Grab Your Bike and Join Peace Trek

By Dan Guetre

Based on the success of last year’s event, Eden Foundation has set the date for their 2nd Annual Peace Trek.

In August 2022 Eden Foundation Inc. and the Mennonite Heritage Village (MHV) co-hosted the first ever Peace Trek. The Peace Trek is a one-day cyclathon that uses an adaptation of the new Peace Trail that is being developed in southeast Manitoba. With 35 participants, and $12,000 raised in 2022, they are moving forward into year two!

The route is approximately 45 km with three way stations that include washrooms and refreshments. The starting point is the Mennonite Landing site by the Red River (near Niverville), and the terminus brings the riders to the Dirk Willems Peace Garden at MHV. Refreshments are provided throughout the trail, swag items and a meal at the end will be provided to all participants.

So, get your bicycle ready for the Peace Trek on August 19. Registration is $30, and their hope is that each participant will set a fundraising goal of $600 to support the vital work of Eden Foundation, providing financial means to Eden’s mental health programs, and to the Mennonite Heritage Village for the preservation of Mennonite history and programs.

Their peer-to-peer fundraising app and MHV website portal makes it easy for you to register, form a team if you like, and send out readymade emails/texts to potential donors, who with a couple clicks can make their contributions to you or your team.

And if you don’t think you can cycle the whole 45 km, you are welcome to join them from the mid-point (Tourond Creek Discovery Centre) which is only 21 km. Register at edenhealthcare.ca.

The Manitoba government is reviewing various options for reconstructing the bridge that considers the traffic needs in the area, with a priority placed on reopening to traffic as soon as possible. The new bridge will have a higher capacity for overloaded vehicles and is expected to be open to traffic in 2025, the minister added.