WELCOME

Hi, we’re Dan and Bonnie. We’ll be the first to say that neither of us comes from a background in radio or broadcasting. We didn’t go to school for this, and we don’t have years of newsroom experience behind us. What we do have is a genuine love for our community, curiosity about the stories that shape it, and a shared belief that staying connected matters.

Creating the River Valley Podcast has become something we do together — something that sparks conversations, keeps our minds active, and honestly just makes everyday life a little more fun. It’s something that strengthens our partnership and keeps our marriage interesting in the very best way. We enjoy putting these episodes together, and we’re excited to see where this goes as it grows.

Thanks for being here, for listening, for sharing, and for being part of the story with us.

About the River Valley Podcast

The River Valley Podcast was created and established on January, 2025 because our community deserved a voice — a place where stories, events, history, and local experiences could be shared and celebrated. With traditional local newspapers shrinking and fewer ways to stay informed about what’s happening close to home, we wanted to build something that keeps the people of Lumsden and the Qu’Appelle Valley connected.

Our podcast focuses on local news, upcoming events, interviews with community members, and stories that highlight both our present and our past. Some episodes introduce listeners to the individuals shaping our town today, while others reach back to honor the pioneers, families, artists, and everyday people who helped form the community we know now.

We are proud to partner with the Lumsden Museum, helping bring history to life in a new way. Together, we’ve created audio biographies that museum visitors can listen to simply by scanning QR codes throughout the exhibits. It’s a way to make local history more personal, immersive, and accessible.

We also work closely with the Lumsden Public Library, where our favorite librarian joins us each month for The Monthly Bookmark segment. Through it, we share upcoming library programs, book recommendations, and literary highlights for readers of all ages.

We release two episodes every month — a pace that fits our work and home lives — and we are committed to the long-term growth of this podcast. From the beginning, we chose to fund and build it ourselves. While podcasting isn’t as costly as traditional broadcasting, there are still real expenses involved. Even so, we’ve been thoughtful about sponsorships, because we want community participation to remain at the center of what we do. If someone in town has something to share, celebrate, or discuss, this podcast is a place they can come.

Together, we bring different strengths to the project.

Dan handles the storytelling, research, and audio editing. As a children’s entertainer and part-time caregiver at the Heritage Home, he brings curiosity, warmth, and a genuine love for people.

Bonnie, with her background in archaeology and work involving Indigenous history and artifacts, ensures that the stories are accurate, thoughtful, and respectfully presented. She produces the show, hosts, "Talk Of The Town", and keeps everything on track.

This podcast is our way of contributing to the community we love.

It’s about remembering where we’ve been, celebrating where we are, and connecting us all to where we’re going.