Assisted by American and British Quakers, more than 7,400 Doukhobors immigrated to Canada in 1898-1899 after the federal government promised to relax its homestead regulations and allow members of the religious sect to register for individual homesteads but to live communally. As evident in this photograph of Vosnesenya, village layout and architecture was copied from Doukhobor communal villages in Caucasia. Concessions regarding military service and education were also extended to the Doukhobors by the Canadian government.