Young dancers from the Bratstva Ukrainian Dance Studio had an opportunity to show off all they have learned as the group held its spring recital, May 8.

All proceeds from the admission and raffle have been donated toward humanitarian aid in Ukraine. 

By Ed Stozek
For the Herald

Television, the radio and a collection of vinyl records provided an avenue of escape from the relatively uneventful life of living on a farm.

Watching the Beatles and a host of other popular musical acts on The Ed Sullivan Show sparked an interest to see entertainers in my adult years at “live” concert settings.

With a seating capacity for 1,684 patrons, the Western Manitoba Centennial auditorium was an excellent venue for popular entertainers passing through Brandon.

My first visit to the auditorium occurred in 1970 when the newly-opened facility was used to host the freshmen students attending university for that school year. We spent several hours listening to speakers welcoming and informing us of campus-related activities.

One of the first concerts that I attended at the auditorium featured the First Edition with lead singer and bass player Kenny Rogers. The set list included their hits, “Just Dropped In To See What Condition I Was In” and “Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town.”

When the band broke up in 1975 Kenny Rogers launched a very successful solo career with over 20 number one hits. “You got to know how to hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away and know when to run.”

At another concert, Bruce Cockburn performed as a solo artist. His guitar playing and singing were amazing. For an encore he played one of my favourite songs, “One Day I Walk.”

After the concert it was time to rush to my dorm room and try to figure out the guitar chords. My friends and I later discussed the concert highlights including the lyrics, “One day I walk in flowers, one day I walk on stones, today I walk in hours, one day I shall be home.” That song was later covered by various recording artists including Anne Murray, The Rankins, and K.D. Lang.

Formed in 1968 the rock band, Lighthouse, put on a great show playing their hits “One Fine Morning”, “Sunny Days” and “1849.” One of my classmates and I later used “1849” as part of a presentation for an Education class showing how songs could be utilized to enhance history lessons. “They came for gold in 1849. Sixty-one wagons, two miles long in a line.”

Lighthouse, winners of several Juno awards, included 11 musicians and featured horns and string instruments. Some of the group members were familiar as they had previously appeared as house musicians on Let’s Go, a teen show that I had watched in 1964-65.

Many years later, Janice and I enjoyed attending the Minot State Fair and its great line-up of entertainers.

Two concerts still remain as favourites. Willie Nelson played a one-hour show. The thunderous applause brought him back for a 60-minute encore that included one of my all-time favourite songs, “Always On My Mind.” Along with the band, his sister Bobbi accompanied him on the grand piano. In 1982-83 the song garnered several Grammy Awards including song and album of the year. Throughout the concert my binoculars were focused on Willie’s famous Martin guitar and his unique playing style. He named his guitar after Roy Roger’s horse, Trigger.

Once our sons Warren and Troy got older, they also attended the fair. Along with spending the day doing the usual kid’s activities, we purchased tickets for the Garth Brooks concert. Released in 1990 on the No Fences album, “Friends in Low Places” and “The Thunder Rolls” were his early hits. Brooks put on a great show and as he started singing “There’s a storm movin’ in, he’s headin’ back from somewhere, that he never should have been, and the thunder rolls,” a storm rolled through Minot. Amid the thunder and lightning Brooks finished the set.

Troy recently recalled, “I remember feeling so small and awestruck by the enormity of the event. It seemed big but that was likely because I was so little and the crowds were a new thing to my small-town boy world. I remember an actual thunder storm rolling in as he played ‘Thunder Rolls’.”
Many years later, I have many memories from attending concerts at various venues. They are still “Always On My Mind.”

By Floyd Martens
MVSD Board Chair

We asked for your feedback.

In one of the March articles of Mountain View Matters, the board indicated your perspective was needed. We needed to hear your views on school board representation. We currently have nine trustee positions elected in four wards. Each trustee needs to represent an equal number of voters. With the changes in population across the division, we are close to requiring adjustments to create balance.

The question was whether the current number should be nine in four wards or whether we should reduce the number to seven in three wards? We asked for your perspective and you gratefully provided it.

Almost 150 responses to the survey were received. It is always great to hear from our community and gain your perspective on issues. It is what makes the school board system effective.

The survey provided more than just an answer to this question – it also provided us with a number of comments that we are continuing to examine.

In terms of whether to reduce the number of trustees from nine to seven, the results were slightly higher in favour of reducing the number.

However, as the board looked at the additional comments and concerns about making this change, it reinforced one of the concerns the board had in initiating this process. Trustee representation is based on population. Smaller communities, particularly if they face declining numbers, have a smaller voice. Larger communities have a larger one. It is based on the number of people and where the majority of the population resides in the school division.
Once elected as trustees, we represent the whole division, regardless of where we live. Wards are for election purposes only.

However, the main concern the board had about reducing the number of trustees was whether our communities would feel unrepresented if a reduction took place. If they felt their voice was represented, we could proceed. If not, we would not move forward.

In examining the results of the survey, there were a number of concerns expressed about how a reduction could add to a sense of loss in the voice of our communities. This was never the intention and as a result, the board felt we should keep the number of trustees at nine for this election.

Following the election in the fall, we will see what the population is in our various wards and whether we are still within the representation quotient we need to operate under according to the legislation governing school boards. At some point, we may have to make changes, but they will not happen for this fall.

Further to the question about the number of trustees, the other comments from the survey were referred to the Community Relations Committee of the board for additional discussion and recommendations.

Again, we are grateful for your response. We would also encourage you to consider becoming involved as school trustees. These are democratically-elected positions by our communities to represent them. Having people interested in serving our communities is essential. The Manitoba School Boards Association is providing information sessions for those interested in being involved.

There is a webinar on May 4 and 11 for those who are interested in running as candidates this fall.

Information is available at: www.mbschoolboards.ca.

You do not need to register to be involved.

We thank you for your participation in this survey and look forward to your engagement as we move forward with elected school boards.

The Swan Valley Cheetahs Gymnastics Club fared well at provincials, earning a number of medals for their performances

Dauphin’s Breken Brezden had a great Easter weekend, winning two medals at the 2022 United Sport Sunsational Skating Competition in Edmonton.

The Skate Dauphin skater finished first in the junior women’s free skate and won bronze in the junior women’s short skate.

She thanks all the volunteers, organizers and all coaches for a fun weekend.

By Ed Stozek
For the Herald

After being sent back from Europe during WWII because he was too young, Peter Ewasiuk legally re-enlisted when he turned 18. He began a career in the Armed Forces that lasted over 20 years.

When troops from Communist-ruled North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950, Peter was called to action.

After taking a train to Seattle, he boarded an old supply ship bound for Yokohoma, Japan. The trip lasted 14 days as they ran into a monsoon. To ride out the storm, huge anchors were hung on each side of the boat while the engines idled.

The large waves didn’t bother Peter. He even took the time to watch a movie in one of the staterooms.

From Yokohoma the unit took a train to a military base where they stayed for two days and then boarded a Japanese ship headed for Pusan.

“About 30 miles from Pusan the smell was so bad I thought that I was going to die,” The enemy had decimated Pusan and several million inhabitants lived in shacks. Raw sewage had made its way into the water.

Two days later, Peter saw battle action. In the first 15 minutes their commander was killed from a volley of fire from a burp gun. As the unit advanced, they captured a hill but had forgotten to take their panels. Panels were large signs that gave directions for aircraft to drop napalm on the enemy. This mistake could have cost the troops their lives as the aircraft would have dropped bombs on Peter’s unit and they would have been killed by “friendly-fire.” They got their panels five minutes before the planes flew over them.

Peter noted, “The summer was very hot with a great deal of bugs, poisonous snakes and rats as big as cats. The winters were very cold.”

Trenches were connected to bunkers. Two men occupied a bunker. One man stood on guard while the other slept. One night when everything was really quiet, Peter decided to throw a grenade in the enemy’s direction. When it exploded the Americans started firing their machine guns in the direction of the enemy. “What a racket,” he said.

On night patrol into enemy territory there were always 14 men and each one was assigned a number. Periodically the men called out their numbers and if someone called out a wrong number he was immediately shot because it was an enemy who had infiltrated in an attempt to slit someone’s throat.

Once Peter’s squad got caught behind enemy lines during the monsoon season and had to eat roots and live off the land for five days.

“Those five days seemed like five years.” After 15 months of battle action it was time to head home. At this time Peter was stationed at Attack Headquarters and was a driver for a major. “Could I borrow the jeep to go see my buddies?” “How long?” “About two hours.” “Ok, be back by one o’clock as I have a meeting with the general.”

When Peter arrived where his buddies were they wanted him to go with them to an American MASH unit to buy beer as their jeep was broken. They loaded the jeep full of beer and decided to have a few drinks with the Americans. When Peter looked at his watch it was 3 o’clock.

“I’m going to be hanged!”

The major greeted Peter. He had walked a mile and was patiently waiting for Peter at the check stop.

“I’m at your mercy sir. Throw the book at me. I have it coming.”

Peter was told to leave the jeep and the beer and see the major the next day. Peter got a break. His penalty was to serve three more months in Korea as the major’s driver as opposed to three months of hard labour.

Hard labour was reserved for the Canadians who got into trouble and included working 16 hours each day. After his stint, Peter returned to the Fort Osbourne barracks.

Peter was a very interesting person to interview as he had many stories to tell.

Sadly, he passed away in Brandon several years ago.

The North Western Marquette Festival held its first Festival session since March of 2020 on March 22, 2022.

As is the way with Murphy’s Law (anything that can go wrong will go wrong) when the committee and dance schools finally found their way through the COVID complications to hold the Dance portion of the NWMF, weather interfered on the scheduled date of March 8th and the Dance Festival was re-scheduled for March 22.

With the co-operation of everyone involved, the afternoon of March 22 turned into a beautiful afternoon of dance! 19 dance classes were adjudicated by the wonderful and talented Tamara Hicks of Brandon.

The awards of the day went to:

Outstanding Solo Performance: Brenna Dalman
Outstanding Group/Duo Performance Ages 12 and under: Wade Dance Centre with “Lovely”
Outstanding Group/Duo Performance Ages 18 and under: Wade Dance Centre with “Help”
Most Promising Solo Performer: Mya Bonchuk
Most Promising Group/Duo Ages 12 and under: Wade Dance Centre with “Breakin’ Dishes”
Most Promising Group/Duo Ages 18 and under: Wade Dance Centre with “3326”

The NWMF committee so appreciates everyone who made this small but wonderful Festival a success. First, and most importantly because these two women are passionate instructors of dance in our communities, Belva Zentner and Giny Hillman.

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

By Gabe Mercier
MVSD Trustee

Each individual working in Mountain View School Division contributes to the school system and keeps it motoring along.

When it comes to the safety of children within the school gate, educational assistants, custodians, teachers, and administrators educate and protect them. These school-based personnel have duties at the school building and are in a sheltered area.

However, there is a group of school division personnel who begin their school day early, often work split shifts of mornings and afternoons, and their whole responsibility is outside of the school building - school bus drivers. When it comes to student safety outside the school - coming to school and going home on a bus, for example - school bus drivers do the best work.\

School bus drivers at Mountain View School Division play an important role in the safe supervision of the children and in the direct management of student activities on school buses. The work of managing the transportation of children on a school bus requires people skills and efficiency in the handling of all the issues that transpire during the process.

The research shows that generally speaking, the overall top five behaviour management strategies used by bus drivers were:
1- Assigning a student to a particular seat;
2 - Reporting students to school building administration;
3 - Moving a student to a particular seat during the bus route;
4 - Use of video surveillance; and
5 - Discussing a student’s behavior with a parent or guardian.” (Brian K. Sims, 2014)

School bus drivers do not work in the “sheltered” environment of a classroom or school. Drivers have to contend with both the elements on the road and working with students. They may not be involved in the teaching of the academics required for passing a grade or for graduation, but they have to monitor and teach social skills and attitudes required in a group setting. These attitudinal skills that the bus drivers monitor and supervise on the school buses are required in our liberal democratic society. The skills of communication, respect for social space, being kind to others and respect for other people are many of the fundamental skills and attitudes that are needed in the education of our children.

At Mountain View School Division, school bus drivers manage the duty of picking up students from designated stops and transporting them to various schools within the division. In doing so, the driver must deliver the students so they arrive at school with a positive attitude and ready to learn. They hold a very important task of transporting students safely with a combined driving distance of about 1,250,000 kilometres of bus routes annually.

There are 38 regular route drivers and 15 substitute drivers who transport 1,498 kids per day. School bus drivers also transport students and teachers to various field trips or sporting events, and those trips account for approximately 75,000 kilometres annually.

School bus drivers play a crucial role in the safe running of school buses. As parents, we all know how difficult it can be to drive our kids around and try to maintain our focus from the constant distractions. Supervising about 24 children while driving the school bus requires exceptional driving skills and incredible focus. Many school bus drivers often feel that they are not appreciated and sometimes may feel disrespected, too. It is important to respect and value the work that they do. Children should be taught to respect the school bus drivers. Students and the education community must be aware of the immense responsibility and contributions that school bus drivers make to the education system.

Without a doubt, our school bus drivers lived up to their responsibilities of keeping the buses safe for our students during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they should be commended for their efforts.

However, there is a need for more drivers, as driver recruitment has been very difficult in all areas and the school division has lost a few substitutes. In the last 18 months, the division had to cancel a handful of daily routes due to a substitute shortage.

Finally, my last two girls took the bus from Grades 9 to 12 because I was working in the school system and wanted to get to work by 8 a.m., and it was very hard on me waiting for two teenagers to get ready on time to travel with me. So, I agreed with my wife that I should not wait, and that they would have to catch the school bus; and maybe that was what the kids wanted, to not travel with dad who may ask about homework during the ride.

Anyway, I must add that there were times when they missed the bus even though it passed by my place at 8:15 a.m. When I reflect upon that period of time, I’m thankful for the patience of the bus driver when those kids were not by the road, and the driver had to wait a minute.

So, let’s celebrate the tremendous job performed by our bus drivers in transporting students safely to school, and in contributing to the education of children in our education community.

The provincial government on April 12 released its annual budget announcing a whopping $19.271 billion in spending in 2022, an increase of about 2.4 per cent from last year, or $466 million overall.

As usual, spending on Health takes up a major part of the budget, about seven billion dollars; with 3.488 billion dollars for Education and Early Childhood Learning; some two billion dollars for Families; $524 million for Transportation and Infrastructure; $495 million for Agriculture; $168 million for Environment, Climate and Parks; and $54 million for the new department of Seniors and Long Term Care.

Read more in this week's Review. 

By Ed Stozek
For the Herald

For close to 40 years downhill ski enthusiasts enjoyed their favourite winter pastime at the Mount Agassiz Ski Resort.

Located eight miles west of McCreary, the National Parks Branch began developing the site in 1958-59. The site’s name was appropriate as the hill was at one time part of the shoreline of Lake Agassiz, which was formed when the glaciers retreated approximately 12,000 years ago.

An article in the January 15, 1959 edition of the Dauphin Herald showed that funds were proposed for preliminary work on the development of a ski resort within Riding Mountain National Park from the $387,000 winter work program approved by the federal government.

Crews were expected to open a road into the resort area and clear brush from the slopes.

The site, the only mountain ski hill between Thunder Bay and the Rockies, called for a downhill run, a slalom run and a practice run for beginners. The rest of the development would be up to private investors.

Newspaper reports from Winnipeg indicated that a group of city businessmen were contemplating putting up the $200,000 needed to finance and operate the resort.

In December 1961 a special showing of ski related movies at the McCreary School auditorium accompanied three days of free instruction at the cleared ski area. The program was sponsored by Manitoba Ski Zone and the newly-created McCreary Ski Club. Following each day of lessons Bob Pierce, one of Manitoba's top alpine competitors, demonstrated slalom racing.

“A group of Manitoba men were awarded the concession to operate a double chair lift, a tow rope and a chalet at the ski hill. These are expected to be installed and operating by December. This summer the national parks branch will be completing construction of a five-mile access from the park boundary, a parking lot, ski patrol hut and other facilities.” (May 30, 1962, Dauphin Herald)

On Feb. 16 and 17, 1963, the Central Canadian Alpine competitions with entries from Fort William, Port Arthur, Winnipeg, Loch Lammond and Flin Flon were hosted at Agassiz.

By Sunday afternoon more than 300 cars had ferried spectators to watch the finals of the downhill and slalom competitions. Later that week a meeting was organized at Black’s Sports Shop calling all interested local skiers to come out to see special films, as well as take part in organizing a Dauphin ski club.

Provincewide interest was evident by the hundreds of skiers and sightseers travelling to the area to see the progress being made.

“The slopes were in first class condition and would be ready for skiers as soon as there was sufficient snowfall. The new chalet which will replace temporary accommodation at the slope last winter is hexagonal in shape, consisting of a large lounge with two completely glassed in walls looking out onto the slope offering skiers and spectators a panoramic view of the entire lower area of the slope. There will be a canteen and a pro shop for ski rentals. The lift will have a capacity of 960 skiers per hour and will convey them to the top in about eight minutes. It may well be that before long Agassiz will be regarded as the Banff of the Prairies.” (November 6, 1963, Dauphin Herald)

In anticipation for the 1979 Canada Winter Games hosted by Brandon, the Agassiz site had a major overhaul at a cost of half a million dollars as the alpine skiing events were to be held there. A month prior to the games more than 1,000 skiers got to test the new ski runs and their first chance to ride a chairlift in Manitoba. Some mechanical difficulties were also ironed out.

Unseasonably warm winters during the 1990s and the opening of the Asessippi Ski Resort near Russell were cited as two of the main factors that caused the owners to file for bankruptcy in 2000.

In the ensuing years several unsuccessful attempts were made to re-open the “Banff of the Prairies.”

In 2014 a contract was awarded to remove the main lodge building, excavate contaminated soil and landscape the area as Parks Canada made the decision to revert the former ski resort back to its natural habitat.