CCUB Trust Fund Making a Difference…
For more than 30 years, Doukhobor societies across Canada’s three western provinces have drawn from the CCUB Trust Fund to help them maintain the heritage and culture of Doukhobors of Canada. Grant applications were received by the Board on May 31 each year; funding decisions occurred at the annual meetings in July; and grant funds released by September. An October 1st intake was added for the new program, plus a final special February 1, 2023 intake to encourage projects from Alberta and Saskatchewan, both of which had funding remaining in their envelopes. From 2021 to 2023, the Board approved 11 grants for a total of $281,661.
RESULTS & OUTCOMES: The Board receives progress reports on funded projects, which have been as small as supporting monthly prayer meetings (molenya) to as large as multi-year building projects. It’s heartening to hear the good news that follows the funding! Read about some project outcomes, below.
- Doukhobor Life in Canada is a series of video resources for teachers, students, and anyone interested in Doukhobor history and culture, from our roots in Russia to our diverse lives on the Prairies and in BC today. Phase I was funded in 2021 and completed successfully. Phase II was funded in 2023 to complete the project, with work ongoing in 2024. The videos are available free online at: Doukhoborlife.ca. The experiences and lifestyles of the three main Doukhobor groups in Western Canada are presented chronologically; a personal story of a New Denver experience is included. The project is led by Dr. Ahna Berikoff for the Council of Doukhobors in Canada.
- CCUB Discovery Portal: The Portal is expected to be a comprehensive inventory and online source for information about the CCUB and the special heritage and culture of Doukhobors in Canada it represents in the three western provinces. It will facilitate historical title searches of land parcels and details about land use, settlements, industries and members and will be augmented by powerful maps in a geographic database. It will also be a share-tool allowing users to collaborate, interact and contribute by uploading records, stories and photographs of their own Doukhobor heritage identity and experience. The project team of seven people is led by Jonathan Kalmakoff. Completion is targeted for late 2024.
- The National Doukhobor Heritage Village (NDHV) in Verigin, SK received assistance for repairs to maintain the original heritage buildings and artifacts. Recent projects included the blacksmith shop and the gazebo housing the grist mill. While the lion’s share of fund-raising is done by the Village, CCUB Trust Fund grants “supplemented our revenues and through our efforts, and your gracious assistance, we can turn our attention to the finer details of our operations”, said a release from the Village.
- In 2020, the pandemic challenged societies to continue promoting our culture and heritage in different ways. The Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ (USCC) in BC was awarded funding for summer students, ensuring The Verigin Memorial Park near Castlegar, BC was maintained. Following strict pandemic guidelines, two commemorative (pomenki) services were held in the well-maintained grounds.
- USCC Video Club Digitization of Doukhobor Singing: The Kootenay Historical Society is digitizing and cataloguing a collection of roughly 5,000 DVDs and VHS tapes of Doukhobor singing performances over fifty years. The purpose is to advance knowledge about Doukhobors and preserve their history, culture and traditions, producing a permanent one-of-a-kind searchable online collection, available for free. Project lead, Ryan Dutchak, reported steady but slow progress due to the meticulous nature of the work. The goal is to begin uploading videos to archive.org in Fall 2024. Promotional material has been developed for release when the archive is launched. There is considerable interest, as people are keen to see and hear these restored singing performances of their friends and loved ones.
- CCUB Grain Elevator Restoration at the National Doukhobor Heritage Village: Built by the CCUB more than 100 years ago, the grain elevator, one of a half dozen left in the province, is part of the national/provincial Heritage Village site and requires refurbishing – a major undertaking. The engineering assessment is done and a workplan was developed. A renovation company has been contracted for this highly specialized project, with work beginning in Summer 2024. The project is being co-ordinated by the NDHV Board.
- Near Blaine Lake, SK, The Doukhobor Dugout House National Historic Site reached its goal of completing roof repairs on its Prayer Home, thanks in part to a CCUB Trust Fund grant. “A legacy was fulfilled”, according to a release from the group.
- Water Memorial Park Water Supply: Verigin Memorial Park is a two-acre garden near Brilliant, BC which serves as a prayerful gathering place and remembrance of Doukhobor leadership. It was established in 1924 and contains the tombs of five Doukhobor individuals who played a prominent role in Doukhobor history. The waterworks at the park were in serious need of repair and replacement to ensure a reliable water source for the gardens and fire protection. The CCUB Trust Fund was able to contribute partial support to this extensive project, which is expected to be completed in September 2024.
- Virtual Tour: Digitizing Doukhobor Historic and Heritage Sites: The National Doukhobor Heritage Village and Kootenay Doukhobor Historical Society collaborated on this important initiative to digitize historic Doukhobor landmarks in Western Canada, creating a virtual tour that will ensure future generations have access to accurate information about the establishment of Doukhobor communities and enterprises in Canada. When complete in 2024, the virtual tours will be available on YouTube.com, offering scavenger hunts, and downloadable.
- Cairn and Signage at Voskreseniye Village Site: The Kamsack and District Prayer Home Society of Doukhobors is erecting new permanent steel signage in a fenced area near Highway 8 south of Kamsack and a cairn at the site of this historic village, thought to be the second village established by the Doukhobors after arriving in 1899. Both the sign and cairn will incorporate Doukhobor bricks salvaged from the original prayer home and symbols of Doukhobor culture. The site is on CCUB registered land in the Municipality of Cote #271 in Saskatchewan. The signage is complete and the cairn is planned for Summer 2024.
- And throughout Western Canada, Doukhobor Societies have been enabled to hold regular prayer services with help from the CCUB Trust Fund. One society wrote, “we sincerely appreciate the funding received. This allows us to lower our annual fees, which especially benefits our senior members.”
For the latest on projects funded and work accomplished with support from the CCUB Trust Fund, please see our latest Annual Report, below.