Not very often that a community in the Valley becomes part of a book series or setting for a novel, but Minitonas has become the centre of a new book series written by Sandra V. Konechny.
Konechny was a former resident of the Valley, who has since moved away but has reconnected with her time living here, through her new book series.
“My family moved to Swan River when I was six years old, to help my grandmother with her farm responsibilities as a widow and to overcome her acute grief,” said Konechny.
“We lived at 530 River Park Drive, where I claim to have had the best childhood ever, with a triangular playground park in front of the house and the river behind to play in as part of my backyard. I went to Taylor School and Duncan School back then.”
Konechny considered herself to be a little girl with a vast imagination, one that led her to be interested in writing.
“I had a penchant for dialogue when I was small playing with paper dolls, which I played with for hours, giving my dolls lines to say to each other,” said Konechny. “Similarly, when playing games like house, I’d give all my playmates their lines to say as we acted out a spontaneous story.
“My first attempt at writing a book came in Grade 5 when the teacher assigned the class to write a short story. My story morphed into a book with several chapters. I still remember it was about a gang of thieves who were using an abandoned house on my grandmother’s farm as their hideout. I recall the teacher being very encouraging. I wish that scribbler had been saved, but it was thrown out at the end of the school year along with all other used school supplies.
“I’ve been an avid reader all my life, and also enjoyed words all my life,” said Konechny. “My first writings were short stories, which occurred during my 20s to 40s. Often, they reflected a spiritual theme and I had invitations to read or recite them at special occasions such as a Christmas banquet or other event. In those days, I was also raising a family of two boys and two girls with my husband. Those were busy days, and if and when I wrote something, it was to get rid of the bee in my bonnet.”
Konechny soon embarked on the journey of writing her first book as an adult after being inspired by her faith and the Bible.
“We moved as a family to Dalmeny, Sask. on July 1, 1999, and I got involved in a Saskatoon-wide BSF class,” said Konechny. “I noticed during the years Old Testament books were studied that God asked very profound questions of people. I would tell my friends that if I ever wrote a book, it would be about the questions God asks in the Bible because they are fascinating.
“One day in Spring 2006, a friend came to me and said she’d found a book writing contest on the Internet. She wanted me to write that book and submit it to the contest. I thought about it for a moment and then agreed to. I didn’t win the contest, but I did make the shortlist and in 2007, my first book, When God Asks You, was published.
This sparked a level of excitement in writing for Konechny, however, it took a backburner to life and other hobbies. She found herself looking for a new challenge and was drawn back into the world of writing.
“I was pumped to continue writing after that, but the busyness of life and my interest in crafting quilts intercepted,” said Konechny. “About 2017, I was tired of everything I had put my hand to thus far, and I mean everything. I wanted to do something completely new. I ruled out things like woodworking, motor vehicle mechanics, bungee jumping, and sky diving and eventually challenged myself to write a novel.
“It took me around a year. I submitted it to another contest. This time I did not make the shortlist, but the judge gave me very encouraging feedback. I didn’t pursue going forward with it then, but kept writing.
“I hadn’t resolved all the mysteries I had set up in book one, so kept writing until they were, which resulted in three volumes, hence a series,” said Konechny. “I was going to end the story as a trilogy and write out an epilogue, as to the general futures of the most prominent characters.
“That’s when I realized I had inadvertently set the groundwork for another story that would bring a pair of minor characters into the spotlight, so now I’m on the home stretch with Book 4 of The Minitonas Diaries. It’s been the most fun to write so far.
“I’ve also written a children’s novel,” said Konechny. “It is an upcoming project with my publisher and my talented son-in-law has drawn an illustration for each of the twelve chapters. Its working title is An Improbable Adventure at Grandma’s House. So far, I’ve written six books and might write some more.”
The inspiration for the series The Minitonas Diaries was a combination of Konechny’s memories and a cliffhanger ending from an old movie.
“I didn’t start out planning to write a series,” said Konechny. “I had one main idea, the telling of it stretched into three volumes, now four and perhaps more. My project manager with the publisher suggested I come up with a series name too, not merely titles for each book. Eventually, I thought of The Minitonas Diaries as the title to link the volumes together.
“As for the story, it had to happen somewhere. In the summer of 2017, I had talked my husband into making a visit to Swan River and Minitonas, so I could satisfy my craving for a little nostalgia down memory lane. As we drove around the streets and country roads, reviewing the places where my family and relatives lived, I thought of the novel I was planning to write and decided this could be the setting. I was well enough acquainted with the lay of the land from personal memory as well as current-day realism to make it work.
“When I was approximately ten years old, I watched a black and white movie where a particular image stuck in my memory,” said Konechny. “A man had returned to his home roots, which was now the scene of derelict buildings, to make a new start with his life. The memory often returned to me and I would wonder what his new start would look like. Rock Bottom is the story that came to my mind and heart for a guy who had come home after a long break to make a fresh start in his life.
“Other than that, story fodder comes from my lifetime experiences, people and places I have known, things I’ve read about or have been shared with me.”
Just like any other endeavour, there are parts that are enjoyable and others that are challenging. Writing a book posed both for Konechny.
“I enjoyed writing the funny parts,” said Konechny. “When I know for sure what happens in the scene, it’s fairly easy to write it out. I strive, with each book, I write to evoke the reader to laugh, cry and be provoked to personal reflection over the issues that get raised.
“Some of the readers of Rock Bottom have already reached out to me with their feedback. They tell me how much the story has resonated with them and their own personal histories. This makes me feel fulfilled as a writer.
“I find that writing a novel isn’t terribly hard, if I know the starting point and the end point,” said Konechny. “However, I don’t always know what the middle steps are, that’s when I stop trying to force the issue. Instead, I stop, hang over a jigsaw puzzle, and listen to what my characters are saying or trying to say. Eventually, insight comes and I can carry on.
“Another challenge is getting the words exactly right so they accurately evoke and convey the intended emotions or message.”
If you missed Konechny’s book signing last weekend, you can get your copy of The Minitonas Diaries Book 1 Rock Bottom in bookstores and online.
“It can be ordered from any bookstore such as McNally Robinson, Indigo, Chapters, including any Christian bookstores, as well as Amazon,” said Konechny. “It is also available as an e-book. Word Alive Press, has an online bookstore where it can be ordered directly from the publisher.”
Konechny is working on the next book in The Minitonas Diaries series as well as possibly some other books.
“I’m still working on Book 4 titled No Turning Back, and barring unforeseen circumstances, should be completed by the end of December,” said Konechny. “I guesstimate its turn for publishing will be in early 2025. Currently, Book 2 titled And Then There’s Life, is in the editing process and will likely be available as of Spring 2024.
“After that, Book 3 with the working title Love and Life are Winding Trails,” said Konechny.
“Will there be a Book 5? Perhaps. I have an idea of which characters could take center stage, but so far, I don’t know what the drama in their lives would be.
“My grandkids are begging me to tell another Improbable Adventure story about them,” said Konechny. “As soon as I can figure out what kind of problem they could solve, I’ll get right on that.”

With the Christmas season vastly approaching, now is a good time to think of those who may not have someone to spend the holidays with. The Pas Community Renewal Corporation’s (TPCRC) Be a Santa to a Senior Program is now collecting donations for the program.
“Be a Santa to a Senior is a program that works with community partners to provide a holiday gift to Seniors in our community who are isolated, often homebound, and possibly alone during the holiday season,” said TPCRC Community Engagement Coordinator Holly LaJambe. “Our hope is to let them know someone is thinking of them and cares.
“This program has been a holiday tradition for TPCRC since 2016, so this is our eighth year hosting it, and we look forward to it each and every year.”

Christmas parties and outings will be happening over the next few weekends and Operation Red Nose is ready to go make sure people get home safe and sound, after enjoying a night out. Operation Red Nose is run by a group of volunteer drivers and the proceeds go towards a local organization, so it’s a local service, provided by local people and gives back to the community
“Operation Red Nose is a community fundraising program that has a goal of making sure everyone arrives home safely during the holiday season,” said Jen Mathews. “This year Operation Red Nose The Pas started on November 24, and it will be in operation on December 8, 9, 15, 16, 30, and 31. The phone number to call is 204-623-3003, and everyone who uses Operation Red Nose, can enter to win two tickets from Calm Air.”

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a call to action to raise awareness and is also an international movement to call for an end to violence against women, girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. The Pas Family Resource Centre (TPFRC) has been taking part in the 16 Days of Activism and engaging with other community partners as well about the issues on hand.
“The 16 Days of Activism is an annual international campaign to eliminate violence against women,” said TPFRC Executive Director Renee Kastrukoff. “The campaign started on November 25, 2023, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and concludes on December 10, 2023, which is Human Rights Day. The campaign started in 1991, to speak up and call out GBV and to request commitment to end violence against women, girls and individuals who are 2SLGBTQQIA+.

Christmas can be a financially stressful time of year as many people struggle to just to provide the basic necessities, never mind the added expenses of the holiday season. The Pas Family Resource Centre (TPFRC) is raising funds for their annual Christmas Hamper Drive, which helps those in need to have a magical Christmas too.
“Christmas is a joyous occasion for many and also a very difficult time for others, particularly those who find themselves struggling to make financial ends meet, which can contribute to holistic unwellness,” said TPFRC Executive Director Renee Kastrukoff. “The cost of groceries, rents, gasoline, utilities and many other basic essentials in life are at an all-time high. The rising costs of living are not being matched by rising incomes and this creates financial hardship for many, including families whose income earners work at lower paying jobs.

In the world of building and engineering, it still seems to be a male-dominated industry, but a former Valley resident has been breaking ground in this field, as she is building infrastructure for the future. Sarah Soprovich has completed her Masters in Engineering and has worked on projects in Canada and the United States.
Her interest in engineering came from her love of math and science in school.
“We moved to Swan River from Winnipeg in 1991 when I was one year old,” said Sarah Soprovich. “As a kid, I was mostly interested in sports, playing volleyball, basketball, and fastball, as well as snowboarding at Thunder Hill. I graduated from the Swan Valley Regional Secondary School in 2008 and moved to Winnipeg to do my Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Manitoba, followed by my Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering at the University of Calgary. I’ve always wanted to do my Masters and my employer was willing to help financially for a Masters in Engineering. It was a course-based program and I mainly took courses in Project Management.
“I was always really strong in math and science in school. I initially thought that I wanted to be an architect, but my high school physics teacher told me that the engineers were the ones who applied the science and that I should look into that instead.”
There are several different fields in engineering, and if one is not in that industry, it’s quite easy to assume it’s all the same thing when it’s not.
“Engineering is effectively the practice of using science, math, and technology to solve problems,” said Soprovich. “Civil engineering is very broad but usually refers to the design of infrastructure that the public regularly uses. Civil engineering can include structural transportation, water treatment, hydrology, hydraulics, and geotechnicals.
“I’m a structural engineer and am mainly focused on bridge design, so the majority of my projects have included bridge and structure design. I have worked for Stantec Consulting Ltd. for my entire career. I started with them as a summer student between my fourth and fifth years of university.”
Soprovich started her career in civil engineering in Manitoba but has worked on several keynote projects in Calgary and in Chicago as well.
“I actually started in Winnipeg, and it included a lot of construction inspection on rural and urban bridge replacement projects, along with some design and eventually project management,” said Soprovich.
“When I moved to Calgary, I was involved in a few projects, including the Green Line, which is the design of Calgary’s future LRT line running north-south through the city; the design of the Airport Trail Overpass, which is a two-span concrete bridge on 19th Street over Airport Trail; and two pedestrian tunnels at 90th Avenue and Southland Drive.
“Chicago was amazing,” said Soprovich. “I moved to Chicago in 2019, to work on the Chicago Transit Authority’s Red and Purple Modernization project, which is the largest and most high-profile project I have ever worked on. I was leading a segment of the project that included 2 km of new structure and track, as well as four new stations and two temporary stations on the Red and Purple lines of the El Train, Chicago’s transit.
“I joined the project about six months in, which was pretty wild, and ended up having to come back to Canada in March 2020, while continuing to work on the project remotely for about three more years. The project is still under construction and we won an award in May 2023, due to the number of women we had leading the project, which is rare in engineering.
“As a result, I was able to travel back down to Chicago for the awards ceremony and see how construction has progressed,” said Soprovich. “The project was very high-stress, but I met some of my best friends at Stantec due to it.”
Soprovich is back residing in Winnipeg and working on a lot of municipal projects. These projects are smaller in scale than some of the projects she was a part of in Calgary and in Chicago.
“Since I have started working in Winnipeg again, the projects are a bit smaller scale than what I have worked on elsewhere, but it is still rewarding to complete projects in rural communities,” said Soprovich. “In 2022, there was significant flooding in Manitoba and I spent much of the summer inspecting damaged bridges and culverts. We have now moved on to replacing this infrastructure and I have completed or am working on projects in the Town of Neepawa and the Municipalities of Souris-Glenwood, Ethelbert, and Lorne.”
Out of all the projects Soprovich has been a part of during her career, the one that stands out the most was the one in Chicago.
“The Chicago project is absolutely the largest and most high-profile project I have worked on,” said Soprovich. “It is a $2 billion design-build project and we worked hand in hand with both the contractor and the owner.”
Working in civil engineering is still a male-dominated field, but Soprovich has been working hard at training and mentoring women to become engineers. Slowly the field of engineering is becoming more diverse as more women are entering studies in university.
“Civil engineering is one of the more diverse engineering fields, but it is still primarily male,” said Soprovich. “I’m on a few committees that are trying to address this, and the goal overall is for 30 percent of the engineering field to be female by 2030; however, progress has been slow moving. On my current team, I have two female Engineers In Training (EIT) and a female student. I’m very passionate about providing them mentorship for their careers.”
Soprovich is part of a couple of initiatives that are geared toward getting more women into the field of engineering and consulting.
“The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies Canada - Technical Women in Consulting Engineering (ACEC-TWICE) is actually more focused around retention and growth of women in the consulting field,” said Soprovich. “A lot of what we do is promote awareness, often through hosting events with speakers, networking, and a yearly reception in March.
“I’m also involved with two committees with Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba (EGM)- Engineering Changes Lives and the 2030 Coalition, which are both focused on increasing diversity in the industry and meeting that 30 percent goal by 2030.”
Soprovich recently won the 2023 Early Achievement Award for her work in the industry. She was recognized by her peers working in the industry and so far, it’s the start of more big things to come for her career.
“This was through our professional association, EGM,” said Soprovich. “It was really an honour to be acknowledged for my hard work, and I am truly grateful for the team and mentors I have at Stantec who have supported the development of my career thus far.
“I would like to continue to work on large, multi-disciplinary projects both locally and across the country, and continue to see the work that I do come to life to make other’s lives easier.”

Nothing says Christmastime like a Santa Claus Parade and The Pas Community Renewal Corporation (TPCRC) is about to bring some Christmas Cheer to the tri-community. This year’s theme for the parade promises to be a fun one that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
“The theme this year is ChristmaZoo,” said TPCRC Community Engagement Coordinator Holly LaJambe. “TPCRC has been collecting and brainstorming themes for all the years we’ve been organizing the Santa Parade into a big secret list and it continues to grow.
“We choose themes that are inclusive, open to interpretation so everyone can be creative with them, and fun for all ages. Every year, we select a few choices from this list that are different from the past few years and then our staff have fun debating these until we settle on one.”

With many people about to start holiday shopping, along with searching for that perfect gift comes find deals or bargains on those top-demand items on peoples’ wish lists. Stores started the whole Black Friday bonanza of deals, by copying our American counterparts, but now retailers have taken it to another level with the Pre-Boxing Day sales strategy, which is get a deal before the big sale hits.
There are good portion of rural Manitobans who do shop local when it comes to buying gifts for the holidays, but for those who are looking to buy gifts that are not carried locally, they tend to rely on shopping online.
Shopping online can provide the convenience of doing so from home and not having to worry about travelling treacherous highway conditions only to stand in long loud lineups at the mall.
The majority of holiday online shoppers tend to scour the Internet looking for advertised deals or sales. With Meta (Facebook) being so ad-driven, a lot of these retail giants are using this platform to advertise specials or sales online. This may seem like a great way to keep informed about sales, but it’s now becoming a great way to become a victim of fraud.