Fonds menn-18 - Canadian Mennonite Board of Colonization fonds

The Canadian Mennonite Board of Colonization (CMBoC) was established in 1922 to assist in the anticipated Mennonite immigration movement to Canada from Russia. The CMBoC was to be headquartered in Rosthern, Saskatchewan, with David Toews of Rosthern appointed chairman and A.A. Friesen appointed Corresponding Secretary (later Secretary-Treasurer) of the Board. The major cooperating Mennonite bodies were the Conference of Mennonites in Canada, Mennonite Brethren, the Mennonite Church, the Church of God in Christ Mennonite, and the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren. The first group of Mennonite immigrants arrived in Canada in July of 1923. More contracts were made with the Canadian Pacific Railway until 1930 when the political and economic climate changed and Mennonite immigrants were not allowed into Canada. From 1923 to 1930 over 21,000 Mennonites came to Canada. In 1930 the board was forced to change its focus as the new Conservative government no longer admitted Mennonite refugees into Canada. David Toews resigned in 1946 due to failing heath and was replaced by J.J. Thiessen of Saskatoon. In 1947 the office of the Board was moved to Saskatoon. In the same year Mennonite refugees were again admitted to Canada and the CMBoC worked to bring more people out of Russia and Europe. Mennonite Central Committee played a big role as they handled processing work in Europe. Between 1947 and 1961 another 12,052 came to Canada. In 1959, the CMBoC merged with the Mennonite Central Relief Committee of Western Canada to form the Canadian Mennonite Relief and Immigration Council. This new Council was one of nine inter-Mennonite organizations which formed Mennonite Central Committee Canada in December 1963.