Kiernickis love the lifestyle, excitement of midway

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Posted By Jim Mosher

Posted 1 month ago

Ken and Anita Kiernicki love their travelling lifestyle. (PHOTO JIM MOSHER)

WINNIPEG BEACH — Ken and Anita Kiernicki spend summers giving people a thrill. And they're thrilled to do it.

The couple own Wonder Shows, a travelling midway that dazzles and delights tens of thousands of people each year. Whether it's the Morden Corn and Apple Festival, Peguis Treaty Days, the Icelandic Festival or, as it was last weekend, Winnipeg Beach Boardwalk Days, the Kiernickis transport their about 20 rides to venues across the province.

He would rise through the ranks to become manager of Winnipeg's popular Tinker Town. He spent seven years overseeing that operation. He then spent nine years with another show. Then when Wonder Shows became available Ken and Anita took the plunge. That was 11 years ago. They haven't looked back.

"I haven't had one weekend off in my whole life," Ken said. "I've given up all my summers. There's no cottage or beach life for me."

But he doesn't miss what he's lost. He embraces what he's gained. "I've always wanted to go where the action is," he said during an interview Saturday evening in the mobile home that serves as command centre for the show. "In the carnival, there's always a lot of excitement and action. Having been involved with Tinker Town and now Wonder Shows — both very much family-oriented — we have changed the way of the carnies. Here we emphasize politeness. We emphasize to our staff that these people, our clients, are here to have a good time."

"We like to think that we've turned a lot of staff into good people."

Adds Anita: "They feel like they're part of a family. They enjoy their summers with us ­— and they have pride in their work."

When there are disciplinary problems, Anita, who runs the administrative and human relations part of the show, takes a staffer aside for a chat.

Ken is adamant it's either shape up or ship out. Wonder Shows does not abide discourteous staff. Simple as that.

"I've got to have a lot of people skills," said Anita.

"I look after the bull work," adds Ken cheerfully.

Wonder Shows is a growing concern, but it's a slow, measured growth designed to keep the scale of the operation both manageable and enjoyable. This year, the show acquired Spin Out, its newest and now most popular ride.

"If we give people a new ride, they just eat it up," says Anita. "You've got to give people something new every year."

Ken knows pretty much everything there is to know about each and every ride. He knows how they work; he knows how to fix them.

"In this business, you get to be everything from an electrician to a welder."

But he's not really hepped up about growing too big. That would take away from the family feel of Wonder Shows.

"We don't really want to grow any larger. More than anything it's about the quality of the experience," he said. "We try to make it as pleasant as possible. It's quite rewarding to be able to create this kind of entertainment for people."

The quality extends beyond the show itself. The Kiernickis also value the friendships and relationships they have developed in all the communities the show visits.

"We have a very good relationship with all the communities we visit," said Ken.

And there are friends at pretty much every stop, says Anita.

Anita takes the occasional break to be with the couple's two daughters. "But I haven't been in my own bed since mid-April," says Ken. "I won't get there until September."

Married for 20 years, Ken and Anita have two daughters, Cassandra,16, and 12-year-old Marissa. The family calls Oakbank home. During the off-season, Ken enjoys restoring old cars — and fixing his rides.

Next stop, Peguis Treaty Days this weekend. Be sure to take a spin on Spin Out. I did. Twice.