Cast members included Brenda Wiebe as Anne Wood, Karen Kempe as Anna Dolmage; the Quadrelli/Poncsak family, Cassie, Evan and Ellie as the Sowdens, Maud, Fred, and Daphne; Harold Kuipers as Carter Brindle; Darryl and Cherilyn Jackson as Col. Ainslie L. and Mary Elizabeth Corbett Young; Bill Lawson as George McCulloch; Loretta Turner as Christina Janz; Helen Forrest as Catherine Forrest; Heather Williams as the guide.
In addition to Gossip in the Graveyard, Heritage Days included events such as the Saturday afternoon concert that had about 80 people in attendance. There was a lively show to help celebrate the Metis 150. In attendance was Mitch Makoons, a roots/rock musician from Brandon, Manitoba. Mitchell started playing guitar at the age of seven to accompany his grandfather and brother playing Metis fiddle tunes. Mitchell continues to be an active member of the Manitoba Metis community. The songs Mitchell writes incorporate traditional Ojibway music and culture with modern influences from roots and rock. Gab Pambrun, Caitlyn Baker and the D-Steppers, a Metis jigging sensation from Dauphin entertained on stage as well.
Outside of the park, there were self-guided walking tours of historical buildings throughout the communit. The map was accessed through scanning a QR code on a cell phone and individuals could choose to walk to some or all of the places on the map. In total, thirty-two historical sites are listed on the map, each with a detailed account of the different businesses that have been housed in the various locations.
Out of town guests were thrilled with their stay in Souris. They had read about the Chamber’s Stay and Play package and decided Souris would be their choice for a weekend get-away.
“We enjoyed our stay in the beautiful town of Souris,” stated Wayne and Donna Kolt who spent the weekend camping in Victoria Park. “We enjoyed the activities in the park, the heritage walk, and the play at the graveyard. Your committee did a wonderful job and it was a great idea to raise money for your museum. Without the ad in the Free Press, we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to come to your beautiful town.”
The locations makers will stay up for a few more days for those who missed the weekend tours. If you would like a bit more history of Souris, look up the map and take a tour.

by DARCI SEMESCHUK, Recorder Staff