The Swan Valley Sport Fish Enhancement (SVSFE) ran another successful summer of youth fish camps. Several local youth gained angling knowledge and experience at local lakes surrounding the Valley.
“Our fish camp ran a total of 16 days facilitating somewhere between eight and 11 kids per day,” said SVSFE Fisheries Technician Brock Koutecky. “The first eight days were spent at the Red Deer River, while the final eight days were spent at Wellman Lake. Kids can attend each location one time, therefore most kids were able to come two days with one day at each location.
“Once camp registration was open, we were full within the first 48 hours and had kids on the waiting list. After getting a better grasp of demand, we were able to accommodate the kids on the waiting list by finding other volunteers and increasing daily capacity for a few days at each location. In the end, every registered kid was able to come at least one time, and in total, we facilitated a total of 88 different kids in 2024.”
Youth learned a variety of angling skills that they got to test out during the camp. Some of them experienced reeling in their very first catch Master Angler.
“The educational component focuses on all the aspects of sport fishing,” said Koutecky. “Topics include knot tying, safety, fish behaviour, fish anatomy/biology, fish ecology and seasonal movements, proper fish handling techniques, fishing ethics, and of course angling techniques, presentation and bait selection.
“There were so many individual highlights. Many of these include stories about a specific kid catching their first fish ever, or their first Master Angler ever, or their first bass ever for example. There were sure a lot of excited kids experiencing a first and the excitement that came with those moments.”
SVSFE is already planning for next year’s youth fish camps and determining what changes or improvements can be made.
“We are still in the process of making plans for 2025, but at this time we feel that we were able to accommodate demand and will probably make a few adjustments in future years,” said Koutecky. “I don’t think we will expand the program in terms of time, but will likely increase staff and volunteers which will therefore increase daily capacity.”
A lot of work went into planning and establishing the youth fish camps, from funding to volunteers.
“We would like to thank our program funders, The Manitoba Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund, and the Manitoba Government,” said Koutecky. “This program would not be possible without their support.
“Also, a huge thanks to Swan Valley Credit Union (SVCU), the Community Foundation of Swan Valley, and the Paul Olenick Memorial Fund for providing funds to assist with fish camp.
“A big shout out to all the businesses and volunteers who helped in various ways including The Elbert Chartrand FC, Mil’s Grill, Wellman Lake Lodge, 734 Custom Apparel & Promo Inc., Swan Valley Star and Times, Len Thompson Lures, Sticky’s Bait and Tackle, Mitch’s Jumbo Crawlers, Northern Lites Bait, Swan Lake Watershed District, Swan River Title Loans, Manitoba Wildfire Service, Westwood Inn Hotel and Indoor Waterpark, Valley Water, Matt Black, Bruce Taylor, Ursula Taylor, Duane Fleming, Elgin Barnett, Sheldon Branconnier, Jason Vill, Tyler Ashcroft, Norm Bruce, Brian Woloshyn, Todd Yakielashek, Phil Yakielashek, Tammy Webster, and Darren Webster,” said Koutecky.

A valley youth has aspirations of being one of the best Ukrainian dancers in Canada and has been striving to achieve that goal.  Kemi Bulycz is only 16 years old and has been active in the world of Ukrainian dancing at a very early age.
“I started Ukrainian Dancing when I was three years old and joined not only because my mom is the instructor, but because I loved dancing and performing around the house,” said Kemi Bulycz.
“My family has always had a member a part of the Benito Vesselli Dance Club since its first year as a club, which has been over 40 years. My Great Grandmother, Lillian Klemetski, helped organize, fundraise, sew costumes, and was a part of the Vesselli Dance Club from the beginning. She spent many hours pinching perogies and helping with its early success.
“Her daughter, my grandmother danced with Vesselli from the beginning of the club forming and later became the instructor for many years, my mom, danced with Vesselli from three years old growing into Vesselli’s head instructor and choreographer,” said Bulycz. “I have many aunts, uncles and cousins who Ukrainian dance, so I guess you can say it’s tradition and one way our family shares our love for Ukrainian culture. My two younger siblings are also a part of Vesselli and one of our favourite dances to perform is our sibling family dance.
“I love everything about Ukrainian dance but if I had to name what I love and enjoy the most it would be sharing my Ukrainian culture with the community.  I also enjoy learning more about the regions of Ukraine and how unique they each are; learning new dances; watching myself and my group and improve every dance season; and my absolute favourite part is performing on stage whether that be at competitions or Malanka, which is our year-end concert or guest performing within the community. I always feel excited and proud when I’m asked to guest perform at events like folk fest, weddings, family gatherings, etc., because I get to share my culture and what I love to do with everyone. 
“My current Ukrainian dance groups are Benito Vesselli Dance Club and Liliya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble,” said Bulycz.  “I also danced with Hudson Bay Cheremka Ukrainian Dance Club for 13 years but performed my last concert with them this spring.” 
Bulycz had the opportunity to attend the Spirit of Virsky this year in Alberta.  The Spirit of Virsky is an annual summer training program designed for all abilities of Ukrainian dancers around the world. Its goal is to push dancers to the highest levels and prepare them to be the best they can be.
“At a competition I attended this spring, one of the organizers from Ukrainian Dance World, who was helping bring the Spirit of Virsky Seminar to Canada, approached me,” said Bulycz.  “He is known in the Ukrainian dance community as an adjudicator, choreographer, advocate for Ukraine, and more. He was the instructor at the Rusulka Dance Camp I attended last summer and has watched me perform on stage at competitions.
“He brought up the seminar and told me that it would be a great opportunity for me to attend and help me grow in Ukrainian dance.
“The Spirit of Virsky Seminar was in Edmonton, AB, from July 15 to 20 and averaged six to seven hours of dance per day,” said Bulycz.  “We were taught by the best of the best in Ukrainian dance with the instructors being Viktoriya Karpenko, Maks Karpenko, and Tania Okseniuk from Virsky in Ukraine.
“We learned classical ballet, barre, jumps, spins, tricks, dance technique, Virsky Choreography and much more.  The experience was amazing and it felt great to walk into the Shumka Studio.”
Being at the Spirt of Virsky for the first time was an eye-opening experience for Bulycz.  She met and danced with Ukrainian dancers from all over the world.
“Being from a small town we typically practice in a school gym or a community hall,” said Bulycz. It was exciting to be in the Shumka Studio which had multiple practice rooms with mirrors and bars. 
“On my first day, I felt a little nervous being taught by the best Ukrainian dancers in the world and learning alongside some of the best dancers in Canada from Shumka, Cheremosh, and Volya, but I quickly got over my nerves and truly enjoyed the experience. Dancers from all over Canada, New York and Australia were there and it was fun to make new friendships and hear about their dance schools.
“In the evenings we enjoyed watching Virsky performances, had pizza parties and bonded over our love for Ukrainian dance and culture,” said Bulycz.  “I honestly enjoyed the whole seminar and every day I was excited to go back, even with tired legs and sore feet.”
There were components to the Spirit of Virsky seminar that Bulycz really enjoyed.  Despite the long hours of dancing, she enjoyed all aspects of it and knows that she will take home this experience and apply it to her future Ukrainian dancing techniques and performances.
“My absolute favourite part about the seminar was learning Virsky Choreography from famous dances like Pleskach and Hopak,” said Bulycz.  “We were taught a total of five Virsky dances over the week along with two warm-up dances. It was intense but a lot of fun and I learnt a lot. 
“On the last day of the seminar, we performed the seven dances we were taught for friends and family. Performing a 30-minute mini concert without any breaks we received a standing ovation and it felt amazing.
“The seminar helped me tremendously with Ukrainian dance,” said Bulycz.  “With the help of the three instructors, I was able to focus on arm, leg and foot positions, strengthen my ballet technique, and dance at a higher skill level than I am used to.
“This will all benefit and help me, and my future in Ukrainian dance. I will be able to practice what I learned at home and in dance practice, and also help my dance group by sharing everything I was taught.”
Bulycz has more plans for the summer with her Ukrainian dancing and will be performing and attending another Ukrainian dance camp this year.  All of this will be more experience she can use to apply to her Ukrainian dancing and achieve her goals of travelling as a professional Ukrainian dancer all over the world.
“I performed my Poltava Solo as well as a Volyn Trio with Vesselli Dancers Ava and Grace Keller at Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin over the weekend of August 3 to 5,” said Bulycz.  “I will be attending for my second year, the Rusulka Ukrainian Dance Camp in Gimli, MB. 
“I’m excited to start a new dance season in September with Benito Vesselli Dance Club and Liliya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble.   I hope to one day, join a professional Ukrainian Dance Group and travel the world performing.” 

Recently part of the Swan River Personal Care Home (SRPCH) walls got a whole new facelift that reveals a breathtaking view for the residents who live there. Valley artist Melanie Bird has painted a mural for the residents at SRPCH and their visitors to enjoy.
“A family of one of the residents reached out to me to see if I would be interested in doing a mural at the SRPCH,” said Bird. “This family knew me well and knew that I was an artist. They had also seen some of the mural work that my sister had been doing in care homes in Winnipeg and wondered if that was something that I could do as well.
“Once they knew I was interested they got the approval from the SRPCH to proceed.”
The scene painted on the mural had to be something that resonated with the Valley and the residents. It was decided that painting a farm scene would be best suited and draw out the best engagement amongst the residents.
“It was collectively agreed between the family that approached me, the residents, board and staff, that the painting should reflect the scenes of the Valley, as well as be something that the residents would connect to,” said Bird. “Something that would conjure up fond memories for them.
“From there we determined that a farm scene, which included several farm animals, that was set in a valley would be perfect. I did a couple of small mock-ups for them to choose from and with a couple of tweaks and additions, I was ready to get started.”
It didn’t take too long for Bird to finish the mural once she started. She even took extra measures to make sure the mural was well protected and could be enjoyed well into the future.
“It took me about seven days to paint,” said Bird. “Once the paint cured for a few days I did a few layers of a protective coating just to make sure the painting would be something the residents, staff and visitors could enjoy for many years to come.”
The feedback Bird has received about the mural at the SRPCH has been good. The residents enjoyed the process of watching her create it and have been engaged with it ever since.
“So far all the responses have been very positive,” said Bird. “The residents seemed to really enjoy seeing the animals begin to emerge as I was painting, I think that was what they connected with the most. People also commented on how much they liked the vibrant colours of the painting as well.
“It was such a joy to see the residents light up when they would see the painting as it progressed. It was also fun to hear their comments and suggestions along the way. I couldn’t possibly paint all of the things they suggested but it was neat to know that they were connecting with what I was doing and it seemed to be something that they truly enjoyed.
“A few of the residents would sit on their walkers or wheelchairs and watch what I was doing for hours, sometimes even fall asleep as they watched,” said Bird. “One of the favourite things that residents liked to comment on was what colour I was going to paint that tractor. Some thought it should be green and others thought red, in the end, I chose red simply because it stood out better against the green background, but it gave me a good chuckle listening to their opinions on the matter.
“It was also a pleasure to see some familiar faces from the community and connect with people who were once actively involved here in the valley and were now residents at the PCH.”

Team Saskatchewan’s #80 is the Valley’s own Tyler Petelski, who travelled to Fredericton, N.B., to play in the National U18 Women’s Tackle Football Championships from July 20 to 28...

The new CT Scanner at the Swan River Hospital has been an investment well worth the while. It has been reducing both wait and travel times for people in the Valley to receive diagnostic services. The CT Scanner has been operational for just over a month and has completed over 200 scans.
“The new CT scanner in Swan River scanned its first patient on May 15, 2024, as part of training exercises, with the system formally coming online on June 17, 2024,” said a spokesperson for Shared Health. As of July 8, 2024, 283 patients had received CT scans in Swan River.
“In the first three weeks of operations, approximately a dozen scans per work day have been completed on patients who would have otherwise had to leave the Swan Valley area and travel to Dauphin, Brandon, The Pas or Winnipeg for care.”
Thanks to the local contributions, half of the costs of the CT Scanner was funded from the Valley, with the remainder from the provincial government.
“Community groups raised more than $1 million towards the $2-million-plus capital project, which includes equipment, installation and renovation of the space,” said a spokesperson for Shared Health. “Shared Health assumes ongoing operational costs.
An open house for the Swan River CT Scanner is being planned for the near future.

Community members in Benito have teamed up to bring the dream of a splash park into reality. Earlier this year, a dedicated group of individuals formed the Benito Splash Park committee and began planning and fundraising for the project.
“Currently, we would be in phase 1 planning and fundraising,” said Benito Splash Park Committee Member Brad Kushniryk. “We have an outside organization assisting with grant applications to try and keep on top of those as more organizations need funding to complete projects than ever before.”
Just last week the Benito Splash Park Committee announced they finalized the design concepts and layouts for the splash park. The goal was to make this splash park accessible for people of all ages and abilities.
“We tried to keep the park user-friendly for all ages and abilities, so it will have structures aimed at toddlers to adults, should they choose to take part,” said Kushniryk. “There will be the giant bucket dumping water, which is a favourite, as well as a misting tower to keep parents cool on hot days if they choose not to be directly in the water features.
“It will be located on the rec grounds north of the playground. Most people know where the arena is, so just to the north of that building with the ball diamonds. There will be about 2,300 square feet covered by the actual spray area and just over 3,000 square feet for the pad itself.”
The Benito Splash Park Committee has been working hard at fundraising for the project and held a summer raffle at the beginning of June. Now they are still accepting donations towards the splash park and are hoping to reach their goal soon.
“The total cost has been quoted at $370,000,” said Kushniryk. “To date, we would be between 40 to 50 percent of that committed.
“There is still potential to break ground for this year, but without some more funding coming in before the contractors fill their schedule, we will have to aim for a spring start. The Municipality of Swan Valley West office will accept donations on behalf of the Benito Splash Park and can issue charitable receipts. You can also contact Holly at 204-281-2898 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..”

People abandoning pets has been an unfortunate common occurrence that puts a lot of strain on animal rescue agencies. Recently the Valley has had some local heroes step up to rescue a small dog last weekend that was abandoned and left in distress.
Swan River MLA Rick Wowchuk first spotted the dog outside of Cowan and posted seeing it all alone in the park. Sherry Markle then brought it to the attention of the Swan Valley Animal Protection League (SVAPL). This sparked a frenzy of concern for the little dog that led to a few rescue attempts to bring her to safety by members of the SVAPL and other volunteers.
“The first night Lisa and I went out, was on Thursday, June 13, at about 8 p.m.,” said Jenn Ferron. “That’s when we first learned about her. The dog was not having anything to do with us and ran into the park and bushes, and we couldn’t find her after a while.
“On the next day, we had more success. It’s a good thing she was hungry because we were able to bribe her with food and she would come close to us. She would come up and eat out of our hands, but she still didn’t want to be caught. We spent a total of five hours that night with the dog all along the side of the highway. The people in Cowan were wonderful as well, for letting us sit on their lawns while we tried to coax her along.
“Then on Saturday when I went out there, I walked up and down the highway because I couldn’t find her,” said Ferron. “Once I started calling the dog’s name, she jumped out of the lilac bushes and let me pet her and continued to eat from my hand, but still very skittish.”
Lisa Scales, Myrna Klein, Lori-Ann Sushelnicki and Ferron all tried to rescue the dog and eventually it was safely caught and brought in. The poor dog was covered with over 50 wood ticks from being left out and running in the long grass. Stephanie and James Wigley went to the vet Saturday morning to get Bravecto to get rid of the ticks.
“The dog was just covered in wood ticks and we noticed some really big ones when we first saw her,” said Ferron. “They fell off, but they were around her eyes and mouth, which was from running in the bush.
“We only learned about this dog on Thursday night, because of Rick Wowchuk letting us know. We don’t know how long the dog was left unattended, but that was the first sighting of her that we had knowledge of.”
The little dog has been named Lila because she would come out of hiding from the lilac bushes along the highway when rescuers were searching for her. Lila is doing well and has been to the vet for care. She is a very smart little dog, is housebroken, loves to play, crate trained for evenings and is a lapdog.
“The dog was seen by the vet and got fixed as well,” said Ferron. “She will need time to get over all she has been through before she can be adopted. She was given medication to help with all the wood ticks she had on her and they’ve all fallen off. At least she can heal from that and it’s not bothering her anymore. The dog is eating well and doing very well.
“My greatest reward for this was when Lisa phoned me at 10:30 p.m. on the evening of the day we rescued Lila and told me she was wagging her tail. To me that was great and that is the reward we get. I’ve gone to see the dog the last couple of days and she is so full of kisses and snuggles. She really is a loving dog, so for her to be that scared and alone, I can only imagine what this dog went through. It takes a lot for a pet to trust someone, especially after they’ve been abandoned by a previous owner. Most of the time they are just waiting for their owner and don’t know what is going on.”
The SVAPL asks that people do the responsible thing when it comes to not being able to care for a pet any longer. Having a pet is a huge responsibility and they become members of the family. Abandoning them in a foreign place is a cruel thing to do and there are better ways to handle it that would not put the pet at risk of dying.
“Unfortunately, with animal rescue, we see that all the time,” said Ferron. “It breaks my heart. I’ve been blessed to foster over 40 dogs in my care and it’s a heartbreaking thing, but I find it rewarding in the end when we find these dogs their forever home.
“If a person has a dog that for some reason they can’t look after or that they find abandoned, we encourage them to call the municipality or us for help. We can post to help rehome the dog, but please do not abandon or leave them. They are scared and could get hurt or worse, killed. Reach out to someone rather than doing this.”
The Valley has many community heroes and Ferron is thankful to all who helped save Lila’s life. It took a group of caring and concerned citizens to make all the difference in this little dog’s life and soon she will go to a home where she will be cared for and loved.
“As Lisa had said on social media, it took a village to rescue this little dog and I couldn’t have done it without people posting on Facebook and keeping us updated,” said Ferron. “From Rick posting, that he found her, to Myrna coming out to help, it really does take a village and I’m thankful to everyone who helped.”

When a loved one gets sick, it takes the strength of friends, family and loved ones to help them get through this, and sadly that isn’t always enough. MacKenzie MacLeod received some devastating and heartbreaking news that her brother, Robert MacLeod, is in the fight of his life and needed her help.
“In late April 2024, my brother Robert who is 26 years old, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) with an FLT3 gene mutation, which is a very aggressive form of blood cancer that requires intensive long-term radiation, chemotherapy, and an allogeneic stem cell and bone marrow transplant, once a donor is identified,” said MacKenzie. “This cancer is very dangerous, and without a transplant, Robert has 29 percent survivability beyond five years.
“His wife, Ashley, is 35 weeks pregnant and they have a young daughter, MacKinley who is under the age of five. Robert has been admitted to the University of Alberta Hospital and is still fighting to achieve remission. This cancer is fast-acting and his prognosis is poor. The goal is to get his body into remission so that he may be healthy enough to be transferred to Winnipeg, where he can receive the exact kind of treatment needed for this particular blood cancer.
“My brother is larger than life, literally,” said MacKenzie. “He stands over six feet tall, has broad shoulders, is physically strong, mentally tough, and has been hard working to support his family. He possesses the vigour inherent in young adults with their entire lives ahead of them. Robert is an avid outdoorsman, hunting, trail quadding, boating and smoking meat.
“Robert had just begun his application to the RCMP days before his diagnosis. His dream was to be an RCMP officer, raise his children in Minitonas, and live a life full of love, adventure and memories. Today, while Robert accepts his fate and mentally prepares to go to war against this blood cancer, he shares how when he finally returns home to Minitonas, cancer-free, he looks forward to driving truck for Rick Bresky and keeping his life simple and close to home.
“Since cancer entered our lives at the end of April, my brother told me, he just wants to get better so he can be a good father to his children, a good husband to his wife, and he will never leave home again,” said MacKenzie “As cancer does its work and the medical team tirelessly works to save his life, Robert understands that this is an insidious illness and he has a long gruelling battle between him and recovery. We are terrified, sickened with the fear of losing him, his life cut short at 26 when our social laws of nature dictate, that he is to have a long happy life, not fighting for tomorrow in a hospital bed hundreds of miles from home.”
Not only has MacKenzie been an emotional support to her brother, but she is taking it a step further to raise funds and future support for any family from the area, who may have the unfortunate experiences her brother is currently going through.
“This diagnosis immediately halted our lives,” said MacKenzie. “We as a family, discussed how we could logistically position ourselves to protect and support Robert and his family while ensuring his best medical outcome. It was clear that money and safe-adequate-affordable housing close to HSC where he must receive multiple treatments of chemotherapy and radiation each day are our greatest barriers. Robert is unable to work due to his terminal illness and Ashley, on maternity leave, has been a dedicated mother and wife never leaving her husband’s side. As a young couple with a little girl and another on the way, they are struggling with a number of challenges that jeopardize their ability to fully focus on accessing lifesaving cancer care.
“I asked my brother when I returned home upon the news on compassionate leave from the Army where I was posted to CFB Gagetown, NB, ‘How do you need me to be here for you?’ He responded, that he needed me to care for Ashley, MacKinley, and the baby while he goes for treatment. He said they’re all going to really need me and that’s what he needed me to do. I told him that I wouldn’t ever leave him and promised I would always be there for them. I’ve got my brother.”
“In 2010, I ran 450 km solo in nine days from Dauphin to Winnipeg, to raise funds for Wounded Warriors and help educate Canadians on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and how best to support their soldiers returning from combat who may be battling with invisible psychological injuries,” said MacKenzie. “My Wounded Warrior Run was a huge success, having raised over $30k in donations.
“I intend to adopt the same approach to help raise medical funds to secure long-term safe, secure housing for families from Swan River, Minitonas, Kenville, and Bowsman to empower other families who may be faced with similar hardships as my brother to facilitate their access to lifesaving care in Winnipeg. My vision is to name this house after my brother.
“The MacLeod House will ensure community members have access to lifesaving cancer care while keeping the family together, including their pets, so they can focus on fighting for tomorrow with dignity and respect,” said MacKenzie. “Politically, we know that safe, secure and affordable housing is a significant critical issue in Canada, however, within the scope of universal healthcare, this prevents individuals and their families from actually accessing universal lifesaving cancer care. This is a human rights issue far beyond my brother. I intend to rally tons of attention, energy, support and ultimately make this vision a reality in my brother’s honour.
“Currently, this is in the brainstorming stages, but I intend to create and conduct a bike-by-relay called, Cycle for Cancer Care. This relay will start from the front door of my brother’s house in Minitonas and will end at the front doors of the Health Science Centre (HSC) in Winnipeg, to raise funds to help support my vision to secure The MacLeod House.
“My small relay team is composed of veterans and soldiers who are volunteering their time and their bodies to Cycle for Cancer Care, which will be attached to a non-profit that I intend to create called, Robert MacLeod - #Fighting4Tomorrow,” said MacKenzie. “All funds donated will be evenly divided between my brother, Robert MacLeod, to help support his medical expenses and the other funds will be used to put a down payment on a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a fenced yard for children and pets to play located close to the HSC.
“I’m still connecting with organizations within town to attempt to partner the house so that it will be privately maintained long into the future and available to our people when they need it most. The goal is to ensure no other family from our communities ever has to struggle to keep their family together while they fight for tomorrow.”
Along with MacKenzie’s fundraising efforts, there have been some local initiatives to help out Robert and his family during these unfortunate circumstances. There are a variety of ways for people in the Valley to help out.
“The Minitonas Motor Hotel is hosting a meat draw as a medical fundraiser for Robert MacLeod on June 22 from 7 to 9 p.m.,” said MacKenzie. “Tickets are 3 for $5. Special thank you to Misty who is organizing and hosting this event to help raise funds that will go directly to Robert’s family to aid with expenses as he fights AML.
“There is a GoFundMe page organized by Paige Berlinguette entitled, “Help the MacLeod family fight leukemia” and the Swan River Credit Union is set to receive donations directly into Robert’s chequing account. Eventually, Cycle for Cancer Care Relay will be another mechanism for additional support.
“I’m asking for any local businesses and clubs to approach me directly should they wish to partner with The MacLeod House, as I will need that residence to be managed long-term,” said MacKenzie. “Additionally, my team is looking for additional volunteers to cycle from Minitonas to Winnipeg, with the trip broken into four days.
“Also, I’m looking for an RV for those days with or without a driver, so that my small team has shelter while we Cycle for Cancer. I respect that not everyone can cycle and I invite motorbike owners to approach me if they would also like to be included in the event as this is accessible to everyone and anyone who wishes to volunteer their time. Please continue to pray for Robert and his family. This is going to be a very long gruelling haul; we appreciate everyone and anyone who has and will continue to lend their support.”

Manitoba country rocker Ryan Keown has passed on his love of music and singing to his eldest son, Austin Ryder, who is now coming into his own in the country music industry. Ryder fostered a love of music at an early age, which resulted in him singing on stage and taking guitar lessons.
“I would say I’ve always been in love with music,” said Ryder. “I grew up with having music played in the house all the time, and being an extroverted person, I was always singing and making noise, which drove my family crazy at times.
“I started as a young little boy in about grade 4, as a special guest with dad’s shows where I would come up and sing a song with the band. It was always the song, Wagon Wheel, which is a crowd favourite. It wasn’t long after that I wanted to take guitar lessons, so I went to Stan Ostafie and he taught me how to play. Then in grade 8, that grew into me opening up for my dad’s shows and performing the first set of the night with his full band.
“It grew from there and I got the singing bug,” said Ryder. “I started learning some songs on my own and practicing to play alongside my dad in the band.”
For Ryder, watching his dad perform with his band was a normal way of life and an excellent way to spend time together as a family. It also instilled in him the dedication needed to foster talent and passion, and all the hard work needed to make it a reality.
“Growing up, I didn’t know anything different when it came to living the life of a musician,” said Ryder. “When I was in school, it was normal to know that on weekends, we would be travelling to wherever my dad was headlining or a concert. It was something all of us grew up with and it was fun, exciting and provided with some good stories to tell afterwards.
“I normalized following my passion and dreams from an early age as a result of that. My dad showed us that if we wanted to do something, we could absolutely make our dreams a reality and chase them. He was very encouraging in that.
“My dad was more of a role model and supported me when it came to music,” said Ryder. “He didn’t want to take on the direct role of pushing me into music. He wanted it to be a passion of my own, so I took music lessons from Stan and I kind of grew from there. He provided me with some opportunities that I wouldn’t have been able to get on my own, but he wanted to be careful to ensure it was something I wanted to do.”
Ryder has experienced what it’s like to perform with a band on stage. It’s a different experience to performing solo and he feels like a band is your team that gets you through every aspect of performing on stage.
“I think that my start with performing with a full band happened before I started taking lessons of my own, that having the band there was a comfort and support system,” said Ryder. “I knew that the band had my back and if anything went wrong, they knew what to do and how to help me. That was empowering to have a full band. It’s awesome to have it all come together because you work so hard learning these songs on your own, and then being able to play them with a band to make music is a great experience.
“I have been fortunate to play with a couple of different bands in Calgary, even though I’m most familiar with our band back home, but the ones out here really know their stuff and they’re there to help. You can’t make a mistake with them, because they will follow you and help you out. It’s good to know that if it doesn’t go perfectly, no one will know because the band is there to back you up.”
When it comes to listening to music and performing artists, Ryder has his favourites in the country music industry.
“Vocally, I think Chris Stapleton is hands down the best in the business,” said Ryder. “He’s in a league of his own and to say one inspires to be like him is a bit of a longshot, but he is incredible. Stage presence-wise, I really look up to Cody Johnson. I recently saw him in concert in Calgary and he’s such a true classic cowboy. He is super humble, kind and classy on stage. He’s absolutely an entertainer.”
Ryder has been busy since he graduated from high school in Roblin and has been studying at university while making music. He has gained a lot of exposure and experience on stage performing in Calgary for different events and venues.
“I will be starting my fourth year of biochemistry in Calgary and will be graduating next spring,” said Ryder.
“Aside from my studies, I’ve been playing at local venues in the city. I’ve played at Ranchman’s numerous times and recently at Calgary’s International Beerfest. I do get a lot of opportunities to practice quite a bit. In my free time, so on Friday nights, you can catch me at the Ronald McDonald House playing music and singing to the families and children staying there for medical reasons. They are an audience that I get to practice for every week, which also helps me prepare for the bigger shows in Calgary. It’s a good balance, otherwise, I would find myself heavily involved in my schoolwork without any opportunity to keep up with my music.
“Calgary is called Canada’s Greatest Honky-Tonk, so knowing that and walking into Ranchman’s is intimidating but special at the same time,” said Ryder. “It was a great opportunity because there’s an atmosphere in there and the vibe from the stage, dance floor and employees are country to the core. It’s special to me because knowing the musicians who have played that stage before me and now, I’m getting to take part in that is all so surreal. It draws a different crowd than what I’m used to back home.”
Along with performing on stage, Ryder is now embarking on songwriting and recording. He will be releasing his first single very soon.
“I’m doing a little bit of writing now,” said Ryder. “My new single, Spin, that is coming out is one I didn’t write but was pitched to me out of Nashville. After listening to a couple hundred songs, when I heard this one, I knew I could make it my own. I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to put my own spin on it and recorded it a couple of months ago.
“This single is all my own. I started meeting my producer, Bart McKay from Saskatoon, to get a feel for where we wanted the song to go. We put some inspirations that we want to include in the song and how we could modify it, versus the placement of things.
“Then it was a two-day studio session. On the first day, we laid down the tracks and recorded every part that fit the vision we had for the song. Then the second day, was the vocals, which was a half-day process of me singing the same song on repeat, with some changes in inflections and articulation of my words. Then we dove into the individual sections of the song to get the most out of it.
“I’m pleased with the way it has all come together and Spin should be out in the very near future,” said Ryder.”
Summer is going to prove to be a busy one for Ryder and he has a schedule packed with gigs and performances all over, from Manitoba and back into Alberta.
“We’ve got a busy summer coming up,” said Ryder. “Fortunately, I’ve had lots of opportunities here in Calgary, but I look forward to going back home. We have a long list of summer performances back home playing festivals, such as Dauphin Countryfest, as well as some rodeos and festivals. Then we will travel back to Calgary for the Stampede. Dad will get to take the stage with me at the Calgary Stampede, so this is the first gig that I’ve booked for him.”

There is a newer form of art that has gained a lot of popularity lately and is becoming a favourite pastime for some art enthusiasts in the Valley.  Diamond art, also known as crystal art, is the process of creating a picture using tiny resin rhinestones that resemble diamonds, on a pre-printed design or photo, resulting in a mosaic-looking piece of art.
Valley resident Ron Legall has become a diamond art enthusiast and enjoys this new hobby that allows him to create some stunning works of art.  When Legall first tried diamond art, he didn’t have the patience, but after recovering from an injury, he tried it again and fell in love with it.
“I started a while back, but I wasn’t interested in it then,” said Legall.  “I was trying to do them too fast.  Then I broke my arm last year on Valentine’s Day, and my sister bought me a bunch of different ones to do to keep me busy while I was healing.  It was then that I learned to take my time and how to do diamond art the right way.  I had to slow down and take my time with them; you just can’t rush yourself to finish them.”
Legall was fortunate to have a local business help foster his interest in diamond art by helping him choose pieces to work on.  He has completed a few pieces that include some gnomes and wolves.
“The Swan River Dollar and Gift Store is getting more diamond art pieces in June,” said Legall.  “There are some other wolf ones and a few other ones I’m kind of interested in.  I get all my diamond art projects there and they are very helpful when it comes to assisting me in picking out some.  They will order them in for me and have offered to let me look at their ordering books for diamond art and I could pick whatever ones I wanted them to order in for me.
“The lady at the Swan River Dollar and Gift Store has been a big help.  When I finished the one of the wolf, she said it was very beautifully done and that the lion one would be too when it’s finished, since both of those pieces have a lot of detail to them.
“I have plans to do a few more,” said Legall.  “I just bought a turtle, owl, and a lion one.  I’m saving the lion one for in the winter because there is a lot more work to that one and it will take me quite a bit of time to get it done.”
When it comes to deciding which diamond art piece is his favourite that he completed, Legall is undecided.  He likes the more challenging pieces, especially the ones that are up close of animals, for there is a lot more detail to those diamond art projects.
“There was another wolf diamond art that I did that is different from the one on display at the library and I sold it,” said Legall.  “I think my favourite one will be the lion when I am done with it.  I’m really looking forward to working on it and seeing what it looks like when it’s finished.  I also like the wolf one that is on display at the library right now.
“Now when I’m looking for a diamond art project, I like to pick the harder ones that have more detail to them.  Most of the difficult ones are of animals.”
Although diamond art can be intricate and detailed, Legall still finds it a very relaxing and good way to pass the time.  He can’t stress enough that to have a diamond art project turn out, a person has to take their time and concentrate on what they are doing.
“I find it very relaxing to do diamond art and it helps me unwind,” said Legall.  “It also helps to pass the time.
“It takes me about a month to do one of the detailed ones, like the wolf.  I had to take my time with it so it would turn out.  For some people, it may only take them a week to do it, but I still work my job and work on these in the evening or on weekends during my spare time.  I try to work on them for an hour or two each night.
“When people ask me about doing diamond art, I tell them don’t rush yourself,” said Legall.  “I also suggest that they start by doing small ones first, before trying the bigger ones.  Those diamond pieces are so small, so you have to slow down and take your time with it.”
Legall has his diamond art projects on display at the North-West Regional Library.  He feels a sense of pride and accomplishment from his efforts with diamond art and hopes to inspire more people to try it.
“This is the first time I have had my diamond art projects on display at the library,” said Legall.  “One of my bosses at the Swan Valley Co-op talked to me about doing this, so I went to the library and talked to them.  They agreed to put my diamond art up on display.  It will be there for about a month.
“I have heard lots of compliments so far about my diamond art, even on Facebook.  The wolf seems to be the one everyone likes the most. 
“I think there are lots of people in the Valley doing diamond art already, but maybe my story will encourage more people to try it out,” said Legall.  “The staff at the Swan River Dollar and Gift Store have told me that lots of people go there to buy diamond art kits, so there must be a fair bit of interest in them.”