The Whatshan Lake Retreat is the result of a vision of the Doukhobor Heritage Retreat Society #1999(DHRS). A vision to create a place where people may gather among peace and harmony.
The site of the Whatshan Lake Retreat was acquired from Mr. Alex McAlister. Their mutual desire - to have the beauty of the 204 acre site preserved in perpetuity.
The building of the Lodge started in 1995 and was finished in October 2000. Resources from the site have been incorporated into the project; timber has been sawn into lumber, cedar split into shakes for the roof, gravel for mixing cement. The collective efforts of donated services, materials, equipment, labor and funding completed this project.
The DHRS celebrated the 100 year Anniversary of the arrival of the Doukhobors to Canada in 1899 by dedicating the Whatshan Lake Retreat project to all peace-loving people in the community, in this province, in Canada, and the world.
The DHRS wishes to acknowledge the benevolence of Leo Tolstoy, Friends of Tolstoy and the Quakers who all collectively contributed to the epic process of migrating the Doukhobors from religious persecution in Czarist Russia.