Swan River HERO Club 30th Anniversary
The Swan River HERO Club celebrated its 30th Anniversary on July 17, 2025 at the HERO Club’s present location at 317 Main Street in Swan River. The HERO Club, which stands for Helping Everyone Reach Out, opened its doors in Swan River in 1995. Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) provides coordination and other program assistance to the HERO Club through its Community Mental Health program.
The closure of the Brandon Mental Health Center in the 1990s played a role in the development of the HERO Clubs. When the Brandon Mental Health Center closed, some of the people who lived there were asked where they would like to go and where they would like to live. These people needed help with adjusting to their home towns and communities and needed a safe and supportive place to hang out. Ed Miller, a Community Mental Health Worker in Swan River at the time, was instrumental in getting the HERO Clubs up and running.
The HERO Club in Dauphin opened in 1994, the Swan River Club opened in 1995 (in partnership with CMHA), the Roblin Club opened in 1999 and the Russell-Binscarth Club opened in 2001. These HERO Clubs were created to help people in meeting their needs with vocational, educational, recreational and social programming and activities. This has created connection among members and a sense of community within the H.E.R.O Club. The members support each other and help one another with their goals in life. This helps the members to feel empowered, productive, and supported. The HERO Club logo was created and drawn by a Club member and remains a visual cue to the success of the initiative.
PMH congratulates the Swan River HERO Club on its ongoing work and for achieving and highlighting such a notable milestone!