September 28-29, 2012 – Canadian Mennonite University’s Fall Festival 2012 celebration gets underway today at 500 Shaftesbury Boulevard, Winnipeg, as the University welcomes community members along with students and their families, alumni, and CMU supporters and friends to share in the weekend of fun, experiencing a taste of what CMU university life has to offer.
View a detailed, full weekend schedule online at www.cmu.ca/fallfestival Event details are also on Facebook at Canadian Mennonite University, Fall Events tab
The weekend festival opens Friday at 7:00 p.m. with a celebration as CMU honours its 2012 Blazer Distinguished Community Service Award winner, Tall Grass Prairie Bread Company, recognizing company owners Paul and Tabitha Langel and Lyle and Kathy Barkman. Also recognized on Friday evening are winners of the 2012 Blazer Distinguished Alumni Awards: Bill Janzen (CMBC 1966-1967), Sarah Klassen(MBBC ’62), Patrice Nagant (CMU ’01), and Bonita Sawatzky (CMBC 1981-1982).
Following award presentations, CMU visitors are invited to enjoy an evening program of story and song, titled, “Coming Home: Eating as a Doxological Act.” The program features Terry Mierau (CMBC ’94), an opera singer turned farmer, and Kenton Lobe (CMBC ’95), a CMU instructor who spends summers farming and winters teaching about just and sustainable food systems.
Visitors with an interest in athletics can see the men’s exhibition volleyball games in the Loewen Athletic Centre from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, as the CMU Blazers play the UWinnipeg Wesmen in a preseason game.
The Festival’s Friday evening reception beginsat 9:00 p.m. in the Great Hall following CMU Presents. The reception provides an opportunity to reconnect with friends, congratulate award recipients, and meet the evening’s presenters.
Activities on Saturday get underway with the annual MennoCross bike races, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., where racers challenge themselves on a course that winds around CMU’s north campus. There are races for beginner and intermediate riders, along with the competitive classes, and races for young children.
Alumni scheduled reunions take place on Saturday. Gathering this year for their class events are MBBC and CMBC Classes of 1962, celebrating their 50th anniversaries, along with class reunions for classes from 1972 and 1982 (with 1981), along with CMU’s class of 2002, gathering for a 10-year celebration.
Campus visitors will have a wide range of activities to enjoy at CMU’s Fall Fair, which opens at 3:00 p.m. The students’ annual “MPK Folkfest” takes place on the south side of campus, starting at 3:00, while bike races continue to draw crowds through the afternoon. Activities for children happen near the big tent on the north side, where folks can gather to relax. There will be lots of games and the popular children’s “bouncy house” is back to entertain the young ones. Returning by popular request for the Fall Fair is CMU’s “pie bake-off” with an added silent auction this year.
Visitors may enjoy taking a campus tour, taking time to view CMU student residences, campus buildings, and CMU’s beautiful grounds.
CMU faculty present “Class Samplers” from 4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. in two time slots. Irma Fast Dueck presents Deep Down on the Edge; John Brubacher and Candice Viddall present It’s Not Magic, It’s Science! and Gordon Matties focuses discussion around Difficult Conversations with Joshua.
CMU welcomes all to gather in the big tent to share conversation and a meal during the Fall Festival Supper (donations are invited), from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m., and to take the CMU “farm tour” to the urban garden on campus.
CMU’s annual Opening Program celebrates the start of the new academic year. The program begins at 7:00 p.m., giving the audience an opportunity to hear performances by CMU’s renowned choirs, along with a time of sharing by students and an address by CMU’s Interim President Earl Davey.