Official Opening of the Yasnaya Polyana Bakery/Café Communication Center
by Peter P Rezansoff

September 21, 2005 marked the Successful opening of the Bakery/Café & Communication Center at Yasnaya Polyana. The Opening marked the culmination of years of dedicated efforts between the Yasnaya Polyana and the Doukhobors of Canada. Spearheaded respectively by Vladimir Ilich Tolstoy on behalf of Yasnaya Polyana and the Friends of Tolstoy Committee on behalf of the Canadian Doukhobors.

The Official Opening was held in front of the Bakery/Café on a sunny afternoon in the peaceful surroundings of Yasnaya Polyana. The Event was well represented by the Friends of Tolstoy Committee members, the Canadian Doukhobors, Doukhobors from within Russia, Yasnya Polyana representatives, regional representative from CESO as well as TV coverage from three separate TV channels.

The Opening commenced with the traditional exchange of bread & salt between the Yasnaya Polyana representative lady and Elsie Rezansoff representing the Canadian Doukhobors. It was appropriate that the bread that was exchanged was baked in the new bakery, baked by the chief baker himself Alex Jmaeff. After the exchange of bread followed the welcome speeches from Vladimir I Tolstoy, speeches from the Doukhobors Friends of Tolstoy Steering Committee members J.J.Verigin, Alex Jmaeff, Peter Rezansoff and by Aleksey M. Kinakin representing the Russian Doukhobors. As customary, a special event of this nature cannot go by with out songs of blessings which were performed by Yasnaya Polyana, the Canadian Doukhobors as well as the Russian Doukhobors from Arkangilsk each group providing their own chosen renditions for the occasion. Gifts were presented to Yasnaya Polyana by the Canadian delegation as well the cutting of the ribbon took place to mark this historic event.

After the ribbon cutting all the participants were invited inside the café for sampling of variety of assorted baked goods which were earlier prepared in the new bakery by Alex, Yuri & Natasha Jmaeff with some help from the newly hired staff Tatyana and Elena. And we do mean VARIETY with a capital V. Seven large tables were laden with all the baked goods one can imagine; half a dozen variety of breads, cinnamon buns, croissants, cream filled pastry, French pastry, Danish pastry, apple tarts made with Yasnaya Polyana apples and honey, and to top it of Yuri Jmaeff made a huge three tiered cake complete with special wishes decorated for the opening.

The event was well attended by the TV media with three channels recording interviews which were later shown during news hour.

Following lunch the participants went to the Communication and Information center to view a special DVD of the historic relationship between Lev N. Tolstoy and the Doukhobors .The DVD was specially made to be a part of the communication center for visitor to view and learn more of the historic ties between Tolstoy and the Doukhobors. The Communications & Information Center is a facility provided for visitors to Yasnaya Polyana who will have the opportunity to communicate with other people through the provided computers and other equipment in the center, as well as to view the presentation about Tolstoy & the Doukhobors. Also provided are various reading materials on the Doukhobors. This was talked about and envisioned as the Doukhobor Pasolstvo at Yasnaya Polyana. All of the equipment, computers, projectors tables, chairs and furnishings were provided through financial donation by Intertech Construction Group and Peter Rezansoff Family.The DVD presentation forms a part of this center.

As with most events, people are not aware of all the hard work behind the scenes. This was no exception. The Jmaeff family worked for over a week on preparations prior to our arriving five days before the opening.

In conclusion we need to say that all those that contributed to the Bakery/Café project need to be proud of your contributions, for your contribution is most sincerely appreciated by the Yasnaya Polyana and will be an economic help in these times of need in our forefather's homeland.

On behalf of the Friends of Tolstoy Steering Committee we thank each and everyone.

Peter P Rezansoff