Friday, October 17
8:00AM - 4:00PM EDT
Conrad Grebel University College (University of Waterloo campus)
140 Westmount Rd N.
Waterloo ON N2L 3G6
Canada
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You're Invited
Every three years, service providers supporting Low German-speaking communities come together in Ontario for a dynamic day of learning and networking. This year’s provincial conference will take place on October 17, and features a compelling line-up of speakers with both professional and lived experience with the Low German population. Presentations will cover topics directly relevant to your work. Join us in-person or online. (Please note: virtual attendees will have access to a limited selection of workshops.)
Cost
Early-bird in-person cost: $100/person. Price increases to $125 after July 31st. Lunch included.
Early-bird virtual cost: $115. Price increases to $140 after July 31st.
Bursaries and Display Tables
Students are invited to apply for a bursary to attend. Limited bursaries are available. Additionally, requests from charities for reduced registration fees will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Limited spaces are available. Please email lindaruby@mcco.ca for details.
Participating organizations are also invited to bring a display table at an additional cost of $50. Please contact Linda Ruby for details.
Schedule
Times are approximate.
8:00am: Registration check-in
8:45am: Welcome
9:00am: Keynote Talk with Dr. Luann Good Gingrich: Building Relationships of Trust in Practice and Research
9:40am: Reading and Q&A
10:15am: Break and Networking
10:45am: Workshop 1
12:00pm: Lunch and Networking
1:30pm: Workshop 2
2:35pm: Panel Discussion with Listening Committee
3:05pm: Closing remarks and farewell
Keynote presentation and workshops
Dr. Luann Good Gingrich, Professor in the School of Social Work and Academic Director of Research Commons at York University, will expand on the principles of engaging with those whom we deem as different from ourselves (the "other"). In her plenary session, she will describe a systemic view that calls into question the institutions and social practices with which we are most comfortable, that we take for granted, and often consider inevitable and fixed. For whom do the systems not work? How do our official procedures and everyday practices function to assign value and exclude "difference" from an assumed standard? Using conversations with Low German-speaking people and experiences of being "out of place" in social institutions and services with which they are forced to engage, she will explore how those who are on the outside, those who are made lesser, have much to teach us. Together we will consider how these systems can work better for everyone.
Natalee Miller, Chris Tofflemire, Anna Wall, Esther Janzen and Paula Ballak will draw from their individual experiences in the social service and healthcare sectors to highlight practical ways of bridging the gap and facilitating stronger connections between the Low German-speaking community and the Canadian healthcare system. You'll hear stories about how building trust and working together led to real change, with help from interpreters and culturally aware healthcare workers at Woolwich Community Health Centre.
Peter Dyck, Child Protection Worker at Windsor Essex Children’s Aid, will explore how to create cultural safety in Low German-speaking communities by building respectful, inclusive spaces where people can share their identities without fear. Peter will delve into the unique cultural dynamics of these communities and highlight the importance of understanding historical contexts, navigating language barriers, and addressing cultural sensitivities. This workshop offers practical guidance on fostering open dialogue, promoting empathy and implementing policies that support both cultural preservation and the safety of marginalized voices within these communities.
*Available as both a virtual and in-person workshop
Jake Enns will provide an historical overview of the Anabaptist movement, migration patterns of the Mennonites, and the intermingling of culture, religion and tradition for this particular Mennonite group. You'll increase your understanding and awareness, and become better equipped to engage with Low German-speaking Mennonites more effectively. Jake will also share his personal journey of integration of moving from Mexico to Canada, Canada to Mexico and back to Canada. There will be time for Q&A as Jake helps to highlight how Low German-speaking Mennonites fit into Canadian culture today, while also exploring some examples of misunderstandings or cultural barriers in service provision.
Susan Loewen, Employment Services Manager and Specialist at Mennonite Community Services, will draw from years of professional and personal experience to share her personal perspectives on employment issues within the Low German-speaking Mennonite community.
*Available as both a virtual and in-person workshop
Using the art installations and archives at Conrad Grebel University College, Laureen Harder-Gissing, Archivist-Librarian, will lead a walking tour through 500 years of themes in Mennonite history. You will also be introduced to the library collection with its resources on the history of Low German communities.
Bill Toews will draw from his 35 years of experience as an educator and administrator to lead you through a retrospective look at the historical trends in education from JK to Grade 12 in Low German-speaking communities. He'll also be your guide as you look to the future together. This workshop will help you consider big questions like Where are we now? How did we get here? and Where do we go from here?
Amanda Sawatzky, a dedicated Child Protection Worker at Windsor Essex Children’s Aid, will help participants to explore the complex factors to consider when working with the Low German-speaking Mennonite population who are experiencing domestic violence. Participants will be challenged to dissect their own biases, consider unique nuances, and build capacity and safety when working with individuals who are affected by domestic violence.
*Available as both a virtual and in-person workshop
In this workshop, Helen Bergen, Settlement Services Manager and radio host at De Brigj, the Low German radio station owned and operated by MCS, will look at the naming practices in the culture and how it interacts with Canadian policies. Low German families from Latin America traditionally name their children based on the names that already exist within the culture. However, these naming customs are often different than legal requirements from civil registries in Latin America and are different from what Canadians are accustomed to seeing. Participants will gain a better understanding of why there is so much confusion around names, and how to ensure proper records are kept while respecting personal preferences.
*Available as both a virtual and in-person workshop
About the speakers
Luann Good Gingrich is a Professor in the School of Social Work and Academic Director of Research Commons at York University. Her research examines migration, border studies, and social welfare, focusing on immigrants, migrant workers, and refugee groups in Canada. By tracing official policies and everyday practices, she shows how market-driven social programs can paradoxically marginalize communities defined by race, ethnicity, religion, and age. She integrates diverse methods and critical pedagogy to spark new perspectives on social inclusion as social healing in social policy and organizations. She authored Out of Place: Social Exclusion and Mennonite Migrants in Canada and co-edited Transnational Social Policy: Social Welfare in a World on the Move, and regularly publishes in peer-reviewed journals.
Paula has worked at the Woolwich Community Health Centre (WCHS) for 15 years as a nurse, and in the last 3 years has added Rural Community Health worker to her resume.
In her roles at the WCHC, she has had the privilege of spending time with many rural families, including those in the Mennonite community.
Paula has a strong passion for equity and advocacy and she supports Low German-speaking Mennonite families in many ways. She has gained friendships and connections and feels honoured be a trusted ally to so many.
Helen is a Low German Mennonite. Her family moved to Canada when she was 7 years old. She began working at Mennonite Community Services in 2006. Currently, she holds two roles for MCS, one as Settlement Services Manager and the second as a radio host at De Brigj – the Low German radio station owned and operated by MCS.
MCS Settlement Services staff assist newcomers to Canada by providing orientation supports and information and help bridge the transition to life in Canada. They assist newcomers to understand and interact with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Most of the families are Low German Mennonites, though they serve any newcomer who connects with the centre. As a host for the MCS De Brigj radio station, Helen co-produces a weekly half-hour program which includes a farm report and a story or information about ‘the Low German Mennonite story.’
Peter is a Child Protection Worker at Windsor Essex Children’s Aid. He brings a unique perspective to the complex issues surrounding mental health. Peter grew up in a Low German Mennonite family in southwestern Ontario. He completed his entire education experience in Ontario within various Mennonite faith-based schools and the public school system. Returning as a mature student, Peter successfully achieved an Honours Bachelor of Social Work degree and subsequently a Master of Social work in 2023. Peter has worked in the child welfare sector for the past six years and additionally has the privilege of journeying alongside a wide variety of individuals in private practice.
Jacob and his wife Anna have lived in southwestern Ontario for most of their lives. They were both born and raised in Mexico in the Low German Mennonite Culture. They married in 1987 and are blessed with three sons, all who are married. They have 10 grandchildren. Jake has been a pastor for most of his adult career, doing pastoral ministry in the Mennonite community. He enjoys preaching, teaching, visiting, caring for and walking alongside people in their spiritual journeys in life. One of his hobbies is learning about church history and his own Mennonite history.
Laureen is the Archivist-Librarian of Conrad Grebel University College. She was raised on a farm near Vineland, Ontario and has degrees in History, Religion & Culture, and Information Studies. She is currently researching and writing a co-authored book on the history of Mennonites in Canada from 1970-2020.
Esther was born in Winkler, Manitoba and moved to Ontario in 1987. She lives in Elmira, is semi-retired, and works part-time at Woolwich Community Health Centre as an interpreter for Low German-speaking families, as well as the Community Ambassador for the Immunization Project.
She has a husband, five adult children, 17 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her passion is supporting Low German-speaking families from Mexico. She also volunteers at the MCC Elmira Thrift & Gift shop once or twice a week.
Susan is the Employment Services Manager and Specialist at Mennonite Community Services, a position she has held since 2010. Originally from Mexico, she immigrated to Canada at the age of six and grew up and attended school in Norfolk and Elgin Counties. After many years in the manufacturing sector, she returned to Fanshawe College and earned a diploma in Occupational Health and Safety in 2007.
As a dedicated advocate for continuous education and training, Susan is passionate about supporting others in their educational journeys, particularly members of the Low German community.
Natalee is a Registered Dietitian and earned a Masters degree in Food and Nutrition from Brescia University College in 2013. It has been her privilege to work with Low German Mennonite families and other plain communities in southwestern Ontario for over 10 years. Her focus areas include prenatal, postpartum and family nutrition. She is the proud mother of two young boys and enjoys raising them on a country property outside of Wellesley, Ontario.
Amanda is a dedicated Child Protection Worker at Windsor Essex Children’s Aid. Amanda brings a unique perspective to the complex issues surrounding mental health. She grew up in a Low German Mennonite family that migrated between Canada and Mexico during her childhood. This upbringing has shaped her lived experience and influenced her approaches in her professional work. Amanda obtained her Master of Social Work from the University of Windsor in 2021 and has worked in the non-profit sector for over a decade including child welfare and international development services. Amanda's work primarily includes serving newcomers to Canada, both Low German Mennonites and those from Latin American backgrounds.
Bill is a recently retired fourth generation educator. Bill attended the University of Guelph and subsequently taught in both the private (UMEI Christian High School) and public (Leamington District Secondary School) education system. Over his 35 years in education, Bill was a science teacher, Department Head, Vice Principal, and for 18 years, a Secondary School Principal.
With over 27 years of experience as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Chris has dedicated her career to providing compassionate, community-based care to children and adolescents. For the past 15 years, she has had the privilege of serving families at the Woolwich Community Health Centre, where she provides primary care in a rural setting she's grown deeply connected to.
While her earlier years were spent in a large tertiary pediatric hospital, her true calling has always been working closely with families in smaller communities—supporting their health, growth and well-being. She has especially valued the opportunity to build trusted relationships with Low German-speaking Mennonite families in the region. Advocating for and supporting these families as they navigate health care continues to be one of the most meaningful aspects of her work.
Anna grew up in a Low German-speaking Mennonite colony in Mexico, where she attended an Old Colony school. At 16, she moved to Canada and, by 19, began attending an adult learning centre, successfully earning her Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) within two years.
Anna started as a volunteer Low German Peer Health Worker at the Woolwich Community Health Centre (WCHC) and was later promoted to a paid role as a Low German Community Health Worker. With growing confidence, she pursued higher education and graduated from the Social Service Worker (SSW) program at Conestoga College in 2022. She further enhanced her qualifications by completing the Language Interpreter Program in 2023. Currently, Anna serves as the Low German Family Support Coordinator at Woolwich Community Services in Elmira.
The Listening Committee members are Shane Martin, Sarah Moffatt and Catarina Schmitt.
Shane Martin works in the Waterloo Region District School Board in an alternative education program called ULearn.
Sarah Moffatt has been a nurse for 29 years and has worked for the past 14 on the Healthy Growth and Development team at Southwestern Public Health.
Catarina Schmitt is a Vice Principal with the Thames Valley District School Board and a dedicated advocate for Mennonite students, ensuring they feel seen, heard, and valued in the classroom.