Larry A. EWASHEN passed away peacefully with family at his side at
Creston Valley Hospital on June 18, 2025, at the age of 85.
He and his family left us a broad legacy of writings about Doukhobor issues, history, and music. This is a summary with links to many sources.
Larry’s early years were spent on a farm in the
Stoopnikoff village, near
Lundbreck, southwest Alberta, but it was music and theatre that captured his heart. His family encouaged higher education. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the
University of Alberta before moving to Toronto, where he became part of the city’s vibrant folk music scene, performing in coffee houses and listening pubs. During that time, he also composed music for several films and one of his songs was later recorded by the legendary
Stompin’ Tom Connors, with whom he toured.
In 1963 while a graduate student in Toronto, Larry met
Pete Seeger. Seeger who played traditional folk guitar [
fingerstyle] wanted to learn
flat picking like Larry played. Larry taught Seeger some "
runs" which he noticed later appeared in Seeger's recordings. In 1994, Larry included Seeger's song 'Where have all the flowers gone?' in his play '
The Spirit of '99.'
Sometime after 1962, Seeger recorded a
folksong about Sons of Freedom which was produced on CD in 2000. We do not know if Seeger knew Larry was Doukhobor when they met. But, according to research by Greg Nesteroff, Seeger visited Trail in the 1940s, and was close to at least 2 others from the Slocan Valley.
Larry pursued his theatre studies at the Banff Centre. At Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio (where he received a Master of Arts), and in England. Larry went on to become the Artistic Director of the theatre program at Canadore College in North Bay, Ontario, and also taught at Ryerson University in Toronto. As both actor and director, he worked in major theatres across Canada and in England.
His film experience included research assignments in Russia, writing assignments in New York and contract work with the Canadian Museum of Civilization. He produced and directed two documentaries: The Last Hurrah – A Man and His Music and In Search of Utopia – The Doukhobors, reflecting his deep commitment to preserving and sharing Doukhobor history.
For more than a dozen years Robert and Larry have been active in the Canadian Doukhobor Society (CDS). Larry was secretary and editor of their quarterly newsletter, The Sheaf, up to 2002 when Robert became editor. The CDS disbanded in 2017.
All 3 brothers are lifetime honorary members of the Kootenay Doukhobor Historical Society which founded the Doukhobor Village Museum, Castlegar.
Doukhobor Village Museum > Doukhobor Discovery Centre
For 18 years (1992-2010), Larry was hired to be the first 'curator' of the Doukhobor Village Museum (DVM) in Castlegar, B.C. It was founded in 1971 and managed by Peter Oglow and Christine Faminoff for 2 decades.
Larry got the job while collaborating with many Doukhobors across Canada for the upcoming 100th anniversary in 1995 of their
1895 Arms Burning. Koozma Tarasoff highly recommended Larry for this job, at which he excelled.
He greatly expanded the reach and visibility of the DVM while working with Oglow and Faminoff, by promoting Doukhobor history at seminars and conferences; and by writing books books and articles, producing films and video, and conducting workshops and lectures.
He guest curated at other museums in BC. He arranged special tours and programs for the Governors General, Lieutenant Governors and Ambassadors. His work was widely recognized by the Federal Department of Heritage, B. C. Heritage, Canadian Museum Association and BC Museum Association.
He was instrumental nationally in having ...
He also married
Dr. Galina Alekseeva (1993-2006), a researcher he met at
Yasnaya Polyana, the State Museum of Leo Tolstoy in Russia. They both wrote and gave presentations on Tolstoy’s connection with
Dukhobortsy. They bought an apartment in Yasnaya Polyana, but could not maintain such a long-distance relationship while each was working full-time jobs 7,000 km. apart.
Parks and Recreation Division, BC, recognized his contribution to the 'Preservation of BC Heritage'.
In 1995, DVM was featured on the news video: 'Northwest Profiles: Spirit Wrestlers'.
In 1999, he presented '
Changing Faces Of Doukhobor Culture' at Ottawa University, published in: Donskov A., et.al., eds,
The Doukhobor Centenary in Canada. A multi-disciplinary perspective on their unity and diversity. Ottawa, Ontario: Slavic Research Group at the University of Ottawa and the Institute of Canadian Studies at the University of Ottawa, 2000: pages 357-365.
About 2000, Larry regularly lectured, several times with Koozma Tarasoff, at the Lemon Creek Lodge
Elderhostel, Slocan Valley (now
Blue Deer Lodge). About 4 times a year the elderhostel hosted a Doukhobor heritage series for a week on sequential evenings that included
Harry Hadikin's carvings, Voykin sisters' choir and conversation,
Timothy Jmaeff's music, and Eva (?) Evdokimoff's
borshch.
In 2002, the Ewashen brothers included Larry's poem: '
Remembering the Spirit Wrestlers', first published in
The Sheaf, in their family biography for Tarasoff's 2002 big book:
Spirit Wrestlers: Doukhobor Pioneers' Strategies for Living. On page 135, after the poem was a link to the first DVM website: '
Welcome to The Doukhobor Village Museum' with links to 10 pages. In 2004 Larry improved the website with color photos, a map, links to 2 brochures, and a music library, the 'Doukhobor Museum Jutebox', with over 50 albums online.
In 2005 the Mayor of Castlegar honored Larry with an
award for his 'outstanding Commitment and Service to the Doukhobor Village Museum'.
In 2006, Larry became president of the Trust Fund of the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB, ccubtrustfund.ca).
In 2010 Larry retired as curator of the Doukhobor Discovery Centre to embrace 'new horizons'.
In May 2010, I honored his 70th birthday with a poem.
In retirement, Larry settled in Creston, where he continued to enjoy weekly singing sessions with his brothers, local performances, and visits with family. He continued performing, teaching music, and lecturing on the Doukhobors and Lev Tolstoy at universities. He volunteered in many community groups: The Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors (TAPS), New Life Furniture & Recycling which sponsors a women’s shelter and street kids program, and The Creston and District Museum.
In 2010 he performed at the
Wynndel Coffee House in Creston, and 2 segments of his performance were recorded and posted on YouTube by his niece Glynnis Mary Ewashen as
MOV09176 and
MOV09177.
In 2011 he started his own '
Larrys Desk' channel on YouTube, which now has 21 videos and 450+ subscribers.
Larry was predeceased by his parents, Alex and Mary Ewashen, his sister Abbe, and brother
Alex. He will be deeply missed by his brother Bob, sisters-in-law Enid and Julie, and his nieces and nephew.
At his request, a private family gathering was held. Donations in his memory can be made to Iskra at info@iskra.com, or by calling 250-442-8252.
Sources
- Larry A. Ewashen, by Robert A. Ewashen, Creston Valley Advance, June 18, 2025.
- Larry A. Ewashen, by Robert A. Ewashen, Today in BC, June 18, 2025.
- Larry A. Ewashen (1940-2025), by Jonathan Kalmakoff, Facebook, 19 June 2025.
- Curriculum-Vitae, by Larry Ewashen, Larry's Desk
- My Interest: Larry A. Ewashen, B.A.,s.c.,M.A., Curator, Doukhobor Museum, 2003.
- LarrysDesk.com
- Larry Ewashen, Facebook.
- Larry's Music, with photos and videos
- Larrry Ewashen YouTube Channel, 21 videos. 450+ subscribers
- Doukhobor Heritage website. by Jonathan Kalmakoff
- From Generation to Generation — Passing on Traditional Values, Alex A. Ewashen; Larry A. Ewashen; Robert A. Eashen, by Alex A Ewashen, Spirit Wrestlers: Doukhobor Pioneers' Strategies for Living, Legas and Spirit Wrestlers Publishing, 2002, pages 132-135.
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