The Cooks Creek Heritage Museum stands as a proud reminder of the stories, struggles, and traditions of Eastern European immigrants who helped shape Manitoba’s identity. Housed in the old Roman Catholic Rectory of St. Michael’s Parish, the museum carries with it a history as rich as the artifacts it preserves.

The rectory itself was built in 1937 and originally served as a show home for the Hudson’s Bay Company. Just two years later, in 1939, the church purchased the building, turning it into a cornerstone of parish life. Over time, many of the newcomers to the Cooks Creek area, primarily settlers from Ukraine and Poland began donating items that had traveled with them across the ocean. These objects told the story of perseverance, faith, and heritage. Among the artifacts were prayer books, Bibles, and holy pictures, which spoke to the immigrants’ deep spiritual roots. Others contributed traditional embroidered clothing, handmade art, and practical items like farm tools and kitchenware, all of which highlighted the daily realities of immigrant life in rural Manitoba.

Recognizing the importance of these pieces, parish priest Father Alois Krivanek founded the Cooks Creek Heritage Museum in 1968. His vision was to safeguard not only the artifacts themselves but also the stories of the people who carried them, ensuring future generations could understand the community’s origins. Today, the museum continues that mission, offering visitors a glimpse into the customs, faith, and resilience of Eastern European settlers.

St. Michael’s Church, which sits alongside the museum, adds further depth to this history. It is recognized as the second oldest Polish Roman Catholic church in Manitoba, after Holy Ghost Parish in Winnipeg. When it first opened, services were conducted entirely in Polish, providing a sense of comfort and familiarity to new immigrants adjusting to life in Canada. Over time, the church shifted to English services, reflecting the assimilation of younger generations. Yet, traditions remain strong. Once a month, elderly descendants of Polish immigrants gather at the church to celebrate their heritage, practice the Polish language, and keep alive the customs passed down through their families.

Suppose a man brutally kills his pregnant girlfriend by hitting her in the head 20 times with a monkey wrench. To ensure that nothing goes wrong, the man enlists the help of two accomplices, one of whom further beats the woman with a broken hockey stick. They then dispose of her body in a snow-filled ditch in the northwestern edge of Winnipeg.

The boyfriend carefully planned this attack for weeks before carrying it out. He was upset that the woman wouldn’t get an abortion on his terms and didn’t like the fact that the woman kept wanting to be in a relationship with him. So, he murdered her in cold blood.

Sadly, there’s nothing hypothetical about this scenario. Nathaniel Plourde was convicted of first-degree murder in 2009 for killing Roxanne Fernando in the manner described above. He received the maximum sentence for this crime, which is life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 25 years.

And yet, there’s a possibility that you might see Plourde out in public soon. That’s because the Parole Board of Canada just granted him six months of escorted temporary leave so that he can work towards becoming a carpenter.

The Steinbach Arts Council (SAC) has partnered with local businesses to offer exclusive perks and discounts to active SAC members. SAC thanks the following business partners for supporting local arts during the 2026–2027 membership year:

• Chicken Chef (Steinbach): 10 percent off (excluding limited-time offers and coupons)

• Coffee Culture (Steinbach): 10 percent off specialty drinks

• Doener Grill Express: 15 percent off food

“The hard truth is that the most basic aspect of our humanity is not our determination, our talents, or whatever we accomplished during last year’s resolutions. We are united by our fragility. We all need shelter because we are soft and mushy and irritable in the elements—and we will need so much more than a bank loan because, sooner or later, we are left exposed.” – Kate Bowler

When I was executive director at Mennonite Heritage Village (MHV), I had two types of people asking me about leaving a legacy. “What is the best way to leave a legacy?,” asked the first camp, while others asked, “Should we even try to leave a legacy? Isn’t that prideful?”

If it is about our individual efforts and heroics, then I would agree that sounds prideful. Further, it is extremely rare that a person carves out a legacy that lasts beyond one or two generations (why even try so hard, for something so fleeting). However, if we build into a communal legacy, it becomes much more certain to last as it will then be carried by the group to the next generation. Finally, if the focus of the legacy is on how God has helped our family, clan and people in the recent past and over the centuries while acknowledging our human shortfalls it fulfills what we see written throughout the Scriptures (see below).

Done well, there are several benefits in recollecting and commemorating our past: