Ok, I think I see one of the issues. A second district is not needed for the great people. For the works, maybe, but not the actual great people. I've had games where I had missed maybe 2 or 3 engineers/merchants combined, plus had plenty of generals/admirals, and certainly the majority of assorted artists. Without the Oracle (Oracle with Russia is pretty much a cheat). You only need the theaters if you get tired of dealing with moving artists around.
The lavra comes fast and easy, and whatever choices you make, your holy site should be producing food somehow, certainly your shrine is, and Russian cities are growing fast while not losing production, so that second district comes fast too - probably a cd.
The lavra is a catapult, not a side venture, and you combine it with the extra tile start, another huge early game catapult.
But I do like Canada. 'Cept the mounties as uu's. Maybe if they couldn't leave your borders...