A2 Thursday, May 21, 2020
West Kootenay Advertiser
History
Doukhobor jam was popular across Western Canada by JONATHAN KALMAKOFF
Last in a series on the Doukhobor jam industry Kootenay-Columbia Preserving Works products were distributed and sold throughout Western Canada, where a large, ready market existed. Between 1911 and 1927, the secretary-treasurer and manager sold products on behalf of the company, while by 1928, a sales division was formed. From July to October of each year, when the production season was underway, company representatives travelled throughout the Canadian West to transact sales with chain stores and grocery wholesalers for the season’s output. The sales agent from 1928-38 was William J. Soukoreff, whose visits were noted in various Prairie news-
papers throughout this period. As orders were placed with third-party outlets, the factory workers loaded carted cases of jams and preserves from the shipping floor to the rail platform and loaded them on rail cars on the Canadian Pacific Railway line adjacent to the factory. Each rail car carried between 400 and 500 cases (20,000 and 24,000 pounds) of products. They were then shipped to destination points east and west. As a result, K.C. Brand and affiliate products could be found in every major city in Western Canada, including Vancouver, Nelson, Creston, Cranbrook, Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg and Brandon. Some well-known
Surviving buildings on the site of the short-lived Kootenay Columbia Preserving Works factory at Grand Forks are the old boilerhouse, cafeteria, and grainery, now a private residence. Photo: Greg Nesteroff retail establishments White Stores, Met- distributed and sold its rectly advertised its food products brought jams sold under the that carried the prod- ropolitan Stores, and products through the products through local extraordinarily high Brilliant Brand and ucts included T. Eaton O.K. Economy Stores, network of CCUB newspapers. After prices, and the aver- later Household Brand Co., Hudson Bay among many others. trading stores estab- 1915, it ceased doing age retail price took hovered between Company, Safeway They were also served lished in Brilliant, so altogether, and re- a sharp jump to 15.8 eight and 16.6 cents Stores Ltd., Red and on Canadian North- Grand Forks and lied exclusively on re- cents per pound in per pound, which ern Railway and the Glade; Cowley, Alta.; tailer advertising for 1915, 20.6 cents per was 55 to 71 per cent Canadian Pacific Kylemore, Buchanan, the promotion of its pound in 1916, peak- of the average retail Railway dining cars Canora and Veregin, products. Subsequent- ing at 28 cents per price of K.C. Brand traversing the country. Sask.; and Benito, ly, Western Canadian pound in 1918. pure products. This As well, the Koo- Man. newspapers were full Following the brief made it appealing to Initially, from 1911- of advertisements for but sharp post-war the bargain-hunting, tenay-Columbia Preserving Works directly 14, the company di- K.C. Brand products economic collapse, thrift-seeking consumby retailers promoting the average retail er, particularly during store traffic through price fell to 18.7 cents periods of economic competitive prices. per pound by 1922. downturn. WE’RE OPEN DURING COVID-19 With the substantial Fluctuations in the Monday - Saturday: 9 am - 6 pm • Sunday: 9 am - 5 pm improvement in the retail price of K.C. Retail prices Grocery • Garden Centre • Fruit & Produce • Locally Grown economy after 1922, Brand and affiliate Okanagan Grown ¢ The retail price of the average retail price products from year GREENHOUSE Ambrosia Apples 79 /lb Kootenay-Columbia hovered between 12.9 to year were largely Long English NOW OPEN $ 25 Preserving Works cents per pound and attributable to the /each Cucumbers Large selection of Bedding Plants, products remained 19.8 cents per pound volatile cost of sugar Large Beefsteak $ 99 Basket Stuffers and Vegetable Plants remarkably stable through the Roaring and to rail freight /lb Tomatoes • Bedding Plants throughout their 27- ’20s. During the Great rates that favoured Fresh Local $ 1.99/pack of 4 plants Asparagus Ready now • Basket year history. Depression, the aver- eastern producers. Stuffers Emerald From 1911 to 1914, age retail price levelled At the same time, the 2.5” pot $1.99 $ 99 5’ high Cedars the average retail price off to 13.1 cents per price of fruit remained 3.5” pot $2.99 of K.C. Brand prod- pound from 1929-39. comparably flat. And 99 • Dahlia $ Full Bloom 1 gallon Dwarf & Tall ucts was 13.5 cents Throughout the the fact the company Clematis Reg. $19.99 3.5” pot $2.49 per pound. During same period, the av- paid no wages to its Malathion the First World War, erage retail price of pickers and factory 99 Reg. $3.99 Insecticide $ • Hanging Baskets 250 ml Reg. $16.99 wartime shortages of mixed and compound Continued on A3 One price and the lowest
RILKOFF’S STORE
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Wilson Garden Doctor
price in all the Kootenays Insecticide & & Okanagan Fungicide $1499 300 g Reg. $16.99
Full Bloom
100% Pure Manure, Black Top Soil, Lava Rock, Bark Chips, Bark Mulch, Peat Moss
In Stock
Lavender English and Spanish Gaia Green
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$ 99 5” pot
Complete Hydroponic Supplies, Chicken $ Seedling Starter Soil, Sunshine Manure Mix #1, 4 & 7, Trays, Pots, Plant (Soil conditioner) Foods, Insecticide, Fungicide, Dutch Treat Real McCoy Lights & Heat Mats Organic Granular $ and much more
In Stock
Fertilizer 4-2-2
1399
West Kootenay Dealer for duradek
2399
Garth Hanson Ph: 250.352.1814 Fax: 250.354.1833 1655 Granite Rd. Nelson
7 kg Reg. $27.99
250-442-2510 4415 Hwy 3 West of Grand Forks
HANSON DECKING http://www.duradek.com/ www.duradek.com