For the last few months if you looked at the snowbanks that had been cut away from the curb you could see the various layers of winter telling the story of fresh snowfalls mixed with salted and sanded roads, plowed up to create a timeline of winter.

There's lots more in this week's edition of the Star & Times!

“One man alone can’t defeat the forces of evil, but many good people coming together can.” - Harold S. Kushner

Like so many millions of people around the world, Bonnie Kiliwnik was searching for a real way to help the people of Ukraine as they bravely fight back an onslaught of Russian tanks, soldiers and arial bombing.

Then she thought about the lawn signs made up and placed on lawns around town celebrating Major Pratt grads last June.

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

Many people are sitting back and watching the tragedy unfold in Ukraine wondering why isn’t anyone doing anything and how can one help? A dedicated group of Roblinites have stepped up and decided to do something.

The “Stand With Ukraine”  event, consisting of dinner and a comedy show, is set for April 2 and is being organized to help raise funds to support a family from Ukraine to immigrate to Roblin.

The U13 Roblin Stars attended the U13 Rural “C” Hockey Manitoba provincials in Grandview March 11 to 13.

The Stars took to the ice on Friday for their first game of the weekend, against the Holland Rockets and ended the game with a 4-2 victory.

That evening, the Stars were part of the opening ceremonies, featuring nine teams who attended the tournament.

Check out this week's Roblin Review for lots more!

The Roblin MMF Local is busy planning another musical event for the community, but this time, it will be a weekend long event.

Li Festival di Michif will be a three-day music festival from July 1 to 3, featuring a variety of local talent and artisans from the area, children’s activities, food and much more.

More details in this week's paper!

Fusion Credit Union has been named a “Top Manitoba Employer” for the third consecutive year.

The annual competition recognizes Manitoba employers that lead their industries in offering an exceptional employee experience and work environment.

Check this week's paper for more!

The devastation Ukraine is going through is impacting many Canadians and others all over the world. Former Valley resident, Wendy van der Walt, is deeply impacted by the attack against Ukraine, for her grandparents originally came to Canada from there. “My father was a first-generation Canadian,” said van der Walt.

“His parents fled from Ukraine a few years before he was born, in the early 1930s. My father was his parent’s only child. His father died suddenly when he was very young and his mother lived far from us in Hamilton, Ont.. I understood, as a child, that my father and his mother were estranged but didn’t understand why.

“I would question my father about our Ukrainian heritage, to which he would invariably reply, with finality, ‘We are Canadian.’ All he would share was that his family had suffered greatly, were met with prejudice during the immigration process, had their name changed and never looked back.” Despite van der Walt not knowing a lot about her family history growing up, her father did immerse her in Ukrainian culture. She has many memories of spending time with him dining on Ukrainian food or taking in the language.

“The only part of his heritage that he quietly shared with me was the food,” said van der Walt. “Living in Winnipeg, he would take me out alone to different Ukrainian restaurants, quite often, and to Folklorama each year. During those special times, he would open up, share Ukrainian phrases, anecdotes and of course his love of the food with me. Like his own father, he died suddenly, very young. I wish more than anything I’d had a chance to sit with him and learn more about my family history.”

Although van der Walt has never travelled to Ukraine, it’s been on her list of places to go. Watching the horrific bombing and attacks that Ukraine has endured has been heartwrenching for her. “I was scrolling Apple News on my phone when I saw the many distressing news items about the Russian invasion and violence upon Ukraine,” said van der Walt. “I was horrified, frightened and so incredibly sad for the people of Ukraine, as well as the righteous and brave Russian people protesting the invasion.” Regardless of not knowing her family’s history very well, van der Walt feels she still has family in Ukraine today. Not knowing who they are or what they’re going through, has been on her mind a lot lately.

“I assume I do have family in Ukraine, sadly, I have no way of knowing who they are or where they live, as all of my immediate relatives have passed,” said van der Walt. “With the name change, they left absolutely no trail.

Lately, I’ve thought often about these unknown relatives and asked myself, are they afraid? Have they left their homes? Are their children and grandchildren safe?” While the turmoil has continued in Ukraine, van der Walt found inspiration in the tragedy to help give herself and others hope for the country and peoples’ future.“ When I woke up on the morning of Friday, Feb. 24, which was the second day of the invasion, I picked up my phone to check the news and was overwhelmed with emotion,” said van der Walt. “The news article that really knocked me down was a video clip of the older Ukrainian woman verbally berating a Russian Soldier.

I’m thinking that by today almost everyone must have seen this now-viral video.  “The woman approaches a group of Russian soldiers and begins to ask questions. She angrily shamed, swore at them, and called them occupants and fascists. Then she tried to give them sunflower seeds, the national flower of Ukraine, and told them to ‘Take these seeds and put them in your pockets, so at least sunflowers will grow when you all lie down here.’ She was so immensely brave to fiercely defend her home and democracy; it was absolutely inspiring. “I felt compelled to head to my shop here in Brandon and make a quilt to hang in the window showing my support for the brave people of Ukraine and their Canadian relatives loving and praying for them from afar,” said van der Walk. “My staff and I worked through the day on the sunflower Ukrainian Flag-themed quilt, and completed it in time to take it as a banner to the peaceful demonstration of support here at Brandon City Hall that evening.” The quilt not only resembles hope for Ukraine, but also has some special sentiments that van der Walt hoped to share when she created it. The quilt is not for sale but will stand as a constant reminder and symbol of hope for the people of Ukraine. “A detail of the quilt that is special to me is the fabric I used for the heart in the Center of the appliquéd sunflower,” said van der Walt. “I put out a request that day through some Brandon quilt ladies for a small piece of floral Ukrainian ‘Baba’ or ‘Kokum’ scarf fabric. I wanted it to represent how, in my opinion, women are at the center or heart of a people, as well as the most impacted by war and conflict. Brandon quilt ladies delivered, finding me a piece of fabric that had travelled over 50 years ago from Ukraine to Canada, to be sewn into a baby skirt for a new Ukrainian Canadian baby girl. “The quilt is still hanging in the shop window, and will stay there until this atrocity is over and freedom for Ukraine prevails.”

After delays due to COVID-19, the U7 Blue and White teams were finally able to host their home tournament with visiting teams coming from Dauphin and Grand Plains.

More in this week's Star & Times!

A snow bison now greets travellers coming into Swan River from Hwy. No. 83, at least until spring arrives.

Local artist Derryl May was commissioned by the Town of Swan River council to produce

one of his creations out of the abundance of snow that has fallen this winter.

The choice of carving a bison was done to show pride in Manitoba.

Costs were covered by The Brick, of which the local franchise store is owned by Mayor Lance Jacobson.

The sculpture is available to view at the corner of Centennial Drive and First Street South.

The Dauphin and District Community Foundation was the recipient of a significant donation from a Dauphin resident who passed away two years ago.

Peter Sklepowich, who died May 14, 2020, bequeathed $507,088 to the foundation.

Jason Beyette of Johnston and Company Law Office is in charge of the estate. He knew Sklepowich, meeting him through the agriculture industry.

“When I was in my summer jobs, I worked at Cargill in Dauphin and Peter was farming. So that’s how I initially met Peter, through the farming industry,” he said, adding Sklepowich used to farm in the Keld area, before moving to Dauphin in 2006. He worked at various jobs, including Dauphin Recreation Services when he passed away.

Sklepowich’s entire estate was bequeathed to charity, with half going to DDCF and the other half split between the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Canadian Cancer Society.

“When Peter came in to talk to me about preparing his will, he indicated he wanted to leave it to charity. And we had discussed some of the different possibilities,” Beyette said. “And he was impressed with the Dauphin and District Community Foundation, because he liked the fact that his principle was never spent and the interest would be earned and put into projects in the community. That’s what really sold him on the charity.”

Beyette said anytime money is granted to a local group through DDCF, it will trigger memories of Sklepowich for him.

“That’s something I think is a neat way to leave your legacy in life,” he said. “There are also some wonderful tax benefits to giving to a charity. His estate was more significant because of his charitable bequests relieving some of his tax obligations. So we were actually able to leave more money in the hands of his charities because he left his estate to the charities.”

There are still a few assets in the estate to be disposed of, Beyette said, adding the final distribution will likely take place sometime next year.

“To my knowledge, I think this is probably the biggest donation that the foundation has received in one single bequest. So it’s fairly significant. And I think the foundation is looking forward to more milestones where they can do more things in the community,” he added. “There are many projects that probably wouldn’t have had the success they have had because of the foundation.”

DDCF executive director Kit Daley said the bequeath will have a significant and long-lasting effect on the community.

“With Mr. Sklepowich’s gift, we will be granting out an additional $20,000 to the community next year and that will continue to grow every year. Gifts to the foundation are gifts to the community and we are so grateful for his support,” she said.

(From left, DDCF board member Justin Tokarchuk, Jason Beyette presenting a cheque to DDCF board member Darren Eddie, DDCF executive director Kit Daley and DDCF board member Martijn van Luijn.)