5 Reasons to Visit: RM of Hanover
Are you looking for your next exciting Eastman adventure? Well, look no further! In the Rural Municipality of Hanover are incredible experiences waiting for you.
Read time: 23 min
Are you looking for your next exciting Eastman adventure? Well, look no further! In the Rural Municipality of Hanover are incredible experiences waiting for you. Whether you want to be in nature, be transported back in time, indulge in high-quality cheese, and much more, you can find your adventure in Hanover.
*Disclaimer*
- Stay home if you have been travelling or do not feel well. Here is an excellent resource if you are quarantined. This will help you find people in Manitoba who are willing and able to help you while quarantined. Help Next Door Manitoba
- Go out with people within your household, but practice social distancing (2 metres away) with other groups.
- Please call ahead before visiting a business and inquire about their regulations to enter the building, such as capacity, sanitation, etc. Also, consider using curbside pickup where possible.
- Please practice Leave No Trace. Clean up after yourself and leave nothing behind, such as trash and waste.
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Bothwell Cheese (New Bothwell)
No trip to the RM of Hanover is complete without a visit to Bothwell Cheese. Since 1936, Bothwell Cheese has been crafting premium, all-natural, artisanal cheeses. Using pure milk with no additives, you can taste the difference, and once you do, you’ll never go back to any other cheese. With over two dozen cheese varieties, no matter what you’re in the mood for, you can find it here.
While you can purchase Bothwell Cheese in many stores, taking the time to visit the Factory Cheese Shop is definitely worth the trip. Meeting friendly and informative staff, getting the freshest product, and also the best deals are what await you here.
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The History
If you are an avid history buff, then a trip to the RM of Hanover will be a unique visit! Hanover is rich with history, but the two most exciting stops are the Chortitz Heritage Church (Randolph) and the Willow Plain School (Sarto).
The Chortitz Heritage Church
The church building seen here today was built in 1896-97 on the same site as the original one and commissioned in the fall of 1897. The architect was Gerhard Schroeder (1848-1910). His unique rafter design allowed for a wide suspended ceiling without the massive pillars normally found in the aisles of old Mennonite churches. The building was in continuous use by the denomination until 2010, when a huge homecoming was held on August 29, during which the Chortitzer Conference decommissioned the building.
The site was put up for sale, but a group of interested individuals appealed to Conference to transfer the title to Hanover’s Rural Municipality for a provisional five-year period during which a long-range plan for its preservation as a heritage site could be undertaken, and repairs be made. The Chortitz Church Heritage Committee (later Chortitz Heritage Church Committee) was officially formalized in 2012. The ownership of the Chortitz Heritage Church was transferred to the RM of Hanover in June 2013.
Originally the village street ran to the north of the building since there was no surveyed government road, and therefore the cemetery was just to the south of the building. Today the section road runs between the church and the cemetery, which is still active. A close look at the neighbouring yards will reveal a slight hump where the village street used to be. The church sanctuary itself was turned 90 degrees so that the pulpit and podium for the ministers and song leaders were along the sidewall, with separate entrances for the men and women, who also sat in separate sections in the sanctuary.
The Willow Plain School
The Willow Plain School is a typical example of the one-room multigrade schools that served most small communities in Manitoba around the turn of the twentieth century. Saved through community efforts, the structure is the only remaining historic school on its original site in the Sarto area.
The structure of the school is a simple box-like form with a high-pitched gable roof, cuff-coloured brick chimney and horizontal wood siding painted white. Inside the well-lit classroom are original door and window openings, tongue-and-groove board siding, original light fixture, blackboards and original furnishings, including the teacher’s oak desk and children’s desks.
When visiting the site, it’s like being transported back in time.
The Lil’ Red Barn B&B (Grunthal)
Located in Grunthal on a twenty-acre country homestead, your stay at The Lil’ Red Barn B&B will be a memorable one! The loft you’ll be staying in has two large bedrooms and a walkout deck, so you can enjoy nature close to your home away from home. There is also a fully completed kitchen, so you can cook up all your favourite meals! The large, private backyard with a fire pit and a barbeque (it’s never too cold to have a good BBQ dinner!).
The best part about staying at The Lil’ Red Barn is that guests are welcome to take walks around the farmyard and interact with animals on the owners’ hobby farm! Be prepared to meet goats, chickens, cats, dogs, and more (but be respectful and please do not feed animals). Taking in the nature surrounding the farm is a fantastic experience and is sure to melt away the worries of everyday life.
Whether you’re looking to take a break from everyday life, reconnecting with nature, or simply a family getaway, the Lil’ Red Barn B&B will be a wonderful addition to your adventure.
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The Marc and Mandy Show (Blumenort)
Who wouldn’t love being in the audience of a talk show? Well, did you know that you have that opportunity right here in Eastern Manitoba? In Blumenort, you can be in the audience of the Marc & Mandy Show.
Marc & Mandy Show follows a married, multicultural duo as they talk about home décor, food, entertainment, celebrities, and lifestyle. Their on-screen chemistry provides viewers with a fantastic hour of humour, news, tips, and ideas for living life in a healthy, creative way.
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Rosenthal Nature Park (Mitchell)
If you are looking to indulge yourself in nature, the Rosenthal Nature Park is just the place to do it! Years ago, the Park was once the community of Rosenthal. Home to twenty-five families in the 1870s, not only is Rosenthal Park here to preserve the breathtaking beauty of nature, but also to preserve the history and artifacts on the site.
The Park has layers of importance to the area. Rosenthal Nature Park is an innovative model for sustainable development and integrated watershed management. It demonstrates the viability of utilizing the natural functions of wetlands to retain and slow high water flows; reduce surface water runoff in urban and semi-urban areas, and purify water quality with native plant species.
Walking trails connects the wetland and upland ecosystems of the Park to wildlife observation areas. The observation areas throughout the Park offer incredible opportunities to experience wildlife in a comfortable environment.
The Park is bursting with life! The Park is designed for plant life and wildlife to contribute to greater biodiversity in the area.
In the wetland ecosystem, you can discover a lake and peninsula. This constructed wetland is planted with native aquatic plant species from local donor sites and is an ideal habitat for native and migratory waterfowl.
The upland ecosystem is just as magnificent as the wetlands. Seeded with wildflower mix flourishing into a colourful array of flowering plants, they invite various butterfly species to the area. A forage mix is seeded alongside the existing bushes bordering the northerly edge of the Park. This provides the ideal vegetative ground cover for deer foraging.
Placed throughout the Park are grassland birdhouses and waterfowl houses, offering waterfowl and shorebird species places to nest.
Your visit to Rosenthal Nature Park is one that promises to be fun, educational, and visually spectacular.
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