Fonds PP - Helen Janzen fonds

Helen Janzen was born in Gretna, Manitoba on January 25, 1908 to Abram and Katharina (Friesen) Janzen. She graduated from the Mennonite Collegiate Institute (MCI) and did a year of permit teaching in Rosefarm School District and while working on her Bachelor of Arts degree (received in October 1936), she taught elementary school in Gretna for 10 years. She also obtained a Bachelor of Science (Home Economics) in May 1940 and a Bachelor of Education in May 1958. From 1956 to her retirement January 31, 1972, Helen was the first supervisor of home economics for Manitoba. Helen was a member of the Canadian College of Teachers, Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society, the United Nations Association in Canada and was the first woman to serve on the executive committee of the Canadian Mennonite Central Committee. She was also an honorary life member of the Manitoba Home Economics Association and received the Government of Manitoba Meritorious Service Award and the interfaith pastoral institute service award in 1990. Helen was very involved in the Mennonite Church, being a member of Charleswood Mennonite Church and serving on their pastoral team in the 1970's, a member of the Conference of Mennonites in Canada Resolutions Committee, and Secretary of the Manitoba Interfaith Council. The issues most important to her included poverty, ecology, women's concerns and nuclear prolification. In 1981 she translated the book Causes and History of the Emigration of the Mennonites From Russia to Canada originally entitled Ursachen und Geschichte der Auswanderung der Mennoniten aus Russland nach Amerika written by Bishop Gerhard Wiebe in 1900. It was published by the Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society. In 1985 she wrote her memoirs in a book entitled Memories. Helen Janzen passed away on February 29, 1992.