Notices for a sixty (60) year anniversary for the construction of the Saskatoon Doukhobor Prayer Home were sent out by a volunteer Committee who planned this event since the Spring of 2015.
A suggestion by Paul Shukin to Mitch Ozeroff at the seventy (70) anniversary since construction of the Lundbreck Hall during Peter’s Day on June 28, 2015, created the idea of encouraging the original Saskatoon Doukhobor Youth to come to the Home on Saturday, September 05, 2015 from 1900 to 2100 hours. Since most members would likely attend the scheduled anniversary the next day, Sunday, September 06, 2015, this made sense.
So it was that contacts were made with those members where information could be obtained and so some members received two notices of the event. Unfortunately, many of the approximate 175 former Choir Members could not be contacted at all due to lack of contact information.
Marilyn and I arrived in Saskatoon September 01, 2015 and visited many relatives and came to Mitch and Dorthy’s place in Langham on Thursday, September 03, 2015 to find that Jack and Jan Tarasoff from Calgary were already there. So you might say that the festivities were already in session.
Dorthy was distracted and upon questioning, she admitted that she was concerned how the food and other items would come together with emphasis on volunteers coming to help. The challenge was five (5) canners of borsch for the indicated 150 responses of people coming to the Sunday event. She decided that she would do this in two (2) stages creating three (3) canners on Friday leaving the remaining two (2) for Saturday.
Marilyn agreed to assist and so we arrived about 1000 hours on Friday to find the basement kitchen abuzz with ladies and some men. The well organized team had specialists from cabbage shredders, carrot cutters to mixers and a total of over thirty (30) volunteers were busy swapping stories as they performed their tasks. I had to quickly move aside to avoid being run over by a smiling Doukhobor carrying quart sealers of completed borsch to the Cooler.
So the group convinced Dorthy that all five (5) canners could be completed in that same day and early in the afternoon the deed was done!
So now to Saturday evening, September 05, 2015, and the anticipation as to see who would show up from the original SDY. By the time 7:00 P.M. came, there were 47 registrants. It was exciting as many could only be recognized by their name tags followed by hugs and at times, tears, Where were the young smiling faces of 57 years ago?
Mitch welcomed everyone and suggested we go around the room to have everyone introduce themselves and a bit about what they had done and where they were now. This was followed by singing three hymns and two songs from a repertoire of the former SDY. Amazing, it sounded good as the majority even though many had not sung in a choir since leaving the SDY.
Too soon the scheduled two hours passed by and the “formal” session adjourned only to continue with visiting and keeping a tally on just how many children everyone had and where they were. It was sad to note that some had passed on but the overwhelming friendship and Doukhobor love prevailed until, reluctantly all went home so that preparations to attend the Sunday Moleniya could start.
Yes, we had to arrive early to get a good seat as 150 people were expected and there was just enough chairs to seat all of them.
The Sunday morning started with a Moleniya conducted by Mae Popoff and ended in time for the meal catered by all the volunteers. The space in the lower floor was not able to accommodate all the attendants and two settings were required. It was like the old days when small halls would require multiple settings. No one complained as the food was more than ample with the usual left-overs, typical of Doukhobor hospitality.
The afternoon program opened by June Bold, Chair of the Saskatoon Doukhobor Society with a welcome from a Saskatoon Councillor Ward 2, Pat Lorje. She under-lined the cultural mosiac of Saskatoon with the Doukhobors being a significant part of that rich culture and thanked them for their adherence to the principles of Peace and Community participation.
Michael Ozeroff made a presentation on the youth choir activities that took place in the Saskatoon Prayer Home with his text as follows:
“……..60 Year History of the Prayer Home
I think one of the most notable events to take place in this facility is the very beautiful singing and a cappela style of the Doukhobors.
Over the years many events have taken place from local choirs and groups to visiting choirs from outside of Saskatchewan and Canada. Let me give you an example thru the 1950’s and following years choirs have visited from B.C. both USCC members to a youth group who visited here
from Krestova, choir from Grand Forks, Kootenay choir with spokesperson Peter Samoykoff as well as the DCA, a smaller group with Elmer Verigin as the leader then.
In the mid 80’s a peace rally was held at Dana Sask which saw about thirty Molokans attend the peace rally, and performed at the evening program.
This area was very fortunate to have a large group of youth attend the singing practice for many years. This group was formed in the mid 50’s; in 1958 Peter Kalesnikoff became the choir director with help from Ella Boki. Following this year the Saskatoon youth choir kept expanding for the next decade.
Peter and Ella were with us for one season followed by Peter and Mary Ewachiw and this year, 1959 saw the first year of our annual variety nites were held. These programs lasted a total of ten years with groups coming to perform from other areas of Saskatchewan, Alberta, and from B.C. the farthest being 1963, a bus load from Grand Forks and the Kootenays preformed. The Sask youth attended many services here in this facility, over the many years it is estimated the youth had 200-250 members form the districts coming for further education at the U of S. Mitch Ozeroff was choir director for eight years, followed by Violet Woykin.
Many religious services were held over the years, Peter’s Day celebrations, Funerals before funeral homes came on the scene, a Doukhobor convention once called the union of Doukhobors in Canada with delegates from western Canada were present.
We saw a few of our youth married with this prayer home. We used this Dom for many years to prepare for folk feast in fact on separate occasions as our pavilion and as mentioned for bread baking preparations.
We’re seen on three occasions taping of three choirs in this building the first being Saskatoon Blaine Lake choir, Double Album, Peter Kalesnikoff Director, the taping of the Saskatoon Senior choir. Mae Popoff Director and taping of the Saskatchewan centennial choir, varies from many Saskatchewan Districts Mitch Ozeroff Director.
Members from the society, on various occasions went as choirs and groups to visit our friends in Saskatchewan and as well as outside of the province, to conferences, and appearances using the prayer home as home base.
We remember the many time parents of smaller children teaching Sunday school classes, teaching singing and a number of times having the children perform on a variety of Nites. Teaching Russian classes to children and adults were also held.
We must applaud the groups before, the trusties for their enthusiasm, for these visions to build this facility. As former youth we were treated with respect they helped us and we hope this will continue with the future.
Thank You
Spasibo
Alex Postnikoff presented a detailed history on the construction of the Saskatoon Prayer Home as follows:
“………………………THE EARLY DAYS
Thank you to the planning committee for arranging this celebration and for establishing some guidelines for the length of our presentations.
In my presentation, I will try to capture at least some of the impact the founding members have had on the local community, province, and even nationally! The original board members – Bill Sherstobitoff (intellectual), John K. Tarasoff, Alex Vereshagen, Alvin Meaken, and dad – Mike Postnikoff would not have anticipated, but that happened!
I knew each of these people personally, and while I didn’t as a 20 year old in 1955 know what motivated each of them, it’s clear that collectively they were moved to provide:
– a place of worship and a place to honour tradition
– a place to express their philosophical views particularly through the psalms and acapella singing.
The Doukhobors arrived in Canada in 1899. Our dad, like other Doukhobors, was born in the side of a hill, in the village of Petrofka, in the spring of 1900.
I have often stated that our dad’s humble beginnings made me an insignificant soul, irrespect of my station in life!
Born into limited means, having been a ferry operator on the North Sask. River at Petrofka over a 20 year period and later a farmer, shaped his thinking and contribution to the construction of this Prayer Home. Indeed, the experiences of his fellow board members would have done the same. We are all a product of whom we meet and what we experience.
Suffice it to say that each of these board members were good, unselfish and honourable people who wanted nothing more than the best motives for the preservation of the Doukhobor philosophy and way of life.
While some people might refer to Doukhoborism as a religion, many would refer to it as a philosophy or “a way of life”.
As a very young child attending the Prayer Home in Blaine Lake, I used to stare and wonder what the motto, “TOIL AND PEACEFUL LIFE” meant! Little did I realize that it was this motto that drove me in my professional life!
Prior to the construction of the Prayer Home in 1955 and ’56, our parents and grandparents gathered in private homes, usually on a weekly basis in less busy farm times, to enjoy their “SPEVKY”, and to provide them an opportunity to keep their “way of life” alive. The young children often tagged along. This in no small way helped me sniff out my life’s partner!
I know from our dad’s statement around the kitchen table that the board shared many common goals including that the Prayer Home should be a place of worship, a place of gathering for young and old, a place where all could promote the annual remembrance and motivation for St. Peter’s Day, a place to welcome special visitors and a place to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of the forefathers including Count Leo Tolstoy (who wrote “the spirit of God is in each person”) in bringing us to a land of religious freedom and opportunity.
We should never forget the contributions of the Quakers and Mennonites.
As time went on we had to be thankful for the help, acceptance and recognition of our friends and neighbours the Browns, McIntyres, Waldners, Spencers, Cionas, Thordarsons, Kichulas, and the thousands of others.
Not unlike any board in the broad general community, they had to address many questions. Among them were, where should we build, how much land should we purchase, how large should the Prayer Home be to accommodate the growing urbanization of the Doukhobors, what kinds of activities will be held in this structure, and what future needs can we anticipate?
In addition to the above considerations, the board wished the Prayer Home to be a place where young people could receive the blessing and acknowledgement of the congregation as they publicly exchanged their vows in marriage.
As providence would provide, Marlene and I were officially married in this Prayer Home on October 24, 1957. Others so blessed were:
-Jack and Florence Cheveldayoff (1962)
-Alfred and Betty Kabatoff (1963)
-Ned and Alex Reiben and their spouses, the dates for which I could not find confirmation.
Weddings in the early years were usually large and often catered to by the parents of the bride and groom. Our parents hosted 450 guests at the Avenue G Hall, next to the Dairy Queen on Twentieth Street in Saskatoon.
Some 35 years ago the Doukhobor Society of Saskatoon was placed on the national stage. Two major conventions, with delegates from across Canada came to Saskatoon.
-300 delegates attended the Canadian Association of School Administrators (CASA).
-1000 attended the Canadian Education Association (CEA).
The CASA convention centered around the theme “A Harvest of Ideas”. Our Saskatoon based committee of seven wanted something unique to the West and specifically Saskatchewan. Since these conventions were alternately staged in Eastern and Western Canada, they also reflected a bit of Canada, they also reflected a bit of friendly competitions between the two regions.
How about a threshing demonstration in the middle of September, in the heart of the “Prairie Bread Basket”.
How about fresh bread from the nearby Doukhobor ovens adjacent to the threshing demonstration? What a way to observe a threshing demonstration with a warm slice of bread, butter, jam, and coffee! Have you ever seen 300 smiling
adults on a beautiful sunny afternoon?
As I reflected on the early morning and rather cool temperature, it seemed almost impossible to get the required number of loaves to rise and be ready for the 4:00 p.m. demonstration. Skilled bakers like my in-laws, Annie and Bill Kabatoff, Dorothy and Mitch Ozeroff, Fred and Mabel Ozeroff, and my wife, Marlene, went to work with resolve and determination. For my in-laws and Mitch and Dorothy, this was the middle of harvest, and Canada applauded them for their effort. The threshing demo was a resounding success to say the least!!
At the evening banquet at the Western Development Museum, the Doukhobor Society of Saskatoon played a major role as well. On 38 tables, instead of flowers or pretzels, was featured a loaf of freshly baked bread, salt, and water – this was a committee decision! Delegates by provinces, were seated at tables of 8 and the 7 committee members spread themselves among the delegates. Unknown to the delegates at each table was a ribbon attached to one chair. Now you know why the ribbon. What a hit!!! Loaves of bread went from Victoria to St. John’s, NFLD and places in between.
I sat with 7 delegates from Nova Scotia. One of our table guests, perhaps naively asked, “What kind of people are the Doukhobors?”
I replied, “They’re a lot like you and me, in fact, you wouldn’t be able to recognize one by looking at one!” I added, “They’re just common folk!”
I told you this story about CASA not because of my role as a member of the planning committee, but rather because of the dream that our Doukhobors had for their children and future generations. They wanted our people to make a peaceful, constructive, positive contribution to Canadian society, and to spread their humanitarian tentacles throughout the country and the world!
The Doukhobor Society of Saskatoon is but one important vehicle. But you, the people, sitting before me, having served in your various capacities are and have been the messengers and deliverers of these dreams.
Your collective contributions have left their marks in agriculture, medicine, law, education, the arts, business, the trades, journalism, tourism, and virtually every human endeavour known to man!
Thank you, “TOIL AND PEACEFUL LIFE”.
Alec Postnikoff…………”
William Kalmakoff presented a history on the bread-baking which the Saskatoon Doukhobors instigated as a fundraiser:
“……DOUKHOBOR BREAD BAKING STORY
Today we celebrate 60 years since the Saskatoon Doukhobor Society was formed. We also celebrate 60 years since Doukhobor Bread Baking became a public event. Actually Public bread baking began even before the Prayer Home was built.
Let’s go back a few more years. It was in 1947 that the Western Development
Museum was established on 11th street in an old airplane hanger. Throughout the years numerous exhibits were collected including a steam engine, old threshing machines,
harnesses, blacksmith shop, and even a driving coach supposedly owned by Peter Verigin. The museum was open to visitors but interest did not appear to be great. In
1954 the Museum organized a Thresher men’s Reunion which was held from October 8- 11 on a Thanksgiving weekend. There was an astonishing response as over 5000 people
attended and was documented by the National Film Board and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. People were enthused about the old machinery in action, pioneers at work and progress that had been made.
The idea of Prairie Pioneers in action became the show that was labeled Piona
Era. 1955 was Saskatchewan’s Golden Jubilee year and the event was scheduled for July 4-9. On the WDM grounds was a clay oven build by a Ukrainian man from Choiceland. The Doukhobor Society was asked to participate in demonstrating bread baking and to sell the product. Under the direction of J.K.Tarasoff another outdoor bread baking clay oven was built close to the original one. Flour was donated by the Pool and taken to private homes where the ladies made the dough then the dough was taken to the WDM grounds to a trailer to be put into pans and then baked in the Clay oven.
The 1955 Piona Era Souvenir Program indicated that at 10 a.m on the first day of Piona Era there would be the first batch from an out door clay oven and near the front of the booklet was a picture of three Doukhobor women. Bread was sold for 5 cents a slice with loaf selling for 50 cents. Society minutes dated September 20, 1955 reported that 400 dollars was realized from bread baking at Piona Era.
In 1956 Members from the Saskatoon Doukhobor Society built a Pioneer Log
house as a sample of the dwelling used by early Doukhobor settlers on the praries.
The inside was set up as a pioneer home and was used during the day having women demonstrate carding wool, spinning and weaving. That year bread dough was mixed in the newly constructed Prayer Home. Men took the dough to the WDM and then the ladies rolled out the dough, put it in pans and baked it. They worked and sang till late at night and some even slept over night in the sod house. The second year of Bread Baking 1956 netted approximately $ 850 profit.
Unfortunately, that year, just before the end of Pion-Era, the wooden under structure beneath the portable clay oven caught on fire and rendered the whole structure
beyond repair. Because the Society members were enjoying the fellowship of bread making, the exposure to the general public and the very positive feedback they were getting because of the bread and the published newspaper articles they decided to continue. Plans were made to build a three unit oven enclosed under a roof , with an attached room for making the dough and setting out the pans and space for a sales area. From then on bread baking during Pion-Era would not be affected by the weather. The unit was completed and in 1957 the net profit increased to$ 1,760.
With a permanent enclosed area, participation in Piona-Era continued through out the years, with the profit going to the Society and enabling the Society in 1961 to raise the Prayer Home and construct a basement undeme th. The provision of free flour from the Wheat Pool (52 one hundred pound bags) and butter from the Dairy Pool, Co-op, and Palm helped with increasing the profit even though a concession fee of $225 was mentioned in records for 1960. In 1961 Pion-Era board promised up to $5000 to the Society for relocation expenses if necessary to ensure that the Bread Baking remained a permanent feature at Pion-Era. Minutes of the Society indicate that on May 30, 1965 it was decided that the Society protest against Pion-Era WDM relocation. Other dates include 1966 a motion made to pay volunteers one dollar per hour worked and in 1967 the sale of borsch was introduced. 1969 motion to rent or purchase a cash Register. However in 1972 the WDM was moved to Lome avenue. The Doukhobor clay ovens were also moved to the Exhibition grounds and the Society passed a motion allowing non members to work at the bread booth. Museum and exhibition event were
combined for Pioneer days called Saskatchimo days. By the 1980’s the WDM and the
Exhibition began to distance themselves from joint celebrations and by 1990 the WDM was no longer took a part in the Exhibition activities. The Doukhobor Society continued to bake bread during Exhibition days. In 1978 the old ovens were demolished and three new clay ovens were built on the same location. The ovens were built in such a way that they could be moved and a shelter was constructed. This was made possible with a grant of $7,000 obtained from the Canadian Secretary of State office. By 1984 the bread baking income had reached $20,000 a year.
Now let’s go back to the start of Bread baking at Pion-Era WDM in 1955,
Although Doukhobor Societies had existed in various parts of the province, their members were mainly farmers and little publicity was generated except news about Doukhobor resistance during the World wars. The organization of the Saskatoon Doukhobor Society and Bread Baking during Pion-Era, the public response and newspaper and radio broadcasts depicted the Doukhobors in a very positive cultural way. Doukhobor participants were shown to be dedicated, hard working, co-operative, and had peceul relationship with each other and the general public {Toil & Peaceful Life).
I have reviewed some of the major moments in the history of Doukhobor Bread
Baking. Now to present times. The clay brick ovens and temporary ?? Structures are
still on what was deemed to be a temporary location on the Exhibition grounds. There is no longer any connection with the WDM.
At the start of Bread Baking at the WDM it was a temporary service, but there was public acceptance, some meagre money gain, and means for member cooperation.
Bread baking has become a tradition, a public demand, a source of financial gain, means to unite Society members, to encourage and involve youth and to participate in a larger public community. Hopefully as we go about our tasks, we still maintain the belief that to be useful, productive, and successful individuals we still have to feed our body, our mind and our spirit. As evident by the Display of Bread (food for our body,) Salt symbolizing attainment of wisdom of the mind, water symbolizing the Spiritual development of Human life.
In summary the Key moments in Doukhobor Bread baking appear to be:
1. The original start at WDM grounds Pion-Era in 1955, the public acceptance, recognition and newspaper publicity.
2. The building of the log cabin and showing of more Doukhobor talents (spinning wool weaving.)
3 The construction of three ovens with a shelter and serving area.
4. Move to Exhibition area after WDM moved to present location on Lome avenue.
5. Motion to allow non members to work at Bread booth
6. Grant from Secretary of State to rebuild ovens.
7. Participation in Folkfest.
8. Stay with Exhibition Board rather than WDM
9. Still located at original site on Exhibition grounds and Doukhobor Bread still in demand by the general public.
!0. Today’s celebration part of Labour Day weekend .And Perhaps in the Baking of bread the Doukhobor Motto of Toil and Peaceful Life is still as important today as it has been in the past.
June Bold was able to complete the program at 3:30 P.M. with some closing remarks. After some visiting and lingering by many who just wanted to treasure the final moments.
Many thanks to all those that assisted in organizing this event along with all those who brought food to add to the delicious borsch.
Just another blog entry of a lasting memory of Saskatchewan and especially the wealth of Doukhobor hospitality.
The above article is strictly the observations by Elmer Verigin September 05 and 06, 2015 at the Saskatoon Doukhobor Prayer Home, 525 Avenue I, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
1. Acknowledgments to the following Presenters:
a. Alex Postnikoff
b. Michael Ozeroff
c. Bill Kalmakoff
2. Thank you to the information provided by:
a. Edna Wright (Edna is intending to send me her comments on Doukhobor singing)
b. June Bold
3. Blog entry was drafted October 17, 2015
4. Emendments can be expected with time
5. Check my blog for Saskatoon Doukhobor Youth (a dated Society) for names and addresses of members
Elmer Verigin 