4 THE BEAUSEJOUR REVIEW Friday, July 30, 2010

Oakbank couple makes huge success of Wonder Shows

Kiernickis love the lifestyle, excitement of midway

By Jim Mosher Oakbank's Ken and Anita Kiernicki spend summers giving people a thrill. And they're thrilled to do it. The couple own Wonder Shows, a travelling midway that dazzles and delights tens of thousands of people each year. Whether it's the Morden Corn and Apple Festival, Peguis Treaty Days, the Icelandic Festival or, as it was last weekend, Winnipeg Beach Boardwalk Days, the Kiernickis transport their about 20 rides to venues across the province. Ken says he began working as a carnie when he was 12 years old. Now 46, Ken has ogged hundreds of thousands of miles delivring constantly improving rides to people of ll ages. He would rise through the ranks to become anager of Winnipeg's popular Tinker Town. e spent seven years overseeing that operaion. He then spent nine years with another how. Then when Wonder Shows became vailable Ken and Anita took the plunge. Th at was 11 years ago. Th ey haven't looked back. "I haven't had one weekend off in my whole life," Ken said. "I've given up all my summers. Th ere's no cottage or beach life for me." But he doesn't miss what he's lost. He embraces what he's gained. "I've always wanted to go where the action is," he said uring an interview Saturday evening in the obile home that serves as command centre or the show. "In the carnival, there's always lot of excitement and action. Having been nvolved with Tinker Town and now Wonder hows - both very much family-oriented we have changed the way of the carnies. ere we emphasize politeness. We emphaize to our staff that these people, our clients, re here to have a good time." "We like to think that we've turned a lot of taff into good people." Adds Anita: "Th ey feel like they're part of a

Beausejour Review

The The Beausejour Review is published by Interlake Publishing - proprietor and publisher: Sun Media Corporation, a Quebeco Company. The Interlake Publishing's offices are located at 486 Main Street, Stonewall, Manitoba, R0C 2Z0. The 726 Park Avenue P.O. Box 1776 Beausejour, Manitoba R0E 0C0 * 204-268-4567 * Fax 204-268-4570 * 1-888-467-2421 * Hours Mon-Wed 8:30 am - 4:30 pm BONNY BRENNAN, Publisher 204-467-2421 bonny.brennan@sunmedia.ca family. Th ey enjoy their summers with us - and they have pride in their work." When there are disciplinary problems, Anita, who runs the administrative and human relations part of the show, takes a staff er aside for a chat. Ken is adamant it's either shape up or ship out. Wonder Shows does not abide discourteous staff . Simple as that. "I've got to have a lot of people skills," said Anita. "I look after the bull work," adds Ken cheerfully. Wonder Shows is a growing concern, but it's a slow, measured growth designed to keep the scale of the operation both man- beausejourreview.com MARC ZIENKIEWICZ, Managing Editor 204-268-4567 editorial@mts.net DENNIS FUERST, Advertising 204-268-4567 sjournalads@bowesnet.com Subscription Rates: Local Rural $52.50 Regional $57.81 National $78.00 Taxes included. $10 service fee for refunds or cancellations. The Winkler Times JENNIFER MASLOW, Administrative 268-4567 review@mts.net E-mail: review@mts.net The Red River Valley Echo ageable and enjoyable. This year, the show acquired Spin Out, its newest and now most popular ride. "If we give people a new ride, they just eat it up," says Anita. "You've got to give people something new every year." Ken knows pretty much everything there is to know about each and every ride. He knows how they work; he knows how to fi x them. "In this business, you get to be everything from an electrician to a welder." But he's not really hepped up about growing too big. That would take away from the family feel of Wonder Shows. "We don't really want to grow any larger. More than anything it's about the quality of The Morden Times The Valley Leader Jim Mosher Ken and Anita Kiernicki love their travelling lifestyle. ABOVE: Spin Out is Wonder Shows newest ride - and now its most popular. the experience," he said. "We try to make it as pleasant as possible. It's quite rewarding to be able to create this kind of entertainment for people." Th e quality extends beyond the show itself. Th e Kiernickis also value the friendships and relationships they have developed in all the communities the show visits. "We have a very good relationship with all the communities we visit," said Ken. And there are friends at pretty much every stop, says Anita. Anita takes the occasional break to be with the couple's two daughters. "But I haven't been in my own bed since mid-April," says Ken. "I won't get there until September." Married for 20 years, Ken and Anita have two daughters, Cassandra,16, and 12-yearold Marissa. Th e family calls Oakbank home. During the off -season, Ken enjoys restoring old cars - and fi xing his rides.

Tornado touches down in Oakbank, little damage done

By Marc Zienkiewicz A tornado watch issued by Environment Canada on Monday was followed by sunny skies and extreme humidity. At 10:14 p.m. Monday, Environment Canada downgraded a tornado watch for the region to a severe thunderstorm watch. A tornado did touch down around 9 p.m. just north of Oakbank but isn't believed to have caused much property damage or any injuries. The rain was the last thing the region's farmers need. Fields were once again soak- ing wet with drainage ditches flowing fast with the incoming fl ow of rain. At press time, Environment Canada was calling for sunny skies Friday and Saturday, rain for Sunday and more sun for Monday's civic holiday. Th e temperature should reach a sizzling 28 C, but the nights will be cool with temperatures of as low as 13 C. Th e normal high for this time of year is 26 C, with a normal low of 13 C. -with fi les from Winnipeg Sun Beausejour Review is printed at 1700 Church Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3X 3A2. Copyright and/or property rights subsist in all display advertising and other material appearing in this issue of The Beausejour Review. POLICIES We welcome signed letters. Please include address and phone number for verification. The Beausejour Review strives for accuracy and balance in its reporting, if there are lapses, we will gladly publish a page 5 correction. Interlake Publishing reserves the right to delete any words or phrases deemed to be objectionable, or to refuse to publish any advertisement. Interlake Publishing shall not be responsible for any loss or damage to any advertiser to appear in any or all of its newspapers or from any error or omission in any advertisement which is published. Copyright and/or property rights subsist in all display advertising and other material appearing in this issue of The Beausejour Review. Publications Mail Agreement No 40010074 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Interlake Publishing 486 Main St Stonewall MB R0C 2Z0

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