July 14, 2022
By Gary Dyck
This year Mennonite Heritage Village (MHV) and Eden Foundation are co-hosting the first annual Peace Trek. It is a one-day cyclathon or marathon based on the new Peace Trail being developed in South-East Manitoba. In 2024, the 150th anniversary of the first Mennonites arriving in Manitoba, a two-day walking pilgrimage will be added, led by an Ox and a Red River cart!
The route is approximately 48 kilometres with three waystations that include washrooms and refreshments. There are three ways to participate in the Peace Trek: you can cycle, run, or do it as a relay with friends and family. The starting point is the Mennonite Landing site by the Red River (near Niverville), and the terminus is the Dirk Willems Peace Garden at MHV. If you know of anyone with a bike or who can run, be sure to let them know about the upcoming Peace Trek!
The bicycle is known as the greatest invention of humankind. It is a symbol of harmony between person and machine. At close to 100%, it is calculated to be the most efficient self-powered means of transportation. It also revolutionized the dating scene for some Mennonite villages. In the early 1900’s they were miles apart, and it was rare for young people to see others from outside of their village. Just another reason why the bicycle is seen as the greatest invention.
So, get your feet and bicycle ready for the Peace Trek on August 20th! Early registration is $50, while walk-up registration is $75. Refreshments throughout the trail, gifts, and a meal at the end will be provided to all participants. Friends and family of the participants are welcome to join them as they enter MHV by the pond. Food and refreshments will also be available for purchase.
Our peer-to-peer fundraising app and MHV website portal makes it easy for you to register, form a relay team, and send out ready-made emails/texts to potential donors, who, with a couple of clicks, can make their contributions to you or your team. If you don’t think you can cycle the whole 48 kilometers, get an E-bike like I have, they are a game-changer for those with poor joints. I hope to see you on the beautiful Peace Trail! Join MHV’s social media to see recent footage of me testing out the trail. There are moments of beauty and hilarity. Peace Trek 2022!
Upcoming Events:
MHV’s grounds and Livery Barn Restaurant are open seven days a week. The restaurant is open 11 am to 4 pm, and the grounds are open 9 am to 5 pm. Thursdays we are open 9 am to 8 pm. Sunday we are open 11:30 am to 5 pm.
Pioneer Day Camps July & August Come experience pioneer Mennonite life with a week at the Mennonite Heritage Village. Our education staff are excited to provide a fun, safe and experiential week of crafts, baking, making tools, gardening, games and much more. All camps run from 10am to 4pm during the week. Register today as spaces are filling up!
Leaving Canada Speaker Series: July 26, 7:00PM “Putting Down Roots in Mexico,” by Kevin Dyck, Curator at Museo Menonita in Cuauhtémoc, Mexico. Free event, click to register here.
Pioneer Days: July 30 to August 1 Relive the experience of the early Manitoba Mennonites during our annual Pioneer Days festival! From July 30th to August 1st, enjoy traditional Mennonite food, activities for kids, live demonstrations, music, guided tours, and more! For a full list of activities and entertainers, visit our website at www.mhv.ca
August 20 – Peace Trek 2022: Together with the Eden Foundation, Mennonite Heritage Village is proud to be hosting our first annual cyclathon and marathon! Choose to bike, run, or participate in a relay on the Peace Trail; a newly established route that passes waypoints of history and nature in south-east Manitoba that you won’t want to miss.