Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society

What Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society does

The Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society (MMHS), founded in 1958 and headquartered at 500 Shaftesbury Boulevard in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is a Canadian non-profit historical society dedicated to fostering awareness of Mennonite history and culture in the province. It operates as an umbrella organization connecting individual members, the Mennonite Heritage Village museum, Mennonite Heritage Archives, the Plett Foundation, Canadian Mennonite University, and regional committees (EastMenn, WestMenn) to coordinate heritage preservation activities. The society was restructured in 1979 when its museum function was spun off into a separate entity, allowing MMHS to concentrate on book publication, educational activities, and cultural awareness.

MMHS's core offerings span five product categories: the Heritage Posting magazine (published since 1984, distributed to members twice annually); guided heritage bus tours of the East and West Reserves priced at $50-$60 per person with capacity capped at approximately 50 participants; documentary films, notably 'Where the Cottonwoods Grow' (2024), commemorating Mennonite migration from South Russia to Manitoba; book publications including the Historical Atlas of the East Reserve (now in its fifth printing) and the 2024 release 'Prosperity Ever — Depression Never: Steinbach in the 1930s'; and the newly launched 55km Peace Trail self-guided heritage route. Technology components are modest and research-oriented, comprising three digital resources — the GRanDMA OnLine database, the Mennonite Newspaper Index, and the Genealogy Records Index — supporting family history research into records that include church registries and diaries dating back to old-country Russia and Ukraine. The society holds no AI/ML capability and operates without a technology R&D function.

Revenue is generated through five streams: annual individual membership dues ($20/year), one-time tour ticket purchases, book sales distributed through CommonWord (at CMU), McNally Robinson, and the Mennonite Heritage Village museum, charitable donations from members and supporters, and episodic government grants — most recently a $65,000 CAD grant from the Province of Manitoba in August 2023 for documentary production. The society is led by President Edward G. Krahn (with Conrad Stoesz also referenced as President/Archivist at Mennonite Heritage Archives) and a volunteer board, operates with no parent company, no private equity exposure, and no disclosed full-time headcount. It serves four primary customer segments: Mennonite families and descendants, Mennonite heritage organizations, academic researchers and students, and the general public interested in Manitoba's multicultural history.

Name

Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society

Legal name

Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society

Website

https://mmhs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society, founded 1958 in Winnipeg, is a Canadian non-profit that preserves and shares Mennonite history in Manitoba through the Heritage Posting magazine, heritage bus tours, documentary films, genealogical databases, and book publications, serving Mennonite descendants, heritage organizations, researchers, and the general public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage and Cultural Preservation Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Historical Sites (71212)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI), Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI), Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC)

Keywords

• Heritage preservation society
• Genealogical research resources
• Historical publication services
• Cultural heritage tours
• Documentary film production

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership dues of $20 per year, providing members with two issues of Heritage Posting annually and access to society activities and events.
2. Tour Revenue: Bus tour tickets sold at $60 per person per tour, including chartered transportation, meals, and guided historical storytelling at Mennonite heritage sites.
3. Book and Publication Sales: Sale of published books and historical atlases including Historical Atlas of the East Reserve ($28 for Prosperity Ever, Depression Never), and other Mennonite historical publications.
4. Donations and Grants: Charitable donations from members and supporters, plus government grants such as the $65,000 grant from Province of Manitoba for documentary production.
5. Documentary Licensing: Production and distribution of documentary films such as Where the Cottonwoods Grow, commemorating Mennonite migration from South Russia to Manitoba.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society preserves, documents, and shares the history and culture of Mennonites in Manitoba through publications, documentary films, guided bus tours, heritage trails, genealogical research databases, and community events. Operating as an umbrella organization since 1958, MMHS produces the Heritage Posting magazine, historical atlases, books, and educational resources while maintaining heritage sites and coordinating commemorative events for members and the public.

Product overview

The Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society operates as a heritage preservation and educational organization offering publications (magazines, books, atlases), documentaries, guided historical tours, genealogical research resources, and a membership program. The portfolio includes the Heritage Posting magazine (since 1984), documentary films like 'Where the Cottonwoods Grow', book publications covering Mennonite settlement history, bus tours of historic reserves, the Peace Trail heritage trail, and genealogy databases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Heritage Posting Magazine Bimonthly magazine serving as the source for news and stories about Mennonite history in Manitoba since 1984. Members receive two issues annually with archive available.
• Where the Cottonwoods Grow Documentary Documentary commemorating the 20,000-kilometre migration of Mennonites from South Russia to Manitoba in the 1870s, featuring CGI recreations and historical archives.
• Prosperity Ever — Depression Never: Steinbach in the 1930s Book documenting culture, faith, and community development in Manitoba's largest Mennonite community during the Great Depression.
• Historical Atlas of the East Reserve Comprehensive atlas documenting Mennonite settlement history on the east side of the Red River through detailed maps, charts, and cemetery listings with GPS designations.
• Building Communities: The Changing Face of Manitoba Mennonites Comprehensive accessible history of Manitoba Mennonites covering 19th century emigration from Europe through contemporary diverse Mennonite communities. Co-published with Canadian Mennonite University Press.
• East and West Reserve Historical Bus Tours Guided bus tours of historic Mennonite settlement sites in Manitoba's East and West Reserves, led by historians Ernie Braun and Conrad Stoesz, featuring storytelling and site visits including Mennonite Memorial Landing Site, Chortitz Church, Shantz Sheds, and Fort Dufferin. Includes chartered transportation and traditional Mennonite meals.
• Peace Trail 55km pilgrimage trail following the path of first Mennonites from Mennonite Landing Site on Red River to Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach, with waypoints at historic sites.
• Genealogy Research Resources Genealogy resources including Records Index, GRanDMA OnLine database, and Manitoba Mennonite Newspaper Index for family history research.
• Other Books and Publications Additional publications including church records, village histories, census records, and migration research from the East Reserve, West Reserve, and Russian Mennonites.
• MMHS Membership Program Annual membership at $20/year providing two issues of Heritage Posting magazine and community connection for Mennonite history enthusiasts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Heritage Posting magazine published since 1984, providing over 40 years of documented Mennonite history stories
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Mennonite Heritage VillagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMennonite Heritage Village is MMHS's primary affiliated museum partner. MMHS serves as an umbrella organization for the Heritage Village, collaborating on events including the Mennonite Reflections exhibit (commemorating 150 years of Mennonite history), AGM hosting, bus tours originating from the village, and documentary screenings. The village serves as a key location for MMHS activities and publication distribution.
• Mennonite Heritage ArchivescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMennonite Heritage Archives provides essential historical materials for MMHS projects including church registries, diaries, and photographs. MMHS members volunteer to transcribe German-language documents and publish them for wider accessibility. President Conrad Stoesz works as an archivist at MHA, creating strong organizational ties.
• Canadian Mennonite UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMU provides pickup location for MMHS bus tours at 500 Shaftesbury Boulevard and serves as partner for book co-publishing (Building Communities: The Changing Face of Manitoba Mennonites published with CMU Press). Documentary screenings held at CMU facilities.
• Archives of ManitobamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a key archival resource for Mennonite research alongside other archives including Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies, Mennonite Heritage Archives, Winkler Heritage Archives, and Altona and Area Archive.
• Mennonite Historical Society of CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational umbrella organization holding annual meetings where MMHS members report on research, preservation, and storytelling efforts. MHSC presents Award of Excellence recognizing contributions to Canadian Mennonite history. MMHS representatives participate in national meetings and collaborative projects.
• Mennonite Heritage VillagemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMMHS supports the Mennonite Reflections: Arriving in Manitoba 150 Years Ago exhibit at Mennonite Heritage Village's Gerhard Ens Gallery, open August 2024 through Spring 2026. The exhibit explores 150-year Mennonite history in Manitoba including Indigenous relations and Métis involvement.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Canadian Mennonite University: Winnipeg-based Mennonite university that hosts MMHS's mailing address, co-publishes books (Building Communities), and screens its documentaries. Provides academic infrastructure and a conduit to younger audiences relevant to MMHS's mission.
• Plett Foundation: A Mennonite-heritage charitable foundation that has financed MMHS bus tours and preservation initiatives. Functions as an enabling financial partner rather than a peer operator, but supports overlapping audiences and projects.

Direct peers

• Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies: A Mennonite Brethren archival and research centre in Winnipeg offering parallel archival, genealogical, and publication services to a closely overlapping Mennonite audience. Listed alongside MMHS resources on regional research portals.
• Mennonite Historical Society of Canada: National umbrella society for Mennonite history in Canada, with which MMHS partners through annual meetings and shared awards (Award of Excellence). Both organizations serve as convening bodies for Mennonite historical research and commemoration.
• Mennonite Heritage Village (Steinbach): A living-history museum in Steinbach, Manitoba, operated as MMHS's primary affiliated museum partner. The two organizations co-host events, originate bus tours, and jointly curate exhibits such as Mennonite Reflections, making them direct peers in Mennonite heritage interpretation.
• Winkler Heritage Society: Regional heritage organization operating the Winkler Heritage Museum and Winkler Heritage Archives in southern Manitoba. Serves a similar Mennonite-descendant constituency and is included in MMHS's recommended research network.
• Neubergthal Heritage Foundation: Heritage foundation operating the Neubergthal Street Village, a National Historic Site of Canada featuring Mennonite heritage buildings. MMHS directs West Reserve bus tours through this site, indicating tightly aligned missions in Mennonite settlement preservation.
• Mennonite Heritage Archives: Archival repository located at Canadian Mennonite University that holds church registries, diaries, and photographs central to MMHS's research and publications. Run by archivist Conrad Stoesz, who also leads MMHS, creating near-overlapping missions in Mennonite archival stewardship.

Regional players

• Altona and Area Archive: Community archive in the Rhineland Municipality of Manitoba preserving records of the surrounding Mennonite-settled area. Listed as a partner archive by MMHS, indicating comparable regional archival scope and audience.

Broad incumbents

• Archives of Manitoba: Provincial government archive holding records on Manitoba settlement history, including Mennonite-related materials. Operates at much broader scope (all Manitoba history) but is a direct referral destination and partner for Mennonite researchers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society