Village News

As we near the end of the year, it is good practice to review the activities, events and programs that Mennonite Heritage Village has experienced in the last twelve months. For many of us, the Thanksgiving holiday in October is when we typically think about the blessings in our lives. In the corporate world, strategic planning can involve a similar process, analyzing the plans of the previous year, measuring whether goals were attained or exceeded, and charting the course for the next year or two. Within the evaluation process, there needs to be room for humility and gratitude. Humility that our plans are subject to forces that we do not control, like an economy which may ‘boom or bust’ no matter what we do, or like event plans which see attendance vary, depending on sunny or rainy weather. Likewise, we experience gratitude when we recognize that the plans we make are only possible with the support of volunteers, other community organizations, supporting government agencies, and donations by businesses and individuals. Listing highlights is our way of being thankful, so here are a few…

Our heritage buildings and facilities continue to be well maintained. In May, we hosted Dutch windmill specialists for a week of repair and maintenance resulting in an excellent report for our 23-year-old working windmill. Thank you to the windmill interpreters and maintenance teams who keep this icon of our community in good working order. We also completed the Print Shop restoration, building a new foundation and floor and reconfiguring the furniture and equipment for more effective demonstration and interpretation. Dozens of smaller repairs and projects were completed by our Maintenance staff and volunteers to ensure durability of our structures and safety for our visitors.

The Steinbach and Area Garden Club continued to provide excellent planting and grooming of our flower beds and gardens throughout the growing season. As well, they created a legacy area near the pond, establishing the Fred Kaita Grove with the planting of 25 trees and the building of new paths. This area will be enjoyed for generations to come, as the trees grow, and the grove develops into a natural space for reflection.

The annual exhibits that our Curatorial staff create each year are an important way for MHV to highlight aspects of our past which speak into our present context. Recently, the exhibit, ‘Leaving Canada: The Mennonite Migration to Mexico’ which was created and displayed in 2022 and then transformed into a travelling exhibit, won awards of excellence from two organizations; the Association of Manitoba Archives and the Association of Manitoba Museums. We are glad when visitors are engaged with our exhibits, and we are happy when the work of our curatorial team is recognized by professionals in the curatorial field for their excellent work.

The Gerhard Ens Gallery hosted ‘Mennonite Reflections: Arriving in Manitoba 150 Years Ago’, highlighting seven aspects of the 1874 migration of Mennonites to southern Manitoba. The exhibit team, composed of staff, consultants, and volunteers created a thought-provoking look into the complexities of this journey and the challenges of building a new home in a new province. This excellent exhibit will continue to be open to the public for many months to come. Many of us have family links to this early migration and all of us have connections to the communities that were formed and continue to affect our lives.

Pioneer Days featured two new activities which emphasized the migration of Mennonites to Manitoba in 1874. The first was the Red River Cart Walk which took place along the service road leading to MHV and ending near the Semlin with an acknowledgement ceremony. The walk behind a horse drawn cart commemorated the difficulties experienced when Mennonites arrived and the assistance that was provided by the Metis communities, who helped everyone prepare for the coming winter in Manitoba. Mennonites experienced the help of neighbours who were familiar with the terrain, the vegetation and the weather. The second feature of Pioneer Days was the showing of the film preview, ‘Where the Cottonwoods Grow’. This film sponsored by the Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society, portrayed the background for the migration to Manitoba. The preview left everyone wanting to see more of the story. The finished movie was launched in November throughout Manitoba, and we look forward to more shows in 2025.

These highlights capture just a few of the good things that MHV experienced in 2024. We hosted 3000 students who visited with their school or daycare. We engaged with 75 campers who attended our Pioneer Day Camps during the summer months. Dozens of family gatherings and birthday parties were held at the restaurant and in our meeting rooms. Numerous businesses chose MHV grounds for their company picnic. And we hosted 26 weddings at our facilities, both indoor and outdoor. Overall, nearly 45,000 people came to Mennonite Heritage Village. Not everyone came with a desire to learn about history, but all left with an experience that included history in some way.

MHV staff and volunteers are grateful for the many successes of 2024. Let’s celebrate this season with thankfulness for another good year of sharing stories and experiences with all members of our community.