Dufresne Swan River is celebrating a milestone anniversary, having been in business in the Valley for 25 years. Store Principal Dee Palsson started the business up after transitioning a family business into the Dufresne line.
“I worked with my stepfather, Gordon Shaver, and he decided to retire,” said Palsson. “He ran a mom-and-pop kind of store, Currie Furniture. When it came time for me to decide to invest in that franchise, I knew I had to think outside the box, because as far as buying power, I knew we would need a little more lift. We talked to the President of Sealy, and he put us in contact with Mark Dufresne, because he thought it would be a good fit.
“I went to meet with Mark in Winnipeg and liked how he presented himself. He was personable, family-oriented and that made me feel comfortable. It didn’t feel like a big corporate store. I came back to Swan River and decided to partner with him.
“We held a sell-off from January to April, then did our renovations in May and opened up in June, and here we are,” said Palsson.
When it comes to helping customers find the perfect furniture for their home or a good quality bed to sleep in, Palsson prides her staff and herself on the efforts they put into helping the customer make the right choice. Although times have changed and some trends have too, today’s customer has a lot more options when it comes to buying furniture and appliances.
“I’ve been doing this for many years and I’ve found that you have to listen to what people want and guide them as best you can,” said Palsson. “Sometimes customers have an idea of what they think they want, and it’s our job to help them make the best decision when it comes to choosing furniture based on a variety of factors such as their flooring, colour of walls and what else is in their home. Because, at the end of the day, we want them to be happy with their purchase and make it a part of their home. Also, when people go into a guest’s home and they ask where they got it from, we want them to know it came from Dufresne.
“Back in the day, people went with white appliances, and now we see the demand for stainless steel and coloured panels. There are just so many options now. With a customer order program through our Canadian suppliers, we can order almost anything our customers want. We have a lot of selections of sofas to choose from.
“Even in our bedding area has grown over the years,” said Palsson. “Customers have come to realize how important a good night’s sleep is, so people are investing more in quality beds, whereas back in the day, people just bought a bed. Now, we have a Sleep Centre and we are all certified sleep experts, and we have to be to sell a bed with Dufresne. There is a training program our staff completes and it helps us to fit a customer to a bed. It’s no longer how many coils are in the mattress anymore, but it’s based on getting the customer in the right type of bed, whether it’s firm, soft, or medium. Buying a bed is a huge decision and is more of a need than a want.”
Palsson knew that in order to succeed in business, she would have to grow the business by expanding her customer area. She was instrumental in thinking outside the box and found ways to bring products to markets that had very limited options.
“We have a 5,000 trading area with Swan River as the hub,” said Palsson. “We always must be creative because to be profitable, we can’t just do deliveries in our area. I first started up in 2000, and from 2001 to 2005, we went to The Pas with trailers. We would set up in Opaskwayak Cree Nation and sell furniture.
“A lot of the elders don’t travel, and as we went up there, Dufresne got known. Our business grew from that and to this day, our trucks go up there regularly. We’ve gone into Saskatchewan and delivered as far as Yorkton. Then on the other side, we go as far as Winnipegosis. This has all been through getting our name out there and word of mouth. We had to get to know our customers because we don’t get the traffic like the big city stores do and as a result, we had to build strong relationships with our customers to earn their trust and have them keep coming back.
“The other part that helps the business is that we offer servicing here,” said Palsson. “Dean Henderson does all our service and has done it since we opened. The big box stores aren’t like that. Most customers have to send stuff away to be fixed or call a 1-800 number. Here at Dufresne, our customers call us and we look after them. That has been a huge advantage for us.”
Owning and operating a business in a rural northern community, Palsson knows the importance of developing and maintaining a strong relationship and trust with customers. With big box store competitors and less populated areas to serve, she has prided herself on establishing loyal returning customers and that has led to her success in business.
“We put a great emphasis on acknowledging the customer when they come into the store,” said Palsson. “My staff have all been trained to greet customers within the first couple of minutes. I base this on my own experience as a customer. I know if I go into a business and I’m not greeted right away, it just doesn’t feel right.
“Customers tend to go online to see what is available for options and I find are more educated about the products as a result of that. We never saw that before. After spending 25 years here, I find that every day is different and as staff, we have to grow. The consumer now is coming into the store knowing the product details, which means staff have to know it as well. If we don’t know all the specs on something, then we look into it for the customer.”
When it comes to finding the perfect staff, Palsson has been successful in recruiting and retaining employees. Many of her former employees got their start working for her at Dufresne before finding their career path. She has always treated her staff like family and still has strong personal relationships with many of her former staff.
“Over the years, I’ve had excellent staff,” said Palsson. “I’ve had some leave to try other things and then come back to work here. Others have stayed for several years before moving on to another career. People stayed because I treated my staff with respect and like family. It’s very much family-oriented here, because we all know each other’s family, kids, and have spent time together outside of the workplace. I still keep in contact on some level with the majority of my former staff. We’ve formed friendships that have continued long after their time here at Dufresne.
“One former employee who was instrumental in helping me develop the business was Lloyd Barabash. When we came over from Curries, we had to lay off staff and rehire. In that process, we hired Lloyd and he worked here for over 10 years. He was like my rock. I was around 34 years old at the time I started this business, and he gave me a lot of inspiration and guided me through things. He was wonderful to have as part of the team and his presence here is still missed. He still comes in and talks to us, and that is great.”
With this 25-year anniversary, Palsson is looking toward the future of Dufresne and finding a succession plan before she retires.
“Being a store principal, I’ve reached a point where I know I have to think about the future,” said Palsson. “I’m not ready to retire right now, and I plan to stay for a few years. In that time, I would like to find a successor. Someone I can work with to help grow the business and then take over.
“Dufresne has implemented a program with their store managers that is modelled after our store, which I’m very proud of. They hire a manager and depending on how they do, they are offered an opportunity to become a store principal. This allows them to have a financial stake in the business, instead of trying to buy into a franchise. I’ve always had a stake in the business and found it made me work that much harder over the years. It helped me to make this my store and do all the local community things I was able to do while in business.
“Every day is different, and I have to say, I’ve really enjoyed the people I have met through the store,” said Palsson.

The Valley has once upon a time been home to many who have written and published books. Award-winning journalist, freelance writer and now author, Rosalie I. Tennison, has launched her memoir Naomi’s Houses. The story talks about Tennison’s experience growing up in the Valley, under less than ideal circumstances.
“It wasn’t until I moved to Winnipeg, about seven years ago, that this memoir popped into my head,” said Tennison. “I have a half finished novel that I’ve abandoned, because there is so much focus now on lived experience instead of the creativity of one’s imagination. I felt that readers wouldn’t appreciate it because it was not based on my lived experience.
“Even though I have written some short stories and never published them, I found myself reading a lot of memoirs and liked the genre. I had an idea for a memoir, but even then, it wasn’t this exact idea. Although this is my memoir and it is all about me, in the end, it really also is about my mother.
“I once recall hearing a writer being asked why they chose to write about a particular character and make them the focus of their book when there were three other strong characters to choose from,” said Tennison. “The author explained that sometimes when writing a book, a character can come out more than others and the book becomes focused on that character. This is what happened to me. I was writing my memoir, but it became a tribute to my mother. It’s not what I thought when I started out.”
Tennison added a personal touch to her memoir and included entries from her mother’s diaries that spanned over several years. It took her some time to finalize the creative process of incorporating her mother’s diary entries, but she felt it was an important part of the book.
“I used my mother’s diaries in the book to introduce the various chapters,” said Tennison. “Originally, I put Naomi’s Diary and then the date before each chapter. That was how I did the whole book. I had four drafts of the book before it went to a publisher. Then I hired an independent editor to help me with the structure and layout. I honestly can’t see it being any other way now.
“The publisher, Heritage House, had asked me for ideas of what I would like to see on the cover and I shared those with them. In the end, the cover was nothing like I imagined, but I quite like it. I had to trust the experts when it came to this.
“We are in a different world today,” said Tennison. “Back when I pitched a story, you had to sit down, type out a letter and mail it. Maybe two weeks later, you would receive a letter indicating whether or not they were interested in your story. Now there are all these tools such as the Internet, email and form letters. All publishers have to do is type in an address, and they don’t even do that anymore. It should be so much easier to politely reject people’s submissions, but it’s not. Instead, publishers take the stance that if a writer hasn’t heard from them in six months, they can assume they don’t want the book.
“I had to create a table with all the publishers that had the date I submitted, what their criteria were for submissions, and when they stated to respond. I would go back to check and once it got to six months, I would assume they didn’t want the book.
“Heritage House only accept submissions in January and the only reason I didn’t submit to them earlier was because I missed the deadline,” said Tennison. “Eventually, I did send them my memoir, and they came through for me.
“It took a year before they said they would publish it, so I think it wasn’t so much what I learned about myself, but instead this whole process confirmed who I am. I’m not a quitter, and I come from some pretty sturdy farming stock who plotted along and did what they could for survival. I had a mother who instilled that in me.”
Tennison’s story is one that reflects on what it is like to grow up in poverty and the struggles that come with it.
“My family’s experience growing up in the Valley was very difficult,” said Tennison. “We were very poor, but I had good parents. My maternal grandparents were heavily involved in the community. My maternal grandmother was a leader in the Women’s Institute and my maternal grandfather started the local branch of the Farmers’ Union. They were highly and well-respected people.
“My paternal grandparents didn’t stay in the Valley very long. They left and also left my father to stay in the Valley. From there, my parents met and married. They struggled with poverty and then my father died.
“We were plunged into deeper poverty,” said Tennison. “We had to leave the farm we lived on outside of Bowman and move to Swan River. We ended up in a rundown house in Swan River and our family continued to struggle. Due to our financial circumstances, a lot of the time we felt unwelcome and it was really hard growing up.
“My mother did the best she could given her circumstances. Her focus was to ensure that her children did not end up in a similar situation that she had. She pushed us to get educated and find good jobs, to get out of poverty. It certainly wasn’t a life that she had pictured for herself. The truth of the matter is, one never knows when their circumstances might change. Poverty doesn’t play favourites and it’s colourblind.
“We were a family experiencing poverty,” said Tennison. “We were invisible. We had a really tough time. Fortunately, there were some people in Bowsman who helped us out from time to time, and I’ve never forgotten that.
“I did a book signing in Calgary in the middle of April, and a woman I grew up with in Bowsman and our parents were family friends, had her daughter drive her from Carstairs, Alberta, to see me. I was shocked and burst into tears. This woman told me how she remembered our family and that when her family was getting ready to head into Swan River on Saturdays, her mother had them fill a cardboard box of produce from the garden to give to my family to survive.”
Looking back at Tennison’s story and life experience of growing up in poverty, she feels that although she has survived this chapter in her life, poverty still impacts many people today in ways that most people can’t imagine until they have gone through it.
“The book touches on how people think we’ve come a long way and things have changed since then, but in essence, they really haven’t in the last 50 years,” said Tennison. “There are still people living in poverty and struggling, but the difference is that there are more social safety nets now than there were back then.
“We didn’t have a lot of those tools growing up.”
Tennison has matured and lived other life experiences that have helped shape the person she has become, but writing this memoir also helped her to gain a better understanding of just how much her mother did for her family despite having the odds stacked against her.
“I think it’s not so much that I learned much about myself when writing this memoir as it was about how it reinforced who I am, because I’ve always struggled with imposter syndrome at times and a lot of self-doubt, but I had a mother who said I could do whatever I want,” said Tennison. “That has always been at the back of my mind. So, when the going gets tough in life, which it often does for all of us, I hear her voice and think to myself that I can do this.
“Writing a book has always been something I wanted to do. I didn’t have a type of book defined at that time, but it ended up being one that was a memoir and a tribute to my mother. That positive reinforcement of being able to do this floated through the book as I wrote it. It took five years from the time I started writing to almost the day when I was standing in front of a crowd at McNally Robinson launching the book.
“A lot of people would be deterred by that length of time, but I kept persevering through dealing with different editors and maintaining my voice,” said Tennison. Then going through the submission process can be very off-putting and demoralizing. I was just about done, and only had three Canadian potential publishers left who may be potential possibilities, and then Heritage House wanted to publish my memoir.”
Tennison will be in the Valley for the Swan River Museum’s Heritage Day in August to promote and sign her memoir and to take a photo with her father’s car that was donated to the museum. Naomi’s Houses is available to purchase online from McNally Robinson, Indigo Chapters and Amazon.

Many people have built successful and longstanding careers working for their local Co-op. Tony Blazenko has had an incredible career with the Swan Valley Consumers Co-op (SVCC), which started with him working for Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL). It was a career that he fell into by chance, but brought him back home to the Valley and in a career that he loves.
“I had aspirations to become a professional baseball player and was in Edmonton at the time,” said Blazenko. “I played fastball for the City of Edmonton and made the transition to Triple A baseball for a while, but the scouts never recruited me to Florida for tryouts for the pros.
“I saw an advertisement for a job with FCL and applied. The day I did the interview, I was offered the job. I had given notice and was packing up to leave. I decided to stop one last time at the local post office to cancel my post office box. I checked the mail one last time and there was a letter in there from FCL. I opened it up and it thanked me for applying for the job, however, I did not get it, and another candidate was hired. The letter stated it would keep my name on file for future employment opportunities.
“I kind of panicked because I had just quit my other job and packed up my apartment to leave for this new job,” said Blazenko. “I went to a phone booth and called the FCL office. I spoke to the person who hired me and asked if everything was ok and if my application was fine. They told me it was and they were expecting me on Monday morning for the job.
“I saved that letter from 1977 and still have it. I like to joke around that I have a letter that says I’m not really supposed to be working here.
“I went to FCL and started in October 1997. I was a farm boy in my early 20s, and worked dispatch for the Logistics Department,” said Blazenko. “I soon moved to Assistant Manager in Logistics for FCL. This launched my career there. I soon realized that the more work I did and accomplished, the more the regional manager delegated to me. I took on more and more duties, and ended up working in fuel and general merchandise as a result.”
During the course of Blazenko’s time at FCL, he gained experience in supply and demand, as well as cost-effective methods of shipping products to retail outlets.
“I set up retail stores with deliveries,” said Blazenko. “I communicated with general and department managers on coordinating shipping to the retail. More duties were assigned to me. At that time, there were three people in the industry: one with Imperial Oil, one with Shell and I for FCL. We did a liquid fuel exchange between refineries, not on dollars. We would send our lease operators to fill up at refineries and their operators would fill up at our refineries. The additives were added to the product at the refinery because each company had different specifications and the refineries knew everyone’s specs. Fuel is just fuel until you add the additives into it, then it makes it a certain brand of fuel, like Co-op’s.
“Then at the end of October at FCL year-end, we would try to zero our liquid exchange, so that we didn’t have to pay each other any money. It was an interesting job.
“I would start with hiring lease operators to service an area, like Swan River for groceries, lumber, fuel and then we started getting into general merchandise,” said Blazenko. “Hiring one was not enough, so I had to hire lease operators that would paint their truck and trailer with Co-op colours and haul our product to the specific retailers. I moved on to doing this more on a corporate level as opposed to an individual lease operator.
“FCL must have felt I was capable of doing things and let me go with it. I did very well there and spent nine years doing that.”
Blazenko wanted a change of scenery and to start working his way back home to the Valley. It was his move in Saskatchewan that led him to work with another staff member who would spend the majority of their career working for SVCC, like Tony has.
“I knew by working with FCL that I could transfer to any retail that I wanted,” said Blazenko. “My parents were still living in Swan River and as they got older, I wanted to be closer to them to help take care of them. I knew I wanted to get out of the city and work my way back into retail. I gave notification to FCL that I wanted to transition to retail. They tried to hang on to me at FCL and to stay at the head office.
“I wound up going into retail and moved to Pelly, Saskatchewan, as a branch manager. I wound up working there with Richard Stechyshyn, who was the food manager at that time. I stayed there for some years. Then one day I picked up the phone to the SVCC General Manager (at the time), Ron Nemetz, to see if I could get hired on there. My roots were here in the Swan Valley and I wanted to get on there to work, so I could help look after my parents as they got older.
“The general manager at the time said that I couldn’t have his job because he wasn’t going anywhere and that his department managers were long-standing and also weren’t going anywhere,” Blazenko. “He still agreed to hire me and was going to find a job for me.
“In 1991, I made the move to SVCC and kicked around between departments such as grocery, hardware, lumber and went wherever staff was needed. I floated around until SVCC purchased Johnston Ventures in 1997. That year, I came over to that department to transition it over.”
Blazenko helped transition an acquisition for the SVCC into a profitable and growing ag department. It led to the SVCC expanding into territory further north.
“The staff from Johnston Ventures stayed, and I was the only new staff member from the SVCC,” said Blazenko. “I was bound and determined to increase the sales by aligning the products with the customers’ demands. I created my own position.
“Once we had things going, we created a feed department at SVCC and I took on that. We expanded the sheds and put up racks for feed. We brought in all the animal health accessories to fill the sales floor. From there, we proceeded to get into farm equipment. In order for SVCC to make a go of it, and at the time, I didn’t have the staff to do that, I aligned with Gilbert Plains Co-op. Gilbert Plains Co-op and SVCC entered into a working relationship on providing bins and augers to our local producers.
“I thought it was just going to be a few sales here and there,” said Blazenko. “It turned out to be, at most, $4.5 million in sales for bins and augers. That was overwhelming for Gilbert Plains Co-op because all of a sudden, I was selling as much as they were. It was all based on demand. Whatever producers wanted, they would come and see me, and I would bring it in. From there, we established a feed, an equipment, an animal health and pet food sections, along with other ag-related features.
“I spent my next few years establishing this department, which was something that the members in the area needed and kept them shopping in the Valley.
“Because I was in feed sales, I started selling outside of my trading area,” said Blazenko. “I started selling feed up to The Pas. We would tour The Pas every month, and then people from The Pas started coming here too for their feed and pet food needs. Before I knew it, I was selling bins up there and other things. There was a need there that created an opportunity for the SVCC to establish a presence in The Pas. Now we have an ag department set up with employees there that service the area.”
Blazenko noted that a lot has changed since he first started with the SVCC in the ag department. Things have grown tremendously and so have the producers’ needs in the Valley.
“When I first came here, I was given the keys for Johnston Ventures and had to learn as I went,” said Blazenko. “I had to jump on the skid steer and load fertilizer out of the shed into a bucket for all the trucks coming to get it. I couldn’t drive that skid steer fast enough. Pretty soon, the trucks started getting bigger and bigger, and the lineup of trucks got longer.
“We went through times where we needed to make changes to the ag department to accommodate our service. Thanks to the SVCC Board of Directors and Management for seeing that we needed to enhance our service delivery by using a volumetric system, which we added.
“Over time, that wasn’t quick enough to meet the supply and demand needs, and resulted in the building of a new fertilizer shed,” Blazenko. “Now it’s someone operating it at an incredible speed, to load a semi in just seven minutes. That would have taken so many buckets if we had continued to do it the way it was done when I first started here.”
Blazenko feels there is a good career and future for people to work at their local Co-op. It not only provides lots of learning and training opportunities, but also a chance to be a part of building something great in the community.
“I think that there are young people who are in the retail Co-op market and I tell them that the opportunities provided while working at a Co-op will allow you to be who you want to be and go into whatever department you want to enter into, providing you do a good job,” said Blazenko. “I think that young people have a great opportunity in finding a career with federated co-ops and staying with the system.
“When working in retail, one has to work harder to be successful at it. You have to be willing to do what you are asking others to do that work there, to show by example. There are times when people can be extremely price-conscious, but I’ve always believed that money doesn’t replace good service. If you have really good service, why would someone go anywhere else just to save a few dollars and not receive good service?
“I learned a lot about this through my time working at FCL in the Logistics Department,” said Blazenko. “You have to use your knowledge and experience when bringing in the products. It also requires one to know what customers want and to bring it in ahead of the demand. You have to focus on a section and really dedicate the effort to that section. You can’t be all over the place and be everything.
“Customers recognize the efforts that are put in and that leads to whether or not they are lined up at the door to buy what you have to offer.
“We provide good customer service from excellent staff and that makes me proud to work here,” said Blazenko. “I look forward to one day retiring and knowing that there was an accomplishment that happened here and had provided a valuable service to the Valley.”

On May 3, 2025, Gord Zamzow (right) was inducted into the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame in the All Around Category at an Induction Banquet in Winnipeg... See more on B4/B5

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.”

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.”

This coming Saturday, March 8, is known as International Women’s Day. There is an upcoming rising star who’s determination on the pitching mound is driving a bright future for this well-accomplished female athlete. Sally Leask, daughter of Patrick and Courtney Leask, has a world of opportunity on the pitching mound, with more yet to come. As a youth, Leask was involved in softball from an early onset and it has been opening doors and opportunities for her ever since. She plays with three teams right now, U18 Mission Gold Team, Twos Fast Pitch and Layne’s Stars. Leask has travelled all over Canada and the U.S. to play in tournaments with these teams.
“I had a pretty solid couple of tournaments with the U18 Mission Gold Team,” said Leask. “We played around the Minneapolis area and did well. It’s a close-knit team with very good coaching staff. We all came together and were able to win a couple of games. The team is now very close and I can’t wait to play with them for this upcoming season. It’s a really good community and I like the team so far.
“I played a tournament in Missouri with Team Toba called the Land of the Ozarks Tournament. It was here that I felt I had my best game so far. I pitched a no-hitter with Team Toba and felt that was my greatest game from the fall to now. I’ve actually pitched a couple of perfect games before this one and I’m really proud of that accomplishment.
“Recently, we went to Las Vegas at the end of January,” said Leask. “We had a national coach for the U18 team along with really strong coaching staff. Players from different provinces came together to form the Twos Fast Pitch Team and we won gold. We were up against a bunch of American teams that had been playing together all season and we went undefeated in that tournament. It’s the first time that the program won gold in that tournament. It was a great accomplishment, not only for the program but the team, to make that our goal. I also pitched a perfect game during this tournament as well.
“Now my focus is Twos Fast Pitch, Mission, and my Layne’s Stars Team.”
Leask follows a strict regime and focuses a lot of training during the off-season. This is her first time playing ball in the winter and her hard work has paid off.
“Usually my ball season wraps up around September and then there’s dome ball,” said Leask. “I was in Minnesota where I played a game of dome ball in the University of Minnesota’s dome. It was a cool experience and we did well. It was nice to get back with the team as I haven’t seen them since this fall.
“I noticed the hard work has paid off. I’ve been training very hard with another friend who attends my school. I’ve been going to the gym in the off-season and I need to get stronger for those upcoming games ahead. Hopefully, this upcoming summer, I can accomplish my goals that I set for myself.
“I wake up at 5 a.m. every morning and prioritize my morning routine and having a good night’s sleep,” said Leask. “I train three days a week with a personal trainer and two days a week with my parents at a public gym. The workouts I do with my personal trainer are very intense, and this is my second year of doing circuits and conditioning. I’m grateful for my trainers, but it’s been difficult so far. However, I’m still into doing it. I’ve seen my velocity increase for pitching and my power in batting. It’s paying off and that’s why I like pushing myself harder to get in that extra rep or minute, because I know it will pay off in the long run. I’m doing this for the love of the game.”
Leask is also honing in on her pitching abilities, in terms of speed, velocity and consistency overall.
“At the U17 AAA Provincial Championship in July 2024, I was clocked at pitching 63 miles per hour,” said Leask. “I haven’t clocked since but am hoping to do so again this spring. My goal is to consistently hit 65 miles per hour and plus, but consistently. I also have my rise ball and drop ball that I want to stay consistent with those pitches as well with the velocity of them.”
Leask is very dedicated to her studies and has big ambitions for her future in the medical field. She recently signed with Rider University in New Jersey to play ball with the Broncs for four years. If that offer wasn’t big enough, Leask is still getting more opportunities coming her way.
“I attend Churchill High School and will be finishing my grade 12 at the end of June,” said Leask. “From there, I will be rolling into ball season and am looking forward to it.
“After graduation, I plan to major in biology and from there go into medical school or see the different careers I can pursue with my biology degree, but something in the medical field what I have been interested in. I’m in a medical program right now where I go to hospitals, research centres and different care facilities every other week. I learned more about different careers and caring for patients. I sat in and watched live surgeries, learned how to administer IVs or casts and x-rays.
“I just found out when I was playing with Mission, I got the opportunity to play for Team Netherlands as an import, and will be competing at the International level,” said Leask. “The tournament is called the Triple Crown International Challenge and it’s going to be in Colorado. I will be missing my graduation ceremony to be at the Triple Crown International Challenge, but I received this incredible opportunity and decided to take it. So, experiencing a graduation ceremony will be the one thing I will be missing out on.
“I’m pumped about this and it’s my motivation to train hard, graduate and have a full competitive season of softball. There has been a lot of new opportunities since last summer. All these tournaments and new opportunities have been incredible and I’m excited for the summer.
“This summer, I plan to attend tournaments in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, through U18 Team Mission Gold,” said Leask. “While playing in Vegas, I had a well-pitched game and hitting, and was asked to play at the PGF Nationals in California. I was asked to play with the U18 Las Vegas Team, which is being coached by a Team Canada alumni. I am waiting on confirmation dates for that tournament.”
Leask is fortunate that her family is very supportive of her through a very hectic and demanding ball schedule that has them travelling all over. She is grateful to have them there for her while she takes to the mound in some pretty heavy-hitting tournaments.
“My parents and brother are there every game, every inning, even practices,” said Leask. “My family supports me the entire time and I’m thankful for them and what they do for me. It isn’t just me, but it takes my whole family to make me into a better athlete.
“It can be nerve-wracking, but I have full faith in myself, in what I am doing and in my mindset. I have it in my mindset to do well, and my parents have prepped me mentally and physically for that as well. I know that I have that support system too in my parents, teammates, coaches and friends. I’m glad I have Mission, Twos Fast Pitch and Layne’s Stars teams for that as well.”
Some other notable tournaments and opportunities Leask has coming up this year have her more than eager for summer to come.
“I will be attending Canadian Natives, which will be hosted in Manitoba this year. I will be playing with the Layne’s Stars team for that tournament. This should be my strongest year of ball this year.
“My next goal is to prepare for Team Canada tryouts, which are this summer. I hope to have a good rookie season with the Broncs.”

Many families have created legacies within the Swan Valley based on their contributions, time and effort given to projects they are most passionate about. For Carolyn and the late Harvey Baldwin, skiing was something that brought them together and a sport they shared with their family and generations to come.
“When I moved to Swan River in the mid 70’s, what drew me the most to Thunderhill Ski Club was its beauty and that it was not far from my doorstep,” said Carolyn Baldwin. “After a few years of skiing, I decided to join the board in the late 70’s. It was just a small club at that time.
“It was on the slopes where I first met Harvey and well, that’s a story in itself. Our family grew, when we had two girls, LeeAnne and Lana. The Thunderhill Ski Club was our family time, where they learned to ski, work, and volunteer. Now I am enjoying teaching my 2-year-old grandson Coulter to ski.”
Both Carolyn and Harvey were active in the Thunderhill Ski Club. They both saw many positive changes and expansion of the facility over the years.
“Being part of the Thunderhill Ski Club board for 40 plus years and managing day-to-day operations for approximately 25 years, I have seen many changes and projects,” said Baldwin. “The Chalet expanding, the new shop installed, and new slopes being developed.
“The biggest project of my time was upgrading the T-bar. 2011 began the long project of installing the Brandson Express and JB Construction lifts. Harvey came on board helping with the installation and moved to being the hill manager.”
Carolyn accredits Thunderhill Ski Resort’s growth to all the people who worked there together to make things happen. Everyone pitched in to get things done and helped it to grow into what it has become today.
“In all the years I have been with Thunderhill Ski Club and the projects I worked on, the one thing I know is it’s the team that makes it happen,” said Carolyn. “Thunderhill Ski Club has a big team behind it.
“Throughout the time I managed the hill, I always had an awesome team supporting me, from staff to board members and volunteers. I was so grateful to have that support.”
Recently the Thunderhill Ski Club presented a special tribute to the Baldwin family and their efforts to help the facility improve and grow. One of the ski runs has been named after them and will be there for all to enjoy as much as the Baldwins have enjoyed skiing.
“It is an honor to Harvey, myself and our daughters to recently have Homeward Bound renamed to Baldwin’s Bend,” said Carolyn. “As well as being recognized along with those who have come before us and those who will continue the legacy of Thunderhill Ski Club.”

What started as a hobby and a love for sewing has led to the creation of a successful business, which is now celebrating a milestone anniversary. Empty Bobbin Quilt and Fabric Shop is celebrating five successful years in business in Swan River.
“I’ve always been involved in sewing, whether it was projects or quilts,” said Empty Bobbin Quilt and Fabric Shop Owner and Operator Julie Baskier. “A couple of years before opening the store, I purchased a long-arm sewing machine and was working with it to create projects as a way to make some money on the side. What I charged customers then, just basically fed my hobby.
“The Swan Valley Co-op closed down their clothing department that had fabric and another fabric store in town was making plans to leave. My youngest child was headed off to school that fall, so I thought it was time to do this and see how it went. I feel it has been a good decision and I’ve been happy with it ever since.”
Over the past five years, Baskier has seen her business grow in many different ways.
“The business has grown in customer base for sure,” said Baskier. “I have a lot of out-of-town customers. Even looking at what I ship out for online orders and where they are going. I’m seeing repeats from the same area, so the word is getting out there. Just getting to be known that way is growth.
“I remember when I was about three years into this business, I would get people coming in and saying they didn’t know my shop was in Swan River and they had been coming here all the time for appointments. I have been hearing that less and less, so I know that people are more aware there is a fabric store in town and that can also be accessed online.
“Then there is the inventory,” said Baskier. “During my live recording with Cody, I mentioned it would be interesting to see what my first live recording looked like when I opened the store, to what it looks like now. We both commented on how the store has more inventory since I opened and there is a larger selection to choose from.
“Right from the get-go, I knew I would offer online as an option for shoppers. At that time, social media had taken off and people who were sewing were on there. As I was setting up shop, I knew that there were people who shop online, even if they could access it right there, some prefer that method of shopping. I knew I had to do this to ensure I would have the customer base I needed.
“The online portion of my business did take longer to build up a customer base than the brick and mortar did,” said Baskier. “I opened up in January 2020 and had started online at that point as well, so that was kind of my savings grace when the pandemic hit. I was already established online and it allowed me to be able to continue through that platform.
“The other thing is we have expanded from brick and mortar and online to going on the road and doing quilt shows. We have a set quilt show road trip that we do. We attended the quilt market this year because it let us meet the people designing the fabrics face to face, so that was exciting growth-wise. Then the quilt retreat we do has been something we’ve added to the business and it’s grown since then.”
Despite opening up the Empty Bobbin Quilt and Fabric Shop just months before the pandemic, Baskier was fortunate and successful in keeping her business open during a time that was challenging and detrimental to many businesses.
“I will never forget my mom saying to me, ‘People without a hobby, what are they doing now?’,” said Baskier. “At that time, she was coming to the store to help me get orders ready for customers to pick up. When the pandemic hit, she was afraid my business would be done. I wasn’t 100 percent certain what the shop’s future was either, but fortunately, it worked.
“I think it was because I had only been open for two and half months before the pandemic hit, that I was able to pivot. I was still swimming and trying to figure out my business and what it all entailed. Because of that, I feel I was able to adapt my way of doing business much easier.”
Baskier is still processing that her business is celebrating five years of operation. She has enjoyed many aspects of running her own business and has plans for the future operations of the Empty Bobbin Quilt and Fabric Shop.
“I would definitely love to continue to grow the business,” said Baskier. “I have a list of sewing and craft supplies I would like to carry in the store and to be able to bring that in would be exciting. I would like to hold more classes, but I have four kids. One is graduated, one will be graduating and there are two more behind. I can see in the future, being able to have more time to dedicate to hosting regular classes.
“The classes I host right now are just sporadic and would like to host regular ones in the future. I’ve held three annual quilting retreats and have 50 quilters come. It’s always an exciting time to prep for that and experience it over three days, but it would be nice to experience that energy more regularly.
“I have enjoyed the new friendships I have made since starting up the business,” said Baskier. “Whether that is customers or other quilt shop owners or people I’ve met from going to quilt shows, that part to me, has been the most exciting. I’ve met so many different quilters and learned from them as individuals. I like to get to know people. As I am helping them pick out fabric, it’s really interesting to hear their views and way of life, while getting to know them. It allows me to expand my horizons without having to leave my shop.
“I can’t get over all the different people I’ve met in the last five years through the shop. It just blows my mind sometimes.”

Grandparents are also the biggest fans when it comes to watching a student compete in a high school sport. Murray and Sheila Mullin were a couple of the proudest grandparents ever when they went down to Texas to watch their granddaughters, Scarlett and Lily Nichol, compete in the Texas State National Cheer Championships.
Scarlett and Lily are the daughters of Tanya Nichol, Murray and Sheila’s daughter. Scarlett is in Grade 8 and Lily is in Grade 10.
“This was our first time watching our granddaughters in competition,” said Murray Mullin. “During the year they cheer at their high school’s football and basketball games.
“We’ve watched them at regular games, but not at a competition,” said Sheila Mullin. “The Texas State National Cheer Championships were held at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. It was a huge event that started at 8 a.m. All through the day, there were competitions and I would say the crowd ranged from 1,500 to 2,000 people at certain points.”
Not only was it a big event for both Scarlett and Lily, but for Murray and Shiela as well as they awaited the final results.
“It was quite good and there was lots of excitement and cheering; it was quite the experience,” said Murray. “When they announce the finalists, they start by announcing the placements in reverse order. For example, if they have 12 teams, they announce the twelfth-place team and so on until they announce the championship team.
“For Scarlett, her team finished in third place in their division. With Lily, they kept announcing the placements until they got down to the final three. I was sitting there with my head in my hands, and when they called out the second place and it wasn’t her team, we knew they were the championship team.
“Just watching the team hugging each other and their excitement over winning the Texas State Championship brought tears to my eyes,” said Murray. “They work so hard at this because they started before the beginning of the school year. In July, there is a camp they attend and throughout their summer holidays, they are practicing. Then every day at school, each student is required to participate in sports. Lily practices every day and then after school, they are there until 5:30 p.m. practising. They are very dedicated and to be on the team, they must maintain an 80 percent average in their school work.
“It was amazing because as a grandparent, it’s an honour to watch grandchildren participate in their chosen sport or activity,” said Sheila. “Then when they excel, and the dedication and determination come to fruition, and the result is being a state champion, it’s beyond thrilling.
“Lily’s team performed flawlessly and hit zero. When a team hits zero means they have no deductions, which is ultimately what these teams strive for in competition.”
The Mullins also go to see their grandchildren perform their best under some adversity and pressure, as they had to bounce back from some obstacles that were in the way.
“Scarlett is one of the flyers that are at the top,” said Murray. “When one of her teammates was dismounting the formation, she put her hand down to stabilize and they received a deduction for that, which was one of the factors that led them to place third.”
“Saturday was the competition day, so on Friday Lily’s team was going through their last preparations for their performance and one teammate fell and was injured. They had to change their performance last minute because they were missing a flyer. They went in Saturday afternoon and practiced for three to four hours, changed their routine and when they performed it, they got a perfect score. That alone was pretty exciting to know they achieved that under those circumstances.”
Scarlett and Lily Nichol have been immersed in the world of cheerleading since they settled in Texas and started school there.
“I always saw my sister doing cheer when I was in sixth grade and she was in eighth grade, and I thought it would be fun,” said Scarlett. “I saw some tumblers on the team and thought it would be cool to learn. In seventh grade, I tried out and made the team.
“The first time I went to a State Championship, it was very nerve-wracking. I was really scared, but my coaches were good at talking to us and making sure we were ok. Once we got out there, it was really fun.
“This time, it was less nerve-wracking and more team bonding, because I’m in eighth grade this year, I had to help the ones in seventh grade prepare for this. I was providing more support for them, but I still was nervous during parts of it.
“It was fun for my grandparents to see us compete in a State Championship,” said Scarlett. “I felt like they thought we did really good.”
Lily has had a remarkable year in cheerleading this year, for she is co-captain of the team and this has been hailed as a rare opportunity for someone of her age.
“This is my third time going to State Championships and placing at them,” said Lily. “I started in my eighth grade year when we moved down here. My Spanish teacher was the coach and I heard her talking about tryouts and asking people if they were interested. I took home a flyer and talked to my mom about it, and things just went from there. I wasn’t in any other sports or clubs at the time. I figured I would try out and see where it took me. I fell in love with the sport and now am a State Champion.