Conrad Grebel University College

Grebel at 60

Sixty years ago, Conrad Grebel College’s first president, J. Winfield Fretz, laid the College’s cornerstone, along with board members Milton R. Good and John Neufeld, envisioning a thriving Mennonite school integrated into the secular University of Waterloo campus. (Photo courtesy of Mennonite Archives of Ontario)

In the fall of 1963, J. Winfield Fretz began his role as the first president of Conrad Grebel College in Waterloo, Ontario.  In addition to hiring the first employees and spearheading a $750,000 building project, he taught courses in the sociology department at the University of Waterloo.

Growing in the right direction: Grebel’s pollinator garden

Eva Booker (left) painting the pollinator garden's picnic table with student volunteers Anna Miller-Buza and Claire Treacy. (Photo by Margaret Gissing)

Black-eyed Susans growing in Grebel's pollinator garden. (Photo by Tim Saari)

On a bright morning in April, Eva Booker and a team of student volunteers rolled out a 25-foot-wide tarp across Grebel’s front lawn in preparation for the College’s recent green initiative: a pollinator garden.   

Tim Khoo’s experience at Grebel leads to baptism

Asa Suderman-Gladwell (left), chaplain Jessica Reesor Rempel, Savannah Edwards and Tim Khoo at a Grebel chapel service. (Photo by Jen Konkle)

Conrad Grebel University College student Tim Khoo. (Photo by Margaret Gissing)

When Timothy Khoo was choosing a university, he looked for something that stood out. “I kept hearing about this Mennonite residence from my family and church community, and it piqued my interest,” he said. Khoo is now a second-year Honours Physics student at the University of Waterloo and a returning upper-year student at Conrad Grebel University College.

Grebel grandma

Mark Leistra, Leola Roth and Owen Roth enjoy an intergenerational supper together. (Supplied photo)

While cousins Adam and Owen Roth had grown to “love the Grebel community,” as first-year students at Conrad Grebel University College, one crucial thing was missing from their new lifestyle: supper at Grandma’s.

Grebel’s community gathers for the new term

Grebel’s yearly faculty/staff/student volleyball game resulted in a triumphant win by the students. Orientation Week activities at Grebel are designed to build community and inspire interaction between students, faculty, and staff. (Photo by Margaret Gissing)

The air was buzzing at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo on Sept. 3, as new students moved into the residence, accompanied by their parents and welcomed by enthusiastic upper-year students.

Winter lectures address global social concerns

Sofia Samatar (left) and Regina Shands-Stoltzfus (right) will give lectures at Conrad Grebel University College in March.

Coming in March, Conrad Grebel University College is hosting two distinct winter lectures, offered by Sofia Samatar and Regina Shands-Stoltzfus. The presentations are focused on addressing global social concerns and raising awareness about oppression.

Music camp is back this summer

As a response to the pandemic, 2021 Ontario Mennonite Music Campers created videos of new and favourite hymns for churches to use in virtual worship services. (Ontario Mennonite Music Camp photo)

This summer, Ontario Mennonite Music Camp is once again happening at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, from Aug. 14 to 26. The camp provides an exciting adventure for 12- to 17-year-olds that helps to build friendships, strengthen leadership skills, celebrate their love of music and explore their faith.

Grebel president reappointed

WATERLOO—Marcus Shantz has been reappointed as the president of Conrad Grebel University College for a second five-year term. The announcement was made on Dec. 16, 2021, by board chair Paul Fieguth, who said the reappointment was “supported enthusiastically and unanimously by the board. The reappointment committee solicited and received input from a great many people, and there was overwhelming appreciation for Marcus’s leadership.

‘A compelling example of leadership’

Pursuing a career in music education was a dream for Ann L. Schultz, who was always passionate about making music. Now after 30 years and on the cusp of retirement from Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, Kitchener, Ont., as a music teacher and principal, she has been announced as the recipient of Conrad Grebel University College’s 2021 Distinguished Alumni Service Award. (Photo courtesy of Ann L. Schultz)

Pursuing a career in music education was a dream for Ann L. Schultz, who was always passionate about making music. Now after 30 years and on the cusp of retirement, she has been announced as the recipient of Conrad Grebel University College’s 2021 Distinguished Alumni Service Award.

Students relieved and excited to be back at school

A grade 11 chemistry class meets in Rockway’s courtyard, as students return to in-person learning. (Photo courtesy of Rockway Mennonite Collegiate)

UMEI students take part in community-building activities at the beginning of the new school year. (Photo courtesy of UMEI Christian High School)

Rockway student council members drum up some school spirit for the start of the new school year. (Photo courtesy of Rockway Mennonite Collegiate)

UMEI students participate in a community building exercise. (Photo courtesy of UMEI Christian High School)

Faculty, staff and students are excited to be back in person at Mennonite schools in Ontario. To allow for a safe return to campus, they are committed to following local and provincial health guidelines while they prioritize finding ways to create a sense of community and connection.

Conrad Grebel University College, Waterloo, Ont.

Students joyfully return to campus

Students at Conrad Grebel University College plant cloves of garlic to symbolize the importance of community. (Photo by Jen Konkle)

As families arrived for Conrad Grebel University College’s move-in day over the Labour Day weekend, joy was visible in student eyes, even as masks hid their smiles. With waves of move-in times during the day, there was space to safely welcome students, assure parents, and get everyone settled in dorm rooms.

‘It’s obvious!’

Ed Janzen, middle, meets with students Kenzie Thielmann, left, and Cameron Warren as part of his role as chaplain of Conrad Grebel University College. (Photo courtesy of Conrad Grebel University College)

Ed Janzen, right, meets with the Grebel chapel committee members: from left: Rebekah Lindsay, Suomi MacCarthy and Andre Wiederkehr. (Photo courtesy of Conrad Grebel University College)

Ed Janzen will retire at the end of July after 23 years as Conrad Grebel University College’s chaplain. (Photo courtesy of Conrad Grebel University College)

Ed Janzen says, “It’s obvious!”

It’s obvious why he would want to serve as chaplain of Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ont., for 23 years. Janzen, who is retiring at the end of July from a job he loved, names several things that inspired his work.

Ribbon cutting celebrates capital project’s success

Food Services Manager Cheri Otterbein cuts the ribbon in Grebel’s new kitchen on June 29. (Conrad Grebel photo)

After two years of construction, a pandemic, and a decade of dreaming and planning, Conrad Grebel University College’s new kitchen and renovated dining room are complete. More than a thousand donors contributed more than $4.2-million to the Fill the Table capital campaign to make it happen.

New PACS professor brings a restorative-justice focus

Johonna McCants-Turner has been appointed by Conrad Grebel University College, Waterloo, Ont., to a tenure-track faculty position as associate professor of peace and conflict studies (PACS) at Grebel, beginning July 1. She currently serves as assistant professor of restorative justice and peacebuilding at the Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) Center for Justice and Peacebuilding.

Two-week music camp being planned

Ontario Mennonite Music Campers participate in daily master classes with their instrument of choice, as part of two action-packed weeks of music, games, faith, concerts and friendship, in 2018. (2018 Ontario Mennonite Music Camp photo)

Ontario Mennonite Music Camp (OMMC) is a two-week camp hosted at Conrad Grebel University College, offering teenagers aged 12 to 16 an opportunity to explore both music and faith.

Deep dive into theology

Colin Friesen, far left, participates in a panel discussion at Conrad Grebel University College in early 2019. (Conrad Grebel University College photo)

Christian theology, ministry and the Bible are complex topics that can be studied using various approaches at Conrad Grebel University College (Waterloo, Ont.), whose master of theological studies (MTS) program offers students three distinct paths to complete their degree: course work, applied studies and thesis.

Pandemic offers new opportunities for students

Online classes have changed the way the master of theological program operates at Conrad Grebel University College. With the rise in enrolment and interest in the program, there may be lasting online opportunities, according to program director Jeremy Bergen. (Photo by Christin Hume/Unsplash)

The pandemic this year has turned the master of theological study (MTS) program’s teaching model on its head.

Remembering Helen Martens

Helen Martens, the first music professor at Conrad Grebel University College, plays the piano and leads a Grebel choir in 1969. (Photo by David L. Hunsberger / Mennonite Archives of Ontario)

Helen Martens, Conrad Grebel University College’s first music faculty member, passed away on April 9 at the age of 92, surrounded by family in Winnipeg. She last visited Grebel in 2013 during the college’s 50th anniversary.

Bruxy Cavey to teach Church as Mission course next spring

WATERLOO, ONT.—Bruxy Cavey will be joining the master of theological studies (MTS) program at Conrad Grebel University College and the University of Waterloo as visiting lecturer for the Spring 2021 term. Cavey is the teaching pastor at The Meeting House, a Be In Christ congregation. He is the author of the bestselling books, The End of Religion and (re)union: The Good News of Jesus for Seekers, Saints and Sinners. Cavey will teach Church as Mission.

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