This Friday is Hallowe’en and I expect to see plenty of jack-o’-lanterns on porches and trick-or-treaters in search of candy treats. Hallowe’en is celebrated by many Canadians, including some of the Mennonites in Essex and Kent Counties. For many, it’s a time of make believe, laughter, and fall treats like candy apples. Some get into […]
Archives for October 2014
Growing Things: Dean Tiessen and his grasses
Mennonites like to grow things and they’re good at it. The late Dean Tiessen is an example of a Mennonite who liked to grow things, having learned from his grand parents, George and Maria Tiessen. George immigrated to Canada in June, 1924 after having experienced the upheaval of his home due to terrorist activity. Dean […]
Part 2 of Immigrants to Essex County
On to Essex County Part 2 In the autumn of 1924 a committee had already been formed consisting of new Ontario immigrants and the established Mennonites for the purpose of finding jobs for the immigrants. When rumours were heard about job opportunities in Essex County, about 180 miles south- west of Waterloo, delegates from the […]
