A long-awaited construction project will finally get underway this spring.

And while the new concession/washroom facility at Currey Park likely won’t be ready for the start of baseball season, it should be done by the fall.

There's lots more in this week's Roblin Review!

If you’re getting a little bored with what’s on TV and are looking for a way to fill four to six hours a month, you might want to consider volunteering to be part of the municipal emergency response team.

The Municipality of Roblin is currently seeking committed volunteers who are interested in undertaking one of the positions within the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).

Check this week's Review for further details!

The spirit of the Ukrainian people and their cultural traditions are alive and well in Canada thanks to people like Angie Esplen.

She drove her children to dance practices and recitals for years and when they graduated from high school, Angie and other mothers decided to form their own group: the M&Ms, which stands for Menopausal Mommas.

“The M&Ms do traditional Ukrainian dances and are known for character dances,” says Angie. “We practice weekly and compete throughout Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta.

We performed at Dauphin’s National Ukrainian Festival in 2020 and feel honoured to be invited back this year. We also host an annual competition in Russell, and I’ve been chairperson of that for a decade.”

For more, check this week's Russell Banner

Like so many other events over the last two years, the Russell Lions Prairie Classic fell victim to the pandemic and had to be cancelled.

Last year, as Covid numbers dropped and the world was opening up just a little, it looked as if the derby might go ahead.

In order to comply with the ever-changing public health orders, rather than the customary July weekend, the date of 2021 derby was moved to a later date in August.

Just as event co-chairs Kevan McCarthy and Richie Davidson thought everything was figured out, came another blow.

Get the full story in this week's Russell Banner!

Binscarth’s Cody McLeod took his talents to the NHL ice for 15 years.

Just recently, he celebrated his 1,000th professional game. Now, along with a few other hockey folks, Cody will be sharing his skill and hockey insight with kids at the Cody McLeod Hockey School which will run here in Russell from August 8th to 12th in the Russell Multiplex.

McLeod says he thrilled to have the chance to put on a school right here in Russell. 

Check this week's Russell Banner for lots more!

As inflation creeps in and the cost of food rises, the harder it is for some individuals and families to make ends meet.
These factors also can impact how much food a community food bank can purchase. Tying all these things together, spring is an excellent time to donate and local grocers continue collecting food and monetary donations for the Swan Valley Food Bank (SVFB).
The SVFB is preparing for the time of year when they have to look at purchasing more items to meet the needs of people who use their service.
“Our numbers appear to be relatively consistent, but summer is typically when we need to purchase more groceries,” said SVFB Treasurer Phyllis Hunt. “It could possibly be because people are moving from town to town during better weather. There has been a slight increase in people coming to the food bank, but we anticipate that these numbers will rise due to the cost of food and fuel increasing.”
Along with a Spring Food Drive happening now until Easter at Extra Foods, there are donation boxes set up regularly at both grocery stores, where people can drop off items for the SVFB.
“There are donation boxes at both Extra Foods and the Swan Valley Consumer’s Co-op (SVCC),” said Hunt. “The SVCC has hunger bags put together for individuals to buy and donate to us and Extra Foods is doing a Spring Food Drive, which started last week. Plus we have other corporate sponsors, churches and many individuals who also donate on a regular basis.”
Non-perishable items are key to donate when giving to the food bank, but there are some items that are really needed for giving out.
The SVFB is open every week for certain items and provides a hamper each month to those in need.
“Items such as canned fruit, vegetables, meat, pork & beans, rice, soup, pasta and pasta sauce are really needed for the SVFB,” said Hunt. “We’re open every Thursday from noon to 2 p.m. For three weeks of the month, we give out bread and pastry, as well as specific needed items, if we have them in stock. Then a hamper box is given out once per month. We average 70 family and 65 singles boxes each month.
“We have a total of 14 volunteers who either work on Thursday and/or do regular pickups from Extra Foods and SVCC each week. Last year, the donated food from corporate, churches, clubs, schools and individuals totalled 74,046 lbs.
We appreciate so much the support of our community, whether financially or in donations of food,” said Hunt. “We couldn't continue this important work without all of you.”

The great weather brought out 27 people to Moose Lake Trail who enjoyed a afternoon by participating in skiing, snowshoeing, and chatting around a bonfire while roasting smokies and marshmallows, and sipping on hot chocolate!

Riding Mountain National Park staff - Trail Maintenance Supervisor Ron Sykes and Outreach Co-ordinator Marjorie Huculak - attended and were very pleased to see so many people appreciating this beautiful RMNP trail!

The Moose Lake trail is maintained by local volunteers, and the donations received at the Fun Day and from other sources, are used to pay for upkeep of the snowmobile packer (repairs, gas, oil), and for replacement of this very old machine.

The Moose Lake Trail Stewards are very grateful for the generosity of their donors, as well as for the RMNP Staff who assist in brush clearing of the trail in the off-season

Members of the Lidstone Combat Sports Academy travelled to Regina this past weekend to take part in the Annual Western Kids Open - a children-only Brazilian Jiu-
Jitsu and Submission grappling tournament that is held yearly. Scarlett Tokar (left) takes on her competition.

There was no shortage of fun to take part in during Spring Break last week (March 28-April 1). In addition to the regularly scheduled activities held at Town of Swan River facilities, the Elbert Chartrand Friendship Centre, the Town of Swan River Recreation Department, Swan Valley Communities that Care, Swan Valley Immigrant Services and the Swan Valley Rotary Club teamed up to bring even more free fun to participate in throughout the week. Shayne Stevenson (left) and Nathan Stevenson (right) enjoy a late afternoon swim

From left, Can Bennet, public relations chair for Mountain View Teachers Association, and MVTA president Chance Henderson recently presented a cheque for $1,500 to Ukrainian Folk Arts Centre and Museum president Jim Perchaluk and Selo Ukraine board member Larry Hrytsay, as Don Tarrant, owner of Reit-Syd Equipment looks on.

MVTA issued a challenge to local service groups and organizations to make a donation to the Parkland Ukrainian Family Fund in support of the permanent placing of Ukrainian refugee families in the Parkland.

Perchaluk noted 100 per cent of all donations will go to the families who relocate to the Parkland.