Remembering our past – Steve Grajczyk

Times Contributor

 

Steve’s grandparents moved from Poland to Winona, Minnesota in the 1890’s, and started a construction business. However, in the early 1900’s, both the Canadian Government and Canadian Pacific Railway, were advertising cheap land in Saskatchewan and Alberta (as previous articles have referred to). 

So, they moved to Courval, Sask. in 1909. Steve was born there in the 1940’s, the youngest sibling of a family of six children. He had three sisters and two brothers. 

Back in those days, there was no means of communication, and roads were mainly in very poor shape, so his mother was transported to the nearest hospital quite early. Steve was born on September 30, 1946, but because of the state of the roads, it took a month to get back home. The rest of the family were sure surprised when Steve showed up with his mother that fall. 

His father kept a daily diary, mainly for keeping track of weather conditions, but there is an entry for the 30th of October stating “I now have a new son called Steve.” 

That is the only reference, and then it returns to entries regarding the weather! His father served with the RCAF during WWII, and following his discharge in 1946 returned to the mixed farm in Saskatchewan.

When Steve grew older, he used to spend the winter months in Alberta working in the oil patch, but summers were always spent in Southern Saskatchewan mixed farming with one of his elder brothers. They were one of the first to import what was then classed as exotic cattle to Canada – Charolais. 

Steve took one of the first artificial insemination courses available in the early 1960’s, and following graduation as an A.I. Technician, joined Prairie Breeders stud farm south of Calgary. As he became more proficient, the farm formed an A.I. Company and it was Steve’s job to teach A.I. Technology across Canada, North America and eventually around the world. 

This company was one of the first to conduct pregnancy testing on cows. They marketed bull semen, and it was Steve’s job to select bulls in the U.K. and Europe for import to Canada. Throughout this time, he met many members of royalty namely Prince Philip and Prince Charles as well as heads of Government dating back to President Nixon. 

He spent his time travelling the world, in this business, and continues to believe the best education a son or daughter can obtain is to travel the world before settling down.

Steve married Judy in 1975 and they have two children – son Ryan who is married to Carie, and works as a Captain with a major airline. They are expecting their first child in October. Steve and Judy also have a daughter – Karie who is married to Glen, and have two children. 

Steve moved to Strathmore in the spring of 1978, and at the time was selling commercial and residential real estate. Other business interests included a security locksmith company and mini storage. In 1979 he was named Mr. Strathmore, the very first person to receive this honour. For this, he won a trip to Las Vegas. 

In 1980, he won a trip to Hawaii as a prize in a raffle being run in his hometown at Courval, who were raising funds for the school. 

He and Judy, were having breakfast at their hotel one morning, when a US nuclear submarine surfaced just off shore, right in front of them. Sailors started ferrying between the beach and the submarine, in what appeared to be a crew change. Steve told Judy he planned to be on board the sub by 4 p.m. that afternoon!! And, being the good talker that he is – he was!

In 2005, he decided to retire and sold both of his businesses. At the time he was an Executive of The Strathmore and District Ag Society, and became General Manager soon after. 

In 2010, he was approached by many friends who pointed out that as he’d already served on most boards and executive positions in and around Strathmore, he should run for mayor. As we know he won handily, and has since put our town on the map, in many, many ways.