August 18, 2022
By Gary Dyck
Working at Mennonite Heritage Village (MHV), my thinking often comes in ‘exhibit form’. ‘This idea/object (fill in the blank) would form a great exhibit!’ or ‘This contemporary societal issue has a lot in common with our exhibit based on the same root issue(s) 100 years ago’. Fortunately, MHV has space for exhibits beyond our two indoor galleries.
For example, we have a garden exhibit that flows throughout the grounds. What greets visitors first at our Village Centre entrance is an ever-changing line-up of shrubs, flowers, and prairie grasses – from tulips in spring to red leaves in fall. It’s no wonder visitors often stop to take pictures! Their walking pace begins to relax, breathing becomes deeper, and minds open. Somehow, the body knows it can now open itself for well-being and learning. Once through reception, guests enter the village grounds greeted by rows and rows of dazzling flowers and plants. As they near the village main street with all its historic buildings I sometimes hear children and adults alike exclaim their awe. ‘Wow!’ is a common word.
We are so grateful to the Steinbach and Area Garden Club for developing our gardens. They enjoy working with the palette we provide them with, and we all enjoy their finished masterpieces.
Another masterpiece will be revealed this Saturday, August 20th at 1:30pm. The grand opening of our Dirk Willems Peace Garden will include the unveiling of two major panels about Mennonites and Peace, a presentation on the garden, and acknowledgements of the Peace Exhibit committee. The more we know about peace and the examples of others, the better we can live it out in our world. Also, the Peace Trek will be wrapping up around that time and I’m sure the trekkers would enjoy some cheering. Whoever raises the most funds for MHV and Eden Foundation will be given a beautiful bike from Source for Sports Steinbach at the ceremony.
I hope you can visit MHV soon and see all the exhibits! When people leave MHV after being here for two or three hours I see their pace is fully relaxed, each breath completely deep, and their minds full of well-being and learning.
Upcoming Events:
MHV’s grounds and Livery Barn Restaurant are open seven days a week! The restaurant is open 11am to 4pm, and the grounds are open 9am to 5pm, except Thursdays 9am to 8pm, and Sundays 11:30am to 5pm, including our famous Sunday buffet till 2pm.
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.
August 20, Saturday – Dirk Willems Peace Garden grand-opening ceremony, 1:30pm. Years of dedicated work will be celebrated as we officially open the Dirk Willems Peace Garden. The flowers are in full bloom, two new panels will be revealed, and acknowledgements given. To add to the festivities, we will also be welcoming those completing the 48-kilometre Peace Trek from the Mennonite Landing Site (near Niverville) to the Dirk Willems Peace Garden.
August 30, Tuesday – Leaving Canada Speaker Series In-Person: The third event in our “Leaving Canada” series is a screening of the film Conform, a new documentary produced by the Plett Foundation and Refuge 31 films about the Mennonite migration to Mexico of the 1920s. This is an in-person event and there will be no livestream. Historian Royden Loewen will host, and attendees will hear from the director, Andrew Wall. To indicate your attendance, register here
September 5, Monday – Fall on the Farm 9:00am – 5:00pm: Experience harvest work, hearty food, corn on the cob, music, hog butchering, and pioneer demonstrations to celebrate the arrival of Fall.