(MCC Photo) MCC's Ottawa Office opened on May 1, 1975 in a small office on the 8th floor of the Bible House Building (now called the Hope Building), 63 Sparks Street. It moved down the hall in 2014.
(Photo courtesy of Ottawa Citizen) Bill Janzen served as the director of the Ottawa Office from 1975 until 2008, with two short breaks in the 1990s.
(MCC Photo) In 1979 the Ottawa Office assisted in the negotiation of Canada's first Private Sponsorship Agreement. This enabled Mennonite churches across the country to sponsor several thousand refugees from Southeast Asia over the next few years. This young woman (name unknown) and her baby arrived in Winnipeg in 1979.
(MCC Photo) In 1976 the Ottawa Office facilitated negotiations with the Canadian International Development Agency, leading to the formation of a MCC Food Bank for emergency food assistance. In 1983 the Food Bank became the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. This photo shows Food Bank wheat being unloaded in Calcutta in 1983.
(MCC Photo) MCC staff met with Member of Parliament John Reimer after making a presentation to a parliamentary committee on Canada's aid policy in 1986. L to R: Stu Clark, Bill Janzen (Ottawa Office), John Reimer, and Bert Lobe.
(MCC Photo/Bill Janzen) In the mid-1990s North Korea experienced severe famine. The Ottawa Office, together with other organizations, persuaded the federal government to lift the restrictions against Canadian aid being sent to North Korea.
(MCC Photo) In 2005 the Ottawa Office hosted a three-day seminar for university students from across Canada. The seminar has since become a successful annual event. This photo is from 2011.
(MCC Photo) In 2009 Paul Heidebrecht (2nd from R) became director of the Ottawa Office. He is shown here with other MCC Canada staff: Lois Coleman Neufeld (director of National Programs), Monica Scheifele (Ottawa Office assistant) and Don Peters (executive director).
(MCC Photo/Paige Reuber) In 2010 Paul Heidebrecht (2nd from R) joined a learning tour to Guatemala as part of a 3-year Mining Justice campaign. Goldcorp, a Canadian gold mining company, has a major mine in San Marcos, Guatemala.
(MCC Photo) In 2010 as part of the Mining Justice campaign, Ottawa Office staff Paul Heidebrecht (3rd from L) and Jenn Wiebe (far R), accompanied a delegation of guests including Rose Lala Biasima, Hubert Mukulasi Lubyama, Raymond Motsi, Dumisani Nkomo, and Rev. Godfrey Tahona Walalaze from Africa to Timmins to learn about Indigenous communities and their relationship with the mining industry.
(MCC Photo/Doug Hostetter) Policy analyst Jenn Wiebe (L) visited Nigeria in 2014 and learned about how MCC-supported Emergency Preparedness Teams help to defuse and prevent violence.
(MCC Photo/Jean-Calvin Kitata) We were happy campers after the completion of our 2015 annual student seminar! L to R: Jenn Wiebe (director), Rebekah Sears (policy analyst), Esther Epp-Tiessen (public engagement coordinator), Cory Funk (advocacy research intern), Monica Scheifele (program assistant), and Steve Plenert (MCC Manitoba peace program coordinator).
(MCC Photo/Alison Ralph) A certificate of congratulations for the 40th anniversary from our local Member of Parliament.
(MCC Photo/Alison Ralph) Every celebration needs a cake.
(MCC Photo/Alison Ralph) MCC Canada colleagues, coalition partners, MPs, friends and family attended a 40th anniversary open house on May 28, 2015.
(MCC Photo/Alison Ralph) L-R: Esther Epp-Tiessen (Ottawa Office Public Engagement Coordinator), Willie Reimer (MCC Canada Program Director), Michelle Bested (Canadian Council for Internatinal Cooperation) and Don Peters (MCC Canada Executive Director) looked on as Ottawa Office Director Jennifer Wiebe prepared to cut the cake at the 40th anniversary open house on May 28, 2015.
(MCC Photo/Alison Ralph) L-R: Willie Reimer ( MCC Canada Program Director), and Don Peters ( MCC Canada Executive Director) listened as f ormer MCC Ottawa Office Director Paul Heidebrecht shared some thoughts and memories at the 40th anniversary open house on May 28, 2015.
(MCC Photo/Alison Ralph) Ottawa Office Policy Analyst Rebekah Sears (2nd from left) visited with a guest during the 40th anniversary open house on May 28, 2015.
