STURGIS — Mini-Miracle played a huge part in making miracles happen each year, but the Sturgis Kinsmen Club's folding in 2025 has possibly ended its run.
"Throughout the past 44 years, the Sturgis Kin Club has raised over one million for Kinsmen Telemiracle, which started in 1977," said Daniel Wasylenchuk, chair of Mini-Miracle.
“With the Kinsmen no longer a club, Mini-Miracle will probably not be held this year. There is the possibility of the Town of Sturgis Recreation Board taking on the event in the future.
The first Mini-Miracle was held in 1981, where $8,122 was raised. We would like to acknowledge all past Kinsmen and Kinettes, volunteers, the local and surrounding communities, and GX-94 who have broadcast the event from the beginning,” stated a former Kinsmen member.
The money was raised through the Kinsmen Mini-Miracle radio-thon and the continued support from the surrounding communities, organizers said.
Through the years, it evolved to incorporate a Preeceville Hospital bed push, a Sturgis Composite School mini marathon, and both the Preeceville School and the Sturgis Composite School collected pledges.
The Preeceville Hospital bed push would push and walk an old hospital bed through the Town of Preeceville, canvassing for funds, and make the trek to Sturgis, where they would present their total to Mini-Miracle.
The Mini-Marathon saw Sturgis School student volunteers and Kinsmen members walking from Canora to Sturgis.
The schools also held their own fundraisers that contributed to Mini-Miracle.
“It was sad to see the club fold and with it all events that they put on being cancelled,” said Eugene Boychuk, past Kinsmen member and chair of Mini-Miracle for numerous years. “When Mini-Miracle began it was just a small adjudicated talent show that blossomed to incorporate a full talent show, live broadcast, with other organizations getting involved. Mini-Miracle proved that little towns can compete with larger centers and are acknowledged at the provincial and world level. The loss of Mini-Miracle and the Kinsmen will be felt for years to come,” he concluded.
Daniel Wasylenchuk who was the chair of Mini-Miracle until the end, stated that he is very disheartened and sad that it had to come down to the lack of volunteers for it all to end. “The hole left vacant will be a loss that will be felt by everyone. I would like to thank everyone for all their support through the years and remind everyone that you can still donate to Telemiracle,” he said.
