125th Manitoba Mennonite Anniversary
It is our intention to include a regular column updating our readers about happenings and projections pertaining to the celebration of the 125th anniversary o Mennonite settlement in Manitoba. The early arrivals of the families coming to the former East Reserve arrived in the Winnipeg area around August 1, 1874. Almost a year later to the day (sources say it was July 14, 1875) another wave of settlement opened up the West Reserve area along the Canada-US border westward to the Pembina Hills.
Our listings here indicate where the first celebrations already have taken place, and what is to come. Reports will focus on four areas: the former East Reserve, now basically Hanover municipality; the Mennonite Heritage Village, which is viewed as a project of all Manitoba Mennonites (right?), the former West Reserve, and the Winnipeg area (which some say, now includes about half the Mennonites still resident in Manitoba (we invite corrections on that also).
The East Reserve
Commemorative events in this area are being directed by a large committee headed by Karen Peters of Randolph, near Steinbach. Successful efforts have been made to involve the city of Steinbach and all the smaller communities of the region in the celebrations. A number of souvenir items have been produced (like mugs, etc.). Short historical vignettes on the various communities are being broadcast daily weekdays on CHSM just before 8 a.m. Detailed plans are being publicized in the periodical Preservings published by the Hanover Steinbach Historical Society, and edited by Delbert Plett (see Issue 13, December 1998 for a summary). For other details contact Karen at 1-204-377-4409.
The Mennonite Landing Site Committee has been discussing the erection of a cairn or other monument to note the involvement of Jacob Y. Shantz in the immigration of 1874-1875, and later. Some improvements for the park itself are also under discussion.
Mennonite Heritage Village
A special service for the entire Manitoba Mennonite community and others is being scheduled for 10.30 a.m. Sunday, 1 August, 1999. Other regular programming of the year (Spring on the Farm, Pioneer Days, fall events) will be planned with the anniversary in mind. The special Menno Simons exhibit just mounted in the museum should be kept in mind here as well. Many will recall the 500th anniversary of Menno's birth commemorated in 1996.
The West Reserve
The MMHS Sites and Monuments Committee and the MMHS executive committee are directing plans to date. An anniversary committee is being constituted to take over some of this activity.
The bulk of the programming is being projected for the year 2000 which is actually the 125th anniversary of this area. This will include events at the old Fort Dufferin, just north of Emerson, the arrival site of Mennonites in 1875. Some smaller communities like Chortitz, near Winkler, are planning local events (see ad elsewhere in this issue).
As well some significant research has been done on the one-time Post Road, and it is hoped that a sign and perhaps reconstruction of some of the post road sections will be completed by 2000 also. Conrad Stoesz of Winnipeg has been gathering materials, and a short two-part story has already appeared in the Red River Valley Echo. Other Mennonite newspapers have asked to run the feature.
The Winnipeg area
The MMHS executive committee has been laying plans for a sunrise church service to be held at The Forks of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers. The date is also Sunday, 1 August, 1999. Further details will be forthcoming. This may be the time to place a plaque at The Forks, but we are not aware that plans are definitely in the making somewhere.
The public "unveiling" of plans for a May festival, March West (to be based in Emerson) took place at the Legislative Buildings some weeks ago. It will feature the formation of the Northwest Mounted Police force in 1873, and its trek west to establish its "law and order" presence in Western Canada, leaving Fort Dufferin in 1874 about the same time as Mennonites were beginning to arrive at the junction of the Rat and Red Rivers for the downstream.
This past summer Nel and Harman Ament visited southern Manitoba from the Netherlands. Harman is the pastor of the Mennonite church in Alkmaar, N.H. They were most interested in the Mennonite histoory in this province and visited the landing site at the Rat and Red Rivers. They also visited Friesen's printing firm to see where their Menno Simon's 500th anniversary book had been printed.