MHV hosts successful Peace Trek

The Mennonite Heritage Village hosted a successful Peace Trek on Aug. 17, raising more than $10,000.

While previously the trek was modeled after an Eden Mental Health fundraiser near Morden called Head for the Hills, this year’s event had no connection to the mental health provider.

Instead, funds were being raised for MHV which is the terminus for the Peace Trail.

MHV Development Coordinator Nathan Dyck said the ride was supposed to begin at the Mennonite landing site, but due to heavy rain days earlier, trails in that area were impassable.

Instead, they kicked things off at Niverville’s Hespeler Park, one of 10 stops on the trail that also include the Metis River Lot plaques, Shantz Immigration sheds cairn and Chortitz Church.

Glen Klassen, at 84-years-old was one of those who chose to tackle the trail on an e-bike.

“The Peace Trail was originally my idea, so I felt a bit of responsibility and I’ve cycled all my life,” he said.

One of the top fundraisers for the event, Klassen said people are excited about the project.

Along with Ernest Braun, Klassen showed off proofs of panels that will be placed at Hespeler Park, telling some of the story of the Mennonites arrival.

Those panels were on display at Bridge Park Manor, where Klassen said there was a lot of interest.

“People are interested in history and it’s not just history,” he said. “It’s ecology, it’s spirituality and what have you, all wrapped up.”

The group began their journey in creating the trail close to three years ago, and gains continue to be made.

A soft opening was held June 1, and since that time a memorandum of understanding has been developed with the RM of Hanover.

That template will help them negotiate similar agreements.

“We have five municipalities to deal with,” he said.

He admits they didn’t realize how much work would be involved in getting the trail going.

“We were naïve about how much permission we had to get from municipalities, Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation from Hydro, but we’re slowly getting there,” he said.

The group recently were awarded a $3,000 grant for more panels indicating points of interest, by the South Eastman Rotary Club.

Other supporters have also emerged.

The Peace Trek itself was made possible thanks to sponsorship from Racka Roofing with food provided to riders by Sobey’s Steinbach.

Also in attendance was Delores Thiel who works with the Crow Wing Trail.

That trail shares overlaps part of the Peace Trail and share the Mennonite landing site as a trailhead for both.

“There’s ways for us to join together,” she said of the two groups. “We’re always looking for partners. It felt like a natural connection to connect with the Peace Trail.”