If you love films, then there is an event coming up in the tri-community that you won’t want to miss. The Storyteller’s Film Festival looks for the best Manitoba and Canadian-made films to draw in views to celebrate National Canadian Film Day.
“This is The Storyteller’s Film Festival’s 12th year,” said event coordinator Cheryl Antonio. “We try to move it around to attract different audiences. We also love to show local content as much as we can, which we usually get through submissions. Every year our audiences are unique, depending on which films we are showing. We get a good variety of people, of all ages and ranges from children to youth to elders and seniors. Since the beginning, Storytellers has been proud to show many Indigenous-made films. We also partner with National Canadian Film Day to show Canadian-made films. The Festival has been sponsored by The Pas Arts Council for several years.

Brother and sister duo, Randy and Cheryl Antonio, recently received recognition and were awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal last week in Winnipeg. Both siblings have contributed a lot to society and are each deserving of the award.
Randy has spent some time away from The Pas but has had a busy life between his career and his family.
“I have had the pleasure of living in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Manitoba,” said Randy. “I grew up in The Pas but left in the early 1980s for the Canadian Forces. I was an Air Cadet with 303 Squadron in The Pas, which I firmly believe pointed me in the right direction. I did leave the military in 1994 and returned home to work at the college for a year before heading to Winnipeg to attend college

The Swan Valley Stampeders held their Spring ID Camp this past weekend (April 4-6) with 40 players from all over Western Canada competing and showing their skills in front of the Stampeder coaching and scouting staff.
“The camp as a whole was very successful,” said Stampeders Head Coach Josh Tripp. “The level and pace of all of the games was super high and I was pleased with what I saw.”
The Stampeders welcomed six goaltenders, eight defenceman, and 24 forwards to the weekend for two practices, two off-ice workouts, a player seminar meeting held at the Elks Hall, and four games to test their mettle and see who could adjust the best to the junior level.
“There was a good number of kids that stood out,” said Tripp. “We had great conversations with every player that attended and I am hoping to get a good number of guys back in the fall for main camp.
We had nine players from Swan participate and they did very well. I love seeing the local products come out and showcase themselves.”
The 40 players were split up into two teams, where team Grey won three out of the four games throughout the weekend. The Stampeders had some help from former Stampeder defenceman and captain Ashton Fishley to spread some insight and keep a keen eye on the talent during the weekend.
“My biggest takeaway was how hard every guy played in every game,” said Tripp.
“Spring camps can be a bit generic with the way they are run. We tried to keep our camp smaller so we could make a more personal connection with the players and their parents. That also ensured the high level of play in each game which we saw all weekend.”
The pace of play during was most impressive throughout the weekend. All four games were competitive and had a very good pace of play. Compared to last season’s booming numbers, this year’s camp was felt to be more organized and structured.
“Going into next season I am super excited for the direction the team is heading in,” said Tripp. “We return an unbelievable group of players from last season and we saw a very high level of players in the spring camp. We are going to be competitive from day one and I think all the fans have a lot to look forward to.”
Now that spring camp is in the rearview mirror, the Stampeders officially begin their off-season mode, where they’ll be searching for new, young, and upcoming talent to join their already talented roster for the upcoming 2025-2026 season.

As spring approaches and the snow starts to disappear, it reveals all kinds of treasures, some of them better than others, such as this antler that was likely recently shed by a deer, right in the middle of Swan River Legion Park...

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...

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.

The tax bill for those living within the boundaries of Mountain View School Division will have a different look for a variety of reasons.

Presenting a draft 2025-26 budget at a public forum, Mar. 6,  MVSD secretary-treasurer Lori Slepicka indicated the division has increased its budget requirements by approximately $2.6 million from $50,816,934 last year to $53,487,961 in 2025-26.

The increase is driven mainly by increases of $2.25 million in the area of salaries and benefits, $83,000 more in nutrition grant costs, $171,434 in the area of supplies and services, a $67,991 rise in insurance costs along with $34,010 more in utility requirements and $96,237 in additional transfers.

The final budget was also impacted by a $30,883 drop in technology costs and a trustee budget decrease of $96,237.

On the revenue side of the ledger, that final budget number will be realized through provincial funding of $38,942,955, federal revenue of $19,715, municipal revenue of $12,036,950, First Nations revenue of $1,283,311, school division income of $448,580, income from private organizations of $536,450 and revenue from other sources of $220,000.

The big changes from last year involve provincial funding, which increased 31.6 per cent from last year, and the municipal portion, which is down 35.6 per cent from 2024-25.

The main reason, Slepicka said, is the introduction of the Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit (HATC) of up to $1,500, replacing the Manitoba School Tax Rebate of 50 per cent and Education Property Tax credit previously provided.

“So it shifts our revenue from our municipal revenue to our provincial revenue,” she said.

An assessment increase across the division of 16.1 per cent, to slightly more than $1.5 billion, was also highlighted with the value of farmland increasing by 23.9 per cent, residential properties by 10.9 per cent and commercial properties by 7.2 per cent.

Those increases allowed the division to lower its mill rate from 13.8697 mills in 2024 to 13.2603 mills this year.

When looking at the effect of taxation, Slepicka said, if your residential assessment increased by more than the 16.1 per cent you will see a higher tax increase and if it increased by less than 16.1 per cent, you wil see a lower tax rate.

Using an example of  a home assessed at $270,538 in 2024 and rising to $300,000 in 2025, Slepicka highlighted what those changes might mean for a homeowner.

In 2024, that homeowner would have owed school taxes totalling $1,688.59. After applying rebates and tax credits the net tax bill would have been $494.29.

This year, assuming an assessed value of $300,000, that property would have total school taxes of $1,790.14. When the HATC is applied that bill drops to $290.14, or 41.3 per cent less than the previous year.

“The only thing more complicated than the provincial funding formula is probably the calculation of municipal revenue,” Slepicka said, adding the calculation of the division’s Special Levy involves considering needs in two budget years.

Read the full story in this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.

When it comes to generosity and caring, the people in the Valley are top-notch in those two categories. There have been many charitable causes that people have raised funds for on a local level that have been a tremendous success. Bowsman School student Letti Zwarich, daughter of Darcy and Chelsea Zwarich, donated her hair in a braid to Angel Hair for Kids.
Angel Hair for Kids is a special program that provides wigs and hair loss solutions to financially disadvantaged children in Canada who lost their hair due to a medical condition or treatment. Letti felt that this was a good charity to support and help other kids.
“Letti was wanting a haircut, quite short, so I mentioned that maybe if she was cutting it all off she could donate it,” said Chelsea Zwarich. “ This opened the door for discussion. We did some research together and she knew instantly that was what she wanted to do.
“My friend’s daughters had donated their hair in the past, so I reached out to her to inquire which organization they had chosen and why. We decided to support this specific organization because it is for children, and each recipient gets a personal appointment at a salon specializing in wigs and hair loss to make it their own. Letti thought that was really fun and special!
“This is the first time she has done this,” said Chelsea. “She’s always had long hair. Letti donated a total of 13 inches; the required length for this organization is 12 inches. Her hair was about 24 inches long before the cut.”
“It feels good to know that I could help another kid get a wig and feel good about themselves,” said Letti.
Many of the staff and students at Bowsman School pooled donations for Loonies for Letti and a total of $387 was collected just at the school. Other community members also responded by giving donations to the worthy cause.
“A total of $1,500 was raised between friends, family, the school and community members,” said Chelsea. “ There were several online donations as well that were made, but we were not notified of the amount of those donations, just that they were given. The money sent along with the hair will go towards making a wig. It takes $2,500 to make just one.
“The support has been far more than anticipated. Friends, family, community members, staff and students from Bowsman School have made some really generous donations. We certainly didn’t expect it to reach this many people, but we’re always amazed at how the community, our family and friends come through!
“We mailed the hair and donations on Friday, March 7, that being the final day for donations,” said Chelsea.
This was such a wonderful experience for Letti and having the community support her in this cause has left an impact on her. She is planning on doing this again.
“Letti would absolutely do this again,” said Chelsea. “She’s already decided as soon as her hair is long enough, she wants to do it again.”