Canadian Mennonite (1997- ) (Periodical)

Canadian Mennonite cover for 6 September 2010

The first issue of Canadian Mennonite magazine appeared on 15 September 1997, published in Waterloo, Ontario. The mission statement read: "Published bi-weekly by Mennonite Publishing Service, Canadian Mennonite aims to reflect and upbuild the life and work of the Mennonite church in Canada. The primary constituency for Canadian Mennonite is the people and churches of the Conference of Mennonites in Canada and its five related area conferences." The magazine, designed by Glenn Fretz, was printed on newsprint in an 8¼ by 10½ inch format, with a full-color cover and spot color inside.

Canadian Mennonite was really a "transformation" of the Mennonite Reporter which had served Canadian Mennonites since 1971. The magazine format symbolized a shift in focus and "ownership" of the previous periodical, a shift from an independent, inter-Mennonite news tabloid to a periodical for the Conference of Mennonites in Canada. What did not change was the publisher – the independently incorporated Mennonite Publishing Service, and the editors: Ron Rempel as editor/manager and Margaret Loewen Reimer as associate and later managing editor.

Although the Conference of Mennonites in Canada (CMC) had used the Mennonite Reporter for its communication needs, buying regular supplements and subsidizing subscriptions for members, CMC wanted its own periodical. By the mid-1990s, change was underway, fueled by dormant subscription levels for Mennonite Reporter, the CMC desire for a more effective communications vehicle, and the move toward integration between CMC and Mennonite Church bodies in Ontario. (Full integration occurred with the birth of Mennonite Church Canada in 2000.) Mennonite Reporter subscriptions stood at around 10,000, with over 90 percent coming from the integrating groups. A task force explored how the Mennonite Reporter might be transformed to make it more widely distributed in the groups where it already had the widest readership. A cross-Canada consultation called for a magazine format and more inspirational faith articles.

In 1997, with the birth of Canadian Mennonite, CMC delegates approved a cost-sharing formula with Mennonite Publishing Service that funded subscriptions for every CMC household. This initiative raised circulation to 17,000. (Subscriptions dropped off somewhat as CMC members exercised their option not to receive the magazine.) The conference also increased its representation on the publishing board. Founding chair of the new board was Sam Steiner. The editorial in the inaugural issue of Canadian Mennonite noted the consultation’s call by "adding more inspirational and faith reflection articles to Mennonite Reporter’s traditionally strong emphasis on news and discussion of issues." Also added were announcements of births, baptisms, marriages and deaths.

Besides editors Rempel and Loewen Reimer, Canadian Mennonite staff listed in the inaugural issue in 1997 included Ferne Burkhardt, editorial and production assistant; Julie Penner, secretary/bookkeeper; Melanie Regier, advertising representative. Aiden Schlichting Enns was conference editor (based in Winnipeg) and provincial editors were Angelika Dawson (B.C.) and Jake Nickel (Sask.). The 27 October issue added Tim Dyck as graphic artist/designer and two more provincial editors: Evelyn Rempel (Man.) and Neil Funk Unrau (Alta). The "editors" title for regional staff was soon changed to "correspondents," and a person was added for Eastern Canada. Loewen Reimer served as editor/manager in 1998-99 while Rempel was on sabbatical leave. 

The 16 February 1998 issue included a new mission statement: "Canadian Mennonite is a bi-weekly Anabaptist/Mennonite periodical which seeks to promote covenantal relationships within the church (Hebrews 10:23-25). It provides channels for sharing accurate and fair information, faith profiles, inspirational /educational materials, news and analysis of issues facing the church." The full statement adopted by the Mennonite Publishing Service included the following: "Editorial freedom is expressed through seeking and speaking the truth in love and by providing a balance of perspectives in news and commentary. Canadian Mennonite will be a vehicle through which mutual accountability can be exercised within the community of believers; the paper also encourages its readers to have open hearts and minds in the process of discerning God’s will." In August 2003, the publisher changed its name to Canadian Mennonite Publishing Service.

Ron Rempel ended his role as editor/publisher with the 4 August 2003 issue. Margaret Loewen Reimer stepped in as interim editor/publisher for 2003-04. Timothy Miller Dyck served as editor/publisher from August 2004 to March 2009. Dyck focused on listening to the concerns of congregations and trying to shape the magazine accordingly. Loewen Reimer retired from Canadian Mennonite in January 2005, to be succeeded by Ross Muir as managing editor. For its tenth anniversary, the 3 September 2007 issue sported a new design, with more color and changes in typeface and layout. The magazine is a member of The Canadian Church Press, from which it has received many awards over the years.

Dick Benner, an experienced journalist from the United States, became editor/publisher of Canadian Mennonite with the 30 March 2009 issue and remained in that position in 2011. The 2011 mission statement read: "To educate, inspire, inform, and foster dialogue on issues facing Mennonite Church Canada as it shares the good news of Jesus Christ from an Anabaptist perspective. We do this through a regular publication and other media, working with our church partners." It is noted that "Area churches and MC Canada financially support 44 percent of Canadian Mennonite’s annual budget." Circulation at the end of 2011 was 13,840.

Bibliography

Bound volumes of Canadian Mennonite are located Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ontario, and the Mennonite Heritage Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

"Celebrating 25 years of CM." Canadian Mennonite 26, no. 20 (3 October 2022). Special 25th anniversary issue of Canadian Mennonite.

Additional Information

Address: 490 Dutton Drive, Unit C5, Waterloo, ON N2L 6H7

Phone: 519-884-3810

Website: Canadian Mennonite

Editors/Publishers of Canadian Mennonite

Name	Years of Service
Ron Rempel	September 1997- August 2003
Margaret Loewen Reimer (Interim)	August 2003- July 2004
Tim Miller Dyck	August 2004- March 2009
Dick Benner	March 2009-March 2016
Tobi Thiessen (Publisher)	April 2017-present
Virginia Hostetler (Editor)	April 2017-present

Chairpersons of Mennonite Publishing Service/
Canadian Mennonite Publishing Service

Name	Years of Service
Milton R. Good	1971-1973
Aaron Klassen	1973-1975
Ralph Lebold	1975-1978
Vernon Leis	1978-1979
Ernie Regehr	1979-1980
Wilmer Martin	1980-1989
Abe Friesen	1989-1991
Jake Fransen	1991-1992
Marlene Epp	1992-1995
Sam Steiner	1995-2000
Dave Regier	2000-2001
Ron Loeppky	2001-2003
Henry Neufeld	2003-2005
Bernie Wiebe	2005-2008
Larry Cornies	2008-2010
Tobi Thiessen	2010-2016
Henry Krause	2016-present

Author(s)	Margaret Loewen Reimer
Date Published	December 2011

Cite This Article

MLA style

Loewen Reimer, Margaret. "Canadian Mennonite (1997- ) (Periodical)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. December 2011. Web. 25 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Canadian_Mennonite_(1997-_)_(Periodical)&oldid=174194.

APA style

Loewen Reimer, Margaret. (December 2011). Canadian Mennonite (1997- ) (Periodical). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 25 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Canadian_Mennonite_(1997-_)_(Periodical)&oldid=174194.

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