COLUMN: Village News – Thankfulness for the year so far

Mennonite Heritage Village is turning the corner from summer to fall with a sense of gratitude. We just hosted our last large outdoor event of 2025, Fall On The Farm: Cultural Showcase. As we continue to welcome guests to the museum and prepare numerous programs and events that benefit our community, we are thankful for many successes.

As an outdoor museum, we are weather dependent for our planned events and each year we are grateful for good weather that encourages people to look at their calendar in the morning of an event day, look out their window at the sunny morning and prepare to participate in our events. Like a farmer or a gardener who requires good weather to plant their fields and gardens, tend to the growing crops and harvest the resulting produce, MHV depends on dry weather to bring the community together on our festival days to participate in pioneer demonstrations and other outdoor activities. Sunny warm days have been a blessing as we welcomed thousands of people to our many events this year.

Our guests remind us daily of the reasons for the museum’s existence. Many come from families who are connected to the story of the Mennonites who settled in Manitoba either in the 1870s or the 1920s, or they arrived during later migrations to Canada. Reconnecting with their past and providing a context for stories and experiences to be passed on to future generations is one of MHV’s goals. We also welcome many people who are newer to our community. They have chosen southern Manitoba as their home, and they want to learn about their community. MHV assists them in understanding our community practices, our values, and our history. For many people, visiting Mennonite Heritage Village with relatives or friends is an opportunity to reconnect with each other. We are a welcoming gathering place where great food, a walk through the grounds, and a visit to our galleries or heritage buildings facilitate spending time together and sharing meaningful conversations. We are grateful for these reconnecting moments.

Volunteers are our biggest asset. Not only do we have individuals who value the personal connections made at MHV and the community benefits of a shared gathering place, but there are groups of volunteers who are dedicated to specific aspects of the museum and their contributions help MHV to be a popular tourist attraction and a leader of museums in Manitoba. The Steinbach and Area Garden Club prepare and water our flower beds and tend to our gardens and orchards throughout the growing season, creating a beautiful outdoor environment for all museum guests. The South East Manitoba Draft Horse Association are regular supporters of our education program, our day camp program and our festival events. Their many hours of providing horse-drawn wagon rides for visitors and demonstrating horse-powered pioneer demonstrations, create a lasting memory of animal/human cooperation in daily pioneer life. Antique tractor enthusiasts who are part of the Southeast Implement Collectors group host a Tractor Show at MHV each year and assist us in caring for the antique tractors on display at MHV. The Steam Club ensures that the steam engine is maintained and safe to operate each year, as they prepare to demonstrate threshing, plowing and sawmill operation. Our windmill team, blacksmith team, and printshop team all dedicate their time and expertise to maintaining the equipment in their area and providing valuable demonstrations for school groups and festival goers. Our MHV Auxiliary continues to support programming at the museum by planning extra events and fundraisers, by supporting our events with canteens, and by coordinating the quilters who faithfully interact with guests as they hand-quilt blankets throughout the year. Mennonite Heritage Village is very grateful for the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of hours given to the museum to enhance the visitor experience throughout the season.

Success at MHV depends on all members of the community supporting the museum in various ways. Municipal, provincial, and federal grants continue to assist MHV with meeting our budget after a busy season. But we are especially thankful for the individuals and businesses who donate to projects and ongoing operating costs at the museum.

Thankfulness is a common theme at this time of year, and we want to join everyone in the community in counting the many ways that Mennonite Heritage Village has been blessed so far, this year. Thank you to everyone who has participated as a guest, a volunteer, or a donor. As a member of this caring and generous community, we continue to have an attitude of gratefulness as we preserve and tell the story of the Mennonite settlers to Manitoba. Thank you!

Upcoming events

Sept. 19 – 7 p.m. – “Blowin’ In The Wind”. An MHV Auxiliary evening celebrating the 60’s with music, food, and memories. Visit www.mhv.ca for more details.

Sept. 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – ‘Writing Your Story’ Workshop – A workshop for all writers. Join celebrated local authors MaryLou Driedger, Betty Barkman, Doris Penner, and Sheila Braun as you create your story.

Sept. 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. A day to reflect on our relationships with Indigenous friends and neighbours. Free Admission.

Oct. 2 – 7 p.m. – Volunteer Appreciation Evening. All volunteers who have helped us this year are invited to attend.