Saturday, April 30, 2011

Tragedy in Blaine Lake: The Commercial Hotel

The Commercial Hotel in Blaine Lake, 1919.  Nicholas F. Zbitnoff photo.  Image source
In November 1912, a year and a half after Blaine Lake voted to go “dry,” three men died of alcohol poisoning as a result of drinking wood alcohol. The men were railway workers from out of town. It was a Saturday night, and since Blaine Lake was a dry town, they went to the local drug store looking for an alcohol-based substitute. The workers told the druggist that they intended to use the alcohol to rub down their horses. According to the Shellbrook Chronicle, “None survived the resulting consequences. Two died in the livery barn and another was found in a granary a few miles away on the farm of Silas Jones, having died trying to cool his throat and stomach with a mouthful of grain.” This tragic incident led to the end of Blaine Lake’s self-imposed prohibition. When it was put to a vote in the village on December 8, 1913, the decision to go “wet”was unanimous. 

Keefer Pollard (left) in front of his livery stable, c 1912. Source: Bridging the Years; Era of Blaine Lake and District, 1984 
Keefer Pollard
The livery barn where two of the three men died was owned by Keefer Pollard. He had come West in 1902 from Ontario with his parents and 12 brothers and sisters. All the Pollard men were trained in carpentry, and had built railway stations for the CPR and the CNR in some of the larger centres. Pollard sold his farm and moved into Blaine Lake in 1911 – the year the village went dry.  His first project was to build the village's first livery stable. His second project was the Commercial Hotel. When Blaine Lake voted to go wet in 1913, Pollard already had the hotel well under construction. He sold it to A. W. (Willis) Armstrong prior to its completion in 1914. The whole province went dry in 1915, and once more liquor for the purpose of intoxication could not be purchased in Blaine Lake.

Nicholas F. Zbitnoff photo. Image source
In 1965, Walter and Julia Krewniak bought the Commercial Hotel. They came to Blaine Lake in 1930 from the Ukraine. Julia’s brother, Stanley Bereziak, came to live with them after the Second World War, and worked as the hotel bartender. While living in the Ukraine with his wife and two young daughters, Stanley was captured by the Nazis and sent to a German prisoner-of-war camp where he was held for six years. Shortly after his admission to the PoW camp, Stanley ’s wife gave birth to a daughter, Helen, in their home village of Stratyn in Western Ukraine. About two years later, his wife died, and the three girls had to fend for themselves. Read full story here

Helen Bereziak, 1967.
Image source
In October 1967, Stanley’s daughter Helen came to live with her father in Blaine Lake. From an early age, Helen had worked as a field labourer on the communal farms in the Soviet-annexed Ukraine. She worked at the Commercial Hotel, and married Jack Popoff in 1973. Helen eventually became the owner of the hotel through her family connections. Even after it stopped operating sometime in the 1990s, Helen continued to live in the large hotel building. 


Commercial Hotel in 2005. Joan Champ photo

Commercial Hotel in 2006. Joan Champ photo
© Joan Champ 2011


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the world's most livable city in the top 10 include


Vancouver is a city in the world two years in a row.



vancouver.


Vancouver is a city in the world two years in a row. (I-NN). 

 
           Vancouver. Champion two years in a row. The world's most livable cities Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the world renowned research firm. The annual survey. To rank 140 cities around the world. Based education, health services, infrastructure, culture, environment and security 

by the world's most livable city in the top 10 include

            No. 1 in Vancouver, Canada.


vancouver.
             No. 2, Melbourne, Australia.



           
            No. 3, Vienna, Austria.



            No. 4, Toronto, Canada. 



            No. 5 Calgary, Canada. 




             No. 6, Helsinki, Finland. 




            No. 7, Sydney, Australia. 



            No. 8, Perth, Australia. 



            No. 9: Adelaide, Australia.        



    
            No. 10 Oakland, New Zealand.



           The results of the ranking in the top 10 cities later this year. Virtually unchanged from a year ago. And Vancouver. To maintain this position into a second consecutive year, while the changes are only 2 and 3 in Melbourne, fell to second place in Vienna, which is down to third place.

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Experience the charms of neighboring Laos.


Experience the charms of neighboring Laos.

Laos

Laos Laos 

Laos

Laos. Laos 

Laos

Laos. Laos 

Laos

Laos Laos
Data compiled by the bottle com. 

          Peace Independence Democracy Unity Wattana forever ... This is the motto of the Lao PDR. (Laos). or that many people call that Laos or Lao PDR. Lao Sister City in Thailand. The living culture and traditions are very similar to Thailand. Each year, people will go. "Laos". a lot. Perhaps because my own virtual home. Cost of living is very affordable for the country a place to visit beautiful, so this bottle com so we've come."Laos." to know. "Laos." greater. I guarantee that you will fall in love with a small but wealthy country I certainly 

          Laos is a country in Southeast Asia. Located in the heart of the Indochina peninsula.Has a total area of approximately 236,800 square kilometers. And landlocked. Since along the border of Laos. Surrounded by a border of neighboring countries and Vientiane. The capital of the country           landscape of Laos is divided into three zones is the high mountain areas above sea level, on average, 1,500 meters above this area in the north of the country, the plateau appears from the southeast of the plateau. The number of cities.And the plains. The plains along the Mekong River. And other rivers.




Laos.

Laos Laos 

Laos.

Travel Laos Laos 

Laos.

Travel Laos Laos

          For the parents. Socialism is communism. The Lao authorities use the term.Democratic citizens. There. "Lao Revolutionary People's Party." organizations leads the country. Which party has the ultimate authority. Since the government in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Vietnam on December 2, 2518 and presided over the country (President) with a term of five years and has a population of 6,068,117 people of various nations race

          to Laos. "Lao". the official language. In the Lao PDR and the highest entertainment.Continue to use their tribal language, coupled with the Lao The other is to use a foreign language and French, which has been used since colonial times. And another language is English in most of the religion. Most Laotian Theravada Buddhism the national religion, which is equivalent to 60 percent of all Laotians. Along with the ideological ancestor of the people I respect very few in the high mountains. The Lao Christian and Islam. There are relatively few.


Laos.


Travel Laos Laos

Laos.


Travel Laos Laos 

Laos.

Travel Laos Laos
 For destinations in the country by a road. ... And 

Vientiane.

          is the set of "Vientiane". the capital of Laos. The ruling is similar to Bangkok In central Laos. Tabo Chan Lee, Ph.D., is a city. The contact area is the border with Thailand.Between Vientiane and Nong Khai in Thailand. The Thai Friendship Bridge - Lao District 1 Road, Vientiane, is growing in the 18 rd of the country. The county was founded in 2532 by separating it from Vientiane, formerly known as "the wall of Vientiane," before changing its name. "Vientiane."

          tourist attractions. Ie. Laos. This is the most important religious sites of Laos. As a national symbol. And also the independence and sovereignty of the country, with the relics was built in the 16th century, and next to the entrance gate, about 100 meters, the statue of King Chai brother Michael. He held his hand leaning on the แsgdab Praepla. triumphal arch as a memorial to commemorate those who sacrificed the people of Laos. In the war before the Communist revolution. Completed in 2512 was influenced by the architecture of the triumphal arch in Paris. France The colony at that time. Can be up to the views of Vientiane. On top of another goal with measurable Sisaket. Built in 1818 AD, the ancient temples and a temple in Laos. Siam or Thailand is not burning. Wat Sisaket is the center of the church and surrounded by a balcony. A period art or the beginning of a million elephants. 6840 Lord Buddha is enshrined. Museum of the glass is always at the Emerald Buddha statue or the Emerald Buddha. Located in Vientiane, Laos, the only altar at the shrine. The body of the Emerald Buddha. Has been brought down to the stamp used by the BMA. The reign of King Taksin. He was summoned by the King Somdej. Rd compression Ta dark           located to the south of France. Where poverty and prosperity, not like any other road to this road became a highlight for tourists. Seeking new land rights are far in Cambodia. Road, just next to the pile. The capital is named "Unity" to the economic conditions of people may not look good. But it's natural to be Known as the garden city. The cordon of hills and rivers flowing through the process was very quiet and offers a road. The accommodation will not have the same rights others, but it's enough just to tourists.           Attractions include Wat Clifton Beach coronet on, a straw, melon, Luang old my School, markets, bridges, just piles, caves, cliffs, monuments heroic veterans. - Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar in training for a shot of the monument, which is the savior of sovereignty to Laos.

         

          

          








Laos.

Travel Laos Laos
Products in the Forum site.

          located in the middle of the country. Known about the limestone. The views and mine, the largest in Southeast Asia. It is also the gateway to Southern Laos. It is also an important road for another tour of Laos. The border checkpoint is the port the two countries. In the west along the Mekong River. Pak Sun City area. Kan province of Thailand is the opposite. On the east side of the glass over. New York State Governor's House will be Vietnam. The Chai Road, Bristol travel can take a bus from Vientiane. Traverses down the road, Highway 13 South, or a boat across the deposit to you.           attractions include Wat Phra Pon's mouth, not vertically, Wang Pong, the main pool and Na Japan, which lies north of the Road Home. Chai's The Sun about 100 kilometers away from the mouth of the main facilities are located in the limestone hills. Visited places in my cave is located at the northern city on Highway 8 about 17 miles and attractions are nearby. Warm water in the Powder River. Top of the cave is about 1 percent of the lush tropical pool with the road to Ban Pang. Border opposite side of the glass industry in the State of Vietnam.




Laos.

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Champasak.

          Located on the southern end of the country. Thai and Cambodian border town of Pakse is the city's main road. And the third largest city of Laos (Vientiane City and Deputy shot in the course of Myanmar) and the political and economic center. Tourism Malaysia to the south. The area has an abundance. The Mekong River flows through the middle. There are many islands and is known. "Si Phan Don region."           road Champasak. Is an area that has historical significance since ancient times. Because the area is under the influence of ancient Khmer kingdom. And the Kingdom of Champasak. As part of the Kingdom of Lan Xang later. District Champasak cultural heritage has left many The major attraction of the country. The World Heritage Prasat Wat Phu Champasak District also has natural attractions. Have as many as in Park Falls, Li Peng Pha Pha my closet and so on.




Laos.

Travel Laos Laos
Luang Nam Tha.

          Located on the north-west of the country. This road was originally part of the head of the Road is an area of Luang Nam Tha and the water glass in combination. Later, we head down the road collapsed and split into 2 Road at the head of the old road is collapsed.And a new road and a road north of the city and a separate glass of water rights to the former head of the new road. Luang Nam Tha in the present           Luang Namtha. The mountainous terrain is complex. Is the housing. Tribe to include the Hmong, Khmu Tai Nua Tai Dam Tai Dang Tai Thai White of the Tai Lue and he was made ​​black strand Muser Kala Thai is also a destination for those who seek something new because of Luang Namtha. are both open to the lifestyles of different ethnic groups, including the traces of war with the guerrilla movement, the Lao Hmong.           however. Most visitors will stop coming to Luang Nam Tha to travel to the water glass. Or to China. Or to the city of lions. Under the capital of Nam Tha and guesthouse accommodation, quite a lot. Luang Nam Tha is a wide road. If walking through the east side of Main Street Bridge in the morning. I see people out shopping at the market. Located south of the transit station. Next, about 2 kilometers from the town of Muang Sing along. Luang Nam Tha is a craft center. The European Union is the issuer of the money generated. To have disposed of their craft.           Attractions include Wat Ban Chiang mind, Wat Chiang Tung, Wat Phra That Muang Sing, watch the news Paya, a huge market, the That Luang Nam Tha and the black market.








Laos.

Travel Laos Laos
Luang Prabang.

          Located in the north of the country. Along the Mekong River and the beam. Which flows converge. And capital, a city organization, UNESCO. Was honored as a World Heritage Site. It is the ancient kingdom of Lan Xang. Since the founding of the kingdom.And life is still simple. The current is flowing to the world today. We have many old temples. Has a unique colonial style homes. The city is located along the Mekong and Nam Khan. Which converge amid the natural beauty. And the Luang Prabang has a personality, smile, friendly and has a tradition of the magnificent           attractions include Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Chun, Wat Phu Si, Tham Ting and the street in Luang Prabang. Phongsaly.          one. In the District of Laos, located at the top of the country. Surrounded by mountains, 450 meters to 1800 meters, is cold all year round. Laos is the land adjacent to the border of China and Vietnam. Become a strategic area. The visitors dominated from all major cities in the past. Traces of French architecture as reflected by the SOI and even the building of China. The usefulness of the overlay to the big           tourist attractions. Tribal museums, morning market, Wat Phu and Phu blue sky. Road to the Savannakhet.          Located in central Queensland, south of the country. Laos is one of the largest on the west with Thailand. On December 20, 2549 with the opening ceremony of Thai Friendship Bridge - Lao Savannakhet to the 2 - Mukdahan Officially The bridge is the route to the East - West. From Vietnam to Myanmar The District Savannakhet to the side as a trade route, the more important of the Lao           tourist attractions include Wat Phra That Phon, Wat Phra That Ing Hang, a Rat Rangsri, a victory is, measure it, the castle houses the stone. , a monument to the family cook, the Singapore market, the Church of St. Teresa, just pop, Elephant Mountain National Forest, Museum Road, Savannakhet district, dinosaur museum. And four cities.
















Laos

Laos Laos
Vientiane.

          Located in the middle of the year 2532 Vientiane. The District is divided into two Vientiane today. And Vientiane. The district is located in Vientiane, the capital city of Vientiane, the French have created a new spa and m V is the first governor general in the French political world has known. Paris East It gained independence from France 2498 and was freed by the Laos People's Revolutionary Party Since 2517.           location away from the small town of Vang Vieng and Vientiane to the north, about 154 kilometers from Luang Prabang. 210 kilometers is located along the Nam Song River. Geography of the plains between the mountains. The strange shaped limestone mountains as the source of a city of Guilin, China. There is also a forest. The streams are full. And there are caves to explore a variety of locations, making it a natural tourist destination. Beautiful part of Laos.





Laos

Laos Laos
Chiang Road, across

          the east of the country. With Vietnam. The average height of 1200 meters above sea level is about rights is a serious attack during the Vietnam War. As a result, the migration of capital from the town of Xieng Khouang is in heaven reserved. The ancient city was known as the city's residents who live there. Or moved to another rope and called Tai Tung is also a stone jar with           the 2513 Road, Xieng Khouang. A fierce battle is countless.Probably because in the past, Xieng Khouang. Is one of the strategically important country.During the Indochina War. Lao Movement decided to set up headquarters here. U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber was sent to pave the prom is a devastating bombing Laos, hard process. Hundreds of villages. The temple was destroyed, almost all The Rat and the migration into the caves and canyons.




Laos

Laos Laos
          However, despite the war in Indochina are long gone. I wound, and traces of war are still state of the ruins of the ancient capital city of Cancun, there are still traces of the living in general. Some of the ruins. The Lao government has taken to protect future generations. Have seen the harm of war, when in the past. Traces of explosives, large holes of a fleet of American B-52 still has to be seen everywhere. Now being converted into a fish pond in a rice paddy. The remains of the bomb weighing several tons, was converted to a fence pole, house gutters, rice, pork sitting oven barbecue for tourists.           The town of Xieng Khouang recovering so slowly is a good thing to give as a gift to the tourists who come to visit regularly. Xieng Khouang people will never forget the brutal war of the past.Attractions include a rock for Tung Hai, Phu Bia, in Phon Savan. And the city of Cancun.and this is the place to visit in Laos, only a few things that we do offer is really an opportunity I should not miss to visit China to experience the charm of a small country but rich with. happy.


credit : http://travel.kapook.com/

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