News

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.  

Students at Grebel who are attending the University of Waterloo or Wilfrid Laurier University and have volunteered with Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS), are now provided the opportunity to earn a substantial scholarship toward one term’s tuition. 

“Sobering and hopeful" is how the Navigating to the Next Normal conference was described, an event that took place at Grebel mid-October where pastors, ministers, lay leaders, and church members from various Christian denominations gathered to discuss issues affecting the Church in Canada.

Grebel's 60 Stories Project | Doris Jantzi was a Senior Research Associate at the Center for Leadership Development, OISE/University of Toronto. She specialized in leadership, policy analysis, and quantitative data analysis. Today, Doris enjoys living in downtown Toronto where she pursues opportunities to experience art and even nature. Doris and Alvin ”feed their soul” at the Ontario Art Gallery and the Royal Ontario Museum – appreciated especially by Al as a retired history teacher. Queen’s Park is close to their home and Doris noted the many magnificent trees that provide a lovely canopy.