Most heritage sites feel like museums - sterile, quiet, with everything behind glass and ropes. You walk through, read some plaques, maybe watch a short film, and leave feeling like you've checked a box rather than experienced anything meaningful.
Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach throws that formula out the window.
Walk through the gates of this 40-acre living village and you're hit with the smell of wood smoke and fresh bread. Not pumped-in scents or artificial atmosphere - the real thing, because the blacksmith's forge is actually running and the bakery is actually baking.
This Is How History Should Feel
The woman at the loom isn't an actress. She's been weaving for thirty years, and when she talks about the patterns, you hear genuine passion in her voice. The blacksmith shaping horseshoes has callused hands and stories about why certain techniques work better than others. These aren't performances - they're people practicing crafts their families have passed down for generations.
Kids who usually drag their feet through historical sites get mesmerized watching molten iron take shape. Adults find themselves asking detailed questions about traditional farming techniques. Something about seeing real work being done with real skill makes history feel immediate and relevant.
The Food Changes Everything
Forget whatever preconceptions you have about Mennonite cuisine. The restaurant here serves meals that will ruin chain restaurants for you permanently. The bread comes from the same wood-fired ovens you just watched being tended. The vegetables were grown using traditional methods. The recipes have been in families for generations.
This isn't "historical food" - it's just exceptional food made the way it was meant to be made.
Why 771 People Gave It 4.6 Stars
Because it delivers something rare: an authentic experience that doesn't feel manufactured. You spend three hours here and leave feeling like you've actually learned something, not just seen something.
Located 50 kilometers southeast of Winnipeg, it's worth building your Manitoba itinerary around. Open May through September, with indoor galleries year-round.
Call (204) 326-9661 or visit mennoniteheritagevillage.com for current information.
This is what heritage tourism should be - living, breathing, and real.
Planning a Manitoba cultural extension to your trip?
Contact Belt Drive Betty, AKA Renee Charbonneau at CMTA Travel Services - as a Certified Travel Agent, I can help map out your complete route including heritage stops, accommodations, and timing.
Reach out through the Canadian Motorcycle Tourism Association (exec.director@motorcycletourism.ca) for personalized travel planning help.
Motorcycling in Canada - A Ride Through Our History - Part 4
Manitoba's early history with the motorcycle is as interesting and fascinating as British Columbia, Alberta or Saskatchewan's. In fact, the Manitoba Motorcycle Club is recognized officially as Canada's oldest motorcycle club. They were founded in 1911. In 2010 they amalgamated with the Antique Motorcycle Club of Manitoba.
During the early 1900's Manitoba had a bustling motorcycle community.
Photo located on the Antique Motorcycle Club of Manitoba Web Site
The Manitoba Motorcycle Club, and the Winnipeg RoughRiders Motorcycle Club are amongst the best documented of all of the clubs in Manitoba at the time.
The Manitoba Motorcycle Club had some pretty talented racers.
In October of 1911, Joe Baribeau of the Manitoba Motorcycle Club set the world record for 100 miles on a dirt track at 1:40:14 & 3/5 second. He shaved almost 2 minutes off the previous record! Not only that he set the pace at and average speed of 60 mph.
Joe was only a part of the Manitoba Motorcycle Club for two years, but his numerous victories and his huge love of the sport made a huge impact in those two short years.
Scranton Truth, Oct. 16, 1911
Baribeau went on the be a principle racer for the Hendee Manufacturing Co. (Indian).
His racing career only lasted until 1913 when he wrecked in Toledo Ohio. He only ever raced once after that, in Toronto in 1915.
There is one more first that goes to Joe Baribeau - his is the first recorded motorcycle wedding in Canada.
Winnipeg Tribune, Nov. 5, 1913
The clubs of the day in Manitoba were very active. There were lots of hill races, TT races, dirt track races, socials and more. The motorcycle community of Manitoba was also very civic minded.
The Manitoba Motorcycle Club and the Winnipeg RoughRiders Motorcycle Club collectively offered up 100 motorcycles and the manpower to form a motorcycle unit for the war in 1940.
Winnipeg Tribune, July 19, 1940
Winnipeg Tribune 1940
Many Manitoba riders played roles in the way the motorcycle was used to impact our history and culture.
By the end of 1910, there were approximately 10 dealerships in and around Winnipeg and all were looking to fill the demand for the motorcycle.
One of the best documented was the Northwest Cycle & Motor company.
Opened in 1912, over the course of their history they would sell everything from Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Lambretta and everything in between. In 1978 the dealership was bought by Harley-Davidson of Winnipeg.
Back in the day, the Northwest Cycle & Motor Company was not just a place for riders to congregate or drool over new machines. It was also a place for innovation.
In 1948 a gent by the name of Ben Benson worked at this motorcycle shop and he filed and received the patent for the Hydra Glide front end!
It is believed that he struck a deal with the Harley-Davidson Motor Corp. in late 1948 before his patent was approved in 1950.
Meet another interesting Manitoba rider; Albert E Bennett (1906-1968)
First Row, second from the left
Born in Rossburn Manitoba, he and his family moved to Winnipeg in 1909.
After a stint prospecting for gold in the Williams Lake BC region, he returned to Winnipeg where he held the position of superintendent for the Winnipeg Electric Company of 14 years.
He had also worked as an assistant engineer during the construction of the Norwood Bridge and held the position of executive director for Met-Wood Industries. Heavily involved with civic politics he served on city council for 5 years from 1955 to 1960.
Mr. Bennett is probably best known in our history books as the founder of the first air cadet corps in Canada (1938) and for his role in the second world war as the commanding officer of Winnipeg's motorcycle training unit.
I hope you enjoyed our ride through early motorcycle history in Manitoba....So far this ride through our history has had some colourful and talented characters involved!
1906: Quebec, it is believed that there were 3 motorcycles registered in the province
1911: Ontario issues motorcycle license plates
1911: New Brunswick includes motorcycle plates as part of their first run of licence plates
1912: Manitoba issues motorcycle plates that are miniature in size and revert to large plates with no provincial emblems for motorcycles in 1914.
1912: The Titanic sinks off the coast of Newfoundland
1912: Saskatchewan issues miniature motorcycle plates with provincial crests
1913: British Columbia introduces motorcycle license plates that are miniature in size, in 1914 the
plate changed to the size of a regular plate but had additional mounting holes.
1914: Britain declares war on Germany, Canada as a colony is at war.
1914: Winnipeg MB, the Fort Garry Horse was founded and was Manitoba's only cavalry regiment
1929: Canada is the second largest manufacture of automobiles. By the end of 1929 there were 1.9 million registered automobiles in Canada.
1930: The average cost of a car was $600
1939: Prince Edward Island - this is the earliest known motorcycle plate for PEI
1938 - 1945: Canada stops producing civilian products such as cars, appliances and clothing, and focuses on military production.
I hope you enjoyed our ride through early motorcycle history in Manitoba.... Ontario is up next! I hope you will help us find Canada's MOST rider Friendly Community Visit www.riderfriendlycontest.ca
If you are blessed enough to be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you.
Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider
Research for this article:
Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Greg Williams
Winnipeg Free Press
Manitoba Motorcycle Club Archives
Antique Motorcycle Club of Manitoba
Canadian Car
Memorable Manitobans
Google: Patents
Eric's Plates
Winnipeg 100 Years
Winnipeg.ca
Winnipeg Tribune
Scranton Truth
Disclaimer: All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. The Belt Drive Betty Blog makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site & will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.
Manitoba is the first North American jurisdiction to do so.
Club members and associates can now be tried without the prosecution having to bring forth additional proof of the accused being a member of a criminal organization speeding up trial times and making it easier for the province to confiscate property under the Criminal Property Forfeiture Act.
Manitoba is pushing Ottawa to follow suit and declare the Hells Angels as a Criminal Organization on a National level to affect federal cases.
Among their arguments for a National designation of Criminal Organization, the Manitoba Justice department cites the fact that in numerous individual trials in Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba, members were found to be part of a criminal organization.
As a rider I am concerned with this ruling as it is the same sort of ruling that has brought Australia's riding community untold grief.
We have a situation where you are guilty until proven innocent and innocents are going to become embroiled situations that will become costly in numerous ways.
We have already seen the Manitoba Justice department threaten to put family members in jail for 6 months if they associate with their son/brother/uncle/grandson.
If you have committed a crime you deserve to pay the price for your crime, where I become very concerned is the mentality of todays police officers.
Too many times, right here in Canada, we see cases of police officers lying to cover themselves - like in the Robert Dziekanski tasering where Monty Robinson and three other officers are reported to have met privately to get their "stories straight" according to new charges being brought against them.
Then there is the Orion Hutchison case where Monty Robinson allegedly fled the scene with his children and had a couple of shots to steady his nerves. It is suspected that he was already impaired when he struck and killed the rider, but because he claims to have had a couple of drinks at home to calm his nerves, he got off with only an obstruction of justice charge.
We see in the news where officers have beaten people they felt were disrespectful or belligerent or have abused their authority and used excessive force, like the case in Kelowna where officer Geoff Mantler kicked a man named Buddy Tavares ,who was kneeling, in the face.
So what do you think?
Do you think we here in Canada will be immune to the heavy handed tactics the justice system and police of Australia are using to stomp out Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs?
Do you think our police officers will stop group rides and hassle innocents like they have in Australia?
Are you prepared to live in a country where you have to phone the police station before you go out on a ride?
Unlike Australia, we have no national riders rights organization to fight for us, the everyday ordinary rider, and that National Organization in Australia has made some inroads in improving the treatment of the every day rider.
Do you think our Charter of Freedoms and Rights will protect you?
Are you prepared to be arrested because you were at an event where the Hells Angels or the Bandidos etc. were in attendance?
Are you prepared to be searched?
Are you prepared to have your life disrupted to prove your innocence?
Are you prepared for the costs? And I am not just talking financial.
Are you prepared to have your family and life turned upside down to prove your innocence?
Just Google what is happening in Australia with police and their abuse of authority, then Google the same thing in Canada and the US and tell me how well the riding community is going to fare.
Think about it and then tell me your thoughts.
I know where I stand on the subject - how about you....where do you stand?
Have a fabulous weekend and if you are lucky enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you.
"To serve and protect" - it used to mean something, but in this day and age it seems to be a case of "to bully and lie". The news out of Manitoba today has me questioning law enforcement in this country in a way I never have before. I am all for putting criminals behind bars and making our communities as safe as can be. HOWEVER, I am NOT for SWEEPING DISCRIMINATION. The article in the Winnipeg Free Press has me concerned on a number of levels. Here's why - Begin Quote: The Free Press has uncovered details of a campaign being waged in the courts following a recent undercover sting that dealt a serious blow to the Hells Angels. At least seven members and associates have been arrested in recent weeks, despite no evidence they have committed crimes. More arrests are expected. END QUOTE The article goes on to say that "The remaining few members and associates who weren't snared by the criminal investigation, including Sweeney's brother, Rod, are being caught in the peace-bond net. The result is that almost every person linked to the Manitoba Hells Angels is either in custody or barred from having contact with any other member or associate." So, a brother - a BLOOD brother, who has no criminal record is now not allowed to associate with his brother because his brother is a Hells Angel, if he does it's do not pass go, go straight to jail... Are the RCMP going to enforce this law on Liberal Party of Canada for the Sponsorship Scandal? By their own definition (The Liberal Party's Definition that now constitutes a law in Canada) they - the Liberal Party of Canada are a criminal organization. I wonder if the RCMP are going to enforce this law on the Boy Scouts of Canada? What about the Roman Catholic Church? Think about it folks - the definition of a criminal organization in Canada is: (From the Edmonton Police Services Web Site)
Organized Crime Legislation
As stated in the Criminal Code, section 467.1(1), a "criminal organization" means a group, however organized, that
is composed of three or more persons in or outside Canada; and,
has as one of its main purposes or main activities the facilitation or commission of one or more serious offences, that, if committed, would likely result in the direct or indirect receipt of a material benefit, including a financial benefit, by the group or by any one of the persons who constitute the group.
It does not include a group of persons that forms randomly for the immediate commission of a single offence.
End quote
Repeatedly the Catholic Church has hidden and protected priests whose conduct has been horrifying. In most of the cases I have read of, the arch bishops, the cardinals and in many cases the pope has known of the offences. That takes care of requirement A - ergo, they, by definition are a criminal organization.
The financial benefit to the Church in the many scandals that have taken place with regards to sexual assaults and abuse of minors was not having to pay compensation to victims and continuing to collect donations etc., because the crimes were covered up.
That takes care of requirement B.
Ergo, the Roman Catholic Church COULD be labelled a criminal organization.
The exact same thing can be said of the Boy Scouts of Canada...more than three people have covered things up which is a crime and financial compensation was had as the hiding of the information on sexual predators in their midst allowed them to continue fundraising etc...and again protected their financial interests by avoiding paying compensation.
The Liberal Party of Canada and in the Province of Ontario have repeatedly "stolen" money from the Canadian Taxpayer - the Sponsorship Scandal and the Ornge fiasco come to mind.
Again, there were more than three people who conspired and financial gain was had...
So, if there are wrong doers in your midst and you belong to an organization, if it is the will of the RCMP, your organization could be next in the witch hunts.
Yes I am being a facetious old bag - but I want you to really think about what the RCMP are doing and how morally wrong it is.
You have done no crime - or at least there is no PROOF of any crime and yet you can be arrested and detained if you associate with your family member and all because that family member is a member of the Hells Angels...
What the hell happened to Innocent until PROVEN guilty?
What the hell is happening to Canada?
You may think I am a lunatic, off my rocker, off kilter and maybe I am.
I know one thing for certain, the RCMP in this country could also be held up as a criminal organization based on the legal definition. Every day across this country police officers lie, drink and drive, use excessive force, beat their wives and harass their female counter parts, kill people with tasers and then lie about their conduct...
Most of the time there are more than three people involved, most of the time there is some financial gain be it the fact that officers get paid suspensions and or the police service can avoid paying out damages and continue to collect taxpayers money in the form of salaries, equipment.
Like I said - I have grave concerns about what is going on. Why should someone who has never been charged with a criminal offence be held to a peace bond? Why should someone who has never been charged with an offence be treated like a criminal and be held accountable for the sins of his brother?
My question for the day is this...am I out to lunch on this topic or does something seriously stink?
There is a ton of information in the news feeds this morning, everything from who is appearing at the Buffalo Chip in Sturgis this year to some great sports news....check them out at:
I leave you with a few funnies to start your day off...thanks to my bent and broken friends on Facebook for sharing their sense of humour with the rest of us!
In the past I have had people tell me I was a fear monger because I brought to light information the I found in the news feeds over loud pipes and the trend towards motorcycle bashing in this country and the USA. I was called pig headed, rude and obnoxious - now I very well may be those things but had people been willing to listen, had they taken heed of the trend two years ago, we wouldn't be in the boat we are in. I am no mind reader, no great visionary - but the trend has been there in the US for a while and when I pointed that out - man did I get called down - that's the US, nothing to do with Canada...yup - that's what happened. So now, this is where we are - be as pissed at me as you want but understand one thing folks - I am only the bearer of the news - not the creator. ( And I mean that in more than one way as I ride a stock machine!) Some riders in Manitoba were fined for loud pipes - interestingly they were ticketed under the Highway Traffic Act...and the Winnipeg Police Services is already using the hand held decibel meters. In Calgary the council is swaying things towards clarifying their noise bylaw...Ald. John Mar, who is spearheading the amendment, says the existing bylaw is vague by not putting a number to "objectionable noise." In Ottawa - noise from motorcycles is high on the agenda again after two years. Wetaskiwin is wading in on the issue. Can anyone say - UNITE? Tomorrow Ken Venus of Biker Radio Magazine is going to be weighing in on this issue...it might be worth having a listen to see what he's found out. In other news: Port Dover is getting Geared up for their only Friday the 13th date this year. Ride for Dad in Whitby gets underway on Saturday. The OPP ticketed a rider for doing 130 - he lost his motorcycle for stunting. Another rider has lost his life in Ontario. The 18 year old driver of the other vehicle involved may be facing charges. Our very own Amanda Lynn Mayhew the Fytness Fanatik is in the news with her ride for Progeria. That's it for me today folks - I got riding, photography and filming to do! Have a safe and fabulous day and PLEASE - ride proud - not loud.
