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On October 24, 2023, the Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre (TMTC) held a virtual Closing Ceremony to mark the end of its 33-year existence. TMTC’s mandate was to develop theological leadership for church and academy, by supporting Mennonite graduate students in theology, biblical studies, and related fields. It worked primarily with students at the ecumenical Toronto School of Theology (TST). As I reflect on what was shared at this closing ceremony, it is evident that TMTC has made important, often behind-the-scenes, contributions to the Mennonite theological ecosystem.

Grebel's 60 Stories Project | Curwin Friesen graduated from the University of Waterloo with an honours degree in Economics under the International Trade Specialization program. He was the winner of the Governor General’s Silver Medal and also completed the General Management Program from Harvard Business School. A businessman at his core, Curwin has sought leadership positions in various organizations, namely Friesens Corporation where he led the company for two decades. Today, he is the President of Greenvalley Equipment in Manitoba, and sits on the board of several companies in industries spanning from insurance to software.  

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.  This fall Grebel has celebrated this milestone with a variety of 60th anniversary events.

Grebel's 60 Stories Project | Kaylee Perez is a passionate refugee advocate who holds a Master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies and has worked in the settlement sector since 2013. Add being raised in a Cuban-Colombian-Palestinian family in Canada, and you learn what has fueled her dedication to peace work both locally and abroad. Kaylee currently serves as the National Migration and Resettlement Operations Coordinator with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).

Grebel's 60 Stories Project | Darren graduated from the University of Waterloo in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Religious and Mennonite Studies. He returned in 2013 to pursue the MPACS program. Today, Darren enjoys riding a bike with his family, and is the Manager of Active Transportation and Development with the City of Kitchener.

When I accepted my coop role, I knew that Grebel had some affiliations with the Mennonite Church, but to be honest, I didn’t really know much about the group, or what that even meant. Fast forward two weeks later, I’m sitting at my desk eating my fourth helping of platz, six pages deep into a Who are the Mennonites article.  

Grebel's 60 Stories Project | Candace Bustard graduated from the University of Waterloo in 2020 with a BA in Joint Honours Biology and Music with a Music Intensive Specialization and a minor in Medical Physiology. A musician at her core, she went on to pursue a Master’s in Music Composition from the University of Ottawa, studying with Dr. Kelly-Marie Murphy, and is currently in a Doctorate of Music, Composition program at the University of Toronto, working with Gary Kulesha. An accomplished musician, Candace won first place in Jâca’s Emerging Composer Competition with her piece, Melodies from my Mother. She recently received an honourable mention in the Grand Philharmonic Composer Competition for her poignant piece, It’s All Love. 

Grebel's 60 Stories Project | Brian graduated with a degree in Environmental Science in 1990, and in Architecture in 1993. Since then, he has spent his career focusing on cultural and community-based projects, including the Canadian War Museum, Waterloo Regional Museum, Union Museum in Dubai, and of course, Grebel’s kitchen and dining hall. Alongside architecture, Brian is a musician and leader of the band, Brian Rudy + The Architects.

Grebel's 60 Stories Project | Rudy and Beverly Neufeld met during their undergraduate studies at Grebel and married in the winter of 1968. Both enjoyed long, illustrious careers as teachers spanning over three decades before founding Neufeld Learning Systems - home to the Understanding Math software. For the last 20 years, the Neufelds have been traveling the world to grow and develop their business. 

University of Waterloo Music Professor Maisie Sum will share about the social, political, and spiritual significance of musical instruments to individuals and societies, at the 2023 Benjamin Eby Lecture at Conrad Grebel University College on Thursday, November 9. The Benjamin Eby Lecture is an annual lecture that presents the research of a faculty member at Grebel. This year’s lecture is titled Trace, Trajectory, and Truth: A Story of Morocco’s Iconic Lute.