The Doukhobor Prayer Home at Veregin, Saskatchewan
has been bestowed with the prestigious Heritage Architecture Award of
Excellence. The Honourable Dr. Gordon Barnhart, Lieutenant Governor of
Saskatchewan, presented the award to the building owner, the National Doukhobor
Heritage Village, at a special public ceremony at Government House in Regina
today.
The unique building known as the Prayer Home was constructed in Veregin,
Saskatchewan in 1917 by the Doukhobor Community. The second floor was the
private residence of Doukhobor leader Peter “Lordly” Verigin, while a communal
prayer area was located on the main level. The vast open site surrounding the
house accommodated large gatherings drawn from Doukhobor colonies throughout
Saskatchewan, who assembled to hear the words of their leader as he addressed
them from the second floor balcony.
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Award presentation ceremony at Government House, Regina, Saskatchewan. [l-r] Dr.
Gordon L. Barnhart,
Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan; Charles Samuels, building contractor;
Keith Tarasoff, Chairman,
National Heritage Doukhobor Village; and Al Gill, President, Architectural
Heritage Saskatchewan. |
Serving for over ninety years as the social, cultural and spiritual centre of
Doukhobor life in Saskatchewan, this building remains highly significant as one
of the most architecturally significant structures in Saskatchewan. Its
two-storey wrap around verandah is a unique design feature in this province, and
the hand-cut metal fretwork arches display exceptional artistic talent and
design.
Over the past quarter century, the Prayer Home has undergone several major
restoration initiatives, including re-shingling with cedar shingles, repainting,
foundation repairs, and most recently repair and restoration of the wrap-around
verandah, following the original design. In addition, a fire suppression system
was installed to protect both the interior and the exterior of this highly
flammable wooden structure.
These preservation efforts are an excellent example of the devotion to authentic
restoration that the owner, the National Doukhobor Heritage Village, has
contributed to this National Historic Site. For this reason, the Doukhobor
Prayer Home received the Heritage Architecture Award of Excellence for the
category of ‘Exterior Restoration’.
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Cover of Autumn 2008 issue of Heritage Quarterly Saskatchewan featuring
the
Doukhobor Prayer Home at Veregin, Saskatchewan. |
The Heritage Architecture Awards of Excellence are the most prestigious honour
bestowed by the Saskatchewan Architectural Heritage Society. The Lieutenant
Governor is the Patron of the juried awards that have recognized 94 projects
throughout the province since the Society launched the program in 1996.
Dedicated to promotion, protection and preservation of Saskatchewan’s built
heritage for residents and visitors to our province, the Saskatchewan
Architectural Heritage Society has a province-wide membership of almost 400
individuals and is a federally-registered charity.
There are now seven categories in the Heritage Architecture Excellence awards:
Exterior Restoration; Interior Conservation; Rehabilitation; Adaptive Re-Use;
Sympathetic New Construction; Landscape, Engineering and Agricultural Works; and
Education, signage, Monuments & Interpretation.
“We are very pleased that the Doukhobor Prayer Home has been recognized in the
Exterior Restoration category of the Heritage Architecture Excellence awards”,
said Keith Tarasoff, chairman of the National Heritage Doukhobor Village. “We
sincerely appreciate this acknowledgement of our ongoing efforts to preserve and
promote our Doukhobor heritage.”
For additional information or inquiries about the Doukhobor Prayer Home and
other Doukhobor historic sites in Saskatchewan, contact the National Heritage
Doukhobor Village at Box 99, Veregin, Saskatchewan, S0A 4H0. Phone number (306)
542-4441.
