Gerhard Ens |
Gerhard Ens received the Award of Excellence from the Mennonite Historical Society of Canada in January for his lifelong service as a minister, teacher, editor, historical society/museum promoter, and German and Low German broadcaster.
Ens was a founding member of the Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society in 1958 and sat on the board of the Mennonite Heritage Village Museum from 1958–2004. In 1972 he was asked to produce a Low German radio broadcast to promote the centennial of Manitoba Mennonite settlement in Manitoba, and he continued broadcasting for 34 years. In total he aired over 1,400 programs, which he produced for free.
In 1977 he moved to Winnipeg and began editing Der Bote, a Canadian-based, German language paper. He was ordained in 1957, and was a lay minister at Sargent Avenue Mennonite Church for 30 years.
“Mennonites of the Low German persuasion have no homeland in Europe they call their home,” said Ens. “Low German has become a home where people can move in and out of and express themselves.”
—Conrad Stoesz, Centre for MB Studies
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