‘Make them proud’: Children take over Souris bakery following parents’ deaths

Three Manitoba siblings are taking over a 97-year-old bakery in their hometown after the death of their parents. Harrison Shin has more.

The ovens at a 97-year-old small-town bakery are heating up again after weeks of closure following the deaths of its longtime owners earlier this spring.

The Minary Homestyle Bakery has been the only bakery in Souris, Man., for years, operated by Cindy and Darwyn Minary. In early March, Cindy died following a heart attack, and the following month, Darwyn passed away.

Now, their three children—Adam, Cody and Kendra—are taking over, keeping the beloved bakery alive for a community that has long depended on it.

Shannon Kohut, a longtime Souris resident, visited the bakery Tuesday—her first time since it closed.

“It means everything to a small community,” she told CTV News. “It’s family run, it’s one of the few bakeries around.”

Cody credited the community’s warmth with helping bring the bakery back.

“They’ve been fantastic towards us,” he said. “They have been very patient with everything going on and very welcoming when we came back.”

The family history can be found around the bakery, as family photos and portraits stand to guard the bread flow. For Cody, his parents are never far from his mind.

“They loved what they did. They enjoyed every minute of it—they said they didn’t sometimes, but deep down they knew they did.”

The bakery’s reputation stretches well beyond Souris, bringing people from far and wide to try their fritters, doughnuts, cookies and more.

“It you come to Souris on a Saturday morning in the summertime, (people) are lined up around down the street and around the corner, like it’s a Taylor Swift concert,” said Duane Davison, mayor of the Municipality of Souris-Glenwood. “It’s quite impressive.”

With the bakery’s centennial just three years away, the Minary siblings say they plan to be there for it.

“Figured we’d do this, make (our parents) proud and continue on the family legacy.”

Kohut did not hide her excitement.

“We just want to let them know that the town is supporting them with whatever they need. I’m excited they’re back and we know they will do a great job.”