Almost every year there seems to be contestants from The Pas and Opaskwayak Cree Nation that make it to being semi-finalists in Pow Wow Pitch and this year again is no exception. Indigenous entrepreneur from The Pas, Desiree Streit, created a new product as part of her business that will help beaders to bead anywhere they like.
“I started friday.night.beading.club in November, because I had this idea that I wanted to sell some of my beadwork and share some of my work on Instagram too, but wanted to keep it separate from my other work,” said Streit. “I wanted to design and launch my BOO-zhee Board and friday.night.beading.club was a platform to do this from.”
Desiree’s BOO-zhee Board makes beading accessible to everyone, where ever they are. The BOO-zhee Board is a beading board with a lid that comes on and off, allowing one to access their beading supplies instantaneously, with no set up required. It allows beaders to take their beading projects on the go, without spilling beads or needing to space to spread things out.

Recently some University of Saskatchewan students, led by Dr. Alex Wilson, finished up their final trek of an Indigenous land-based education program. This program is the only one of its kind and garners interest from all over North America.
“The University of Saskatchewan Masters of Indigenous Land-based Education is a graduate program, which I’m a part of teaching, for educators doing land-based education in K to 12 schools and also in community organizations,” said Dr. Wilson. “They are in co-horts and there is one co-hort of 19 students that is just finishing their degree. This particular co-hort was one that I took on a canoe trip that started in Nipawin, Saskatchewan and finished up in Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) as part of their last course.

A milestone class reunion was held at the Swan Valley Regional Secondary School (SVRSS) the week of the Northwest Round-up Fair and Rodeo. The SVRSS Class of 1973 was the first class to graduate from the newly formed regional secondary school and celebrated their 50-year high school reunion.
“1973 was the first year that the SVRSS opened, after a year of preparation by our school board, Swan Valley School Division Superintendent John Kastrukoff and SVRSS Principal Larry Sackney,” said Evelyn Immerkar. “Most Grade 12 classmates who attended that first year only had 10 months to get to know each other. Many students from the year before came back just to attend the many new subject areas offered by this new school.”
“Other schools that came to the SVRSS were from towns such as Cowan, Renwer, Minitonas, Benito, Durban, Alpine, Kenville, Mafeking, Birch River and Bowsman,” said Lorna Bell. “Each one of us tried to get to know each other through sports, classes, vocational courses and a beautiful spacious school equipped with a cafeteria.”
Graduation ceremonies were quite different back in 1973 compared to what they are today. It seems like the event itself was still prominent, just didn’t have all the extra extravagances that today’s graduation ceremonies have.
“In 1973, there were 167 graduates of the SVRSS,” said Immerkar. “This remains the third largest graduating class in SVRSS’s history. The SVRSS Class of 1973 had a long graduating ceremony, because of the sheer number of students graduating. There were also many speeches and awards handed out.”
“We didn’t have caps or gowns, but it was nice because we got to see everyone all dressed up in their best attire,” said Bell. “We had a small dance in the gym afterward which only a few attended.”
There have been other high school reunions at the SVRSS prior to this one, however, it is the first 50-year reunion that has been held. The events sort of stretched out over the week and gave former classmates a chance to catch up and make new memories.
“Previously the SVRSS Class of 1973 held a 10 and 25-year reunion,” said Immerkar. “Classmates came from all over Canada and the United States.
“The Class of 1973’s 50-year High School Reunion was held on July 25, with a social evening for over 100 people attending. Pizza was delivered all throughout the evening, while guests registered and received their name tags. Everyone exchanged hugs, caught up on life events and looked at memorabilia displayed and prepared for the next day.
“The next day, a morning brunch was enjoyed and prepared by the Bowsman Curling Club with over 120 people in attendance,” said Immerkar. “During the afternoon, a tour of the SVRSS was arranged by the current SVRSS Superintendent, and former classmate, Cam Mateika, along with three tour guides.”
“Participants were amazed by the exceptional condition of the school, with its technological advancement in classes delivered and the new expansion being built,” said Bell. “Local caterer Kyla Kluke provided a supper with a traditional Ukrainian flair. Many remembered having such a meal once upon a time in Swan River, meanwhile, some have not experienced the tasty Ukrainian favourites.
“The evening then proceeded to greetings from our first principal Larry Sackney, vice principal Leonard Harapuak, Mateika, MLA and former classmate Rick Wowchuk, and bringing greetings from the Town of Swan River, former classmate Don Bobick. Frank Ooms was the Master of Ceremonies, along with Diane White Gilmoure. Classmates Heather Pawlinsky and Marilyn Woodard Brown prepared a heart-warming tribute, along with a memory tree displaying names of those classmates and teachers who had passed.
“Donna and the Dynamos were extremely well received by approximately 160 guests with a variety of songs we all knew,” said Bell. “They also received a standing ovation. Music from 1973 played in the background, while classmates reminisced for the duration of the evening while scrumptious food was available.
“On the Thursday morning, classmates who were available gathered to decorate our float for the Northwest Round-up and Exhibition. The next day was the parade and approximately 50 people gathered to ride the float or to walk alongside, handing out candy to onlookers. After the float was undecorated farewells and hugs were passed around with promises to gather again.”
SVRSS Class of 1973’s 50-year High School Reunion was definitely one for the books. Many of the former classmates thoroughly enjoyed rekindling friendships and memories from back in the day. Both Immerkar and Bell enjoyed being a part of putting together and planning the event for their former classmates.
“We enjoyed watching our friends recognize each other after 50 years,” said Immerkar. “Another surprise was watching classmates get their name tags, which had their grade 12 picture on it. The other surprise and gratitude were receiving all of the compliments, and thanks for all the hard work and months of planning with the reunion committee. Another surprise was having some of our local classmates show up to help us out with the final preparations.”
“The most important part was that our community stepped up to help us out with this event,” said Bell.”

Representatives of the various contributors, stakeholders and consultants “break ground” on the new $15-million+ multi-purpose room and performing arts centre at the SVRSS, which has already commenced construction behind them...

The Parkland Vipers Volleyball Club will have someone new at the helm next season as program founder Ted Rea retires from the role as organizer.

Noting it has been more than six years since his own family has been involved with the program, Rea said the program had more than 100 girls registered with teams from Grades 5 to 11.

“And I think with so much interest and the coaches we’ve got involved now and the parents that are involved, I thought it would be a good time to step away and have them take on the task as a group and take over the program,” he said.

Rea started the program in 1998 for what he called selfish reasons, a desire to win a provincial championship at the high school level.

“And we had to have a club team to develop those skills a little bit further in order to do that,” he said.

That first team back in 1998 consisted of mostly girls from Dauphin.

“But we had a few girls from out of town,” Rea added.

The next year, the program grew with players from Gilbert Plains, Winnipegosis and Grandview joining the program.

For the first few years, it was just Rea involved coaching one team.

“And then there was a group that got together with Jeremy Love’s daughter Tabi coming up that decided to do a few teams. So we had a few age groups going,” he said.

That lasted for a little while, Rea said. The number of teams continued, but the organization eventually went by the wayside.

“The parents that were involved, their daughters graduated and moved on and nobody really wanted to continue with the program. I’d been doing it before and knew the ins and outs and decided to just take on the task myself,” he said.

Read the full story in this week's Dauphin Herald!

Thanks to a grant from the Building Sustainable Communities Fund, the RM of Dauphin was able to build a play structure at Stoney Point Beach.

A grand opening of the play structure was held, Aug. 1, with councillors, along with Dauphin MLA Brad Michaleski in attendance.

RM of Dauphin CAO Nicole Chychota said they had applied for the grant more than a year ago.

“Once we got that grant, it was full steam ahead to start planning this project,” she said, adding once the equipment was acquired, it only took two days for staff to put together.

Noting Stoney Point Beach is a popular campground for area residents, Chychota said there has been activities and play structures for kids missing from the beach for a long time.

"So this was a really good addition. Something the last council talked about. This council was extremely supportive of the project, as well. And we really wanted to just make this place a little bit more special than it already was,” she said.

The RM received another grant from the Enabling Accessibilities Fund, which will be used to build an accessible shower-washroom facility this fall.

There are currently more than 20 camping sites at the beach, featuring a mix of RV sites, as well as tenting sites and a boat launch.

“It’s a wonderful spot. The lake is always great. It’s great for fishing. The beach is lovely to play on. We did the boat launch a few years ago. That was new,” Chychota said. “So we’ve really focused on trying to make this area special and doing what we can to add value for the visitors and the citizens of the RM. It’s beautiful to see it come to life.”

Chychota thanks all the sponsors and RM staff and council for helping to make the new play structure a reality.

The 58th annual Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival (CNUF) is in the books and it could not have gone any better.

CNUF president Kayla Gillis said the weekend went better than expected.

“Our crowd (Saturday) was phenomenal. The stands were packed. We ran out of alcohol and we had to get more, which is a good thing. We ran out of day passes, which is a good thing, as well, too,” she said. “It’s been phenomenal. The support from everybody coming out, the support from the community, all our volunteers, it’s been amazing.”

The weather, Gillis added, was fantastic.

“It’s been a little breezy, which is great because it’s fairly hot. But the weather has been fantastic for this year,” she said.

Although the final attendance numbers are not in yet, Gillis estimated this year’s crowds surpassed last year’s numbers.

The highlight of the weekend for Gillis came Saturday night, watching Shumka Ukrainian Dancers from Edmonton dance on the main stage.

“And seeing the stands completely filled. And at the end, when we did (the finale), everybody put their cell phone light on and everything was lit up. It was beautiful,” she said.

Gillis had the opportunity to meet with some of the Ukrainian refugees displaced by the war in Ukraine. She met with groups from Regina and Winnipeg, as well as some of the families who have relocated to Dauphin, who volunteered at the festival.

“The ones that joined us last year and came for this year and said it was bigger and better, which was great to see. And the ones that just joined us for this year, they said it’s phenomenal how we can make a party happen and still keep our culture and heritage going,” she said.

Work on next year’s festival has already begun with some talent already booked.

“It nevers ends, the planning. We’re already looking ahead to the 60th, too,” Gillis said.

Gillis wishes to thank everyone who attended this year’s festival, as well as all the entertainers, sponsors and volunteers.

“Just thank you for everything,” she said.

The Manitoba Métis Federation will educate and employ up to 25 Ukrainian newcomers to work in the child care profession after receiving $1 million in funding from the provincial government.

Wayne Ewasko, Manitoba’s Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning was in Dauphin, Aug. 1, to present the funds to Frances Chartrand, MMF Minister for Early Learning and Child Care.

Noting it is an exciting time for MMF, Chartrand said the initiative is part of a commitment MMF made to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC)

“We wanted to make sure that we could train 25 Ukrainian refugees in early learning,” she said. “So now we found out that they’re going to have a 140-space childcare centre in the city of Dauphin and the work force is so slim, not inly in the province of Manitoba, not only in the Parkland, but right across Canada. So there’s probably about 300 vacancies in the province of Manitoba. So it’s exciting times that we can help train and then they could learn about the Métis culture, learn the language and are able to sustain their homes and make sure that they can care for their families. So it’s exciting times for us.”

Chartrand said they reached out to local contacts to learn where refugees are located, adding there will be a community townhall in Winnipeg.

Classes, Chartrand said, will be held at the Métis Community Centre in Dauphin, as well as in Winnipeg, with both featuring a mix of Ukrainian refugees and Red River Métis citizens, with training to begin in October.

“So we’re doing intake right now. We met with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and we’ve met with about 38 Ukrainian refugees in Winnipeg. So we’re doing a call out in the Parkland and the surrounding area and we’re going to try and get a class ready here,” Chartrand said.

The first four to six weeks, Chartrand said, will be teaching the refugees English and about Manitoba and Canada.

The following four to six weeks will be spent learning the Métis culture, followed by 18 months of learning the early learning childcare program.

“I think this is an exciting time and I’m so excited that our province is finally seeing and following our path, making sure that we could find employees to work throughout the province,” Chartrand said.

Hitting the farmers’ market circuit and the buzz about their all-natural, home-made products has been a great business move for Deanna and Ben Andres.

The couple, who live on an acreage east of Swan River, began experimenting with plant-based remedies about four years ago because of their children, Dryden and Clara.

Read the rest of the story in this week’s Review.

There is a growing and apparent need for more physicians in Manitoba, and recently a former Roblinite has completed her medical studies and residency to become a physician in Canada.

Dr. Jenilee Misko, the daughter of Robert and Leifa Misko, recently passed her certification exam in Family Medicine from the College of Physicians of Canada and graduated from the U of M this past June.

Find out more in this week’s issue.