A big party was held at Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach Tuesday night to celebrate the retirement of executive director Barry Dyck. While Dyck is staying on until his successor starts in February, the celebration was held in keeping with his original plan to retire at the end of this year. He says while it is time for him to retire, the future is full of uncertainty.

"I don't know what it's like not to go to work so I'm going to make a concerted effort to avoid responsibility for a period of time. I am going to do things that I've been neglecting for several years. I am going to spend time in my garden and in my basement and in my garage. Maybe I'll come and cut grass at for the museum and ride some really nice lawn mowers that they have here, take my grandkids to the zoo and stuff like that."

Dyck says he is pleased with what the museum team has accomplished during his nine years at the helm.

"There's been a rumour for the past number of years that the museum is viewed as being in better health than it was for many years. That rumour that suggests that maybe things have improved here is gratifying. It's good to know that I could be a part of making some improvements here."

He adds they have also fixed and upgraded a lot of structures at MHV.

Dyck says while he is stepping down, he still has dreams for the future of the facility.

"That the museum continues to become more vital to the community, to see children come here, to see families come here, local businesses bringing their picnics and their parties here and more weddings. We have done a lot of work with the Hanover School Division and others and we hope to do more of that. One of my dreams is that MHV becomes ever more significant in the life of Steinbach, generally, not just seen as a place where Mennonites go to eat good food, it's got to be more than that and it will be."

New executive director Gary Dyck will begin his duties in March.