The Arborg & District Multicultural Heritage Village received a substantial donation from a Winnipeg-based businessman during its annual fall dinner and dance on Nov. 19.
Leo Ledohowski made a $50,000 donation to the heritage village in memory of the late Owen Eyolfson, with whom he sat on the Manitoba Hotel Association board.
Heritage Village co-chair Pat Eyolfson, who has dedicated 24 years to the museum, said they were very grateful to receive the funding support.
“We are very humbled and tearfully grateful to receive this most generous donation from Mr. Ledohowski,” said Eyolfson. “This is a huge gift of money and we will be thinking very carefully on what project to put it towards.”
The provincial government designated the Arborg museum a tourism Star Attraction. Nestled on the scenic bank of the Icelandic River, the museum was founded in 1999 to showcase cultural groups from the Interlake, including Ukrainian, Polish, Icelandic and Indigenous cultures, artefacts and over a dozen historical buildings that include the Sigvaldason House, the Slipchuk House, St. Demetrius Catholic Church, the Poplar Heights School and the Hykawy Grist Mill. The museum also has a campground with electricity, fire pits and washrooms.
The museum hosts events, holds fundraising events and receives federal and provincial for grants to help with the cost of operating/enhancing the museum. It also hires summer students to provide them with job experience.
Ledohowski, who has several degrees in business, received the Order of Manitoba in 2022 and is the executive chair of Canad Inns, presented Eyolfson with the cheque at the four-hour event, making the donation in memory of Eyolfson’s son, Owen Eyolfson, who passed away on Dec. 16, 2022, at the age of 37 from diabetes complications.
Owen owned and managed the Arborg Hotel and the Arborg Travelling Inn. He was dedicated to helping Arborg grow and thrive. He sat on the Central Interlake Chamber of Commerce and was instrumental in getting Arborg’s health-care training facility up and running. He also worked tirelessly to help his mom get the heritage village established, volunteering there since he was 14 years old.
“As a mother I’m so proud that my son, Owen, in his short 37 years, made a difference in people’s lives and touched so many lives. He sincerely loved all people and tried to make a difference in his community and beyond. His intelligence, kindness, great sense of humour, sharp wit and charming personality warmed everyone’s heart and made everyone feel special and loved,” said Eyolfson.
“He was my biggest cheerleader starting the heritage village and volunteered with me there since he was 14, planting 6,000 PFRA [Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration] trees, painting, scraping and repairing buildings, chinking buildings, working at fundraising events, helping build an outdoor bake oven and putting up our tipis after being guided and taught by elders including Elder Ruth Christie.”
Visit the Arborg & District Multicultural Heritage Village online at arborgheritagevillage.com
