On Friday the 13th of September, 2024, a plaque honouring Miriam Toews was finally unveiled in Steinbach. It feels like this was a long time coming.
I don’t know if they keep gofundme campaigns live on the site forever, but I hope so. Andrew’s campaign was elegantly written, logically argued, and strongly supported — raising all of the funds required for this plaque, within just one day.
This was made beautifully possible because of a community effort. Very grassroots. That’s the story behind this post: community.
It all began when Andrew became acquainted with author and journalist Josiah Neufeld, who mentioned offhandedly to Andrew that his cousin had purchased Miriam Toews’ former home, and they were fans of the famous author. (Or maybe it began when we met Josiah thanks to Jonathan Dyck and Sarah Ens.) Andrew asked to be put in touch with the new homeowners, met Jeremy Hawbaker for coffee, and shortly after that excellent meeting, the gofundme campaign was launched (and completed). The text for the plaque was written by Andrew and approved by Miriam Toews herself. We then waited for the plaque to be created by Print One Studio. In the meantime, we had to figure out the rock part.
We have a lot of rocks here in Southeast Manitoba… but rocks moving them is tricky. They are nearly impossible to lift. Also, just because this terrain is quite rocky, doesn’t mean you can go and grab just any rock.
We frequent The Public Brewhouse, where Andrew was discussing this challenge with Steph Klassen, who owns the establishment with her partner Jordan Kroeker. Soon Bob Kehler from Bob’s Woodworking strolled in, and participated in the conversation. He told Andrew that he could help with this rock-related challenge.
Awesome! It almost felt too easy.
And so, on May 6th, Andrew and I met Steph and Bob to go rock hunting.
But first we needed to know what kind of rock we were looking for. Andrew brought a tape measure along and measured other plaque-rocks that admired.
Andrew also made a plaque-sized cutout out of cardboard, so we’d know what size the plaque was going to be. We brought this with us to a rock pile, where we set to work selecting a rock.
On May 13th, we met Bob and Steph again, and this time Bob brought his skid steer to help transport the rock and place it gingerly on the site of the Miriam Toews House.
On June 7th, Andrew received the notification that the plaque was ready for pickup and we did a very excited unboxing!
On June 18th, Bob and Andrew met again, this time to affix the plaque to the rock:
And then there it sat, awaiting some kind of sealant:
FINALLY on Friday the 13th of September, it was ready to be unveiled. Steph provided her grandmother’s quilt to lovingly cover the plaque:
And then we met a lovely large crowd at The Public for our trek to the plaque. The plan was to walk past a few other Miriam-related spots on our way.
We left in high spirits, walking along First Street.
We stopped behind Fairway Ford, where some umbrellas were already popping out as the rainclouds descended.
This had been the spot of Miriam’s first home. The story of the selling of this site is documented in Swing Low: A Life.
I was so excited, I took a lot of pictures.
What a wonderful group of people we were spending the evening with!
It was raining more as we crossed Highway 12.
Soon we arrived at the site!
I stood on the highway to take pictures of this remarkable (and, frankly, kind of dangerous) sight, in honour of Miriam Toews.
Andrew and Kara read very meaningful works, and I think we all might have gotten a little choked up over the significance of this moment.
And then, the unveiling!
Here is what the plaque says:
THE MIRIAM TOEWS HOUSE
Novelist Miriam Toews (born 1964) lived with her father Melvin, mother Elvira, and sister marjorie in a house not too far from here on First Street, before moving to this “low brick bungalow out on highway number twelve” where she spent her teenage years. Several of her most notable works drew inspiration from this house and neighbourhood, including All My Puny Sorrows, Swing Low: A Life, and A Complicated Kindness, which won the 2004 Governor General’s Award for English-language fiction. A major figure in 21st-century Canadian literature, Toews is also well known for her 2018 novel Women Talking.
With the plaque now in place and unveiled, everyone tried to get a look at it, as the rainclouds really let loose. That was when chaos reigned. The walking tour was over. Everyone scattered in the sudden rainshower.
Somehow everyone quickly made it back to the dry warm haven of The Public, a little bit damp but no worse for wear.
Now it was time to celebrate Miriam Toews by having other authors read selections from her works! It really was a star-studded event. We were so thrilled with the way it had all come together and everyone showed so much love and support for this project, to honour Miram Toews in her hometown.
It was a completely delightful, special event. We are so grateful for our community for showing up and showing support, both financial and in person.
And now Steinbach has a plaque to honour Miram Toews!
Just a note on why this matters. Listen. She is the most famous writer to come out of Steinbach. Maybe even the most famous person. Why does that matter? Well listen. Writers matter. Writers tell stories in which we see ourselves reflected. It’s not just Steinbachians that see themselves in her works. She has fans all over the world. Her blend of humour and tragedy just cuts to the heart. And she doesn’t use gigantic words. She writes such affecting, utterly clever, heartbreaking prose using very frank words. It’s been remarkable that up until now there had not been anything in Steinbach acknowledging that she was born and raised here, and that this place shows up in so much of her writing. It’s time. Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen!