Western Canada’s development drew on the human resources of many nations, from Britain to the plains of Russia to China. Most settlers defined themselves by ethnicity, but some were defined by their religion. Mennonites and Hutterites, movements spawned by a religious reformation almost 500 years ago, were among the religious communities that created a new life for themselves in Western Canada.
Western Producer reporter Ed White has produced a two-part series examining the religious and social beliefs that helped many in these two faith groups succeed in rural life.
This report examines where Mennonites fit into the prosperity of some southeastern Manitoba communities. Manitoba’s Mennonites have in many ways assimilated into Canadian culture. Yet they retain a faith that defines a world view and their place in it. This includes a commitment to hard work, creativity, charity and thriftiness and rejection of violence. The traits are not exclusive to Mennonites, but perhaps because of the sect’s troubled history, they seem especially prized and nurtured within the community.
