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With the government now in effect as a landlord, and an uncertain future, many Doukhobors, left the villages - perhaps a chance (albeit forced) to become independent - to assimilate - which is what the government openly had preferred for the last two decades. Some stayed on in the villages for decades, but not in a communal fashion as before, but as tenants.

Discrepancies occurred to the properties that were once communal and prized. The ?heart' of the community had been broken in more ways than one and the dismantling of many enterprises through receivership prevented thousands of Doukhobors from earning a living. Assimilation was no longer a choice but a necessity. Community land holdings in Saskatchewan were sold and many of the community Doukhobors there managed to purchase them.

On February 11th 1939, Peter Petrovich Verigin 'Chistiakov' died in a Saskatoon hospital. He was buried at his father's tomb in Brilliant, BC overlooking the vast and once-prosperous lands of the valley below.

The jam factory operated under the management of the Lands Settlement Board. In December 1943, two majors in full military dress appeared at the jam factory to persuade Doukhobors to comply with national registration - and join the war effort. The Doukhobors presented a petition 4000 strong objecting (as was their right by 'conscientious objector status'). Early next morning, the KC Preservatives Works worth $400,000 at that time, was destroyed by fire - the culprits never found.

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Conclusion:

It was in essence the end of an era; it was clear that the Doukhobors would never be allowed to live communally again in BC as they did under the umbrella of the CCUB. The devout and devoted Community Doukhobors formed the Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ under the leadership of Peter Petrovich Verigin in 1938, and after his death, young grandson, John J. Verigin became the secretary of the USCC in 1940.

A spiritual reincarnation of its predecessor, the USCC forms the nucleus of the majority of CCUB descendants today. Assimilation has made this group of Doukhobors (as with others) a part of the great Canadian mosaic and the today, the USCC is primarily a spiritual-based entity rather than any sort of enterprise in the sense that was the CCUB.

While some have blamed the collapse of the CCUB entirely on Peter Petrovich Verigin or ?Chistiakov - the Purger', its clear that while his behaviour was, both internal and external forces were at work well before and during his tenure as leader to undermine the largest communal enterprise in North America. Under his leadership though, he did reduce the debt of the community from over one and a quarter million dollars by over $700,000 and was responsible for paying over half a million dollars in interest and over $300,000 in taxes.

* Both Peter ?Lordly' Verigin and son Peter ?Chistiakov' Verigin, were powerful personalities - each fascinating in their own distinct way. The life and times of each could fill volumes; hence this brief sketch of their role in history represents only a glimpse of the total picture.