene that greeted us:
• A four piece band consisting of an accordion, guitar, fiddle and drums on a stage across from the entry
• They were playing Johnny Cash and Slim Whitman as the guitar player belted the lyrics into a microphone
• Benches in an inverted U-Shape with the bottom of the U to the stage
• Perhaps 2 dozen very pretty girls all sitting but looking us over
• No guys anywhere
“Wow, we have just entered Paradise”, we exclaimed in unison.
We got the nerve finally, and asked the prettiest ones to dance. They were definitely not wall flowers as it is hard to say how long they had been waiting to dance.
“So you gals are stag?” was my question.
“No the guys are all out there drinking” was the disgustful reply.
Suddenly, an entry was made by two men all muddy but walking arm-in-arm like they had been buddies forever. We surmised that this must be the guys fighting in the ditch that had provided us with directions.
As they swayed side to side (obviously from the bright lights in the hall) they kept reassuring themselves that they were friends now.
Then one of them released the other and started making his way to the stage. The other shouted, “now that is exactly what I told you not to do!”
The next thing that took place is too humorous to explain because the one lunged at the other and they both cart-wheeled as they made their way back outside to continue this obviously unresolved issue between them.
The guys started drifting in and were giving us the once over with that look that was very explicit “you guys are not thinking that you intend to pick our girls, now are you?”
The other message was clear “if you are, you will pay dearly for that privilege”
Three sports made a quick bee-line for the exit and were on our way home for a few miles when the conversation started again, “so now we know why that place got its name!”
Yes things were different then.
Elmer Verigin
Written , November 04, 2014
04 Tuesday Dec 2012
Posted in People
NOTATION LOG DATED: May 15, 2008 Armenian / Georgia Border
LOCATION: Armenian / Georgia Border Crossing
“…….At the Armenian border, we went through the usual procedure as at the Georgian / Azerbaijan border five days before:
So I had recounted the story of how Georgia became “God’s Land” with a “twist” by the Armenian Guide which went like this:
“…..the Georgians told you how God was handing out the lands to all the people but the Georgians were busy drinking wine and making toasts. They showed up late for the allotment of land. God told them that there was no more land available. The Georgians pleaded with God for sympathy to their plight as they were good hospitable people and deserved the best. All their toasts had been to God and so God relented after this intensive pleading display by the Georgians and gave them the land he had reserved for himself. So, that is why Georgia is referred to as “God’s Land”
The Armenians were also late and found out to their dismay that the Georgians had already received the best land and so God had no more to give out; therefore, this is why the Armenians got the stones and rocks for Armenia.
But Noah had landed his Ark on Mount Ararat and so the first people of God and the Christians were Armenian. After Christ’s crucification, Gabriel (I think), came out in the 1st century and was able to dismantle the pagan temples and establish the church. Gabriel spent thirteen (13) years in a dungeon, put there by a Pagan King……….”
*****************************END ******************************
10 Monday Sep 2012
Posted in People
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
05 Wednesday Sep 2012
Posted in People
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
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.
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.
“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’!
“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.
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.
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!
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:
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.
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01 Saturday Sep 2012
Posted in People
THE BIKER CEDES NO GROUND
We were awarded the Renovations and Care Additions to the St Mary’s Hospital at Schelt, B.C. in 1988. We were just rebounding after a difficult series of Manitoba projects and were looking forward to better times in British Columbia
Mobilization for this project involved a great deal of concrete forming and no sub trades for this portion of the project were available at the time of tendering and so it was decided that we look to see what was available for labor in this quite community accessible by ferry from North Vancouver. Rumors quickly spread in this close in this small town and soon many applicants came by looking for work. Along with various Tradesmen were some semi-skilled Workers who appeared to be quite capable with the proper crew.
One such young man was showed up on his motorcycle and suggested that given the opportunity he would prove to be an excellent employee capable of doing carpentry as one of his talents. He was “wiry”, strong and in good health and admitted to some knowledge in carpentry and had his own personal tools. So let’s just call him “Biker” for this story.
Biker started right from the first shift as an enthusiastic worker, willing to do almost anything and performed eight hours out of eight hours and did at least his share and more. In my routine walks around the project, I found him always on the job and I was very satisfied with his performance as a team player. All employees were equipped with safety clothing and several workers had first aid tickets as required for small crews by Workers Compensation Board (WCB as named at that time).
Biker enjoyed working without his shirt (it was hot) and preferred not to wear his hard hat (it would fall off at the wrong times he said). I warned everyone that the WCB regulations applied at all times whether an Inspector was about or otherwise and sooner or later someone will show up and workers will be cited if they were not in compliance and the responsibility would rest on the company in the end analysis. “Yes we know”, was the customary response.
One day we had a WCB Inspector and after a time, he came rushing into my office with “there is one member of your crew without a hard hat” he shouted. “That is not in compliance with Section ___ of the Act. You must immediately get this corrected or I will need to write you up ad fine you”
So I just walked out on the jobsite, directly to Biker and pointed out the Inspector standing on the raised driveway overlooking the jobsite. “See that man over there? He has the entire B.C. Government behind him in that book that he is carrying which says he is the administrator of the Workers Compensation Act and he can fine anyone who is not in compliance”.
Biker looked up and shook his right arm at the Inspector after which he put on his hardhat and started working again at form removal. I went back to my office.
It was only about five (5) minutes later that the Inspector came screaming back into my office with “he took off his hard hat again”
“Did you see me talking to him” I relied calmly.
“Yes, but that is not good enough. You employee is not in compliance and either you do something right away, will write you up, was his firm response
So I put on my hard hat and went to the Biker with “now you see that you got that fellow really upset now and he wants to fine you and me. I don’t know about you but I cannot afford that type of expense and so I have no choice but to let you go. You may work to the end of the shift or leave now. I will arrange to get your termination notice and pay from our Delta offices ASAP.”
“You mean that S.O.B. up there has cost me my job”. He was really excited and his looked defiantly right through me as he took turns shaking his fist at the Inspector and talking wildly to me at the same time.
“You were not prepared to comply with the rules after I gave you a warning a few minutes ago and I have no choice now as it is my duty to ensure compliance to the Act”, I replied calmly and Biker began gathering his tools.
The next morning Biker came back to the job and entered my office which was located in an unused portion of the St. Mary’s Hospital basement. He was always the first in to work on a normal basis. This time he walked up to me and said “I just want you to confirm that I am not to go to work today”.
“That is correct”, I replied calmly.
There was a system of corridors and so I was not able to see him leave but the next employee in was excitedly shouting “you should see what Biker is doing to your pickup truck. We need to stop him”.
“You stay here and stay out of his way while I call the Police”, and with that I made the call to the local detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Other employees noted the action to my truck and it was quickly over. The police arrived long after Biker had completed what he wanted to get done to my truck.
So we went to inspect the carnage which was apparently impacted by a large crowbar and looked something like this:
The Officer asked me for any comments with my immediate answer “where is my new crowbar. They are hard to come by here in Sechelt”
“Do you know where Biker lives? Are there witnesses? Many questions were asked by the Officer and we responded as best we could. I suggested that the Officer be careful when approaching Biker and should have assistance should he decide to go to his house.
A few days later a Representative for the private insurance company came to assess the damage and wanted to know Biker’s address. Like the Police Officer, I warned the Representative about going alone.
The Insurance Company laid charges against the Biker and the court date approached. On the day of court, my employee witness came to me concerned about the threat he had received from Biker. Words to the effect that “he should be careful as to what he says in court!” were apparently said by Biker. I immediately contacted the Crown Counsel and advised him that his key witness was threatened by the accused.
I suspect that had Biker not threatened the witness, he may have got off with a “slap on his wrist” but threatening a crown witness is considered a more serious offense than smashing your boss’s truck. The judge gave Biker a one month sentence in jail for his threat.
The insurance company got no restitution from Biker and I doubt that the Representative even went to see Biker.
I never did get my crowbar back and the truck got all repaired and returned to me in reasonable shape to travel quite a few more miles.
One can take a few morals from this story but until the WCB man showed, Biker was an excellent employee whose only crime was that he would not wear his hard hat.
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01 Saturday Sep 2012
FOOTPRINTS ON A TOILET SEAT
There are many stories about men in construction and some of the natural acts that take place. This is only one of those true stories.
Elkford, B.C. was the first of many future projects in 1973 that the Verigin family undertook away from their home base in Trail, B.C. With remote projects there is the need to provide essential comforts for men on a job like adequate washrooms and places to wash up. The camp accommodations were provided by Fording Coal Ltd (FCL) and operated same for all its employees (not all employees had houses or apartments at that time) was available to all external Contractors providing services for FCL and its employees. Since Verigin Industries Ltd (ViL) was building a Shopping Center, Hotel and a 30 unit apartment building, all of which would accommodate and used by FCL employees, ViL crews used the camp as well. The camp had showers, toilets and sinks that were quite adequate but too far away from the ViL construction site for efficient use by employees for other than board and room.
So a mobile trailer with toilets, urinals and sinks was set up at the construction site. Heat was provided by electric base board. Provided that someone made sure that the toilet paper and hand-wipes were frequently checked and filled, everyone was happy.
Elkford is at 4,200 AMSL and winter comes early and so the need for more and more heat in the washroom facility became an issue at safety meetings as the full winter averaging 45 degrees below Fahrenheit became the norm. Snow was getting higher and higher and the path to the washroom door became slipperier and more treacherous no matter what was done to keep it clean.
Soon the washroom facilities became a discussion at the Safety Meetings that was literally the full agenda. You have all heard that story about all parts of the body discussing as who was the boss? Well it goes like this:
So it was understandable that the washroom facility and its operation consumed the attention of management and staff at this jobsite when in December 1973 an emergency meeting was called with the Plumber and it was decided that one toilet (as a beginning) could be installed right away in the basement of the heated hotel. Without further ado, the job was expeditiously done and there was a quick lineup for this novelty as soon as the Plumber declared it operational and before the Carpenters were able to complete construction of a suitable toilet partition and swinging door.
There would be more toilets and sinks installed but relief of pressure (literally speaking) was a tremendous impact on productivity on this project.
Then the Safety Meetings had another issue, there were footprints on the toilet seat. Who would do such a dastardly act?
I made sure that all the employees attended the next Safety Meeting and I paid special attention to everyone’s boots and especially the soles. Yes my undercover work of taking a mental note of the toilet cover seat and its prints, became a perfect fit to George’s boots.
I needed to discuss George’s application for Apprenticeship anyway and so my request for him to stay back after everyone else left was not a concern to George.
“George, are you enjoying the washroom in the hotel basement” I asked directly?
“Very much so,” responded George.
“Why don’t you sit on the seat as in normal use” I asked abruptly?
George realized that any pretense of innocence would be pointless and so he confirmed with “I worry about venereal disease contraction. I stand on the seat as a result,” he added.
“Well George, I can confirm that venereal disease can only be contracted by sexual intercourse and so would you please stop acting like a Fur Trapper in the wilds and respect the others in the crew” I instructed. “Are you okay with that?”
“Yes” George responded apologetically.
“Now about your Apprenticeship……………………”
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Elmer Verigin 