COLUMN: Village News – From our mission to a living experience

The program department at Mennonite Heritage Village connects people with each other and with our community’s past. The museum mission statement says that our goal is “to preserve and exhibit for present and future generations the experience and story of the Russian Mennonites and their contribution to Manitoba”. The program department invites students and teachers, campers and parents, individuals and families and all who visit us, to learn about the early Mennonite settlers in Manitoba and their stories and experiences. Our program coordinator, Jaysa Thiessen, has been asked to share her thoughts on the role of our events and programs. Below are her comments.

“I have the privilege of being MHV’s program coordinator! The programs department encompasses the education program, all events and festivals, and volunteer management.

“The education program offers schools a wonderful opportunity to explore outside, learn about Mennonite history, and get out of the classroom on a field trip! Field trips to MHV create memorable experiences for students that they are sure to remember for years to come and it is exciting and humbling that I get to be a part of that! The education program also offers five weeks of Pioneer Day Camp during the summer months. This is a weeklong day camp program in which campers get to experience Pioneer life hands-on, participating in all sorts of pioneer activities like butter churning, pickling, bread making, working in the blacksmith shop, and more.

“MHV’s events and festivals offer the surrounding community the opportunity to experience life in a Mennonite village. We are a living history museum, and the village comes to life on event days when each heritage building has costumed volunteers in it, sharing the history of the building. You will hear the clang of the blacksmith’s anvil, smell fresh bread baking in the outdoor oven, and see costumes that transport you back in time to the 1800’s and 1900’s.

“Volunteer management at MHV includes recruiting, training, scheduling, and retaining our wonderful team of volunteers! These volunteers are the reason why we can put on the programs that we do, without them we would not be able to exhibit the history that we do.

“I enjoy my job for many reasons! One of those reasons is the interactions I get to have with our many volunteers. Hearing their stories and seeing the enthusiasm they have for what we do at MHV is inspiring and I am incredibly blessed by each one of them. They brighten my days!

“One comment that I’ve heard a lot from people who come to visit MHV is “what is this place?” Most people do not know that we have upwards of 35 heritage buildings on site that are set up to imitate what a Mennonite community would have looked like in days gone by. They are surprised by how large our grounds are and what we all offer!

“MHV’s mission provides a straight edge upon which to measure everything that we do including our programs. It is crucial that the education program, events and festivals, and volunteer engagement accomplishes our mission! The education department packages the Mennonite story and tells it to students, the events and festivals that we run exhibit the story with costumed volunteers who keep pioneer life alive by performing pioneer demonstrations, and it is the volunteers who make it all happen!

“The planning doesn’t stop in the programs department! One thing that I’ll be working on during the next few weeks is our volunteer appreciation which is taking place on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. This is a great evening of celebrating our talented volunteers who make our programs happen! If you have volunteered this summer, please come out so that we can thank you!”

Thank you, Jaysa, for planning and organizing the many ways that MHV shares our heritage with the community. And thank you to our volunteers. We’ll see you at the Volunteer Appreciation evening!

Upcoming events

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.

Oct. 5 – 7 p.m. – Community Vespers Service at MHV. A meditative evening of choral music and scripture readings.

Oct. 14 – 7 p.m. – Steinbach and Area Garden Club monthly meeting at MHV.