Village News

Nathan Dyck has joined the team at Mennonite Heritage Village (MHV) as our new Development Coordinator. We are happy to have someone capable like Nathan as this position has remained empty since May. Recently I asked Nathan some questions so that you can get to know him better.

Nathan, what is your initial priorities or vision for this role?

My initial vision for the role is to build on the existing relationships MHV has with community organizations and deepen our mutual support while also seeking out new partnerships that can help foster deeper connections in our region. We have such a wealth of community groups, from the arts to agriculture, religious groups to mechanics. I want to see how we can develop relationships that allow others to engage with our great infrastructure while also enriching the visitor experience and well-being of those who come to the MHV. These sorts of relationships take time to build and grow, but I look forward to seeing our community become more inclusive and inter-connected, and if you are part of an organization and this resonates with you, please connect with me.

My grandparents where very involved in their day, as are many people of my parent’s generation and we are starting to see more youth seek ways to be get engaged with their history and the museum. I would love to see how we can partner with groups in community to demonstrate their wealth of experience and knowledge and to learn new things alongside others. I had this experience in grade 6 when I was at Woodlawn School and was able to work in the blacksmith shop and become inspired to make things for myself. I would love to see these sorts of partnerships return and to develop deeper inter-generational and cross-cultural experiences.

Anything else our readers should know about you?

In addition to my love of history, I also have a fascination with how things work and this has led me into many different hobbies. In the last few years I have stumbled into watch repair and love finding and restoring mechanical watches. It is like automotive repair, but at the microscopic level and every watch is its own unique design and puzzle to solve.

I am also on the board of the Eastman Choral Association along with Meredith Hutchinson and Shannon Sawatzky. We have often made use of the MHV auditorium for performances, and it is great to see that the heritage of choral singing in the South-East is as strong as ever! While Mennonites are traditionally associated with choral singing, we are seeing our community of singers broaden alongside our wider community, and it is encouraging to see how this also brings a more diverse group of visitors to the MHV.