Alumni Profiles
Summer 2022 alumni updates (new content)

Readers of CMU's The Blazer magazine often say they flip right to the Alumni News section before reading anything else.
Again, as with the past several issues of The Blazer in its digest format, we were unable to squeeze in alumni news. Below is a compilation of updates provided to CMU by alumni.
If you're an alumnus with an update you'd like to share, please see the note at the bottom of this page.
Alumni News 

Ben Borne (CMU '13), Saskatoon, SK, began teaching as a sessional lecturer at First Nations University of Canada in January 2022. He taught Strategic Communication Planning for Indigenous Organizations, bringing to the course nine years of professional experience in strategic communications as President and Chief Operating Officer of Symmetry Public Relations. Ben is also a Managing Partner of Eagle Feather News, a Saskatchewan-based Indigenous newspaper. After graduating from CMU, he earned a Diploma in Public Relations from University of Victoria and is currently working on his Master of Arts in Professional Communication from Royal Roads University.

Ernie Hildebrand (CMBC '74), Crystal City, MB, spent his time during the Covid pandemic writing and publishing his memoirs. Guiding Diverse Flocks: Tales of a Rural Mennonite Pastor, was released in 2021. The book recounts his life on the Canadian prairies as student, carpenter, sheep farmer, teacher, and pastor from the 1940s until 2020. From his earliest memories to reflections from retirement, Ernie's journey winds in unexpected ways, both away from the farm and back to it.

Wendy Janzen (CMBC '90), Kitchener, ON, was appointed Eco-Minister for Mennonite Church Eastern Canada on January 1, 2022. In this new part-time role, she helps deepen congregations' sense of connection and kinship with God's creation and call to ecojustice through worship, workshops, resource development, and witness. Alongside this role she is also the pastor of Burning Bush Forest Church and communications director of the Wild Church Network.

Graham Peters (CMU '20), Winnipeg, MB, is the Conservation Science Coordinator for A Rocha Manitoba, a Christian environmental stewardship organization. Graham graduated with an environmental studies major and completed his practicum at A Rocha, mapping trails at the organization's Boreal Ecology Centre in East Braintree, MB. Now, as a staff member, he is leading conservation work at the centre, focusing on monitoring biodiversity and promoting citizen science.
Anika Reynar (CMU '17), New Haven, Connecticut, USA, began her master's degree in Religion and Ecology at Yale University in 2021. Her studies explore the intersection of land use, displacement, and churches' connections to the land and people in their neighbourhoods. She previously spent two years living and working at Romero House, a social agency in Toronto, ON that welcomes and supports newly arrived refugees in Canada.
Marriages 
Nathan Bartel (CMU '05) and Laura Martens (CMU 2003-05), Winnipeg, MB, September 5, 2021
John Brubacher (CMU faculty) and Rhonda Wideman, Winnipeg, MB, October 23, 2021
Ashanti Giesbrecht (O'Rourke, OT '14, CMU '14-15) and Martin Giesbrecht, Winkler, MB, May 21, 2022
Flor Therese A. Hudson (Agpoon, CMU '21) and Victor Hudson, Winnipeg, MB, May 8, 2021
Laura Loewen (Woelk, CMU '16-18) and James Loewen, Winnipeg, MB, October 23, 2021
Nicole Lysack (Ternowesky, CMU '21) and Daniel Lysack (CMU '20), Winnipeg, MB, January 2, 2022
Esther Momose (Klassen, OT '07, CMU '13) and Matthew Momose, Hamburg, PA, USA, July 10, 2021
Colin Reimer (CMU '19) and Laura Reimer (Doerksen, CMU 2016-18), Winnipeg, MB, September 24, 2021
Nina Schroeder-van 't Schip (Schroeder, CMU '12) and Mark Schroeder-van 't Schip, Amsterdam, Netherlands, May 21, 2022
Births and Adoptions 
Gary Bergman (CMU '04) and Heidi Wiens, Mitchell, MB, a daughter, Annalee Margaret Bergman, December 8, 2021
Janessa Giesbrecht (Nayler, OT '05) and Andrew Giesbrecht (CMU staff), Winnipeg, MB, a son, Darcy Gabriel Giesbrecht, March 15, 2022 [ photo ]
Allison Goerzen (OT '11, CMU 2017-18) and Kevin Stoesz, Calgary, AB, twin daughters, Emerson and Blake Goerzen Stoesz, September 27, 2021 [ photo ]
Kirsten Hamm-Epp (Hamm, CMU '11) and Ian Epp, Petrofka, SK, a son, Carter Ian Epp, February 8, 2022 [ photo ]
Cat Jahnke (CMU '01) and Darren Johnston, Winnipeg, MB, a daughter, Rook Marie Jahnke, November 8, 2021 [ photo ]
Luke Klassen (CMU '08) and Chaz Klassen, Winnipeg, MB, a son, Hudson Chinedu Klassen, April 11, 2022
Kloe Mak (Penner, CMU '15) and Ben Mak, Winnipeg, MB, a son, Jude Bailey Mak, December 9, 2021 [ photo ]
Rebekah Miller (Koop, CMU '15) and Jacob Miller (CMU 2010-12), Morden, MB, a son, Luca Karl Miller, February 7, 2022 [ photo ]
Lori Pauls (CMU '15) and Ethan Heidebrecht (CMU '13), Crossfield, AB, a daughter, Riley Pauls Heidebrecht, September 16, 2021
Clare Schellenberg (CMU '15) and Kathleen Vitt (CMU '12), Winnipeg, MB, a son, Jude Randall Vitt Schellenberg, April 18, 2022 [ photo ]
Danika Thiessen (Epp, CMU '14) and Nolan Thiessen, Altona, MB, a son, Jack Epp Thiessen, October 4, 2021 [ photo ]
Tim Wenger (CMU '14) and Stephanie Wenger (Jorritsma, CMU '15), Winnipeg, MB, a son, Elliot Clarence Wenger, November 15, 2021
Gabrielle Bishop Wiebe (Wiebe, CMU '13) and Stephen Bishop Wiebe, Winnipeg, MB, a daughter, Wren Margaret Bishop Wiebe, February 9, 2022 [ photo ]
Elizabeth Wipf (Schrag, CMU '20) and George Wipf, Mitchell, MB, a son, Brian Reed Wipf, April 11, 2022 [ photo ]
Passages 
Miriam Bergen (CMBC '88), Winnipeg, MB, January 30, 2022
Keith Brenneman (CMBC '90), Winnipeg, MB, April 1, 2022
Ron Brown (CMBC '69), Waterloo, ON, January 15, 2022
Margaret Buckner (Ens, CMBC '59), Saskatoon, SK, December 28, 2021
Cliff Derksen (MBBC '72), Winnipeg, MB, May 22, 2022
Jake Doerksen (MBBC 1945-53), Calgary, AB, December 2, 2021
Jessica Dyck (Wiebe, CMU 2003-04), Winkler, MB, April 21, 2022
Annie Falk (Rempel, CMBC '48), St. Catharines, ON, April 24, 2022
James Mark Froese (CMBC '79), St. Catharines, ON, March 28, 2022
Katherine Funk (Klippenstein, CMBC '51), Drake, SK, January 28, 2022
Eleanor Harder (Koop, CMBC '68), Kitchener, ON, January 31, 2022
Annie Janzen (CMBC '57), Winnipeg, MB, December 14, 2021
John E. Klassen (CMBC '76), Grunthal, MB, May 22, 2022
Lawrence Klippenstein (CMBC '54), Winnipeg, MB, March 18, 2022
Allan Labun (MBBC 1971-72), Winnipeg, MB, May 17, 2022
John Martens (MBBC), Winnipeg, MB, February 4, 2022
John E. Neufeld (CMBC 1976-77), Grunthal, MB, May 22, 2022
Peter Penner (MBBC '53), Calgary, AB, November 11, 2021
Elizabeth Peters (CMBC '69), Mattawa, ON, January 19, 2022
Harold Ratzlaff (MBBC '59), Abbotsford, BC, September 6, 2021
Bruce J. Reimer (CMU '01), Winnipeg, MB, December 28, 2021
Maryanne Rumancik (CC 1996-2000, CMU '13), Lorette, MB, March 22, 2022
Jürgen Schönwetter (CMBC 1963-64), Abbotsford, BC, December 23, 2021
Waldo Schulz (CMBC '56), Altona, MB, April 26, 2022
Jacob Tilitzky (CMBC '86), Abbotsford, BC, November 9, 2021
Marie Wiebe (Olfert, CMBC 1957-58), Saskatoon, SK, December 14, 2021
Rod Wiens (CMBC '83), Herschel, SK, March 26, 2022
Alumni are invited to submit recent news—marriage, job change, addition of a child, award, promotion, graduate school, retirement, and so on—to the Alumni Relations Office.
Please model your information after the current listings above, beginning with name, graduation year, city, and province or state.
Online: Information Update Form
Email: alumni:@:cmu.ca
Mail: 500 Shaftesbury Blvd., Winnipeg, MB R3P 2N2