Honouring a Community Champion: Mary Swain & Our March Flavour

After a break, we’re excited to bring back our tradition of honouring community champions with a special ice cream flavour! Each season, we celebrate someone who has made a meaningful impact in our community—naming a unique flavour in their honour and donating $1 from every pint sold to a cause they care about.

For March, we’re thrilled to introduce Mary Mint Chocolate—a smooth, rich chocolate ice cream infused with fresh mint. It’s SO good, and even better, it’s inspired by an incredible person: Mary Swain.

Mary Swain, has been making a difference in the lives of children and families for over three decades. Mary has been a dedicated Early Childhood Educator at Riverview Ashland Child Care Centre for 34 years and also works at Lord Roberts Children’s Program. She has guided generations of children in the Lord Roberts and Riverview neighbourhoods, creating a safe and nurturing space for learning and growth.

Beyond her work in child care, Mary is an active community member, always ready to lend a hand at local events. You may have seen her painting faces at festivals, supporting silent auctions, or passionately cheering on the Blue Bombers and Jets.

As a proud Indigenous Manitoban and daughter of a residential school survivor, Mary is an advocate for truth and reconciliation. She has collaborated on writing books and developing cultural curriculum for early learning and child care programs, helping young minds connect with Indigenous traditions and stories.

It’s safe to say that Mary is a local legend—she’s likely more closely connected to most Manitobans than Kevin Bacon is! She is a loving caregiver, an inspiring educator, and a true community hero.

To celebrate Mary, we’re donating $1 from every pint of Mary Mint Chocolate sold to The Dream Factory in her name. This incredible organization brings joy to children battling life-threatening illnesses, making Mary’s legacy of care and kindness even stronger.

And because Mary’s impact is best celebrated with the people who love her most, we’re throwing a launch party in her honour!

📅 Saturday, March 15
🕥 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Chaeban Ice Cream, 390 Osborne St.

Bring the whole family! We’ll have face painting, colouring, table games, and lots of $3 kids’ ice cream cones for sale. It’s a morning of fun, laughter, and of course, delicious ice cream!

Join us as we celebrate an incredible woman and the sweet new flavour named in her honour. See you there!