Western Canada’s development drew on the human resources of many nations, from Britain to 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.
In this second part, White examines the Hutterites and how their unique blend of religious orthodoxy, plain living, communalism and technology adoption have helped them and their colonies expand while other rural communities contract. The Hutterites are a growing part of Prairie society, mixing 16th century religious and social beliefs with state-of-the-art agricultural and manufacturing knowledge.
