Submitted by: Lloyd Gilchrist | The Swan Valley Hoedowners Square Dance club got the new season rolling on Wednesday by welcoming several new dancers to their weekly dance. Click any picture for a larger version. Caller Linda Gilchrist began the evening by putting all the dancers in a large circle and explaining and practicing some […]

Submitted by: Christine Marek-Matejka | Home Routes is proud to present an eclectic mix of superb professional musicians from across our great country and beyond. Left: Acoustic blues artists, Hills and Lemelin, throw it down on Sunday afternoon at the Matejka’s. Click picture for a larger version. With the fall season upon us, community volunteers […]

Submitted by: Lloyd Gilchrist Callers Linda Gilchrist and Brad Slepicka hosted a mid-summer square dance on August 3, 2013 in the fellowship hall at the United Church Camp at Wellman Lake. Click any picture for a larger version. Dancing began at 2 p.m and continued until 8 p.m with a break for a delicious potluck […]

Submitted by: Melodie Smith | After our first annual community family dance, I feel it was a great start to celebrating our youth in the Valley. Great family fun! Click any picture for a larger version. The Skateboard Union would like to thank all the parents and youth who came out to dance. All monies […]

Submitted by: Wade Dale | Bowsman United Church Prayer Quilt Group 3th Annual quilt Show “Joy” was held at the Bowsman Legion on Saturday June 1, 2013. Click any picture for a larger version. It takes a lot of work to set up such a large quilt show. Luckily the quilters spouse, children and friends […]

Submitted by: Tanya Staniland The Lenswood Mother’s Day Dance took place at the Lenswood Community Hall on Saturday, May 11, 2013. Click any picture for a larger version. It was a great evening of music and dancing. Thanks to all those who attended and supported the Lenswood Community and Hall.

Submitted by: Jayne G. Leadbeater (Minish) Secretary/Public Relations Swan Valley Community Band Swan Valley Community Band has been in operation since the Fall of 1994, 19 years, with Julie Kooistra, our Founder and our Director. Click any picture for a larger version. People have come & gone over the years, but the group seems to […]

ValleyBiz Story | On Friday, May 10, 2013 the Swan Valley Regional Secondary School Drama Club presented the musical Beauty & the Beast Jr. Additional performances were scheduled on: Sat. May 11 at 7pm Sun. May 12 at 2pm Click any picture for a larger version. The students brought the enchanted world of Disney’s Beauty […]

Submitted by: Renate Wille Was a great success. The weather dished out the best of spring, so everybody was cheerful, enjoyed the art, the food and a great visit. Our group meets all winter on Mondays to paint and do crafts uninterrupted. Naomi Nemez (pictured above) and Jean Hunt started the group and Alex Stupak […]

Submitted by: Christine Klimuk | The Dolyna Ukrainian Dancers held their Year End Dessert Concert on April 27, 2013. Dancers of all ages entertained the crowd and demonstrated the various Ukrainian dances they had mastered. Click any picture for a larger version.

ValleyBiz.ca Story| The first performance of the Aristocats took place at Taylor School on Thursday, April 25, 2013. The actors included students from Grade 3-5 who were backed up by a chorus made up of mostly grade 2 students. Thursday’s show was sold out in advance, with less than 100 tickets remaining for Sunday’s show. […]

Submitted by: Lloyd Gilchrist | The Swan Valley Hoedowners “tied up” their square dance season with a special par”tie” held at the Kenville Hall on Saturday, April 20, 2013. Click any picture for a larger version. More than seven squares of enthusiastic dancers enjoyed a full day of dancing led by callers Linda Gilchrist and […]

ValleyBiz Story | The Elks Hall was full to capacity on Saturday, April 13, 2013 as local talent performed to a full house. It was an heartfelt afternoon of good food and entertaining music for a great cause. Click any picture for a larger version. The Burghart Sisters (above) display the ceramic angels presented in […]

ValleyBiz Story | The first Minitonas Coffee House, held at the Minitonas Town Hall on Saturday, April 13, 2013, was a huge success. From old favorites to new found talent, over 30 local musicians performed at the packed hall. Click any picture for a larger version. It was a toe-tapping evening for friends and family, […]

Submitted by: Donna L D Burghart | A PACKED HOUSE at the Bowsman Legion Hall Monday, March 25 & Tuesday March 26 set the scene for the 3rd Annual BAM Jam Camp. Click any picture for a larger version. 53 participants took part in two days of intense instruction in fiddle, guitar, vocal & bass […]

Submitted by: Maureen Bowles | On March 21, 22, and 23rd the North West Regional Library hosted a very successful “Human Library Event”. This is an initiative in which people called, “Readers” who want to learn about a specific topic “check out” people called “Human Books” for a half hour of conversation in the library. […]

Submitted by: Les Rosteski A delicious supper of roast stuffed pork loin was served by Reg Jacobson and staff to sixty people at the Legion Club Room on February 16, 2013. The fiddle contest followed: Thank you to all the competitors, a big thank you to the judges George Woodley and Sandy McKay. Thank you […]

Submitted by Wade Dale | What a wonderful way to spend your Sunday afternoon listening and enjoying the talents God has given to the some of the members of The Hillsview Pastoral Charge. With Rev. Kathy Highmoor as MC for the afternoon talent, she got the ball rolling . Gordon Jerffery is always a crowd […]

Submitted by: Donna Burghart | A benefit concert was held in Bowsman on January 26, 2013 with proceeds going to BAM Jam Camp 2013. What an AMAZING Night!!! The concert was a great success. Father/ Son duo Des & Desi Lagace gave the crowd an impressive performance. Click any picture for a larger version. Tayler […]

Submitted by: Maryann Friesen | Sunday was a beautiful night for The Live Nativity put on by Valley churches at the farm of Scott and Cindy Tibble near Benito. There were about 420 guests that came through between 4:00 and 7:00 on Sunday, Dec. 16th. Click any picture for a larger version. There were approximately […]

Submitted by: Jayne Leadbeater | Swan Valley Community Band started Sept. 1994 with Julie Kooistra organizing & directing the group. There is a core of those charter members who are still participating. Click any picture for a larger version. We average around 30-32 members every year, of all ages & experience. We have had a […]

Submitted by: Tammy Zaretsky-Denischuk | The SVRSS Cafeteria was filled with family, food and friends as the Dolyna Ukrainian Dancers held their second annual Old Fashion Ukrainian Dance Concert. Click any picture to view a larger version They were entertained by the Beginner, Intermediate, and Senior dancers, along with a number of Ukrainian Christmas Carols […]

Submitted by: Lloyd Gilchrist On Saturday, December 1, 2012 the Kenville Hall was decorated in a teddy bear Christmas theme to help the Swan Valley Hoedowners celebrate sixty years of square dancing in the Swan Valley. Click any picture for a larger version. Despite iffy road conditions, dancers from as far away as Moose Jaw, […]

Submitted by: Lloyd Gilchrist The Valley Stage Players presented three performances of their comedy, “Squabbles” over this past weekend, November 23, 24, and 25. Click any picture for a larger version. Friday’s opening night performance at the Veterans Community Hall was held as a dinner theatre in partnership with the Community Foundation of Swan Valley. […]

Submitted by: Nelly Mills: The Harley House certainly has grown into a hub of our community. “Yah,” said Moe Bowles, one of the volunteers central to there birth of the town’s classic heritage house on Veterans Way. “We have a couple of organizations in here, and people use it for meetings, and art classes. It’s […]

Submitted by: Micheline Carstairs The Home Routes House Concerts have entered their fifth season in The Valley, and the variety of shows has the audience enchanted. Click any picture for a larger version. “We have begun to attract artists from different regions, and different genres,” said Tim Osmund, artistic director of Home Routes, “and the […]

Submitted by: Wade Dale On August 24, 20 quilters from all over the province of Manitoba came together at the United Church Bible Camp at Wellman Lake for a weekend quilt retreat. Some people brought their RV’s to stay in, some stayed in the cabins and some drove back and forth each day. Click any […]

Submitted by: Lloyd Gilchrist Callers Linda Gilchrist and Brad Slepicka hosted a summer square dance at the Wellman Lake United Church Fellowship Hall on Saturday, August 4, 2012. Click any picture for a larger version. Dancers attended from Winnipeg, High Bluff, Brandon, Hamiota, Grandview, Dauphin, Churchbridge, and Saskatoon, as well as Swan Valley locations. Dancing […]

Submitted by: Nancy Mclennan Kim de LaForest keeps coming back to The Valley. Tuesday night (July 10, 2012) she entertained at a Valley House Concert in Minitonas. In one of her song introductions she commented on the feeling she gets when she enters The Valley from Saskatchewan. “The hills, the beauty,” she said. “There’s no […]

Submitted by: Kamshi Kanavathy Poetry by candle light; the perfect ambiance to poetry straight from the heart. Melodious music, flickering candlelight, delicious drinks, warm smiles and cheery laughter formed the perfect accompaniment to the rendition of a fine selection of poetry and short stories at the North-West Regional Library on the evening of Thursday, June […]

Submitted by: Wade Dale What a wonderful day the Lord provided for the Bowsman United Church Prayer Quilt Group’s Tea & Quilt Show called “Golden”. Click any picture for a larger version. The show displayed 61 quilts made by the talented group of quilters. The quilters gather once a week on Saturdays and join not […]

ValleyBiz Story | On Friday, May 11, 2012 the Swan Valley Regional Secondary School Drama Club presented their first of 3 performances of the musical Grease. The two remaining performances are: Saturday, May 12 at 7pm Sunday, May 13 at 2pm Click any picture for a larger version. The students acted, sang, danced and Rama […]

ValleyBiz Story | The Little Woody Art Group held their annual end of season art show on Saturday, May 5, 2012. Over 70 people enjoyed the opportunity to appreciate some local artwork and share a cup of tea with the artists. Artists Renate Wille and Naomi Nemez Click any picture for a larger version. Members […]

Submitted by: Nancy McLennan The finale of the 2011-2012 Home Routes House Concert series went well. Attendance was thirty, precisely the size of crowd Home Routes hopes we will achieve, enough so the artists can pay their expenses and earn a bit on this tour. Harley House was the perfect venue, as always. It can […]

Submitted by: Jocelyn Beehler | Students and staff at CBFCS were blessed with musical expertise from several local, valley musicians on April 24th and 25th. Rita Thiessen (new to the valley) and Heidi Honke (Geloa) worked specifically with our JK to Gr.4 students. Martin Snell and Kendra Thiessen (new to the valley) worked with the […]

Submitted by: Michele Poole The Swan School of Dance held their annual recital, on Wednesday March 21st, at the SVRSS Auditorium. In front of a packed house, people were entertained with tap jazz, ballet, hip hop and to top the night off they performed an amazing Bollywood number. Click any picture for a larger version. […]

Songs of the Modern Wild West Submitted by: Nancy McLennan If you’ve never been to Montana, just listen to the music of Martha Scanlan and you are carried into her beloved landscapes. Martha’s post office box is three miles from her ranch cabin. There, she can get a few groceries, but to do a full […]

Submitted by: Micheline Carstairs The Swan Valley Fine Arts Festival Association, Dance Festival began on Thursday evening at the Friendship Centre with the Dolyna Dancers and Benito Vesselli Dancers rivaling it out for top marks. Click any picture for a larger version. It is very interesting to watch all the traditional dances of Ukrain but […]

Submitted by Sharron Carpenter Spring is coming soon and with it thoughts of no more snow, baseball, seeding, warm days and many other things we wait for all winter. Some of us also wait for festival season too. The Fine Arts Festivals gives many people an opportunity to perform on stage. To do this, the […]

Story by: Nancy McLennan | February of 2012 appears to be a turning point for Valley House Concerts. Since the House Concerts began in 2008, over 900 people have attended the shows and professional musicians have earned almost $13,000 in revenue. Pictures by Micheline Carstairs (Click any picture for a larger version) On Wednesday (Feb […]

Submitted by: Shelley Cotten Part II of the Swan Valley Human Library took place last week at the Northwest Regional Library in Benito. Tuesday, February 7th, the 5th-8th grades came over from the school and checked out several books. Click any picture for a larger version. Both the “books” and the “readers” seemed to enjoy […]

Submitted by: Shelley Cotten | Part One of the first Swan Valley Human Library event took place January 12-14th at the Northwest Regional Library in Swan River. It was a great time! Click any picture for a larger version. There were 15 Human Books available at different times for “checkout” (30 minute conversations/demonstrations) to Readers […]

Submitted by: MaryAnn Friesen and Scott Tibble Several valley churches worked together to put on a Live Nativity at Scott and Cindy Tibble’s farm near Benito. There were approximately 90 volunteers and more than 350 people that attended. Click a picture for a larger version. Cars were parked at the parking lot with the help […]

Submitted by: Torey Werbicki | The Dolyna Ukrainian Dancers hosted a Christmas Concert on Thursday, December 8, 2011. It was well attended and enjoyed by all. Click any of the pictures for a larger version.

Submitted by: Micheline Carstairs | On Tuesday December 6, the Harley House proved to be a perfect setting for the sounds of old-time and bluegrass music performed by musicians, Chris Coole & John Showman of the Foggy Hogtown Boys from Toronto. Click any of the pictures for a larger version. These performers are part of […]

Submitted by: Micheline Carstairs & Sharron Carpenter On Sunday evening, Dec. 4th.,the Temple Baptist Church in Swan River was the venue for the 48th. Carol Festival sponsored by the Swan Valley Fine Arts Festival Association. Click any picture for a larger version. This was the second year the Carol Festival was held in the evening […]

Submitted by: Micheline Carstairs | This past weekend, the Community Foundation of Swan Valley put on a very successful dinner theatre fundraiser along with The Valley Stage Players who performed for a large audience of approximately 235 people on Friday night, and to a smaller audience with a wine and cheese on Saturday night. The […]

ValleyBiz Story | Over 30 kids participated in PhAT Camp this past week. The week long Physical Arts Training Camp presented by XCOMPANY promotes community-building and values through the arts, physical education, martial arts & fitness programs. During the week the kids worked on developing their performance skills and had a lot of fun in […]

Submitted by: Susan Cowan | Centennial Folk Fest 2011 was held June 10th and 11th at the Swan River Curling Rink and was a successful community event. Several thousand people came through the doors to view the displays, sample some food and be entertained by singers and dancers. Photos by ValleyBiz Click any of the […]

Submitted by: SVRSS | On Thursday, the Swan Valley Regional Secondary School (SVRSS) Drama Club had a dress rehearsal for their musical production of The Little Mermaid and are set for the first performance on Friday evening. Here is a sneak peak of what to expect. Come out and enjoy this underwater adventure for the […]