End of Season Press Release

The Doukhobor Discovery Centre has had another successful season. Although tourist numbers were down in most venues we emerged with an increase for the 7th consecutive year. Our state of the art tracking system [different coloured pins for each month on a world map] indicates world wide visitors; points of the compass being Finland, New Zealand, Japan and Hawaii.

It is encouraging to note that eco-tourism is the fastest growing industry in British Columbia. It may be surprising to note that Statistics Canada reports Canadians spend more on cultural events than sporting events. In 2003, in BC, this was $120,000,000 versus $75,000,000. Financial encouragement of our heritage institutions is not a subsidy but an investment. The City of Vancouver now has a full time cultural advisor and has calculated that it receives a return of $11.50 for every dollar invested as subsidy.

We have had over 25 tours including Rotary from South Africa as well as school tours and major bus tours from Surrey, Seattle, and California.

Thanks to our efforts, the settlement of the Doukhobors in BC was proclaimed a National Historic Event, and the leader, Peter V. Verigin, named a Person of National Historical Significance by the HSMBC. We continue to play a role in the restoration of the Doukhobor Suspension Bridge, and had the official plaque dedication ceremony at our opening. We appreciate the City's participation as evidenced by the celebratory banners.

In addition to our own well attended exhibits, the Doukhobor Discovery Centre and Curator Larry Ewashen created several outreach exhibits. For the first time we had a Doukhobor display at the Fall Fair, a Doukhobor exhibit at the Port Moody Museum and a Doukhobor Textiles exhibit opening soon at the Touchstones Museum, as well as a Doukhobor exhibit at the Selkirk College Library. We also assisted in producing the 100th Anniversary Pictorial in conjunction with Black Press.

In March, courtesy of funding through The Leon & Thea Koerner Foundation and the Columbia Basin Trust (via the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance), we concluded a major three-month field-recording and research project concentrating on traditional Doukhobor psalms. This project culminated with a collective concert in Grand Forks in February featuring psalmists from Grand Forks, the Slocan Valley and Krestova. This project is currently continuing with a video being produced which will be available to schools, universities, libraries on DVD, in addition to shorter video segments offered on our website; the video portion of this project was supported by BC Arts Council.

The concert in Grand Forks. Visit the Psalmist Project website module by clicking here.

We appreciate the assistance and cooperation of the City in repairing and restructuring our ailing porches. This was done just in time to prevent further decay and danger to tourists and we hope that some further work of a similar nature can take place in 2009.

Interior Health has reported contamination of our water system and we have been on a boil-water notice for much of the summer. We hope the city can take control in providing potable water for our visitors and Bistro patrons in time for our opening. We will also continue seeking ways to preserve our deteriorating implements.

We look forward to continued success in the coming year. It will be equally challenging but an equally exciting one with official visitors and more plaque unveiling to look forward to.