Passing The Torch - A New Generation Steps Up

By Morgan Gordeyko

Our community is fortunate to have a younger, vibrant generation of leaders that are carrying on the fine traditions and legacies of those who came before them. This edition of the Chronicle is proud to showcase some of these success stories and the impact these dedicated residents have on Two Hills and its surrounding areas. This list is by no means complete, but a mere sample of personalities that go along way to enrich our lives.

HOLLY SVANDRLIK MARK & KATRYNA SAWCHUK

Holly Svandrlik met her high school sweetheart, Trevor, in 2001. They were married in 2008, and were looking for a community in which to start their forever home. They had been living in Lloydminster for nearly a decade, but it wasn’t a perfect fit. After some searching, Holly came across an MLS for a home in Two Hills and convinced her husband to look at it. The moment they stepped through the door, they were in love, and so in 2013, they sold their home in Lloydminster and moved to Two Hills. The couple welcomed their first daughter in September of 2014 and a second daughter in April of 2018. Shortly after their eldest started school, it became apparent to Holly that they’d made the right choice and that her girls would be safe in Two Hills. “Much of the community know our girls and we take comfort in that,” Svandrlik says. “Living in Two Hills has brought life-long friendships with people we know we can count on, and can count on us.”

Holly has always been crafty. She enjoys painting and colouring (yes, even as an adult!), and these hobbies provided her the necessary skills to open her business, Elysian by Holly, which she runs from her home. Started in March of 2021 and utilizing her creative skills, Holly produces unique and beautiful gifts, including but not limited to clothing, drink wear, blankets, memorial items, journals, and fishing lures to name a few - and best of all, they’re all completely customizable. “My motto is: good quality products at cost effective prices.”

Holly aims to be an example for her daughters, showing them that doing something they love can be a means of bringing happiness and solving needs for others while also providing for their own families.

“The willingness of the people in Two Hills to support one another has been a joy. I am encouraged to be creative, which is a benchmark in my ability to serve my community, a community that have wonderfully received my family and I.” Stop by her facebook page, ElysianByHolly, to see her beautiful work.

Katryna Downie met Mark Sawchuk in 2009. Realizing they shared the same hopes and dreams for their future, the two moved to their picture-perfect farm, just outside of Hairy Hill. They felt blessed that they found the perfect property for them, which just so happened to be right in the middle of both of their families. The two married in 2014 and welcomed 3 beautiful children to their blossoming lives - Layne, Kole and Kaylee. “We live right in the middle of our families. Not a lot of people can say they both are from the county and grew up within ten miles of each other!”

For the Sawchuk family, life happily revolves around the day to day operations of their busy farm. However, farming isn’t the only thing that keeps this young couple busy. Katryna says that although they enjoy farm life, they also find joy in gardening, camping, fishing and rodeo season. Mark is a mechanic for the County of Two Hills, and Katryna runs a small home embroidery business called Range Road 153 Embroidery and More. “We have never lived outside of the County of Two Hills. The community is great, the school is great, and we wouldn’t want to raise our children any other way. Our dream is to keep growing our farm, and hope our children love it as much as we do, keeping it going for generations to come.”

As if running a farm and small business isn’t enough to keep them busy, the Sawchuk family is a staple when it comes to the rodeo scene, especially the Hairy Hill Rodeo. They are proud volunteers - Mark is now president of the rodeo club, and Katryna is currently the casino chair. When asked what they attribute their success to, Sawchuk says, “ We were raised well by our families and have used the attributes our parents passed on to us in raising our own children. Our kids all go to the same school we went to. Roots here grow deep, and we hope to keep growing them, whether it be cattle farming, grain farming or mixed. Our family roots are strong, and we will most definitely be passing along everything we have grown to love to our kids. We hope that the joys of farming and our love for the rodeo is enough to help keep our way of life prospering for many years to come.” Mark and Katryna would like to thank their parents for setting them up with the tools necessary to succeed: Mark’s parents, Violet and Peter Sawchuk (Peter unfortunately is no longer with us), and Katryna’s parents, Darrell and Loretta Downie.

Stop by Katryna’s facebook page for a look at her beautiful work. Rge Rd 153 Embroidery & More.

These are just a small sample of a younger generation stepping that have stepped with the initiative to make our community a better place. These individuals bring fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and a deep understanding of the challenges and needs of our community. They are driven by a desire to create positive change and to address pressing issues. With their energy, creativity and passion for progress, the younger generation is reshaping the future of leadership, ensuring a more inclusive, forward thinking and sustainable world for generations to come.