“One man alone can’t defeat the forces of evil, but many good people coming together can.” - Harold S. Kushner

Like so many millions of people around the world, Bonnie Kiliwnik was searching for a real way to help the people of Ukraine as they bravely fight back an onslaught of Russian tanks, soldiers and arial bombing.

Then she thought about the lawn signs made up and placed on lawns around town celebrating Major Pratt grads last June.

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

Many people are sitting back and watching the tragedy unfold in Ukraine wondering why isn’t anyone doing anything and how can one help? A dedicated group of Roblinites have stepped up and decided to do something.

The “Stand With Ukraine”  event, consisting of dinner and a comedy show, is set for April 2 and is being organized to help raise funds to support a family from Ukraine to immigrate to Roblin.

The U13 Roblin Stars attended the U13 Rural “C” Hockey Manitoba provincials in Grandview March 11 to 13.

The Stars took to the ice on Friday for their first game of the weekend, against the Holland Rockets and ended the game with a 4-2 victory.

That evening, the Stars were part of the opening ceremonies, featuring nine teams who attended the tournament.

Check out this week's Roblin Review for lots more!

The Roblin MMF Local is busy planning another musical event for the community, but this time, it will be a weekend long event.

Li Festival di Michif will be a three-day music festival from July 1 to 3, featuring a variety of local talent and artisans from the area, children’s activities, food and much more.

More details in this week's paper!

Fusion Credit Union has been named a “Top Manitoba Employer” for the third consecutive year.

The annual competition recognizes Manitoba employers that lead their industries in offering an exceptional employee experience and work environment.

Check this week's paper for more!

The devastation Ukraine is going through is impacting many Canadians and others all over the world. Former Valley resident, Wendy van der Walt, is deeply impacted by the attack against Ukraine, for her grandparents originally came to Canada from there. “My father was a first-generation Canadian,” said van der Walt.

“His parents fled from Ukraine a few years before he was born, in the early 1930s. My father was his parent’s only child. His father died suddenly when he was very young and his mother lived far from us in Hamilton, Ont.. I understood, as a child, that my father and his mother were estranged but didn’t understand why.

“I would question my father about our Ukrainian heritage, to which he would invariably reply, with finality, ‘We are Canadian.’ All he would share was that his family had suffered greatly, were met with prejudice during the immigration process, had their name changed and never looked back.” Despite van der Walt not knowing a lot about her family history growing up, her father did immerse her in Ukrainian culture. She has many memories of spending time with him dining on Ukrainian food or taking in the language.

“The only part of his heritage that he quietly shared with me was the food,” said van der Walt. “Living in Winnipeg, he would take me out alone to different Ukrainian restaurants, quite often, and to Folklorama each year. During those special times, he would open up, share Ukrainian phrases, anecdotes and of course his love of the food with me. Like his own father, he died suddenly, very young. I wish more than anything I’d had a chance to sit with him and learn more about my family history.”

Although van der Walt has never travelled to Ukraine, it’s been on her list of places to go. Watching the horrific bombing and attacks that Ukraine has endured has been heartwrenching for her. “I was scrolling Apple News on my phone when I saw the many distressing news items about the Russian invasion and violence upon Ukraine,” said van der Walt. “I was horrified, frightened and so incredibly sad for the people of Ukraine, as well as the righteous and brave Russian people protesting the invasion.” Regardless of not knowing her family’s history very well, van der Walt feels she still has family in Ukraine today. Not knowing who they are or what they’re going through, has been on her mind a lot lately.

“I assume I do have family in Ukraine, sadly, I have no way of knowing who they are or where they live, as all of my immediate relatives have passed,” said van der Walt. “With the name change, they left absolutely no trail.

Lately, I’ve thought often about these unknown relatives and asked myself, are they afraid? Have they left their homes? Are their children and grandchildren safe?” While the turmoil has continued in Ukraine, van der Walt found inspiration in the tragedy to help give herself and others hope for the country and peoples’ future.“ When I woke up on the morning of Friday, Feb. 24, which was the second day of the invasion, I picked up my phone to check the news and was overwhelmed with emotion,” said van der Walt. “The news article that really knocked me down was a video clip of the older Ukrainian woman verbally berating a Russian Soldier.

I’m thinking that by today almost everyone must have seen this now-viral video.  “The woman approaches a group of Russian soldiers and begins to ask questions. She angrily shamed, swore at them, and called them occupants and fascists. Then she tried to give them sunflower seeds, the national flower of Ukraine, and told them to ‘Take these seeds and put them in your pockets, so at least sunflowers will grow when you all lie down here.’ She was so immensely brave to fiercely defend her home and democracy; it was absolutely inspiring. “I felt compelled to head to my shop here in Brandon and make a quilt to hang in the window showing my support for the brave people of Ukraine and their Canadian relatives loving and praying for them from afar,” said van der Walk. “My staff and I worked through the day on the sunflower Ukrainian Flag-themed quilt, and completed it in time to take it as a banner to the peaceful demonstration of support here at Brandon City Hall that evening.” The quilt not only resembles hope for Ukraine, but also has some special sentiments that van der Walt hoped to share when she created it. The quilt is not for sale but will stand as a constant reminder and symbol of hope for the people of Ukraine. “A detail of the quilt that is special to me is the fabric I used for the heart in the Center of the appliquéd sunflower,” said van der Walt. “I put out a request that day through some Brandon quilt ladies for a small piece of floral Ukrainian ‘Baba’ or ‘Kokum’ scarf fabric. I wanted it to represent how, in my opinion, women are at the center or heart of a people, as well as the most impacted by war and conflict. Brandon quilt ladies delivered, finding me a piece of fabric that had travelled over 50 years ago from Ukraine to Canada, to be sewn into a baby skirt for a new Ukrainian Canadian baby girl. “The quilt is still hanging in the shop window, and will stay there until this atrocity is over and freedom for Ukraine prevails.”

After delays due to COVID-19, the U7 Blue and White teams were finally able to host their home tournament with visiting teams coming from Dauphin and Grand Plains.

More in this week's Star & Times!

A snow bison now greets travellers coming into Swan River from Hwy. No. 83, at least until spring arrives.

Local artist Derryl May was commissioned by the Town of Swan River council to produce

one of his creations out of the abundance of snow that has fallen this winter.

The choice of carving a bison was done to show pride in Manitoba.

Costs were covered by The Brick, of which the local franchise store is owned by Mayor Lance Jacobson.

The sculpture is available to view at the corner of Centennial Drive and First Street South.

The Dauphin and District Community Foundation was the recipient of a significant donation from a Dauphin resident who passed away two years ago.

Peter Sklepowich, who died May 14, 2020, bequeathed $507,088 to the foundation.

Jason Beyette of Johnston and Company Law Office is in charge of the estate. He knew Sklepowich, meeting him through the agriculture industry.

“When I was in my summer jobs, I worked at Cargill in Dauphin and Peter was farming. So that’s how I initially met Peter, through the farming industry,” he said, adding Sklepowich used to farm in the Keld area, before moving to Dauphin in 2006. He worked at various jobs, including Dauphin Recreation Services when he passed away.

Sklepowich’s entire estate was bequeathed to charity, with half going to DDCF and the other half split between the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Canadian Cancer Society.

“When Peter came in to talk to me about preparing his will, he indicated he wanted to leave it to charity. And we had discussed some of the different possibilities,” Beyette said. “And he was impressed with the Dauphin and District Community Foundation, because he liked the fact that his principle was never spent and the interest would be earned and put into projects in the community. That’s what really sold him on the charity.”

Beyette said anytime money is granted to a local group through DDCF, it will trigger memories of Sklepowich for him.

“That’s something I think is a neat way to leave your legacy in life,” he said. “There are also some wonderful tax benefits to giving to a charity. His estate was more significant because of his charitable bequests relieving some of his tax obligations. So we were actually able to leave more money in the hands of his charities because he left his estate to the charities.”

There are still a few assets in the estate to be disposed of, Beyette said, adding the final distribution will likely take place sometime next year.

“To my knowledge, I think this is probably the biggest donation that the foundation has received in one single bequest. So it’s fairly significant. And I think the foundation is looking forward to more milestones where they can do more things in the community,” he added. “There are many projects that probably wouldn’t have had the success they have had because of the foundation.”

DDCF executive director Kit Daley said the bequeath will have a significant and long-lasting effect on the community.

“With Mr. Sklepowich’s gift, we will be granting out an additional $20,000 to the community next year and that will continue to grow every year. Gifts to the foundation are gifts to the community and we are so grateful for his support,” she said.

(From left, DDCF board member Justin Tokarchuk, Jason Beyette presenting a cheque to DDCF board member Darren Eddie, DDCF executive director Kit Daley and DDCF board member Martijn van Luijn.)

The Parkland Chamber of Commerce held its annual Celebration Night complete with awards at Countryfest Community Cinema, Mar. 10, and Gabe Mercier could not be more excited.

“I really get excited about awards because awards come because of hard work, because of dedication,” the chamber president said to get the evening started. “People succeed and people are nominated for awards because they’re dedicated. They believe in what they’re doing. So everyone tonight who’s nominated, no doubt believed in what they were doing. They have a passion for what they’re doing, they have a cause.”

That does not mean you have to be a crusader for world peace, an environmentalist or a human rights activist.

“Having a cause could be because of your business. You want your business to succeed, you want to provide a service, you want to provide a product for your clients. And so you’re passionate about it,” he said. “So everyone tonight, no doubt you’re successful. You are here tonight because deep down you believed in your business, you believed in the work that you’re doing."

“And it’s good to recognize them and to celebrate the achievement.”

Awards were handed out in several categories.

Winning the Community Appreciation Individual award was Charlene Gulak of Community Futures Parkland, while Under One Roof received the Community Appreciation Group award.

Kyle Zurba of Fire Line Welding was named the Young Entrepreneur of the Year, while Embroidery by Design and Promotions took home the Outstanding Business award.

Carissa Caruk-Ganczar from The Hub Dauphin received the Business Person of the Year award.

The final award of the evening, the Legacy Business Award is a special recognition decided on in private and it caught winner Jim Steiner, the founder of Steiner Plumbing and Heating, by surprise.

Steiner became a plumber after learning the trade from his father in Grandview and as Manitoba’s top apprentice, was invited to compete in an international trade skills competition at Purdue University in 1973.

Steiner and his wife Trudy started the business in 1979 with one van and a shop on the acreage where they lived.

The business grew to point where it employed more than 100 people full-time over the course of four decades.

As one of rural Manitoba’s largest plumbing and heating businesses, there are few commercial buildings in the community the company hasn’t been involved with, either in construction or maintenance.

The Steiner’s success is a testament to Steiner’s people skills and his dedication to being fair and honest, Mercier said in announcing the award. The Steiners retired in 2017, but work was not the entire scope of their community involvement.

“Jim and Trudy believe in community and support countless events and organizations of special significance,” Mercier said, citing the Dauphin Kings, Dauphin and Grandview/Gilbert Plains agricultural societies and several museums around the Parkland as examples. “Personally Jim has volunteered thousands of hours in this community including coaching and refereeing five kids in ringette, hockey and softball teams over two decades.”

Steiner has also served on the boards of several organizations including the Dauphin Snowmobile Club, Dauphin ringette, Manitoba ringette, Parkland Sports Council and Manitoba Games Council. He served as co-chair of the Dauphin CN Station restoration project and the 2004 Manitoba Summer Games in Dauphin. He is currently a member of the Dauphin Agricultural Heritage Club and spends his free time restoring antique John Deere tractors and vehicles, golfing and playing hockey as a member of the Noon Hour Hockey League since the early 1970s.

“This is overwhelming. It means a lot, because we have done a lot and Dauphin means a lot to us,” Steiner said in accepting the award. “We love Dauphin, we love the Parkland. It’s got everything anyone would ever want when you live in the Parkland. You have fishing at the parks all around us. There’s nothing more to ask for in life and it’s been very good to our business.”

Steiner expressed his gratitude that their daughter Carla and her husband Chris Wolfenden took over the business when he and Trudy retired in 2017.

“Because they’re doing an excellent job, taking it over and building upon what we started,” Steiner said, adding everything they did throughout the years was for the betterment of the community.

“It was really a labour of love, everything we ever did. In the business we just kept on plugging along and you don’t expect recognition like this, but it happens, I guess. It’s really overwhelming. Thank you, thanks very much.”