John William Swanson was born October 8, 1901, in what is now New Effington, North Dakota. He married Kathleen May MacLeod on November 5, 1931, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. John died May 8, 1964, and is buried at Rosedale Cemetery in Moose Jaw.

Gae Gunilla (Julia) Johanneson was born June 30, 1881, in Tännäs, Sweden. She immigrated to the United States in 1900. She married Christian Swanson in South Dakota in 1901. Their eldest daughter, Ida, moved to Swift Current, Saskatchewan, in 1922. Julia and her youngest daughter, Florence, eventually settled in Swift Current as well, and Florence attended school there. Julia lived in Swift Current until 1966, when she went to live with Florence in Waldeck, Saskatchewan. She died on September 20, 1969, and is buried at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Swift Current.

Christian Swanson was born August 6, 1859, in Härjedalen, Sweden. He moved to the United States ca. 1880 with his brothers Peter and Sven and settled in New Effington, South Dakota. Christian married Julia Johanneson the following year in Sisseton, South Dakota. In 1910, they moved to Hankinson, North Dakota. Two of their children died of illness in February 1913. On May 15, 1913, the Swansons and their remaining three children arrived at their new homestead 15 miles south of Cadillac, Saskatchewan. After Julia and their youngest daughter settled in Swift Current, Christian continued to live on the farm with his son Emil but moved in with his eldest son John and his family in Milestone, Saskatchewan, after Emil’s death in 1937. He would spend summers with his daughters in Swift Current. Christian died on January 31, 1955, and is buried in the Beaver Valley Cemetery.

The Senior Citizens’ Activity Centre in Swift Current started ca. 1976 as a place where seniors in the community could meet up to play cards, cribbage, and other games, to hear some music, and to attend potluck meals. In 1983, it was located at 1311 Walker Street and then eventually moved to 42 Central Ave. N. The Centre officially opened at its newest location, 68 Central Ave. N., on June 3, 1992, and remained there until it closed in September 2017.