COLUMN: Village News – Thank you to all MHV supporters

When we think back to the highlights of 2025, it’s easy to list successful festivals, fundraisers, exhibits, and programs. We like to look at increased attendance over the summer, increased revenue in various departments and new exhibits that enhanced what MHV could offer to our guests. We are thankful for the many outward signs that demonstrate that Mennonite Heritage Village has engaged in important topics and invited the community to participate in our activities and our events.

What has been the foundation of all these programs, festivals, and activities, is the support of a large group of people. Many of you fit into one or more of the following lists of supporters and we are grateful for each of you.

Volunteers – We can never say enough good things about our volunteers. In dozens of areas at MHV, volunteers welcome guests, interpret the stories and history of the Mennonites in Manitoba, serve food during festival days, mow our expansive property, repair heritage buildings, assist with setting up our exhibits, provide wagon rides for school kids, ensure the windmill continues to operate, tend to our gardens and flowerbeds, and offer to help whenever asked. Not only is their work important, but we enjoy the growing relationships that have developed over the years between volunteers and staff. Thank you!

Donors – Mennonite Heritage Village is a not-for-profit organization which depends on charitable giving for nearly 25 percent of its annual operating budget. We have some donors who have been providing funds for the museum since the 1960s and 1970s. The importance of telling the Mennonite story in southern Manitoba has been passed on to next generations and many families say they support our mission partly because the museum was important to their parents and they want to continue that legacy of valuing our heritage and sharing these community values with newcomers and new generations. There are many people who donate to MHV by participating in our fundraisers throughout the year, such as riding a tractor in our Tractor Drive, cycling on our Peace Trek, attending the Classic Car Show, or supporting us at the annual MHV Gala in spring. We know many businesses support our activities with gifts-in-kind and sponsorship funds. When speaking with donors, we understand the importance that each of you place on preserving our heritage, of telling the stories of individuals and the communities as they created a new home in Manitoba and the values the form the foundation of our neighbourhoods and families today. Thank you for your support!

Community organizations – MHV continues to develop relationships with many community groups who are all working to make Steinbach and area, a better, caring and welcoming place to raise families safely, to live peacefully, and to retire happily. It is wonderful to work with Eastman Immigrant Services each year as we welcome newcomers to enjoy the museum grounds and to share their culture with us as we display our heritage. We partner with community service groups like Eden Foundation and Country Classic Car Club to raise money for local charitable initiatives. We continue to develop our relationship with the City of Steinbach, who generously provide a sizeable operating grant for our museum maintenance as well as collaborating with the city parks and recreation department to offer a free admission day on July 1, encouraging the community to celebrate our national holiday at the museum, before the City of Steinbach’s fireworks program at the soccer park in the evening. Coming together as a community is a wonderful way to bring people of all ages together to share in community celebrations. We also work with several other organizations, like the Steinbach Arts Council, the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce, and South East Helping Hands. The support that MHV experiences when working with other community organizations encourages us to continue to grow as community builders in partnership with these other enriching and supportive institutions. We are grateful for collaborative opportunities.

If you have not identified with any of these many supporter groups, you have still supported us if you have attended our events, purchased a book from our store, or eaten at our restaurant. We know that you support the mission of MHV by your friendly greetings when we meet and your well wishes during our conversations. We appreciate you!

The year 2025 has been one of many highlights, including great festivals, new exhibits, and wonderful programs. But what is truly memorable is the smile, the ‘hello’, and conversation that we experience at the museum every time we meet. Thank you for your continued support.

Upcoming events

Jan. 4 – 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Join us for a cozy winter afternoon at Christmas on the Farm, hosted by the South East Manitoba Draft Horse Association! Bundle up and enjoy free admission and free sleigh rides through the snowy village streets and warm up with hot dogs and hot chocolate after! Guests are encouraged to bring a tin for the bin in support of local food banks.

Jan. 8 and 22 – 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Join us at the Mennonite Heritage Village for an engaging morning set among the fascinating artifacts in MHV’s gallery. During Exhibit Explorers: Craft & Story Hour, children will enjoy lively stories and creative crafts that spark imagination and curiosity. Free Admission.

Feb. 7 – 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Join Erin Koop-Unger, MaryLou Driedger and Andrew Unger, as MHV Village Books and Gifts presents our second in a series of writer’s workshops, called “Storied Places.”

Feb. 14 – 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. – Join MHV for our Winter Carnival! Enjoy a day filled with indoor and outdoor activities, a hot food canteen, and pioneer demonstrations and interpretation. Celebrate the winter season with classic Canadian activities like a bonfire, Crokicurl, skating, and snowshoeing!

For more information, visit www.mhv.ca.