History was made this spring - history which intertwined the fate of the Doukhobors and their benefactor, Leo Tolstoy. It was in 1898 that Leo Tolstoy asked his oldest son, Sergei to assist the Doukhobors on their fateful trek to Canada. He did so, acting as assistant and interpreter from the time of chartering the vessel to the landing of the Doukhobors in Canada. This spring, on April 26, as Larry Ewashen said in his opening remarks: ‘On this most perfect day, in the most perfect of museums, we gather once again to welcome Sergei Tolstoy on his second trip to Canada, 105 years after his initial journey.'

Of course he was referring to a wonderful museum exhibit from Yasnaya Polyana which featured Sergei Tolstoy and was now going to make its home at the Doukhobor Village Museum for the rest of the summer.

How did such an auspicious exhibit come to our shores? In 2003 a Yasnaya Polyana exhibit celebrated the 140th anniversary of Sergei Tolstoy, curated by Victoria Alexeeva and her colleagues. Galina Alexeeva mentioned to Vladimir Tolstoy that it would be appropriate to bring this exhibit to display at the Doukhobor Village Museum in Canada. Vladimir Iilyich Tolstoy enthusiastically approved the idea and gave orders to begin work on this international project immediately. With that, communication began sorting out the various bureaucratic details with the Ministry of Culture and various customs officials. The curators of the exhibit, Victoria Alexeeva and Nadezhda Pereverzeva, were especially helpful, and volunteered their professional assistance of installing the exhibit. It was especially important that Vladimir Iilyich Tolstoy, Director of Yasnaya Polyana, was able to come to Canada to officially open the exhibit, in spite of his demanding schedule.

On April 25, the detailed work, the extreme pressures, and last minute challenges coalesced into the most significant opening ever at the Doukhobor Village Museum.

Along the way, tribute was paid to Peter Oglow, founding member, and the Peter Legebokoff Memorial Library was dedicated by Dr. Mark Mealing.

The perfect day drew to a close in the afternoon with many photographs around the statue of the renowned benefactor with the guests and dignitaries. Many visitors wanted to take historic pictures at the statue of Leo Tolstoy with his great, great, grandson Vladimir, whose father Illya had helped to bring the statue to Castlegar.

Left: (Left to Right) J.J.Verigin Junior, J.J. Verigin Senior, Vladimir Tolstoy, and Mayor Mike O'Connor pose in front of Vladimir's Great-great grandfather's statue.

With the acute foresight of a visionary, Sergei Tolstoy himself in his book, provided the finest comment on the day's event in these words:

"I am happy that I have spent almost six months with the Doukhobors and have come to know them. And not only do I not regret having participated in their emigration, but I am proud to have had a least a small part in bringing it about.

J.J. Verigin Junior

It is a pity that these good people have left Russia, but their emigration was unavoidable. Naturally, the first years of their life in Canada will be very difficult, but their future is assured".

This second coming was perhaps not as historic as the first, but in many ways, was a fitting tribute to those far sighted visionaries who welcomed and assisted the Doukhobors to the Canadian shores so many decades ago.