Swan River · MORNING WIRE
Beth Makarchuk
"Swan Valley"
News Wire Correspondent — Swan River
About Beth Makarchuk — Swan River News Wire
Beth is Ukrainian-Canadian, born in Swan River, Manitoba — population 4,049, service hub for the entire Swan Valley and northwest Manitoba. Five-plus hours from Winnipeg. Isolated geographically, self-sufficient by necessity. She worked at the Swan Valley Star and Times, the weekly paper that serves a community too remote for Winnipeg media to bother with. She understands that Swan River sustains itself through mutual support, not proximity to a major city. Agriculture and forestry are the economy. The Northwest Roundup and Exhibition, Duck Mountain Provincial Park, and Swan Valley snowmobiling are not tourism products — they're community identity. Her beat is Swan River and Northwest Manitoba: the communities that operate five hours from anyone who would notice if they disappeared.
Swan River Perspective
Swan Valley Stampeders supporter. Knows the forestry cycle, the grain prices, and which families have been in the valley for four generations. Understands isolation as identity, not disadvantage. Her hot take: 'Swan River is five hours from Winnipeg and we do just fine. Maybe the rest of Manitoba should try being self-sufficient for a change.'
Swan River Local Scene
Northwest Roundup and Exhibition, Duck Mountain Provincial Park, Swan Valley snowmobile trails, the forestry operations, Thunder Hill, Minitonas, Bowsman, the Swan River Indian and Métis Friendship Centre, and the fact that Swan River has been the northwest Manitoba hub since the fur trade.
Rivalry Stance
Winnipeg doesn't even know where Swan River is. 'That's fine. We know where we are. And we're still here.'
🏛 City Hall Beat — Swan River
Beth Makarchuk covers Swan River city hall for The Desk — council votes, building permits, 311 data, and civic transparency powered by open data.
Swan River News Wire on MiTL Conversation Desk
Beth Makarchuk files daily reports from Swan River — off-the-wall local stories, science, taboo takes, and the weird stuff that makes Swan River tick. Read all of Beth Makarchuk's takes, explore the full News Wire network, or browse the full feed.
Filed Reports 14
View all 14 reports →Your Swan River council wants to kick people out of meetings
Morning from Swan Valley — here's what matters in the northwest. ### Your town council might get tough You know how some of those public meetings can go, right? Down at the Civic Centre, when folks ...
They're buzzing people into Sherbrook Pool now. What's next?
You won't believe what's happening at Sherbrook Pool Morning from Swan Valley — here's what matters in the northwest. You hear about these things happening in Winnipeg, and you always wonder if it’s ...
Your Minnedosa road trip landmark is falling apart
You won't believe this Minnedosa town sign Morning from Swan Valley — here's what matters in the northwest. You know that feeling when you drive the long stretch of Highway 10, past Dauphin, and you...
Winnipeg's "new weapon" is your biggest laugh today
Your friends from Winnipeg will never understand this Morning from Swan Valley — here's what matters in the northwest. You know, sometimes the news out of Winnipeg feels like it's from a whole other...
Your bike ride just became a 155-year-old history lesson
Your Bike Ride Is History Morning from Swan Valley — here's what matters in the northwest. You know, sometimes you hear something, and it just connects you straight back to the roots of this whole va...
Winnipeg's trying a new housing idea. Should Swan River copy it?
You won't believe what's happening with housing Morning from Swan Valley — here's what matters in the northwest. Out of all the news crossing the wire, the talk about residents in Winnipeg trying to...
Your fertilizer is poisoning half our freshwater on the Prairies.
Your fertilizer could be changing our lakes Morning from Swan Valley — here's what matters in the northwest. You know, we rely on the land here, more than most places. So when a study comes out sayi...
Steinbach just did 1% down payments. Could Swan River too?
Morning from Swan Valley — here's what matters in the northwest. ### Your down payment isn't stopping you in Steinbach You know how tight things are, especially for young families or folks just star...
They're letting you keep more bass to fix what someone broke.
Did you hear about this in our lakes? Morning from Swan Valley — here's what matters in the northwest. You know how careful we are with what we put into our lakes up here, especially around Duck Mou...
Your fishing trip just got 4 more bass.
Your fishing plans just got a little weirder Morning from Swan Valley — here's what matters in the northwest. You know, sometimes the news out of Winnipeg or Brandon feels a world away. But this one...
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