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Winnipeg Free Press
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Stroke by stroke, Winnipeg paddling enthusiast became a master of his crafts
Myron Sawatzky has two reasons to be thankful for canoeing. For starters, Sawatzky is the owner of Paddle and Hum, a home-based venture that turns out lightweight solo canoes in a variety of bold colours. Secondly, the married father of four can't say for certain whether he and his Winnipeg-born wife Cyndi would ever have tied the knot, had it not been for a soul-searching canoe ride he took almost 30 years ago. Sawatzky grew up in Abbotsford, B.C. In the summer of 1997, the then-21-year-old was camping with friends at Kenyon Lake, in the lower mainland. Unable to sleep the first night there, he went for a paddle by himself under the stars. BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS Paddle and Hum owner Myron Sawatzky builds lightweight solo canoes in a backyard shed he converted into his workshop. The 49-year-old is pictured doing a J-Stroke with a paddle as he sits in a 27-pound Soupspoon shaped fiberglass canoe with a free hanging seat he built in his North Kildonan backyard workshop in Winnipeg, Man., Monday, May 5, 2025. Sawatzky also builds Freeboard shaped canoes. BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS Paddle and Hum owner Myron Sawatzky builds lightweight solo canoes in a backyard shed he converted into his workshop. The 49-year-old is pictured doing a J-Stroke with a paddle as he sits in a 27-pound Soupspoon shaped fiberglass canoe with a free hanging seat he built in his North Kildonan backyard workshop in Winnipeg, Man., Monday, May 5, 2025. Sawatzky also builds Freeboard shaped canoes. 'I had reached a point in my life where I was feeling like I really needed a change of scenery and even though I wasn't yet an avid canoeist, I guess I figured hopping in a canoe would be a good way to collect my thoughts,' Sawatzky says, seated in the kitchen of his North Kildonan bungalow. Much of what he was dealing with was weather-related. He'd always enjoyed the outdoors, hiking most of all, but life in the Fraser Valley during the winter usually means rainy conditions for days on end, he contends, and he wasn't sure he wanted to endure that again. Sawatzky had previously travelled to Winnipeg with his parents to visit family. As he was paddling past a moonlit island that evening, he recalled how it had always been sunny here whenever he visited, even in December and January. Also, he had gotten to know a few Winnipeggers, Cyndi among them, at a Bible school retreat he attended in Saskatchewan the previous year. 'The next morning I woke up and was like, 'Guess what everybody? I'm moving to Winnipeg.' Cyndi and I started dating a short time later and the rest is history.' Paddle and Hum — a play on the 1988 U2 album Rattle and Hum — was founded in 2019, but its roots trace back to the early 2000s, when Sawatzky worked as a program director for an Alberta Bible camp. There was a small lagoon close to the property. Almost every morning during the spring, summer and fall, he'd hop into a camp-owned canoe and shove off for an hour or so. 'As I moved along I would look down through the clear water and feel like I was in a different world… I just loved it,' he remembers. Sawatzky eventually became so adept at the activity that by the end of his term, he was teaching students some of the finer points of canoeing. Not that he didn't continue to learn a few new tricks of his own. On one occasion he was sharing a canoe with Cyndi — by then they were married — when he told her if she wanted to help steer, she should turn her paddle in such-and-such a manner. Oh, he meant a J-stroke, she retorted, referring to a manoeuvre that keeps one's boat moving in a straight line while maintaining momentum. BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Paddle and Hum owner Myron Sawatzky offers two types of light but sturdy canoes — a 14-inch-deep freeboard model and a soup-spoon design, which is two inches shorter for a more open feel. 'A J-what?' Sawatzky asked quizzically. The couple returned to Winnipeg in 2006, the year their first child was born. Telling himself he wanted to get into canoeing 'big time,' he began by renting a canoe from a local supplier. That served his purposes for a few years but by 2010 he was desiring a specimen of his own. Being that he's a handy sort — he maintains a number of investment properties in his 'real life' — he decided to go shopping for a used canoe, one perhaps in need of a little TLC. 'I was primarily interested in cedar-canvas canoes, whose look I particularly admired, and I finally found one I called the Planter, because it was sitting upright in a field near Grand Beach,' he says. 'It was a cedar-canvas canoe, but at some point somebody had taken the canvas off and replaced it with fibreglass. Except because it was left out in the elements, the wood had rotted. I ended up gutting it and putting in my own wood, seats and gunwales until it looked practically brand-new.' More restoration projects followed. This included a model originally built by the late Bill Brigden, the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame inductee who was responsible for the three-seater Winnipegger Don Starkell employed on his famous 20,000-kilometre canoe trip to Brazil, which resulted in the 1987 bestseller Paddle to the Amazon. Sawatzky relished the process of bringing old canoes back to life, though as he got further involved in the hobby, he started to contemplate building one from scratch — a fibreglass sort that would better suit his individual needs. Mainly he wanted something lighter and shorter than the 15- and 16-footers he'd been refurbishing, he explains. By 2018 he had settled on a personal design. And because the backyard shed he would be building it in was only 10-feet wide to begin with, he was locked into how long it could be, which turned out to be 9½ feet. Sawatzky's original plan was to use a mould to construct a few for himself, Cyndi and the kids, ones they could use to explore preferred spots such as the Seine River, south of Provencher Boulevard, and Silver Springs Park, near East St. Paul. BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Paddle and Hum owner Myron Sawatzky crafts his lightweight solo canoes in a converted shed in his North Kildonan backyard. However, outsiders began expressing an interest in his light but sturdy vessels — each one weighs less than 13 kilograms, about as much as a can of paint — and soon he was on the receiving end of orders from parties as far west as Alberta. Don Reimer owns one of Sawatzky's early models. He and Sawatzky struck up a friendship in the late '90s, when they used to hike the Whiteshell's Mantario Trail together. Reimer owned a number of canoes through the years, and he was intrigued by what his pal was up to, in the beginning stages of Paddle and Hum. 'I'd tried my share of solo canoes from namebrand outfitters, only they were still almost as long as the tandem canoes I'd been in — in the range of 14 or 15 feet — so if you were trying to nose into a little rocky crag or dismount on the side of a rocky shore, it could be somewhat challenging,' Reimer says. 'When Myron started making his, I thought hmm, that might suit me a lot better.' Reimer, whose favourite destination is Ontario's Experimental Lakes Area, says one of the advantages of a solo canoe is that it's much easier to carry on a conversation with a fellow paddler when you're side-by-side versus having your back to them for hours on end. Plus, if he or his partner ever wish to explore an area the other isn't interested in, away they go. 'I do get the odd comment when I'm on the water, but most of the questions about Myron's canoe come when I'm portaging,' Reimer goes on. 'I'll be throwing it over my head or carrying it on the side with one arm and people will be (asking) 'What is that? Where the heck did you get it?' When it comes to canoes, you want something that's durable, affordable and light, and what Myron's doing checks all three of those boxes.' Sawatzky's canoes, which have a suggested weight capacity of 400 pounds, are available in a pair of styles. Most popular is a freeboard model that is 14 inches deep, but he also offers a soup-spoon design that, at two inches shorter, delivers a more open feel. (Besides the colour, interested parties can also choose the finish they want — dark or natural — for the oak decking.) BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS Paddle and Hum — a play on the 1988 U2 album Rattle and Hum — was founded in 2019. 'For the first five years I was only making two canoes a year, mostly because with four kids life can get pretty busy, right?' Sawatzky says. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'That said, this spring I started doing public markets for the first time, as a way to determine how much mileage the business has in it if I was to invest a little more time and effort.' Then again, there are ramifications to be wary of, if Paddle and Hum truly sets sail, he acknowledges. 'The Canadian Shield is one of my favourite places on Earth — I take people there all the time — so yeah, I'd never want to get so busy building that I'd lose the opportunity to get out there myself.' For more information go to David Sanderson Dave Sanderson was born in Regina but please, don't hold that against him. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
For the first time, MPs born in the 21st century are headed to the Hill
Canadians elected a total of 112 new MPs this week — including for the first time a handful born this century. Three incoming Liberal MPs — Jake Sawatzky in B.C., and Amandeep Sodhi and Fares Al Soud in Ontario — were all born in the early 2000s. Sawatzky, a 25-year-old master's student in counselling psychology, upset longtime NDP MP Peter Julian. Sawatzky told CBC Radio's On The Coast that he wanted to get into politics to address mental health and addictions issues. "There's a lot of people that just really aren't receiving the treatment they really desperately need, and I was thinking, one person can only do so much — this is more of a policy thing now," he told host Gloria Macarenko. WATCH | First-time Liberal candidate unseats longtime NDP MP Peter Julian: Sawatzky, who was only four when Julian was first elected, said it was also important for him to put his name forward to represent his generation. "The House of Commons should be representative of all people, including young Canadians," he said. "You can have youth committees and that sort of thing, but the best way to have young people represented is to have young people in government." The 21st century club almost had (and still could have) a fourth member. Initial results showed Liberal Tatiana Auguste had won a close race in the Quebec riding of Terrebonne, but the validation process later revealed that the Bloc incumbent had won by 44 votes. That margin is close enough to trigger an automatic judicial recount, meaning it's possible that the riding could flip again in Auguste's favour. Either way, there are signs the House is getting younger overall. Conservative Eric Melillo from Ontario also won re-election this week. Born in 1998, he became the first Gen Z MP to be elected to the House when he initially won his riding in 2019. Sukhman Gill won a seat in B.C. after Monday's vote and will join Melillo as another Gen Z Conservative. The Conservatives are also adding a handful of new MPs with ties to the sporting world. Helena Konanz from B.C. is a former world-ranked professional tennis player and coach, having previously competed in such highly touted tournaments as the U.S. Open and Wimbledon. She's joined by two incoming Conservative MPs from Quebec who have ties to the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. Jason Groleau is a former member of both the Hull Olympiques and Victoriaville Tigers, while Gabriel Hardy was previously a personal trainer for the Quebec Remparts. A number of incoming MPs have plenty of political experience, making the transfer from provincial politics into the federal sphere. Among the more notable names is Roman Baber who was removed from Ontario Premier Doug Ford's caucus in January 2021 over his opposition to pandemic health measures. He would later run for the federal Conservative leadership in 2022 and finish fourth. Other Conservatives joining Baber are Mike Dawson, a former New Brunwsick MLA, and Éric Lefebvre, a former MNA in Quebec Premier François Legault's government. Ellis Ross was also elected for the Conservatives. He had previously served as a minister under former B.C. premier Christy Clark. On the Liberal side, Carlos Leitão is one of the more recognizable figures making the leap from provincial to federal politics. The former Quebec MNA served as the province's finance minister from 2014 to 2018. Braedon Clark, a former Nova Scotia MLA, will also come to Ottawa as a new member of the Liberal caucus. Other incoming MPs have shed their provincial NDP stripes to join the federal Liberal team. Buckley Belanger was initially a Saskatchewan Liberal MLA before switching to the provincial NDP. He's now back in the Liberal fold as he heads to the House of Commons. Similarly, Stephanie McLean, a former Alberta NDP MLA and minister, ran for the Liberals and won a seat in B.C. Incoming Liberal MP Tom Osborne was a longtime Newfoundland and Labrador MHA, serving as a minister for both the provincial Progressive Conservative and Liberal parties. He was also Speaker of the House of Assembly for a time. Among the other new MPs coming to Ottawa is Sima Acan, the first Turkish-Canadian elected to the House of Commons. Incoming Liberal MP David Myles is also bringing his Juno Award-winning musical talents to the Hill. Kent McDonald from P.E.I., David Bexte from Alberta and Emma Harrison from Ontario join a long list of farmers who have been elected to the House going back to the very first Parliament.
CBC
03-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
For the first time, MPs born in the 21st century are headed to the Hill
Canadians elected a total of 112 new MPs this week — including for the first time a handful born this century. Three incoming Liberal MPs — Jake Sawatzky in B.C., and Amandeep Sodhi and Fares Al Soud in Ontario — were all born in the early 2000s. Sawatzky, a 25-year-old master's student in counselling psychology, upset longtime NDP MP Peter Julian. Sawatzky told CBC Radio's On The Coast that he wanted to get into politics to address mental health and addictions issues. "There's a lot of people that just really aren't receiving the treatment they really desperately need, and I was thinking, one person can only do so much — this is more of a policy thing now," he told host Gloria Macarenko. WATCH | First-time Liberal candidate unseats longtime NDP MP Peter Julian: First-time Liberal candidate unseats longtime NDP MP Peter Julian 2 days ago Duration 8:04 Sawatzky, who was only four when Julian was first elected, said it was also important for him to put his name forward to represent his generation. "The House of Commons should be representative of all people, including young Canadians," he said. "You can have youth committees and that sort of thing, but the best way to have young people represented is to have young people in government." The 21st century club almost had (and still could have) a fourth member. Initial results showed Liberal Tatiana Auguste had won a close race in the Quebec riding of Terrebonne, but the validation process later revealed that the Bloc incumbent had won by 44 votes. That margin is close enough to trigger an automatic judicial recount, meaning it's possible that the riding could flip again in Auguste's favour. Either way, there are signs the House is getting younger overall. Conservative Eric Melillo from Ontario also won re-election this week. Born in 1998, he became the first Gen Z MP to be elected to the House when he initially won his riding in 2019. Sukhman Gill won a seat in B.C. after Monday's vote and will join Melillo as another Gen Z Conservative. From the tennis court to the House The Conservatives are also adding a handful of new MPs with ties to the sporting world. Helena Konanz from B.C. is a former world-ranked professional tennis player and coach, having previously competed in such highly touted tournaments as the U.S. Open and Wimbledon. She's joined by two incoming Conservative MPs from Quebec who have ties to the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. Jason Groleau is a former member of both the Hull Olympiques and Victoriaville Tigers, while Gabriel Hardy was previously a personal trainer for the Quebec Remparts. Provincial to federal A number of incoming MPs have plenty of political experience, making the transfer from provincial politics into the federal sphere. Among the more notable names is Roman Baber who was removed from Ontario Premier Doug Ford's caucus in January 2021 over his opposition to pandemic health measures. He would later run for the federal Conservative leadership in 2022 and finish fourth. Other Conservatives joining Baber are Mike Dawson, a former New Brunwsick MLA, and Éric Lefebvre, a former MNA in Quebec Premier François Legault's government. Ellis Ross was also elected for the Conservatives. He had previously served as a minister under former B.C. premier Christy Clark. On the Liberal side, Carlos Leitão is one of the more recognizable figures making the leap from provincial to federal politics. The former Quebec MNA served as the province's finance minister from 2014 to 2018. Braedon Clark, a former Nova Scotia MLA, will also come to Ottawa as a new member of the Liberal caucus. Other incoming MPs have shed their provincial NDP stripes to join the federal Liberal team. Buckley Belanger was initially a Saskatchewan Liberal MLA before switching to the provincial NDP. He's now back in the Liberal fold as he heads to the House of Commons. Similarly, Stephanie McLean, a former Alberta NDP MLA and minister, ran for the Liberals and won a seat in B.C. Incoming Liberal MP Tom Osborne was a longtime Newfoundland and Labrador MHA, serving as a minister for both the provincial Progressive Conservative and Liberal parties. He was also Speaker of the House of Assembly for a time. Among the other new MPs coming to Ottawa is Sima Acan, the first Turkish-Canadian elected to the House of Commons. Incoming Liberal MP David Myles is also bringing his Juno Award-winning musical talents to the Hill.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Yahoo
Grand Forks man charged after damaging gravestones in Sauk Centre cemetery
Feb. 28—SAUK CENTRE, Minn. — Several grave markers were knocked down after a man drove his car through a Sauk Centre cemetery, according to the Stearns County Sheriff's Office. Steven Sawatzky, 52, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, is facing a charge of fourth-degree driving while intoxicated, according to a news release from the sheriff's office. The DWI charge is a misdemeanor. The crash occurred at about 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, near the intersection of County Road 17 and County Road 185 in Sauk Centre Township, according to the release. That is the location of Greenwood Cemetery. According to the news release, Sawatzky was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado when he failed to stop at a stop sign at County Road 185. The sheriff's office says he drove into the cemetery, striking a chain-link fence and hitting several gravestone markers. Sawatzky was taken by ambulance to a hospital for injuries, according to the news release. The Minnesota State Patrol and Sauk Centre Police Department also responded to the scene. Court records indicate that Sawatzky is facing two additional driving-while-intoxicated charges.
