When it comes to Ukrainian dancing in the Valley, the Benito Vesselli Ukrainian Dance Club keeps the tradition alive and achieves new accolades as its season unveils. For the second time in a row, Benito Vesselli Ukrainian Dancer Kemi Bulycz, has attended the Spirit of Virsky Seminar in Edmonton last month. The Spirit of Virsky Seminar is a Ukrainian dance workshop hosted by the Ukrainian Dance World and instructed by former Virsky Ensemble dancers.
“This was my second time attending the Spirit of Virsky Seminar,” said Kemi. “In a few ways, this year was different. The instructors who came from Virsky were all different compared to those who instructed last year. This year they focused more on ballet technique, arm and foot positions, and we learned two full famous Virsky dances.”
Kemi has found that each time she has attended the Spirit of Virsky Seminar, she has learned a lot of different techniques and dances. She uses this knowledge and learning to bring back to share with the Benito Vesselli Dance Club.
“I really enjoyed that we focused on ballet technique and jumps, along with multiple turn combinations, specifically obertoss turns,” said Kemi. These are skills that will help me grow as a dancer and also skills I can bring back to my club, Benito Vesselli.
“We learned two complete and famous Virsky dances, which were Khmil and Hopak. They were a lot of fun. Khmil is a dance about the female dancers playing tricks on the male dancers, who may have enjoyed a few too many adult beverages. Hopak is the most famous Ukrainian dance, showcasing tricks, fast footwork, and spins. It was a true honour to not only learn these dances but be taught by the professionals themselves.”
The seminar was instructed by world-renowned Ukrainian dancers and brought in students from across Western Canada. The classes focused heavily on style and technique for Ukrainian dancing.
“Dancers from all across Canada, mainly Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia were in attendance,” said Kemi. “Some who perform with amateur groups like myself and some who dance in professional ensembles.
“We had four Virsky Instructors, Frolov Kostiantyn, Anna Frolov, Masha Bodyan and Dmytro Bodyan. These four instructors are the best in the world. They performed with Virsky in Ukraine and have multiple years of experience. Watching them dance with grace and elegance was a pretty amazing feeling. They shared a lot of information with us that I will take with me forever.
“The seminar took place at Shumka Studios in Edmonton, Alberta, from July 14 to July 19,” said Kemi. “Classes started at 9 a.m. and ended around 4 p.m. with a lunch break in between. The mornings focused mainly on ballet, jumps and leaps, spins and tricks.
“In the afternoons, we would split and the male dancers would go with the male instructors, and the females would stay with the female instructors. This way, each group could focus on steps and techniques specific to them. We would meet again at the end of the day to learn choreography before leaving for the day. The six hours of instruction would fly by, and although my legs and body would be tired, I could have stayed longer. Every day was a lot of fun!
“On the last day, we performed a showcase for parents and guests,” said Kemi. “It was exciting to show a piece of what we were taught that week and receive a standing ovation.”
Attending the Spirit of Virsky is always a highlight for Kemi. It not only creates some long lasting memories, but it also gives her a chance to grow as a dancer and fulfill her dream.
“I’m able to bring back everything I was taught to my hometown clubs, Benito Vesselli and Liliya Ukrainian Dance,” said Kemi. “I often assist our instructors, Ms. Amanda, who is my mom, and Mr. Austin, and learning new skills helps me teach and show younger dancers the art of Ukrainian dance. Attending the Virsky seminar also helps me as a performer, it strengthens my skills, arm and foot positions and helps me feel more confident.
“Attending the seminar helps me build new connections to professional dance groups. I plan to audition for a group after high school and attending helps me create connections, build friendships and sharpen my skills. The seminar is in Edmonton, Alberta, which has multiple professional Ukrainian dance groups, so it’s fun to meet the dancers and artistic directors and expand my Ukrainian dance community.
“I have been in Ukrainian dance for 14 years; next year I will graduate and complete 15 years of Ukrainian dancing,” said Kemi. “My future goals are to audition and hopefully join a professional Ukrainian dance ensemble.”
The Benito Vesselli Ukrainian Dance Club also had another major highlight this summer at Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival. The club has competed in various competitions over the years, but never at the stage of CNUF.
“The 2025-2026 Dance Season marks 43 years for the Benito Vesselli Dance Club,” said Benito Vesselli Ukrainian Dance Instructor Amanda Bulycz. “Vesselli dancers have attended CNUF in the past, but haven’t attended in many, many years. Last summer was Vesselli’s first year returning to the Talent Stage at CNUF.
“The Talent Stage Competition at CNUF runs similarly to any other Ukrainian dance competition, with a few differences. The competition is held outside on one of the side stages and anyone can register to compete. This year, the competition ran three days with adjudicator Kaitlyn Kruk from Ukraine, originally from Canada. Performers may enter solos, duets, trios, small or large group dances of any region and any age.
“Competitors perform within sessions and at the end of their session receive a mark and either a bronze, silver or gold medal,” said Amanda. “At the end of the competition, the adjudicator picks the top performance from two categories. This year, there was one winner from the solos/duets/trio category and one winner from the small and large group category. The adjudicator decides on the winners by who she feels deserves the grand prize, based on a few factors such as choreography, overall performance, technique, etc. This year, the grand prize was $750 plus the opportunity to perform on the main grandstand during a main stage performance at next year’s CNUF.”
The Benito Vesselli Ukrainian Senior Dancers competed this year at CNUF’s Talent Stage. Amanda worked closely with the dancers, as well as chose the music and choreography for the competition.
“The Vesselli Seniors Grace Keller, Kemi Bulycz, Megan Woytkiw, Quinn Barker, Katie Hunt and Laryssa Mychalchuk performed Volyn at the talent stage competition,” said Amanda. “I’m Vesselli’s choreographer and head instructor, and I actually had this piece of music picked out years ago, waiting for the opportunity to use it with a group of dancers. The piece has many tempo changes and is an upbeat traditional piece, so I’ve been waiting for the chance to use it and create choreography to match.
I was excited when, in the very first class last year, I played it and the dancers shared my excitement to want to perform to it. We had a lot of fun trying new tricks, lifts, jumps, turns, and combinations while I worked through the choreography. The seniors first performed this dance at Vesselli’s Malanka in January and it was then that I knew they would continue to succeed with this dance. The crowd was clapping, cheering and enjoying the performance as much as we had enjoyed creating and learning it.
“At competitions this year, they brought home multiple gold medals and even a scholarship for this piece,” said Amanda.
The competition this year was tough at CNUF’s Talent Stage, bringing Ukrainian dancers from all across Canada and showcasing the best in the country.
“The Benito Vesselli Ukrainian Dancers have not won the CNUF Talent Stage Competition before,” said Amanda. “This is our first time. There were 34 clubs from all across Canada entered, and over 160 dances total competing in the competition.”
The heart, determination and spirit of the Benito Vesselli Ukrainian Dancers not only took the stage at CNUF, but the hearts of the judges as well, as they won gold for their performance.
“The reaction was priceless and one I will forever remember,” said Amanda. “The seniors, alongside their parents, were gathered patiently waiting for the announcement of who won. We did not expect to hear our name called, but when the adjudicator dropped hints, I could see the excitement and joy in the dancers’ faces build.
“The adjudicator started by saying the dance winning the $750 prize and the opportunity to perform on the main grandstand stage at the 2026 CNUF was a Volyn dance, mixed group, and 16+ years. At this point, I could see the dancers all smiling and holding hands, wondering if they would be called. Then the adjudicator said, ‘They performed this morning…….Benito Vesselli Dance Club, and the dancers screamed, cried, hugged, and jumped up and down. It was a moment I am sure will stay with them forever.
“As their instructor and as a mom of one of the dancers, I was equally as excited and proud of their huge accomplishment,” said Amanda. “They worked hard all year, but especially the month leading up to CNUF. We spent many summer nights practicing and perfecting combinations. Their hard work paid off.”
With fall and back to school right around the corner, the Benito Vessell Ukrainian Dance Club is already preparing for the start of their upcoming season, with registration taking place next month.
“Our season begins the third week of September and registration will open the last week of August,” said Amanda. “Registration details are posted on our Facebook Page, Benito Vesselli Dance Club, or people can contact me. If anyone is interested in hearing more about our club and/or joining, we would love to have you and welcome all. The first two weeks are free to try.
“Our other instructor, Austin Spencer, and I have been busy planning practices, workshops, choreography and more as we enter what might be one of our biggest seasons yet!”

There are those folks who have an eye for design and a talent for making it happen when it comes to home renovations. Cheryl and Derek Gorski are just those two. They took their love of renovating and decorating, and turned it into a business here in the Valley.
“My husband, Derek, and I have always loved renovating,” said Cheryl. “We’ve always renovated our own houses and both originally came from families who had carpenters.
“A couple of years ago, some of our friends came to us because we’ve always done renovations and they couldn’t find anyone to renovate their bathroom. They had guys come out and give them a quote, only to turn around and tell them they couldn’t do it anyway. Then they found another guy who said he could do it, gave them a quote and it’s been two years later, and he now won’t get back to them.
“Derek was working for a farmer at this time, and they begged him to do this during the slower time,” said Cheryl. “So he took a month and renovated their bathroom. They absolutely loved it and Derek showed his boss the photos. His boss was building a brand new shop and needed a second-floor mezzanine, so he asked if he could build it over the winter. So he built that. All the guys my husband had been working with told him he needed to do this as a business on his own. So, he wound up doing just that.
“Now, I had been working at the Swan Valley Credit Union since we had moved back. I’ve always loved interior design, decorating and renovations. Growing up, I wanted to major in interior design, but there were no options for that back then in the Valley. I’ve always been interested in it, just never majored in it, but dabbled in it.
“Derek and I have always worked well together, so when he was convinced to go into doing a business where he did renovations, we both went into it,” said Cheryl. “We found a lot of people didn’t know what they exactly wanted when it comes to renovations, but knew what they didn’t want. I go into it by asking the questions and finding out what they want. Then I show them some options, order the supplies and materials, and Derek would do the work.”
This started the concept of Zylo and Bloom Interiors. The Gorskis’ business offers several options in blinds, area rugs, custom cabinetry, hard surface countertops, doors, cabinet hardware and handles, wall and floor tile, LVP, laminate, engineered hardwood, carpet, specialty ceiling tile, and more. With the option to also have these products installed.
“I ended up going to the Home and Gift Show with Rachel Stober from Three:30 Paper, Décor and Gift in January,” said Cheryl. “I realized there was this whole new world and I found it amazing. That catapulted our dream of getting into the design aspect of things.
“After I came back from the Home and Gift Show, I tried looking up some of these companies online to see all their inventory, and I couldn’t, because you have to be part of their network and distributors. They want to supply businesses rather than deal with individual sales.
“We found a lot of time when we were doing the renovation aspect, that we wanted to support local, but couldn’t find a specific product a customer wanted, it wasn’t available and couldn’t be ordered in,” said Cheryl. “I would have to go find it somewhere else and I didn’t like that. I wanted to get it in town and found that a lot of our customers and clients felt the same way. They were also getting stuff out of town. This led us to wanting to be able to carry these items in town or be able to bring them in.
“We are signed up with Viana Inc. for area rugs; Canarm and DVI Lighting, and many more brands for lighting; we will have a large variety of industry leading quartz manufacturers for countertops as well as Laminam and Dekton; wall and floor tiles and flooring by Julian Tile, Ames Tile, Primco and an exclusive dealer of MSI Surfaces.
“I also got approached by someone about ordering and installing blinds, and that also helped start this process,” said Cheryl. “They knew we were signing up with a few different companies and asked if we had signed up for blinds. At the time, we hadn’t, even though we’ve ordered and installed a lot of blinds for clients. They asked if we would consider doing that, and it was something I was interested in. So we signed up with Graver and Maxxmar Window Fashions.
“We’ve also signed up with some lighting companies, because that was another big one that I couldn’t get nice ones. I found that most people want something different.”
Zylo and Bloom is opening up their shop at 519 Main Street in Swan River. They felt that having a physical in-store location was the best way to display these products and serve customers. They had a soft opening on Monday (Aug. 11).
“I’m the type of person who needs to look at and feel the texture of things like tile and fabric before I know if it’s going to work or not,” said Cheryl. “I need to see what I’m getting, which became one reason why we decided to open up a storefront. Then I thought about doing consultations in people’s homes, but it’s awkward to carry in samples to and from places.
“Right now, we are trying out some working hours and doing a soft opening to see what works best for this type of business. We are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday afternoons, to see how it goes.
“If someone comes in and is asking about something, we want to be a place that gets it for them,” said Cheryl. “If we don’t carry it, if at all possible, we will try to get it for a customer.”
For those interested in seeing some of Derek’s finished products, check out his YouTube Channel, Gorski Woodworks.

Some former Valley residents are taking advantage of a summer student opportunity that allows them to work in their home community and gain experience in their field of study. Discover Health Careers Manitoba offers term positions to students in the healthcare field to provide a hands-on experience in clinical, hospital or healthcare environments.
Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) offered 26 positions in the region in areas of pharmacy, primary care, mental health, therapy services, acute care, public health and nutrition. PMH and Shared Health cost share the initiative.
At the Primary Care Clinic in Swan River, two local students, Brittan Yaschyshyn and Abby Facundo, have been participants working through the initiative since May of this year.
“I grew up in the valley and love coming home every summer to my family and friends. My parents, Tom and Tracey, grew up here as well,” said Yaschyshyn. “After graduating in 2022 and moving to the city, I missed being in a small town and getting to participate in community events and groups that I had become so accustomed to.
“I study Midwifery at Mount Royal University in Calgary. I chose it after learning about its unique scope of practice and clinically based teaching style. After graduating, I will have spent over 24 months in practicums outside of the time spent in the classroom. I chose this area of healthcare because it is such an exciting and critical moment in people’s lives and I look forward to being able to support others through it.
“I moved to Swan River from the Philippines and have lived in the Valley since 2017,” said Facundo. “My parents are Ivy and Allan Facundo. My dad works at AG Shield in Benito and my mom works as a health care aide at the Swan Valley Lodge. I graduated from the Swan Valley Regional Secondary School in 2024. During my time in the valley, I enjoyed spending time at the lake, being with friends, and being part of the Filipino community.
“I’ve always loved taking care of others, especially my little cousins and great-grandparents, whether it was babysitting, helping with everyday tasks, or keeping them company. Additionally, I worked at the healthcare facility where my mom works, which gave me firsthand experience and opened the door to pursuing a career in healthcare.
“I’m currently studying for my Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Calgary,” said Facundo. “After I graduate, I plan to become a registered nurse and hope to work in labour and delivery or pediatrics.”
Yaschyshyn is a midwife student and has been working in the clinic’s front administration area. She has been attending to patient care, booking appointments, dealing with tasks and making specialist appointments. She has also been able to pair up with physicians and help with history and physicals for prenatal care, as well as update prenatal records and sit in on prenatal care with the physicians.
“My role this summer has been supporting the admin staff and working with the providers for prenatal and postpartum assessments,” said Yaschyshyn. “My learning experience so far has been exciting.
“When I started here three years ago, I hadn’t begun midwifery school yet and the doctors were filling me in on everything. This was super beneficial for me when I started in my program. Now I am grateful to feel like I can bring the skills I have learned at school and utilize them even when I’m on break. It keeps me fresh and brings a new perspective about working in rural areas.”
Facundo is a nursing student and has been shadowing the LPN at the clinic. She has been undertaking tasks like rooming patients, taking vitals and updating electronic medical records.
“This summer, I’m working in a vitals position where I’m responsible for taking patients’ vital signs,” said Facundo. “The role allows me to work with diverse people and collaborate with different healthcare professionals as part of the team.
“So far, this has been a really valuable learning experience. I’ve had the chance to see what different healthcare professionals do and how they work together, which is helping me expand my understanding of the various paths in healthcare. I’m trying to absorb as much as I can and keep my options open, especially with what I can apply to my future in nursing.”
Yaschyshyn and Facundo will complete their terms this month and return to university in the fall. Having this opportunity to work and learn in their home community has had so many benefits for both women as they return to school and consider their options for the future.
“This experience has brought me invaluable learning opportunities and I am so grateful for the pregnant people who have welcomed me into their care,” said Yaschyshyn. “Unfortunately, without a delivering hospital, a midwife couldn’t work in Swan River right now. However, this experience has brought me an appreciation for rural care and I do plan to practice in rural areas.”
“As of right now, I’m not entirely sure what the future holds, but I’m open to gaining experience in other communities as well,” said Facundo. “This experience has definitely made me appreciate the value of working in my home community, but I also want to explore different environments to continue learning and growing in my career.
“What I’ve enjoyed most about this experience is getting to shadow and talk to some of the nurses. It’s been really helpful to see what their roles look like day to day and to hear their perspectives and advice. It’s given me a clearer idea of what to expect in the profession and what kind of nurse I want to become.

Residents at the Swan Valley Personal Care Home (SVPCH) have another beautiful view to enjoy thanks to the talents of local artist Melanie Bird and the financial donation from the Swan Valley Credit Union. This is the second mural that Bird has painted at the care home, with the first one being a scenic farm setting.
“Last summer, I painted a wall for the residents on the north end of the building and so the PCH approached me about doing another mural for the residents on the south end of the building to enjoy,” said Melanie Bird.
“The PCH wanted paintings that reflected the beautiful Valley in which we live. Since many wonderful lakes surround our valley, they decided to choose a lake/wildlife scene for this painting. The painting isn’t necessarily Wellman Lake specifically. It was intended to represent the lakes that surround our Valley in general.
“However, since we have a family cabin at Wellman Lake, the scenes are definitely inspired by that lake,” said Bird. “I tried to incorporate a variety of wildlife that we would typically see at any one of our lakes in the area, including deer with fawn, a mallard duck pair with some ducklings, geese, moose, rabbit and a loon.
“I’m hoping that each resident, no matter which lake they most often visited, will feel a connection to the painting.”
Bird was able to complete the mural from start to finish in just under two weeks, as there were many components to finalizing the mural and ensuring its longevity.
“I started the painting on July 3 and finished it on July 14,” said Bird. “I’m the type of artist who likes to stay focused on the painting until it is complete, so it was a relatively quick project. The actual painting took about four full days of painting and then it needed to cure for a few days before I put a couple of layers of protective coating on, so that it will be enjoyed for years to come.”
The response from the residents and visitors has been complimentary, as many enjoy the new view on the walls. Most viewers respond to the wildlife portrayed in the mural. Bird has enjoyed working on both murals for the care home and is open to doing more in the future.
“Everyone who walked by was always so happy to see the painting come to life,” said Bird. “Some residents really enjoyed commenting on the animals in particular, giving ideas of other animals for me to paint as well. I think they will really enjoy looking at this painting every time they walk by. Having the opportunity just to work at the PCH for those days was richly rewarding for me. I truly loved the interactions I had with both staff and residents.
“I would be more than happy to paint more murals at the PCH if they decide they would like it, but for now, no other plans are in place.”

The Benito Splash Park seems to have taken off with some full-force momentum. The project started as an idea, to raising almost half a million dollars, and now breaking ground for construction. There are still opportunities for people to donate or for local businesses to purchase naming rights.
“We broke ground on Monday, June 23, 2025,” said Benito Splash Park Committee Member Holly Kushniryk. “The ground base is currently being built and then they will move on to creating the mechanics of it all before pouring the cement.
“Construction is estimated to take just over one month, if everything goes smoothly. We are hoping to have the park open and running within the first couple of weeks of August, fingers crossed.
“A total of $420,000 has been raised so far, but we aren’t done yet, so we are asking people to please consider donating,” said Kushniryk. “Every amount helps and tax receipts will be issued. There are also options to have logos and names on water features, or naming the park itself is still up for grabs. Those interested can call, email or find us on Facebook for more information.”
The Benito Splash Park has an assortment of water features that are guaranteed to provide amusement and thrill to all those who use the facility. The splash park is also being made accessible in terms of entry, so that all may use it.
“There are nine main water features, along with several fountains and ground sprinklers,” said Kushniryk. “These features are great for all age ranges, toddlers to teens, and older, if you want to be adventurous.
“There will be a path directly to the splash pad, so anyone with mobility issues will have direct access to the pad and use of the features. This was one of the main motivators for deciding on a splash park when thinking of ways to attract families to the community.”
The support to bring this project to fruition has been remarkable. The community of Benito has been the driving force behind it, but Swan River and the surrounding Valley have also contributed to the success of its creation.
“There has been a ton of support from Benito and the Valley,” said Kushniryk. “Most people are excited to see something new and fun to do.
“Of course, there are always those few who maybe don’t quite fully understand the reasoning behind our decision to build a splash park. And for those people, we would like to say that this project was fully funded through fundraisers created to unite families in a safe, fun, engaging environment. To get kids and adults alike interactive in a world of screens and technology, and an affordable option for an outing for those who can’t necessarily go on a trip to the mountains or have a cabin to go to.
“There are so many proven benefits to splash parks,” said Kushniryk. “I couldn’t possibly list them all. My only regret is not doing this sooner while my kids were younger. I can’t wait to hear the laughter and joyful screams from the children playing in the spraying water!
“Benito is on a burst of growth right now. We’ve had a few new businesses open. We’ve seen some new families move in. And I truly believe that this splash park will be that one extra exciting amenity that will help families decide to settle in our community. More foot traffic from those passing by will also mean more shoppers for our local stores, which will be awesome. All in the plan of boosting the economy of our community.
“And where else will these families head but to the bigger center of Swan River, helping to boost the economy there too, again, which is all in our plan,” said Kushniryk. “It may seem silly to some, how would one little splash park have so much impact, but it’s proven, amenities attract people, people grow the economy and create jobs, and communities grow bigger and stronger. What’s the next big project?”

No parent should ever have to experience the loss of a child, yet tragically, so many have. Stuart and Bonnie Lang have lived through it. Their daughter, Payton, was born with a serious heart condition that led her to spend a lot of time in and out of hospitals during her life.
“Payton was our first child, so our experience in having her became normal to us,” said Lang. “Living in and out of the hospital, taking time off work to take her for surgery and to recover was part of our lives. I didn’t want to put her in daycare at first, because I was worried about the care and medications involved, and I didn’t feel comfortable putting that level of responsibility on someone else.
“Before Payton was born, we found out she was going to have a congenital heart condition called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. It impacted her from birth, as she had her first open heart surgery when she was not even a week old. Then she had a series of three open heart surgeries before the age of four and multiple heart catheterizations and other procedures at an early age.
“After her last corrective surgery, we saw cardiology every six months and then once a year, until she was about 12,” said Lang. “When she started having growth spurts, it was like the corrections and surgeries couldn’t keep up. Then she started experiencing severe heart failure. Children with the condition are considered to always be living with heart failure, even after the surgical corrections, because they take a four-chambered heart and make it into a two-chamber one. This causes the heart and circulation to work very differently from normal.
“She started having much lower oxygen saturation levels and that indicated her heart was not functioning as well as it should. One of her heart valves started leaking quite significantly, so she needed a valve replacement. This was very traumatic because of complications from the surgery Payton’s heart didn’t maintain a proper rhythm. A week later, she had to have a permanent pacemaker put in.
“After that, things continued to go downhill,” said Lang. “Payton wound up in liver failure, which caused her to have verocies, which are like aneurysms that happen along the esophageal tract. She would have internal bleeding from it. Around this time, we ran into Lee-Anne Campbell, we had grown up not far from each other in Minitonas.
“This led to being in and out of the hospital for a week at a time. They did several things to stop the verocies, but things were deteriorating very quickly. It was then decided she needed a heart transplant and we were sent to Edmonton for an assessment. We had to live there while she was being assessed.
“It was determined that Payton needed both her heart and liver transplanted. They decided to do them at the same time because they realized she wouldn’t be able to survive one transplant without the other. During that time, Payton and I moved to Edmonton, while Stuart and Kasey lived in Winnipeg. We had to be in Edmonton waiting and were told it could take up to three years for a transplant.
“I did all of her care out of the hospital, because I didn’t want her to be hospitalized for the three years. I learned how to do pic line dressings, changes for an ART line and all kinds of medical things. Payton had all her nutrition given to her through IV and I had to do that as well.”
Despite the hardships of the Lang family being apart while Payton was waiting for her transplants, they were still able to spend some quality time together. During the uncertainty and stress of the situation, the Langs found the Ronald McDonald House was a beacon of comfort in such a time of need.
“We were fortunate to be able to access the services of the Ronald McDonald House,” said Lang. “When Stuart and Kasey came to Edmonton, we went there and they had two rooms full of handmade blankets that people donated for children to have. Every child at the Ronald McDonald House, as well as their siblings, can go to that room and select a blanket for themselves.
“Payton chose a quilt and Kasey chose one similar to it. Those blankets brought so much joy to both of our girls and they each had something to treasure. After that, Payton used only that blanket and it was her favourite thing that brought her joy.”
The Langs’ hopes fell short after Payton’s transplant surgeries. They were faced with their worst fears happening and losing Payton.
“Payton then had her transplant and it was successful, but she ended up getting a fungus, and that was what cut her life short, not the transplant,” said Lang. “At the time Payton died, Kasey was eight years old and she didn’t understand all of the things that had happened. When the doctors told us Payton couldn’t survive and that we would have to have her disconnected from life support, we spent her final night all together in the hospital room. They set beds on each side of Payton’s hospital bed and we held her as she took her last breath. Our parents were with us as well.
“We had to drive home from Edmonton without Payton, and that was the longest drive home of our lives.
“Payton was a very unique spirit,” said Lang. “A lot of children who go through major illnesses and spend the majority of their lives in the hospital experience different challenges and circumstances than others. Payton was always a kind soul, no matter how rough things had gotten.
“She was often described as a collector of souls, meaning she found people and loved them. She was like that with people of all ages. A lot of her friends reach out to me and are still in our lives.”
The Langs wanted to keep the memory of Payton alive and looked back on things that made a real impact on them during this experience. The memory of the girls picking out blankets at the Ronald McDonald House and the comfort it gave them during those tough times inspired Payton’s Comforters.
“I have always wanted to do something in honour of Payton and celebrate her life,” said Lang. “I kept coming back to the different types of gifts she had received while in the hospital. There are lots of amazing people who do and give amazing things to kids in the hospital. It came to me that I could do something and find a group of like-minded people to help me create handmade blankets to donate.
“My goal was to have something set up like at the Ronald McDonald House, where every child could go in and choose a blanket, but I found out that the Children’s Hospital has 1,000 to 2,000 children that go through it every year. That was a huge undertaking and I knew it wouldn’t get to that right off the start.
“I got in contact with the Child Life Team through the Children’s Hospital and they were interested in giving out the blankets,” said Lang. “We started giving blankets out to those children who were sickest in the hospital, until we could get to a stage where every child would get a blanket.
“I started Payton’s Comforters back in 2023, and it started off being myself and some family members who made blankets. The first year, we donated a total of 20 blankets. In 2024, we formed a formal board and are now a registered CRA charity. In 2024, we donated our 100th blanket to the hospital.
“This year we set a goal to give another 100 blankets and before the end of May, we had donated another 100 blankets,” said Lang. “In total, we’ve donated 200 blankets now. That is something that makes me so happy. So many people have reached out to us on Facebook, and they support this cause.
“Everyone has some connection to a child who has needed to be hospitalized in Winnipeg. When children are there, those rooms are impersonal and they feel overwhelmed by the situation, and having something soft, personal and theirs can bring them comfort. That is why I called it Payton’s Comforters.
“Payton’s Comforters has a wish list out there for people to donate stuff such as material or supplies to make blankets,” said Lang. “They can make a blanket and reach out to us on Facebook to donate it or money. We greatly appreciate everyone who donates to this cause.”