A8 Thursday, November 17, 2022
West Kootenay Advertiser
History
Doukhobor community made jam, not war by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff
During the First World War, the overwhelming majority of Doukhobors in Canada opposed the conflict, based on strongly-held pacifist tenets. Relying upon the exemption from military service granted to them by the Dominion government upon their arrival in Canada, they not only refused enlistment and conscription, but actively resisted any direct, partisan support for the war effort. Notwithstanding their staunch anti-war position, many Doukhobors felt great compassion for those suffering from the conflict. This prompted
them to seek opportunities to provide humanitarian aid in accordance with their pacifist principles. One most notable example was their donations of jam. Since 1911, the Doukhobor Society had been communally producing hundreds of tons of the famous K.C. Brand of jams, jellies and preserved fruit each year at its jam factory and canning facilities in Nelson and later Brilliant, under its business enterprise, the Kootenay-Columbia Preserving Works. And when the Nelson Daily News reported in late 1916 that soldiers were asking for jam, this stirred the society into action.
On Dec. 10, 1916, a mass meeting of members of the Doukhobor Society was held at Brilliant, where their leader Peter V. Verigin told them of the sufferings of the men at the front, and of the recent losses at the Somme and on the Ancre. The reaction of those gathered was one of shock and compassion. Living apart from the world, and being largely illiterate, the rank-andfile members of the society had been mostly unaware of the monumental scale of human devastation occurring on the continent, and when told this, the Doukhobor women wept. Once informed, however, they set to act.
The women at the meeting resolved to gift a railcar load of jam, made by fruit grown by them in their own orchards and gardens, and manufactured at their jam factory in Brilliant, to the convalescent and sick soldiers in hospitals across western Canada, their wives and children. Jam was rationed within the society, and those at the meeting realized that in sending the carload to the soldiers, they would have to go without it themselves. Nonetheless, they were willing to do so as an expression of their sympathy and desire to help those who were suffering. The carload, carrying between
400 and 500 cases (20,000-to-24,000 pounds) of product valued at $5,000 was composed chiefly of strawberry jam, the Doukhobors understanding “that the soldiers like strawberry better than plum and apple and jams of that kind.” The gift was formally conveyed by the Doukhobor women to B.C. Premier Harlan C. Brewster in Victoria on Dec. 15, 1916 via William Blakemore, editor of The Week and commissioner of the 1912 Royal Commission on Doukhobors. It was expressed on behalf of the women that, “You know we do not believe in fighting; we are Continued on A9
West Kootenay Community Animal Centre
PETS on PARADE Birds
Here at the West Kootenay SPCA we currently have 11 birds that all need to find their forever homes. They came from a less than ideal living situation. All the birds love to listen to music and sing along. They are still getting used to humans but with time and patience, they will learn that you are safe.
Ollie
Ollie is big boy weighing in at about 100lbs. He is a gentle giant with his people and older children but is reactive to male dogs and cats. He would do well in an active family with older children, a single person or a couple. He’s not high energy but will need daily walks so will need an experienced owner or one willing to learn to work with his reactivity.
15 + Years Experience, All Breed Grooming & Cats Taking New Clients
635 Columbia Ave. Castlegar,BC 250.365.1011
Sadie
Sadie is a shy girl who came into shelter when she was no longer getting along with her other cat companions. She has done well with one other cat in the home but seems to become overwhelmed with more. She needs a quiet home that will allow her to live out her days doing things she enjoys such as sitting in a sunny room. She will need an experienced owner who can bring her out of her shell and be patient with her while she adjusts.
Call Carolee to book an appointment
250.304.1920 • www.hairofthedawg.ca
Ogopogo Ogopogo is a shy, sweet girl who came from a less than ideal situation. She has really been coming out of her shell and learning how to trust people. She gets along with other cats and would do well with a quiet home that would be willing to give her time to come into her own.
BC SPCA and TELUS Health MyPet join forces to make virtual veterinary care more accessible TELUS Health and the BC SPCA have joined forces to provide access to virtual veterinary care through the newly launched TELUS Health MyPet service, offering reduced rates for virtual consultations for dogs and cats in BC SPCA care. Additionally, for every download of the TELUS Health MyPet app, TELUS Health will give $2 to the BC SPCA until Nov. 26 to a maximum of $20,000. “Working together with organisations like the BC SPCA is part of our deeply meaningful and enduring philosophy to ‘give where we live’, a social purpose that drives and inspires our team to contribute and connect with local initiatives doing good in the community,” said Juggy Sihota, Chief Marketing Officer, TELUS Health. “As the number of dogs and cats in animal centres increases, we’re proud to be able to provide much needed virtual veterinary support and financial contributions.” New pet owners in these seven SPCA pilot locations across BC will also benefit from a special discount, upon their adoption of a dog or cat, on their first TELUS Healt h MyPet consultation: • Alberni-Clayoquot Community Animal Centre (4936 Broughton St, Port Alberni BC) • Burnaby Community Animal Centre (3202 Norland Ave, Burnaby B.C.) • North Cariboo Community Animal Centre (4011 Lansdowne Rd, Prince George, B.C.) • Prince Rupert Community Animal Centre (1740 Prince Rupert Blvd, Prince Rupert, B.C.)
Advertising Opportunity Here! Help a pet find a forever home. This spot could be yours. email: advertising@grandforksgazette.ca or call 250.443.4239
SPEAKING FOR ANIMALS BCSPCA West Kootenay Community Animal Centre 124 Heritage Way, Castlegar, BC V1N 4M5 250-509-0297 | 1-855-622-7722 Cruelty and Wildlife hotline westkootenay@spca.bc.ca | spca.bc.ca/westkootenay
• Quesnel Community Animal Centre (1000 Carson Pit Rd, Quesnel, B.C.)
7330 2nd Street | Grand Forks, B.C. 250.442.2191 www.grandforksgazette.ca
• Shuswap Community Animal Centre (5850 Auto Rd SE, Salmon Arm, B.C.) • South Okanagan Community Animal Centre (2200 Dartmouth Dr, Penticton, B.C.)
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