Various suggestions came forth as to how this money should be disposed of - it was accumulating interest at 3.5%, and if no action was taken, it could be transferred into the provincial treasury. The legal heirs appeared to be all Doukhobors who had at one time belonged to the CCUB or had their homesteads cancelled in Saskatchewan. At the last hearing of the Commission on the problem of the disposition of former CCUB lands, which were sold to Doukhobors and private citizens, the attorney suggested the monies should be converted into a general welfare fund for all Doukhobors.

It should be noted that the Government of BC profited exorbitantly from this transaction, since they had taken over 71,600 acres for $280,000 and sold all of these properties 20 years later at appreciated prices. Other former possessions such as schools were absorbed by local school boards, the famous suspension bridge built in 1913 was taken over by the Department of Highways and continued to serve the public into the sixties, again without compensation to the Doukhobor toilers.

If all Doukhobors were to be the legal heirs, what form could this general welfare fund take? A Doukhobor Institute was proposed, a Seniors’ Rest Home, a Chair of Doukhobor studies at a university. No further action was taken.

A committee from Verigin approached the provincial government with the suggestion that the funds be allocated towards heritage purposes of the Doukhobors. The result was the committee receiving $107,000 to begin forming the National Doukhobor Heritage Village in 1980, although this sum was not from this fund.

In June of 1980, the Doukhobors of Canada CCUB Trust Fund was proclaimed by the Government of Saskatchewan following an order-in-council. The stated intent of the fund was to further the culture and heritage of the Doukhobors in Canada. Monies left, the principle sum of $267,500 was invested in perpetuity and the interest earnings were to be shared by applying Doukhobor organizations from the three western provinces.

A formula designated a board of nine persons, consisting of three delegates from Saskatchewan, three from BC, one from Alberta and one person nominated by the Attorney General of BC and one from Saskatchewan. The three members each from BC and Saskatchewan were to be nominated by recognized Doukhobor societies. ‘Each member holds office for a term of three years or until his successor is appointed... no member may be appointed for more than two consecutive terms.'

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