On Sunday, 1 August 1999 Mennonites from across the former East Reserve and West Reserve, and from Winnipeg, interested in their own history gathered to celebrate the 125^th anniversary of their forefathers' arrival in Manitoba. Over 1000 people attended the Forks event and many more were at the worship service held at the Mennonite Heritage Village that same morning

The Forks event featured a reenactment of the landing of the first group with the S.S. International on a Friday evening, 31 July 1874. In this reenactment a local touring boat, the Paddlewheel, brought a group of period-costumed Mennonites to land at the Forks for 08.00 hr. All those on board were descendants of Mennonites arriving during the 1870s. Some, including Janet Warkentin and her daughter, were direct descendants of people arriving on the first boat load. The two, and some others told the story of the agonizing choices they had made in leaving Russia, the hardships of the trip, and the anxieties they faced pioneering in this new land.

It was a story based on actual experiences recorded in family diaries, oral stories passed on, and official documentation of this immigration. Several hymns of choice were sung by this group under the leadership of Rudy Schellenberg. Henry Fast gave a short meditation in which he praised the pioneering spirit of his ancestors, their faith in God and their optimism in the future of this province. Dr. John J. Friesen of CMBC led the service.

Written greetings were conveyed from the Governor-General of Canada, His Excellency the Right Honourable Roméo LeBlanc, as

well as the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, and personal greetings from the Member of Parliament for Provencher, David Iftody. As well, greetings were conveyed on behalf of the province by the Honourable Jack Reimer, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Niakwa; and on behalf of the City and The Forks corporation by Mrs. Janice Penner.

Finally, all direct descendants of the 1870s migration were invited to board the river boat for a photograph to duplicate a well-known photograph taken of that original group landing 125 years ago.

At Mennonite Heritage Village, in Steinbach, another heritage service marked the 125th anniversary of the former Mennonite East Reserve settlement and the municipality of Hanover. Along with congregational singing, including "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty", the Southeast Manitoba Male Choir sang several numbers. Kristel Peters sang several solos and Dr. Royden Loewen with a talk titled "Remembering", recalled the family arrivals, early settlement, and the difficult years at the beginning. Rev. George Feenstra of the Steinbach United Church led the service and Karen Siemens Peters was the accompanist for the morning.

The readings included Deuteronomy 8:7 "For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land flowing with streams, with springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley . . . "

In his sermon on the topic "To This Land Has The Lord Led Us!", long-time church worker and professor, Dr. Archie Penner of Kola, spoke about the Mennonites' search for a country and peace. From Prussia to Russia, to Canada, it was always a quest for a place where Mennonites could live and worship God faithfully. An offering to assist the MCC ministries in Ukraine, the area from where the 1870s immigrant families came, raised nearly $5000.00. The whole service was aired by CHSM.