News

Grebel was first imagined in the late 1950s, when local Christian denominations were invited to found colleges on the campus of the new University of Waterloo. For Ontario Mennonite leaders, the invitation arrived at a moment when Mennonite youth were enrolling en masse in universities and colleges for the first time. With a 400-year history of separation from society at large, Mennonite leaders were concerned that their youth would lose their faith at university. A residential college was an opportunity to create an environment where this new generation of Ontario Mennonite youth could maintain connection to their faith tradition during what one founder called “the seeking, doubting, formative years of their lives.” 

For Grebel’s 50th Anniversary year, Marlene Epp wrote Bridging Mind & Spirit, Conrad Grebel University College, 1963-2013 to tell the story of the College’s founding, accomplishments, people, and traditions. Although ten years have now passed and the College has had another anniversary, for this issue of Grebel Now, we have chosen to reflect on Grebel’s 60 year legacy by inviting a small group of former board members, faculty, and administrative leaders to share their memories, even if some details have faded.

The Grebel experience has been foundational for the Harder-Heide family, as three generations have lived in the College residence.

Two generations of Winters have now made Grebel their home, where they discovered the importance of community, the joy of tradition, and the enduring impact of lifelong connections. 

Sixty years in, the Grebel community is as vibrant as ever. Grebel remains a wonderful place to meet people who share similar values. While many of us look back fondly on our Grebel years, many alumni have been drawn back, and some familiar faces! This is truly a testament to the fact that there is something special about the Grebel community. The Driediger family discuss the family tradition of attending Grebel. 

To capture the spirit of Grebel residence life over six decades, we reached out to former Student Council Presidents to reflect on their time in office. We asked about the student body’s key concerns, Grebel’s biggest challenges, and their most significant achievements. They also shared memories of the social and political climate on campus, key traditions, and unexpected moments. While memories may have faded, these reflections offer a window into Grebel’s past and may spark your own recollections. 

The College is marking the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement. This brief article draws attention to the ways that both Grebel and the Centre for Peace Advancement have welcomed affiliate organizations, providing a home for mission-aligned professionals in addition to students, staff, and faculty. 

Grebel Buildings and Renovations over the 60 years of Grebel's history. 

The first building at Grebel was the student residence. It turned 60 years old this year, with sixty-year old plumbing, heating, washrooms, and so on. Many of our building systems are well past their expected service life, and their time is almost up. We recently refurbished the kitchen and dining hall, and it’s now time to renew the residence itself to serve future generations of students and guests.