Wednesday, January 11, 2023 Vol. 46, No. 02
$1 includes GST
Your LOCAL Paper!
Famous Cook Book author remembered by Irma community
First Baby of 2023 arrives in Viking
Patricia Harcourt Editor
Jean Paré, author of the famous cookbook line “Company’s Coming,” died Christmas Eve in Edmonton at the age of 95. She was born in 1927 to the Elford family and raised in Irma where her roots are still visible. Her childhood home at the north end of main street has served as the village’s museum for many years. This was where Paré’s parents, Edward and Ruby Elford, raised their family. Edward had built the house with his own hands, and the sturdily built home was the first in the village to have electricity. Paré graduated from Irma School and married, eventually moving to Vermilion to help run the Vermilion Auction Mart. But an event in 1963 set her on another course when she catered a dinner for over 1,000 people at a 50th anniversary for the Vermilion School of Agriculture, now called Lakeland College. The result was the beginning of a successful catering service she ran for over 18 years while raising four children. In the late 1950s she bought the Rio Café and her catering business flourished so much that she decided to become a cookbook author featuring her own recipes. It started in 1981 with the publication of “150 Delicious Squares.” Paré eventually became famous for her entire “Company’s Coming” line of cookbooks including a beloved one used especially at Christmas. Her family owned company sold 30 million copies of more than 200 cookbooks over three decades, and she became known world wide for her delicious yet practical recipes. She eventually moved to Edmonton to be close to her family, before selling the family publishing business 12 years ago. Having become famous for her recipes, she received many awards including becoming a Member of the Order of Canada, a lifetime achievement award. She also received a Queen Elizabeth ll Continued on Page 11
Viking Health Centre Auxiliary members came to the Viking Health Centre last Friday to present the mother of the 2023 New Year’s baby with some great gifts as mother and baby prepared to head home. Seated in the front row is mom Dana Melnyk (centre) holding baby Kasey. To the right in front is Dana’s sister, Karlee, excited to be an auntie to little Kasey. Seated on the left is RN Amy Haesloop. In the back row, from left, are LPN Taryn Chomik, and auxiliary members Bev Baumgartner, Karen Coulombe and Dorothy White. PATRICIA HARCOURT PHOTO Patricia Harcourt Editor
A New Year’s baby for 2023 was born at the Viking Health Centre last Thursday. Dana Melnyk of Innisfree delivered baby Kasey at 4:57 p.m. on Thursday, January 5. The infant weighed in at seven pounds, five ounces, and was 20 inches long at birth, according to her mother. Representatives from the Viking Health Auxiliary were on hand last Friday morning with members Bev Baumgartner, Karen Coulombe and Dorothy White presenting gifts for the baby including a Teddy Bear, photo album, blanket and diapers.
Although she was on her way home just a day after the birth, Dana said her labour took almost two days, from 8 p.m. Tuesday, January 3 until 4:57 p.m. Thursday, January 5. Assisting her on this journey were attending physician Dr. Niemand and nurses Cara Lawson and Diane Vitek. Dana expressed great relief that this expended labour to deliver her first child was now over and she and baby could go home with the help of sister Karlee Melnyk, an excited and proud auntie to little Kasey. Congratulations on being the 2023 New Year’s Baby at Viking Health Centre!