Freedom Jubilee

Winnipeg, Man.

Invited by a Winnipeg planning committee, about 800 people came to the Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach, Manitoba August 15 to celebrate 50 years in Canada. The Saturday activities included historical recollections, personal stories, music and food. Marlene Epp told stories about her mother-in-law's experiences in coming to Canada, and Anna Regehr, through questioning by her son-in-law, told her story. Her husband was taken by the NKVD on December 15, 1937. They told Anna that if he was not found guilty, he would return. Her reply was, "If you take him, he won't come back." Her husband warned her, saying, "Don't talk like that. They will take our child." The only food she was able to send along was a small piece of sausage she was saving for Christmas. He also would not wear his best suit, because, "my best suit will be a piece of bread for you when I'm gone." She never heard from him again. This story was one of many told during the weekend activities.

The Sunday afternoon celebration was held at Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg. About 900 people were on hand to hear story-teller Peter Dyck recount stories of his work with Mennonite Central Committee during both World Wars. He suggested that people should remember their experiences, and to do this by writing their stories, singing, and establishing memorials. He cited the example of the Mennonites in Paraguay establishing the leprosarium at Kilometre 81 in gratitude for the help they had received and the safety in which they lived.

Harry Loewen, retired professor of Mennonite studies at University of Winnipeg, talked of not knowing he was a Mennonite until he came into contact with MCC after the war. Even though life was not easy when he came to Canada with his mother and grandmother, he expressed his gratitude to God, to MCC, to Canadian Mennonites, and to the Canadian government for the freedom, and for the opportunity to study.

Johannes Reimer, visiting lecturer at Concord College, Winnipeg gave a closing challenge to the participants. He encouraged people to remember the past with honesty. Jubilee, as part of God's law, was a year-long process and began with the day of atonement when forgiveness was given and obtained. It continued with a time of rest and reorientation. Reimer suggested that Mennonites also need to rest and to think creatively about the future. But, he stated, God expected Israel to obey, or they would face dire consequences. Reimer concluded by inviting participants to join in this process of Jubilee, and to officially forgive and release the former USSR for the atrocities committed.

Otto Klassen, a local filmmaker, was present throughout the weekend to record the events for a souvenir video, and a committee has been struck to produce a book Road to Freedom, to be edited by Harry Loewen, recounting many of the stories of the Mennonites who came to Canada following the Second World War.

The committee headed by Jacob Wiebe of Winnipeg, planned the August 15-16 weekend activities to celebrate the assistance that 10,000 Mennonites received from MCC and Canadian Mennonites to come to Canada following World War II.During the weekend, offerings were taken to support projects in the former Soviet Union. -- SBB


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