Building Communities:

The Changing Face of Manitoba Mennonites

This award-winning book is not only a comprehensive and accessible history of Manitoba Mennonites who emigrated from Europe in the 19th century to seek religious freedom and live out their pacifist convictions, but it also looks at today's Mennonites in all their cultural, ethnic, linguistic and theological diversity.

Generously illustrated with photographs and maps, and including illuminating excerpts from hundreds of personal and official documents, it is an important contribution to the history of Manitoba.

Commissioned by the Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society, this book includes new emphasis on the experience of women, Mennonite folklore, urban life, and lively young Mennonite congregations of East Asian, African, Latin American and Aboriginal origin.

"This is unequivocally the finest book on Mennonites in Manitoba ever written. Set within the context of Aboriginal, Metis, and Canadian history, readers will quickly understand who these diverse Russian Mennonite groups are and their place within Manitoba's colourful history. Easily read with many fine pictures, illustrations, and fascinating sidebars, this is one book I highly recommend to both non-Mennonite and Mennonite readers. Friesen has written one of the best ethno-religious histories that I have ever read." - Ken Reddig, Director, Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies in Canada