| March 6, 2006 Special presentations were held at the Brilliant cultural Center and Grand Forks USCC Center on March 4th and 5th to celebrate the successful completion of the Bakery/Café & Communication Center at Yasnaya Polyana - a project that was initiated over 8 years ago to acknowledge the Doukhobor's gratitude to Lev Nikolaevitch Tolstoy for his enormous moral and financial contribution to the Doukhobors in their time of need. The presentations were also a time to celebrate the first public screening of the DVD "Tolstoy and the Doukhobors" which tells of the historic relationship between Lev Nikolaevitch Tolstoy and the Doukhobors. Prior to the first public screening of the DVD, Peter P Rezansoff familiarized the attendees how this DVD came to be and its original intent and purpose. "During the initial planning of the Bakery/Café project there was expressed desire to have an area set aside at Yasnaya Polyana for the Doukhobors, of which Vladimir Ilavitch approved. A form of Doukhobor Information Center, a place where the historic relationship that existed between Lev Nikolaevitch and the Doukhobors would be made available to Yasnaya Polyana visitors in pictorial and written form." "In my desire to make this Center more informative and also available not only to Yasnaya Polyana Visitors but to all interested persons on the Internet our family offered to equip the Center with communication equipment and to fund the creation of an interactive web-based CD ROM so that visitors could view and learn about the close historic ties between Tolstoy and the Doukhobors." "Providing the computers and other equipment was fairly straight forward, however the creation of the CD proved to be more difficult: - Where would all the information come from and how could it be created to do justice to renowned Lev Nikolaevitch Tolstoy and our honorable Doukhobor Forefathers ? - As well, how to satisfy and not offend our present day Doukhobors at large?" "This proved to be a delicate task. After much procrastination our committee began with two people - J.J. Verigin and myself - however we were pleased when more dedicated individuals responded and joined us and a well rounded committee was formed. You will view the results today." Peter acknowledged and thanked the DVD committee J.J. Verigin, Jr., Myler Wilkinson, Koozma Tarasoff, Fred Makortoff, Jim Popoff, Pall Musaev, Teresa & Ernie Verigin who each in his or her own way made contributions to the project. Peter explained that once the committee selected the presentation content the work of creating the DVD began in Vancouver. Peter asked Pall Musaev to step out and be recognized and be acknowledged for his talented, creative work with the DVD technical production. He relayed that as the initiators of this Multimedia project it was an honor and privilege to make our contribution in recognition of the suffering by our forefathers in their struggle to create a just society based on toil and peaceful life. Myler Wilkinson who was instrumental in creating the story line was unable to attend and forwarded the following expression of gratitude, which was read out by Lorraine: "For me it was a great pleasure--and a privilege--to be part of a team which created the Doukhobor-Tolstoy CD Rom first shown at the opening ceremonies of the Bakery-Cafe at Yasnaya Polyana this past autumn. The finished product, I can honestly say, is a stunningly beautiful evocation of Doukhobor history, a story in images and words and music of the living bond which joins the Doukhobor community to Leo Tolstoy and Yasnaya Polyana. I would like to thank the Doukhobor community for allowing me to contribute in a small way to this ongoing story. I wish I could with you in person today". Peter reiterated Myler's expressed sentiments: "In conclusion the Committee read the following E mail sent by Vladimir Ilyich Tolstoy: "It is almost half a year ago that the Bakery/ Café and Communication Center was opened at Yasnaya Polyana by the Canadian Doukhobor community as a token of your love and gratitude to Leo Tolstoy. In our turn, we are so grateful to all of you and each of us here at Yasnaya Polyana is proud and happy to see that the very spirit of Tolstoy's ideas and ideals still inspire those who long for Good from the bottom of their hearts". Tolstoy & the Doukhobors was viewed and received with very positive reviews and approval. This was also reinforced and acknowledged by the many people in attendance who purchased the DVD for themselves as well as for their children. The Men's Tri-Choir, strong supporters of the Yasnaya Polyana project provided entertainment at the conclusion of the DVD presentation. A Social followed with tea, coffee, pastry and prizes.
All proceeds from the DVD sales will further provide benevolent assistance to the Children's СЕРОТСКОЙ ДОМ at Yasnaya Polyana. A Children's Orphanage which is in great need, and worthy of all our assistance. On behalf of the Friends of Tolstoy Committee we thank all the "Friends of Tolstoy" whose contribution and help made this project attain Successful Completion. |