There’s never been a better time to become a member of the Arborg & District Multicultural Heritage Village.
The local historical site is currently hosting its annual membership drive.
In the past, those who bought a membership for the year would also get a ticket to a fall supper, but now, members get tickets to dinner and a dance, along with free admission to the village all season.
This year’s dinner and dance is on Nov. 19 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the community hall.
Membership with the village is $20 for seniors (people aged 60 and up) and $25 for adults (people aged 18 to 60).
There is also a family pass for $60 as long as all children in the family are under 18; a business membership for $100, which gets four dinner and dance tickets; and a corporate membership for $500, getting 10 dinner and dance tickets.
With more than 400 annual members, membership sales are the primary revenue source for the village. The income allows the village to add more buildings and attractions, and pays for site maintenance.
The Arborg & District Multicultural Heritage Village started in 1999, when a group of people got together to turn bare land into a historical setting. In the years since, Pat Eyolfson has stayed on as head of the village, and said February 2024 will mark its 25th anniversary.
The village started with five buildings for people to peruse and now has 21. Eyolfson said they’ve added a building to the 12.9-acre site almost every year since becoming incorporated.
In 2016, it was awarded the “star attraction” designation, making the village a first-class tourist attraction.
The heritage village is accurate to circa 1930. Upon entering, people will see a restaurant with booths from John’s Diner in Riverton. They’ll then come to a tribute to veterans, navy uniforms and local hero names on display.
There’s also a pharmacy complete with then-popular herbal remedies, a general store that sells everything from flour and sugar to kitchen sinks, and the Sigvaldason House — which was once a priest home for the fathers of Saint Benedict’s Convent, and then became a home to a family of 18. While touring the house, people can learn all about the Sigvaldasons and their lives.
Next is the St. Demetrius Ukrainian Catholic Church, which sat vacant for 20 years with bullet holes in it until the heritage village restored it. A traditional Cree-style tipi constructed of animal hide is another attraction.
Then, there’s the Trausti Vigfusson House, the first building brought to the village, and an old Icelandic home.
The village goes on and on, with three more houses, an outhouse, a school, CP railway, a livery stable and blacksmith shop, and countless displays of photography, clay ovens, musical instruments, sports displays, Indigenous displays and more.
The Arborg & District Multicultural Heritage Village not only offers history to the community — it offers fun. Outside of the village, it has built a 22-site campground with electricity, bathrooms, showers, and now, a water hookup.
It also recently added a portable outdoor stage, nestled near the riverbank. With the slope of the land, people can sit on the hill and watch performances on the stage. The grand opening for the stage will be in the spring. Eyolfson said they’ll be renting the stage out in the future for other community groups to use.
To learn more about the Arborg & District Multicultural Heritage Village or to get your membership, go to www.arborgheritagevillage.ca
