University College of the North (UCN) is preparing to host their annual Carer Fair coming up this month. This allows people to learn more about a certain field of employment and what it takes to enter into the profession they want to work in.
“The University College of the North’s Journey to Your Future Career Fair serves as an excellent platform for employers and job seekers to connect,” said UCN Career Resources Coordinator Kelly Hause. “This event provides businesses with a unique opportunity to engage with job-ready students, recent graduates, and community members actively seeking employment. Attendees will be able to expand their professional networks and explore new career opportunities.”

The ball has dropped and a federal election has been called amid a potential trade war. Many federal candidates have hit the ground running and long-standing MP Niki Ashton is seeking re-election in the Churchill Keewatinook Aski riding. Ashton knows this is a very difficult and trying time for Canada as we fall out of the Free Trade Agreement and into some uncertain times.
“This is a very important election for our region and Canada,” said Ashton. “It’s clear that we need strong representation for our region as we face an unprecedented economic attack from the U.S. To face that attack from the U.S., it’s very clear to me that we need to reinforce what makes us proud to be Canadian and our economies, whether it’s in the mining, resources or manufacturing sectors. We also need to look at bolstering our healthcare, which is another thing that sets us apart from the U.S. We need to invest in housing and infrastructure, where there are still major gaps, especially in northern Manitoba. We need to invest in our young people.

Premier Wab Kinew and Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation Minister Jamie Moses joined Marcel Colomb First Nation, Mathias Colomb Cree Nation and Alamos Gold at a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction for a new gold mine near the town of Lynn Lake.
“Alamos Gold’s generational expansion project will benefit Indigenous nations and northern Manitoba with hundreds of good jobs,” said Kinew. “We’re proud to get a new mine to the construction phase within just 18 months of taking office. Now more than ever, we need to create economic opportunities in our province and lay the groundwork for new trade partnerships.”

If you need a little healthy variety in your mealtime, a great thing to pick up is some fresh and delicious microgreens, which Barefoot Farms has in spades – despite the fact that the hydroponic greenhouse doesn’t use dirt.
Owner/operator Dale Mohr has been experimenting a little bit with different species of microgreens, in which the premature sprouts of different plants get harvested early and add a concentrated pop of flavour and nutrients to whatever you decide to add them too.
“You can mix them in a salad or put them on a sandwich, anywhere you want to add a boost of flavour, and they’re super healthy,” said Mohr. “There is three times the goodness on average of the fully grown plant, so that speaks to the amazing goodness in the seeds themselves. I grow them on hemp fibre mats that I get from Edson, Alta., and the seeds from Mumm’s Sprouting Seeds in Saskatoon, Sask..”
On average, microgreens only take between 10 and 14 days, whereas Mohr’s other leafy greens in his greenhouse can take between 30-50 days.
“Borage microgreens can replace a cucumber in a salad, with little need for prep,” said Mohr. “And, I’m never going to need to grow garden peas again. In my mind, the microgreens have way more flavour and half the effort.
“The radish microgreens also come out tasting like a radish, but not like when you sometimes eat a radish that can be woody or bland sometimes. The microgreens nail it every time with great flavour and finish with a burn. I don’t think I’ve made a sandwich in the last year without putting some on.”
Mohr also has some broccoli, onion chives and garlic microgreens on the go.
The remainder of his greenhouse is still well stocked with the variety of different green heads in his completely hydroponic setup, powered by the natural energy of the sun much of the time with some support from artificial lights when needed.
“My dill and arugula is really taking off,” said Mohr. “There’s amazing benefits and great flavour. The arugula has basically gone from being an addition to a salad to people making whole salads out of it. Now, I’m offering a younger and older variety so you can get different textures and taste profiles.”
Mohr continues to grow beet tops, bok choy, swiss chard and kale, along with the different lettuce varieties like romaine and tropicana.
Mohr is also nearly three years deep into his Barefoot Farms business, having started it soon after moving back to his home region of Minitonas, from his lucrative career in the western Prairies.
While he began his business for the love of growing food and being able to work for himself to make a living, he finds that he has even grown as a person in that time.
“I thought the people would be my least favourite part of the process, and I’m learning that it is becoming my favourite as I explore that side of my personality,” said Mohr. “I’m seeing if I can grow what my customers need.
“This has taught me how to be a member of the community, which is the part I’m most excited about diving into. And, this community is awesome with the variety of people that come through my door.”
Mohr has also learned – with first hand knowledge – about operating a small business, about where it is worthwhile to spend money, and about not feeling bad if he is to charge a bit more for an item if it makes sense for his business, as compared to a grocery store.
He’s also had to reduce the hours that he is open, down to Wednesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., to allow for more time off and a better work/life balance.
“I’m better functioning when I’m here if I take a break,” said Mohr. “And, I’m usually always here because my controls are manual and things can heat up in a hurry if you don’t watch (the temperatures). The lettuce is the biggest tattletale, where the tips will burn if it gets too warm.
“I used to be a cog in a machine and now I’m the whole machine. It’s fascinating what you learn as a small business. I’m hoping that if I can get the product right and the people right, the end of the month will take care of itself.”
Barefoot Farms is located just outside of Minitonas, about 1.5 miles west of the Minitonas Hotel.

Members of MGEU who work for Michif Child and Family Services (CFS) in Swan River have been participating in the strike action that union members have taken in protest of the projected layoffs of members around the province, particularly in light of millions of dollars in increased funding from the Manitoba government. MGEU is also calling for fair wages for these workers, in order to be able to retain and attract the professionals they do have, in order to reasonably retain services. The contract for Michif CFS expired Jan. 31, 2023...

Local resident 18-year-old Landon Froese has been focused on competing in contact sports for quite some time. He got his start with jiu-jitsu and has now transitioned to wrestling.
“Last spring, I went to Montreal, competed there and won gold in jiu-jitsu,” said Froese. “I went up against some tough opponents. Then I also went to some jiu-jitsu competitions in Winnipeg and Saskatoon last year and won gold at those.
“I started doing a lot of wrestling and won three golds, two silvers and one bronze in those competitions. I recently competed in the Manitoba Provincials Tryouts for Team Manitoba and won gold there. I also earned a spot on Team Manitoba for wrestling as well.

Students in schools had the opportunity to connect with Fred Fox, brother of Terry Fox, and hear about how the Terry Fox Run has grown and what it has done for cancer research.
“It was amazing to be up in The Pas talking with the students,” said Fox. “I do a lot of travelling throughout the year across the country and I’ve always said, we can’t just go to the big city centers. We need to get out and about to all the smaller communities in between. The Pas has been as far north as I’ve ever been in Manitoba, so it was great to be there.
“To this extent, this will be my 16th year of doing this. I’ve been speaking at schools since the mid-90s, but travelling across the country now, as my mom used to do, it’s been about 16 years. This is the 45th Anniversary of the Terry Fox Run. Terry started his run in 1980, and then the very first Terry Fox Runs happened in 1981.”

The Province announced their 2025 budget last Thursday and is forecasting a deficit. Right now the Manitoba government is predicting a deficit that could range from $800 million to $1.9 billion, due to the uncertainty of a tariff war with the United States.
The Province is preparing to provide up to $500 million in support to businesses and jobs impacted by the tariffs. This is part of its strategy to prepare for the tariff war.
The 2025 Budget is focused on rebuilding health care, lowering costs for Manitobans, growing the economy, creating healthier families and safer communities, protecting Manitobans from tariffs and creating a government that works for the people. The Province is also investing $3.7 billion in capital projects that include new schools, emergency rooms and personal care homes in rural areas.

The Swan Valley Animal Protection League (SVAPL) has some incredible people who go above and beyond the call of duty to rescue, care for and most importantly, love animals that have been either surrendered or abandoned. One of these remarkable people is Dan Grazier. If you know Grazier, you know he is a true animal lover and has dedicated many hours to the shelter.
“Pets are great companions,” said Grazier. “They are always there for you with a wagging tail and a wet nose. They don’t ask for much and offer unconditional love in return.
“When we can save an animal from an unfortunate situation or circumstance, and offer them safety, love and hope, you can tell they understand and appreciate it. Once we put in the work, time and effort to get them to trust people again, you can tell they are ready to begin the next chapter of their lives with their new forever families.”
Many pet lovers are either a dog or a cat person. Grazier loves all animals, but he has a favourite type.
“I grew up a dog lover, but as I grew older, cats seemed more aligned with my personality,” said Grazier. “I’ve got three of my own at home: Dagger, Dart and Dash. We are the DA Gang. In addition to that, we have nearly 50 cats and kittens at the shelter that I consider my unofficial children as well.”
Grazier started getting involved with SVAPL by watching his father help out the organization. Between the love of animals and being able to use his skill set for volunteering, it became a natural thing for him to do.
“My company, Grazier Custom Manufacturing, has built things for the SVAPL for a number of years, and my late father Cliff was always very happy to help them out,” said Grazier. “I started by just bringing food and donations to the shelter. I saw that the volunteer base was extremely female-heavy. I noticed things that could be helped with my skill set.
“We started by building and donating catios that give the cats access to the outside, fresh air, bird watching etc. It’s grown to now have three different catios, catwalks, pedestals, wall crates, and bridges. A real cat paradise. It’s become a very unique place in the world of animal rescue.
“We have worked hard to create a wonderful and fun, stress-free, comforting atmosphere for the animals to enjoy as they wait to meet their new families,” said Grazier. “Many shelters cannot do this, and lots of times the animals are confined to smaller individual cages, which is the unfortunate reality. We are doing our absolute best to try to maximize the space for them.
“I also use the time there as my form of therapy. I dealt with some pretty tough times after my father passed away, and this has given me something positive to channel my energy towards. I’ve become very attached to every animal in our care and know every one of their names.”
Grazier has seen the Swan Valley come together and help out the SVAPL. People are more than willing to help the shelter provide quality care for those animals until they find their forever homes.
“We have some amazing sponsors in this community, and are very lucky that they are big animal lovers,” said Grazier. “The big one I can think of this past year was the Swan River Kinsmen Club, which I am also a member of and recently elected the Vice-President. They voted to fund the Kinsmen Kennel, a functional dog run behind our facility, so we will be able to handle dogs that come into our care as well. We are almost near completion.
“Before this, we could only take in dogs if a foster home could be arranged. This will give us a few more options in case of emergencies. That is just the start of the amazing group of sponsors that we have. Come to the shelter and look at the huge list on the wall sometime and see for yourself. “
Grazier has seen the shelter expand over the years in terms of space and features, as well as in need and animals that need homes.
“The shelter has evolved over the past few years, growing from a few rooms with cat trees, to an amazing playland with items and features changing and being added constantly,” said Grazier. “The number of animals coming in never seems to decrease, especially coming into the winter months when animals are seeking shelter. We are always operating at or beyond our capacity when it comes to felines.
“We have been lucky to be able to have dedicated foster homes for the dogs currently in our care. Near 50 cats and eight to 10 dogs are currently in our care and foster homes. We have an unbelievably dedicated, caring and compassionate group of volunteers who never let a day go by without all chores being done, every animal fed and cared for. They are the real unsung heroes of our shelter, and the place would not run without them. I am so proud of them for their work every day.”
Grazier has been part of a few comedic fundraising campaigns to help bring much-needed dollars to the SVAPL. Usually, he finds humour not only the best medicine but a good way to engage with people when it comes to fundraising.
“The ladies and I like to have an unofficial, good-spirited competition when it comes to selling tickets,” said Grazier. “We always have some amazing prizes and a large 50/50 draw for our Spring banquet, which is coming up on March 22, so the more eyes we get on the draws and our event the better.
“The more ridiculous the posts we make, the more engagement and sales for these tickets. The real winners in the end are the animals, and deep down, I have the utmost respect for my fellow sales competitors... but mostly because they know I am going to win.
“They also talked me into doing a 2025 fundraising cash calendar featuring myself this year,” said Grazier. “It sold out all 250 copies very quickly, becoming one of our best fundraisers to date. It’s not what I would choose to hang up in my house to look at every day but to each their own. I have somewhat leaned into the role of being one of the faces of the shelter. I can certainly be a character, and anything that brings eyes to our adoptable friends and our shelter is a good thing. I decided to go with the flow while people still find it entertaining. Strike while the iron is hot, as they say in my industry.”
The list of needs is never-ending for the shelter. Whether it be food or money, both go to good use.
“As you can imagine, food is always the highest in demand,” said Grazier. “The animal’s mouths never stop, so we are constantly going through food. If you have one or two animals at home that you feed, you can imagine the volume that 50 cats and 10 dogs would require per day.
“People have been so generous to us with their donations. We even have a bin for donations at the Co-op, and an Amazon wish list for those out-of-towners. Donations can always be dropped off directly at the shelter as well, or we can arrange a pickup.
“Alternatively, money is always useful to help with our monthly bills, supplies or whichever food or treats we are requiring that month,” said Grazier. “Any cash donations over $25 are eligible for a charitable tax receipt.
“Our next major project is installing another window in one of the cat rooms. Grazier Manufacturing will donate a fourth catio once it is installed, but we could always use the money for that or things such as these that pop up.”
Grazier does a lot around the shelter to help out, from building things to bottle feeding. He encourages people in the Valley to give in any capacity they can, whether it be through donating or volunteering.
“I assist directly with the animals quite often, helping to administer vaccines and medications; take weights; give baths, that’s always fun; bottle feed; play with the cats to help socialize them; comforting cats that are new and scared or feeling under the weather and giving them some company while they are in the quarantine section,” said Grazier. “I try to stay useful, from lifting heavy things to building and fixing, right down to cleaning the gunk out of the cat’s eyes.
“I’m working hard to try to break misconceptions that men can’t be involved with animal rescue. You can be young and male and also have compassion for animals. Caring for animals is cool, and I can always use more guys’ help because I am definitely outnumbered.”
“If people are looking to help us out, we are always looking for donations of either cash or supplies,” said Grazier. “If you are unsure what to buy or what we need, I would encourage you to send a message to the SVAPL Facebook page. We would be able to tell you in real time what we are in most need of.
“If you are interested in volunteering, also contact us through the page or email us through our website at SVAPL.ca. Visit our site to see current animals looking for a new home if you are considering one. Fill out an application. Book a meeting with the cats and see which one speaks to you. Support us. Come to our events. We are an entirely volunteer-run non-profit organization kept alive by a group of people with big hearts and I’m very honoured to call them all my friends. And also, as one of my heroes always said, ‘Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered.’ RIP Bob.”

An early spring sun rises on the Swan Valley, peeking behind one of the vintage tractors on display at the Swan Valley Historical Museum.