At the end of the month, and the end of this week (Sept. 30), Canada will recognize the second ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a statutory holiday that was declared last year soon after the revelation of more than 1,000 unmarked graves near former residential school sites.
Prior to the federal declaration, the day was already recognized for years as Orange Shirt Day, which brought awareness to the abuse of Indigenous people in Canada and the cultural genocide at the hands of the government and the church. The orange shirt was chosen as a symbol inspired by the story of Phyllis Webstad, a six-year-old girl who was stripped of her clothing when she first arrived at her residential school, including a brand new orange shirt given to her by her grandmother, never to be returned.
Every year, orange shirts emblazoned with the words Every Child Matters are sold across the country. Swan Valley Teachers Association (SVTA) President Nicole Bobick thought it would be a good idea to commission a locally made shirt with a design from an Indigenous student and the print job being sent to 734 Custom Apparel and Promo.
“The inspiration for getting a local artist to design an orange T-shirt came from True North Youth Foundation Vice-President Kevin Chief and Leticia Spence, a graphic designer who incorporated Indigenous symbols into the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose logos,” said Bobick. “I have heard Kevin Chief speak on a number of occasions. Every time he is impactful and inspiring. His story reminds me that we have a long way to go towards an equitable society.
“The hope for these shirts is to unify the community with an orange shirt that was designed by a local Indigenous student leader.
“Many people or organizations are purchasing orange shirts from non-Indigenous companies,” Bobick continued. “This seems unjust that companies are selling shirts to make a profit from harms Indigenous people like Phyllis Webstad encountered when attending residential school. The orange shirt story is her story, we must honour and respect it. We also must do what we can to protect it.”
The artist who created the local design is Grade 12 student Rylee Stevens. The design features a dreamcatcher with beads and feathers, as well as a picture in the middle of trees and a train track. The design also includes silhouettes of birds flying.
“The seven beads on the feathers of the dreamcatcher represent the Seven Teachings,” said Stevens. “The train track through the trees in the middle of the dreamcatcher represent the story of a boy who ran away from his residential school and tried to follow the train tracks home.”
The story was of a 12-year-old boy named Chanie Wenjack who escaped Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School in Kenora, Ont., in 1966. He died of exposure a couple of days later.
The birds on the front symbolize freedom, for all the students that made it home to their families.
The back of the shirt also features a translation of the phrase ‘Every Child Matters’ in several recognized Indigenous languages, according to the Indigenous Languages of Manitoba organization.
“To do something like designing an Every Child Matters shirt really means a lot to me,” said Stevens. “I have family that went to residential schools. To be asked to create a design for something so important like these T-shirts is a big step to honour the children that made it home to their families and the ones that didn’t.
“I also really love the idea of a lot of people out there going to wear these shirts.”
While Bobick and the SVTA have organized the purchasing of the shirts for those who were able to confirm an order in time, neither the SVTA nor 734 Custom Apparel and Promo is making a profit off of the custom shirts. Stevens will receive an honorarium for her work and the remaining profits will go towards an organization of her choice.
“If we truly want to foster reconciliation, we must respect Indigenous people, cultures, identities and history,” Bobick added. “We must include Indigenous people when we are working on projects, changing colonial systems and especially when working towards reconciliation.
“We must support Indigenous organizations and individuals. We must face the hard truth about residential schools and the lasting effects they had on many generations. We must acknowledge the racism taught to non-Indigenous people in schools. We must counter the systemic racism within our systems by allowing our Indigenous peoples to guide us in the right direction. Indigenous voices must be part of the conversation but also must be part of the decision-making process.”

Sitting in front of a shrouded portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, Town of Swan River Mayor Lance Jacobson signs a letter of condolences to the Royal Family on the day of Her Majesty’s death. The letter will be available to the public in the Town office for a few more days to sign as well before it is mailed off to the Queen’s family. At the moment of Queen Elizabeth’s passing, her eldest son Charles automatically became King of Canada, the United Kingdom and many other
countries around the world where the Royals remain the official heads-of-state. After 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth had nearly the longest reign of any sovereign ruler in world history, second only to King Louis XIV, who became ruler of France at age four and reigned for 72 years.

A total of 70 golfers showed up for the RCMP Charity Fundraiser tournament at the Swan River Golf and Country Club on Monday (Aug. 29), putting around the course in a team scramble event on a windy but pleasantly sunny day.

Mere weeks after the finale of the NorthWest Round-up and Exhibition, the Swan River Centennial Arena is gearing up for another kind of rodeo as the ice surface is frozen for another season with the Swan Valley Stampeders, as well as the several other organizations and groups that use the facility throughout the fall and winter.

Q. How long have you been in this industry?
Elaine Forsyth: We both started when we were about 15 years old. Brad started in Brandon and I started at the Dairy Queen here in Swan River. We both worked at various businesses.
Brad Forsyth: I used to work at a restaurant on the highway in Brandon, Harry’s Ukrainian Kitchen.
EF: We moved to Flin Flon in 1991 and worked there at the Victoria Inn for just over seven years. Then, we moved here and started here June 1, 1996.

Q. What do you like about working in and running the Timberland?
EF: The people and the staff are like family.
BF: Running bars, room and restaurants and overseeing all of that is a lot of work. This is more fun, working with young people.
We know everybody that walks in the door. Some people give you a wave and some people give you the finger, but it’s a small community and it’s all fun. We have so many regulars, seeing the same faces twice, three times a day.

Q. What were some of the challenges in running this business?
EF: COVID was the biggest one, as well as prices and inflation.
BF: Since COVID, meats are up at least five percent. When we were selling a box of chickens from the freezer, we were selling them for about $48 and made about eight or nine dollars. Now that same box costs me $57.
Another challenge was the maintenance of the building. When we bought it, it wasn’t in great shape. We’ve spent hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years.
EF: Finding staff can be challenging as well during certain times of the year, such as when the students go back to university.
BF: And, that affected us especially during COVID because usually we have a couple of high school students that could bring their friends, but nobody was going to school and we couldn’t pick up any extra people. A staff of 35 turned into 15.
EF: When we made it through COVID, that was also a staffing challenge because we were instantly busy, sales coming back almost instantly.

Q. What will you miss about running the Timberland in your retirement?
EF: All of the regular customers and staff. They’re family.
BF: Lots have been around long enough to see them have children and bring their babies in. Everyone starts at the Timberland when they’re about four months old.

Q. What are some highlights of the last 24 years?
EF: I think it’s rewarding daily to see people so happy and thankful.

Q. What are your plans in retirement?
EF: Haven’t made many plans yet. We’ll definitely do some travelling. Eventually we’ll probably get some part-time jobs.
BF: I’ll get to see some of my grandchildren.

Q. Anything else you’d like to add?
EF: We’re thankful for the community support. We’ve been very fortunate.
BF: It’s nice to see how many regulars come back here all the time.
EF: And staff too. Many started when they were in high school and they still come back for summer when they go off to university or work a little on the weekend if they have a different job.
BF: They have fun together. It’s a fun place to work.

Q. Switching gears to you Ramandeep, are you new to the community? Where did you come from?
Ramandeep Singh: Yes, originally I’m from India and I came to Canada in 2015. I started studying here. Post-graduation, I moved to Thompson and started working in the hotel. I’ve been running that hotel for the last five years.
I decided I wanted my own business, so that’s how I found Brad.

Q. Do you have any plans for changes to make this place your own?
RS: Right now, I’m just learning things, so maybe down the line I will put my things in, especially with the hotel. I think the restaurant is running great. Brad is here to help me with that. The hotel part, I have another friend coming in so we’ll start looking at that later down the line.

Q. What’s your family like?
RS: I brought my family to Canada this year only. Right now they are in Ontario. They will join me soon this month whenever I get settled here. I have a wife and 10 year old son.

Q. Anything you’d like to say to your new customers and community?
RS: I’m looking forward to building my relationship with the community, for the best.

 The Swan Valley Golf and Country Club hosted their Men’s Open last Sunday with a small but competitive bunch.

The Louisiana-Pacific Swan Valley mill (LP) has found a new way to offer their employees and on-site contractors an enjoyable lunch and give back to the community at the same time.
Beginning in mid-June, LP has been getting a few of their summer students to arrange a barbecue lunch every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.. Dubbed Wieners on Wednesdays, LP covers the cost of all of the food and other items required, and everyone on site has the opportunity to purchase a meal, with every dollar going towards the charity of the week.
“Our employees use this time to make connections with co-workers and management that they wouldn’t necessarily spend time with otherwise,” said LP Swan Valley HR Manager Cassidy Delaurier. “It’s also nice for management to spend time getting to know new employees and catching up with our long-time ones.
“I saw an opportunity to better our relationship with our employees while acting as a community-minded employer. By helping fund local events, charities and community groups, we are able to ‘Build a Better World’ both within our mill and surrounding it.”
Each week, a different manager or supervisor helps out, connecting with employees at each lunch.
Delaurier added that since LP contributes so much already in terms of financial support and product donations to large projects and groups in the Swan Valley, the intent of the weekly donations is to support the smaller groups that aren’t necessarily working on big projects at the moment, but still could use the funds for day-to-day operations or small projects. Many of the donations are focused on youth-centred groups, like the local day cares.
LP has also been keeping things fresh from the employees as well by expanding the weekly event. A few weeks ago, ice cream treats were added, and last week, cheeseburgers were also added to the menu, nicknaming the barbecue Hamburgers on Hump Day.
Those organizations that have benefited so far include:
• Swan Valley Crisis Centre
• Adult and Teen Challenge
• Heyes Childcare Centre
• ACL (Association for Community Living)
• Swan Valley Sport Fishing Enhancement
• Wade Philip Galloway Learning Centre
• Kinsmen Nursery School
• Sunflower Early Learning Centre
Those organizations remaining that will benefit from the initiative include:
• Swan River Day Care Centre
• ESRSS Daycare
• Benito Day Child Care Centre
• Swan Valley Food Bank
The weekly barbecues will continue until the end of August, and restart again next summer. As of Aug. 4, Wieners on Wednesdays/Hamburgers on Hump Day has raised more than $5,400 for local charities.