Most often, when a parent coaches their children in a sport, they foster a love of the game that they pass on to the next generation. This is something that Keith Guay Sr. has done with his sons. Back in Keith Guay Sr.’s time, he coached two teams that won two Manitoba Provincial A Championships back to back. Now his son, Keith Guay Jr., has coached a team to win provincials as well.
“I coach a team out of Winnipeg, which is the Strikers, who play in the AA level,” said Keith Guay Jr. “We played in two provincial tournaments. The one we went to back in June is called the Double A Showcase and it brings all the AA teams across the province, which was around 12 teams.
“I played fast pitch up in The Pas as a youth and my dad, Keith Guay Sr., was my coach. I played up until I was 19 years old. Then I moved to Winnipeg when I turned 18, to attend university, but I came back when I was 19 years old to play another year of ball because I just loved the sport.

Every year, the tri-community brings together and celebrates cultural diversity through Culturama. The week-long event has a series of culturally influenced workshops, presentations and displays that the community can participate and engage in.
Currently, the committee for Culturama is looking for submissions to enhance the event. There are four categories in which people can be a part of Culturama.
“Culturama celebrates the rich cultural diversity of our tri-community through traditions, performances, and food,” said Tri-community Culturama Planning Chair Akech Mayuom. “There are so many ways to get involved at Culturama, which means there is something for everyone. People can register to participate through the categories established. “The first category is live performance, which includes playing musical instruments, dancing, spoken words, or theatre. Performances should reflect cultural heritage and traditions. Then we have a volunteering category, where we are looking for volunteers to help with a variety of roles, which include greeting and welcoming guests, managing admissions and ticket booths, assisting with setup and teardown, and much more.

When it comes to Ukrainian dancing in the Valley, the Benito Vesselli Ukrainian Dance Club keeps the tradition alive and achieves new accolades as its season unveils. For the second time in a row, Benito Vesselli Ukrainian Dancer Kemi Bulycz, has attended the Spirit of Virsky Seminar in Edmonton last month. The Spirit of Virsky Seminar is a Ukrainian dance workshop hosted by the Ukrainian Dance World and instructed by former Virsky Ensemble dancers.
“This was my second time attending the Spirit of Virsky Seminar,” said Kemi. “In a few ways, this year was different. The instructors who came from Virsky were all different compared to those who instructed last year. This year they focused more on ballet technique, arm and foot positions, and we learned two full famous Virsky dances.”
Kemi has found that each time she has attended the Spirit of Virsky Seminar, she has learned a lot of different techniques and dances. She uses this knowledge and learning to bring back to share with the Benito Vesselli Dance Club.
“I really enjoyed that we focused on ballet technique and jumps, along with multiple turn combinations, specifically obertoss turns,” said Kemi. These are skills that will help me grow as a dancer and also skills I can bring back to my club, Benito Vesselli.
“We learned two complete and famous Virsky dances, which were Khmil and Hopak. They were a lot of fun. Khmil is a dance about the female dancers playing tricks on the male dancers, who may have enjoyed a few too many adult beverages. Hopak is the most famous Ukrainian dance, showcasing tricks, fast footwork, and spins. It was a true honour to not only learn these dances but be taught by the professionals themselves.”
The seminar was instructed by world-renowned Ukrainian dancers and brought in students from across Western Canada. The classes focused heavily on style and technique for Ukrainian dancing.
“Dancers from all across Canada, mainly Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia were in attendance,” said Kemi. “Some who perform with amateur groups like myself and some who dance in professional ensembles.
“We had four Virsky Instructors, Frolov Kostiantyn, Anna Frolov, Masha Bodyan and Dmytro Bodyan. These four instructors are the best in the world. They performed with Virsky in Ukraine and have multiple years of experience. Watching them dance with grace and elegance was a pretty amazing feeling. They shared a lot of information with us that I will take with me forever.
“The seminar took place at Shumka Studios in Edmonton, Alberta, from July 14 to July 19,” said Kemi. “Classes started at 9 a.m. and ended around 4 p.m. with a lunch break in between. The mornings focused mainly on ballet, jumps and leaps, spins and tricks.
“In the afternoons, we would split and the male dancers would go with the male instructors, and the females would stay with the female instructors. This way, each group could focus on steps and techniques specific to them. We would meet again at the end of the day to learn choreography before leaving for the day. The six hours of instruction would fly by, and although my legs and body would be tired, I could have stayed longer. Every day was a lot of fun!
“On the last day, we performed a showcase for parents and guests,” said Kemi. “It was exciting to show a piece of what we were taught that week and receive a standing ovation.”
Attending the Spirit of Virsky is always a highlight for Kemi. It not only creates some long lasting memories, but it also gives her a chance to grow as a dancer and fulfill her dream.
“I’m able to bring back everything I was taught to my hometown clubs, Benito Vesselli and Liliya Ukrainian Dance,” said Kemi. “I often assist our instructors, Ms. Amanda, who is my mom, and Mr. Austin, and learning new skills helps me teach and show younger dancers the art of Ukrainian dance. Attending the Virsky seminar also helps me as a performer, it strengthens my skills, arm and foot positions and helps me feel more confident.
“Attending the seminar helps me build new connections to professional dance groups. I plan to audition for a group after high school and attending helps me create connections, build friendships and sharpen my skills. The seminar is in Edmonton, Alberta, which has multiple professional Ukrainian dance groups, so it’s fun to meet the dancers and artistic directors and expand my Ukrainian dance community.
“I have been in Ukrainian dance for 14 years; next year I will graduate and complete 15 years of Ukrainian dancing,” said Kemi. “My future goals are to audition and hopefully join a professional Ukrainian dance ensemble.”
The Benito Vesselli Ukrainian Dance Club also had another major highlight this summer at Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival. The club has competed in various competitions over the years, but never at the stage of CNUF.
“The 2025-2026 Dance Season marks 43 years for the Benito Vesselli Dance Club,” said Benito Vesselli Ukrainian Dance Instructor Amanda Bulycz. “Vesselli dancers have attended CNUF in the past, but haven’t attended in many, many years. Last summer was Vesselli’s first year returning to the Talent Stage at CNUF.
“The Talent Stage Competition at CNUF runs similarly to any other Ukrainian dance competition, with a few differences. The competition is held outside on one of the side stages and anyone can register to compete. This year, the competition ran three days with adjudicator Kaitlyn Kruk from Ukraine, originally from Canada. Performers may enter solos, duets, trios, small or large group dances of any region and any age.
“Competitors perform within sessions and at the end of their session receive a mark and either a bronze, silver or gold medal,” said Amanda. “At the end of the competition, the adjudicator picks the top performance from two categories. This year, there was one winner from the solos/duets/trio category and one winner from the small and large group category. The adjudicator decides on the winners by who she feels deserves the grand prize, based on a few factors such as choreography, overall performance, technique, etc. This year, the grand prize was $750 plus the opportunity to perform on the main grandstand during a main stage performance at next year’s CNUF.”
The Benito Vesselli Ukrainian Senior Dancers competed this year at CNUF’s Talent Stage. Amanda worked closely with the dancers, as well as chose the music and choreography for the competition.
“The Vesselli Seniors Grace Keller, Kemi Bulycz, Megan Woytkiw, Quinn Barker, Katie Hunt and Laryssa Mychalchuk performed Volyn at the talent stage competition,” said Amanda. “I’m Vesselli’s choreographer and head instructor, and I actually had this piece of music picked out years ago, waiting for the opportunity to use it with a group of dancers. The piece has many tempo changes and is an upbeat traditional piece, so I’ve been waiting for the chance to use it and create choreography to match.
I was excited when, in the very first class last year, I played it and the dancers shared my excitement to want to perform to it. We had a lot of fun trying new tricks, lifts, jumps, turns, and combinations while I worked through the choreography. The seniors first performed this dance at Vesselli’s Malanka in January and it was then that I knew they would continue to succeed with this dance. The crowd was clapping, cheering and enjoying the performance as much as we had enjoyed creating and learning it.
“At competitions this year, they brought home multiple gold medals and even a scholarship for this piece,” said Amanda.
The competition this year was tough at CNUF’s Talent Stage, bringing Ukrainian dancers from all across Canada and showcasing the best in the country.
“The Benito Vesselli Ukrainian Dancers have not won the CNUF Talent Stage Competition before,” said Amanda. “This is our first time. There were 34 clubs from all across Canada entered, and over 160 dances total competing in the competition.”
The heart, determination and spirit of the Benito Vesselli Ukrainian Dancers not only took the stage at CNUF, but the hearts of the judges as well, as they won gold for their performance.
“The reaction was priceless and one I will forever remember,” said Amanda. “The seniors, alongside their parents, were gathered patiently waiting for the announcement of who won. We did not expect to hear our name called, but when the adjudicator dropped hints, I could see the excitement and joy in the dancers’ faces build.
“The adjudicator started by saying the dance winning the $750 prize and the opportunity to perform on the main grandstand stage at the 2026 CNUF was a Volyn dance, mixed group, and 16+ years. At this point, I could see the dancers all smiling and holding hands, wondering if they would be called. Then the adjudicator said, ‘They performed this morning…….Benito Vesselli Dance Club, and the dancers screamed, cried, hugged, and jumped up and down. It was a moment I am sure will stay with them forever.
“As their instructor and as a mom of one of the dancers, I was equally as excited and proud of their huge accomplishment,” said Amanda. “They worked hard all year, but especially the month leading up to CNUF. We spent many summer nights practicing and perfecting combinations. Their hard work paid off.”
With fall and back to school right around the corner, the Benito Vessell Ukrainian Dance Club is already preparing for the start of their upcoming season, with registration taking place next month.
“Our season begins the third week of September and registration will open the last week of August,” said Amanda. “Registration details are posted on our Facebook Page, Benito Vesselli Dance Club, or people can contact me. If anyone is interested in hearing more about our club and/or joining, we would love to have you and welcome all. The first two weeks are free to try.
“Our other instructor, Austin Spencer, and I have been busy planning practices, workshops, choreography and more as we enter what might be one of our biggest seasons yet!”

The Swan Valley Historical Museum held their annual Harvest Festival this past Sunday (Aug. 24) with tons of games, activities and sights to see during the day. Here, the Harvey Grain Elevator is showcased at its new permanent home as a young child tests it out.

For the past two years, volunteers of the St. Elijah Pioneer Museum have been working to restore the St. Elijah Pioneer Church, one of two designated heritage buildings on the museum site in Lennard, just north of Inglis.
Some 26 volunteers spend more than 300 horus to complete the work.
Read all about it in this week’s issue.

There is something to be said about strength in numbers, especially when facing a crisis. When it comes to firefighting, that statement couldn’t be truer. When fire departments need a hand fighting a fire that may be challenging or growing in size, they often call on other neighbouring fire departments to assist.
It is better to have a mutual understanding of providing assistance and that can be done through a Mutual Aid Agreement.
“Mutual Aid is a formal agreement between fire departments, or other emergency services, to help each other out when an incident is too big for a single department to handle on its own,” said The Pas Fire Department Fire Chief Byron Shangraw. “Think of it as a pre-arranged agreement between neighbors to lend a hand when needed.”

NHL star and former resident, Connor Dewar, received a community-wide heartfelt acknowledgment for his achievement in becoming an NHL player. A sign was erected in the community, promoting Dewar’s hard work and dedication to the sport and achieving success in it.
“This has been in the works for the last three years,” said The Pas MMF Vice President Judy Mayer. “We’ve had conversations with the mayor regarding this. We felt this was important because when you drive to Flin Flon, you can see the big sign that says ‘Home of Bobby Clark’. Clark was a homegrown boy from Flin Flon who made the NHL.

In between rainshowers and thunderstorms this month, some of the Swan Valley’s grain producers have been getting out in the fields and taking off some of their crops. Pictured here, RanHart Farms from Minitonas harvests a cereal crop along Hwy. No. 10 East.

After a dry summer with very little precipitation, the taps were turned on during the last couple of weeks, with 71.9 mm of rain being reported in Swan River between Aug. 11-17, or 132.3 mm total if extended to Aug. 6. Only two days in that time period experienced no precipitation at all. Pictured here, a rain gauge in the Municipality of Swan Valley West shows the local precipitation over an approximately 36 hour period last weekend...

Darlene Jackson loved her community. If there was a fundraiser to be held or a way to showcase her community, she was always right there to help out.
Like many in the area, the Inglis Grain Elevators National Historic Site was close to her heart. That same sentiment is what drives the Darlene Jackson Memorial Golf Tournament where all of the proceeds to help fund the day-to-day operation and on-going maintenance of the Inglis elevators, which were lovingly named the Prairie giants, by the locals years ago.
Pick up this week’s Review to find out more.