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Map from Spirit Wrestlers: Doukhobor Pioneers' Strategies for Living (Courtesy of Legas Publishing and Spirit Wrestlers Publishing).
 
 

In 1908 Peter V. Verigin (on behalf of the C.C.U.B), purchased the first parcels of land in Waterloo, which he renamed to Brilliant - directly across the Columbia River from the present site of Castlegar near the confluence of the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers. Between 1908 and 1913, their land holdings in BC had grown to over 14,000 acres and over 5000 Doukhobors moved to BC.
 
 
The Brilliant Jam Factory fast became a major enterprise in the marketplace and the nearby 'river' communities of Ootischenie and Brilliant were growing as rapidly as the communal enterprise. In 1910 the Doukhobors put in their own ferry service linking Castlegar to Brilliant and had developed roads at their own expense.
 
Peter 'Lordly' Verigin recognized a need for traversing the Kootenay River in a fashion other than ferry, that would link the rich orchards and vineyards, and the community of Ooteschenie, to Brilliant - and an idea was born to build a bridge.
 
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This site is maintained by the Brilliant Bridge Restoration Committee c/o Castlegar & District Recreation Department, Regional District of Central Kootenay, 2101 6th Avenue, Castlegar, B.C. V1N 3B2 e-mail: Administration or Webmaster. No photos may be used without prior written consent.