Local News
Mennonite Heritage Village reports rising costs but ends year with surplus
The Mennonite Heritage Village (MHV) provided Steinbach City Council with an update this past week, outlining both the challenges and successes the museum has experienced over the past year. Rising costs create challenges The presentation took place at a Strategic Priorities Committee meeting, where Executive Director Robert Goertzen highlighted several financial pressures, including rising costs for food, supplies, and insurance. Goertzen told council that prices for food and goods have increased between 10 and 50 percent, while insurance premiums have also seen significant jumps. Despite these pressures, Goertzen said the museum expects to end the year with a surplus. He credited much of that success to community support and the efforts of hundreds of volunteers who keep MHV running. Volunteer support remains strong Goertzen noted that while volunteerism remains strong in many areas, it can be difficult to find enough people to help during times particularly when it comes to interpreters for school day programs. Mayor Earl Funk praised the organization for its work and the role it plays in the community. “I thought the presentation was amazing, and I’m so thankful for the MHV and that we have an organization like that that draws tourism to our community,” said Funk. “It transcends the generations. I like taking my grandkids through and showing them how grandpa used to do things.” He also commented on the importance of volunteerism, noting that around 300 people donate their time to MHV each year. “Isn’t that exciting?” Funk said. “Even if some just volunteer for a day, it’s amazing to see families coming out together. The greatest thing you can teach your children is to volunteer together. I believe there’s a huge spirit of volunteerism in our community. It starts in the home and in our churches.” City recognizes museum’s impact Funk acknowledged that the financial pressures faced by MHV mirror what many other organizations and businesses are experiencing. “Costs are going up everywhere,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, food, building, insurance, it’s all increasing. I totally understand the challenges they face, and yet they have to stay within budget because their patrons are primarily families.” Funk added that he was encouraged to hear the museum is ending the year in a strong financial position, providing families with affordable activities throughout the year. “It was great news to hear that they’re ending the year off positively with a surplus,” said Funk. “That’s very exciting and I hope they can report surpluses in the years to come.” Ongoing maintenance and new exhibits Goertzen also told council that the museum’s historical buildings are in constant need of repairs or renewal, and they continue to restore and maintain the buildings as close to the original style as possible. He added that the museum is always looking for items with stories attached to them, since those stories bring greater meaning to the pieces displayed in the museum. Goertzen said MHV is also developing new exhibits that connect history with current-day events. The spring exhibit, titled Mennonites and Medicine, will explore the relationship between the Mennonite community and the medical field. Canada Day continues to be the largest event Goertzen also noted that Canada Day celebrations are the museum’s largest event of the year, attracting more than 5,000 guests. Other annual events include Pioneer Days, the Tractor Show, and Fall on the Farm. Upcoming Events: November 8 – 10:00am to 4:00pm – Christmas Market Extravaganza. Local vendors, horse drawn wagon rides, kids’ crafts, and waffles with white sauce. November 9 – 7:00pm – Community Vespers Service at MHV. A meditative evening of choral music and scripture readings. November 14 – 7:00pm – MHV Auxiliary presents a Low German evening, featuring special music by Heischraitje & Willa Honich. The Mennonite Heritage Village continues to serve as one of Steinbach’s key cultural and tourism attractions, sharing local history and heritage with visitors from across Manitoba and beyond.