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The annual Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Festival in Abbotsford, B.C., raised $630,000 for MCC BC’s budget and MCC’s Generations initiative, assisting individuals infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS around the globe. Some 1,200 volunteers and nearly 20,000 attendees ate 18,000 perogies, purchased $22,850 worth of quilts, and collected $65,000 in cyclathon donations. In addition, donations to MCC for East Africa relief in B.C. totalled $700,000 prior to the deadline for Ottawa’s matching gift program.—BMc and MCC BC release 
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Long-time pioneer MB Mission workers James Wiebe and Ernie Friesen died. James and his wife Lois led MB church planting efforts in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1962–93. Ernie and Elsie Friesen served with MB Mission in Colombia from 1955–69, and Spain from 1976–81, and Ernie was MB Mission board chair in the 1990s.—MBMission.org
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Canadian Foodgrains Bank hopes to reap a “harvest of letters,” by inviting Canadians to write their Members of Parliament thanking the Canadian government for contributing to a $30- billion global fund to help the developing world address climate change, and encouraging the government not to forget the people most affected by climate change. Of the $400-million Canada contributed, the majority went toward loans for projects leading to cleaner sources of energy; only 11 percent will aid the people affected now, for example, the farmers combating erosion and coping with limited rainfall.—CFGB release 
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Columbia Bible College (CBC), Abbotsford, B.C., registered more students for fall term this year than in 2010 – about 500 students. The school, funded by BCMB and Mennonite Church BC, offers 3 levels of training, up to a B.A. CBC introduced a new website, www.columbiabc.edu, in conjunction with their 75th anniversary celebrated in October. The college instituted a lunch program for neighbourhood seniors, offering a $6 “plate service” meal in its dining room Mondays and Thursdays, the 2 days the community centre does not offer service. Faculty serve coffee, and students have asked to pitch in.—BMc

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In September, some 30 CEOs slept outdoors in downtown Winnipeg to raise funds and awareness for homelessness and poverty issues. Funds went toward the Downtown BIZ’s Change for the Better, supporting homeless employment programs like Siloam Mission’s employment training program Mission: Off the Streets Team (MOST). Participants included a university president, a CTV anchor, the Manitoba Metis Federation vice president, the acting deputy mayor, and MB businessman Art DeFehr.—downtownwinnipegbiz.com 
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Google’s new discounted software set “Google for Nonprofits” excludes churches, schools, political think-tanks, and any organization that considers religion or sexual orientation in hiring decisions. Google hopes avoiding polarizing causes will prevent customers from becoming alienated.—Christianity Today
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Canadian Mennonite University, Winnipeg, recognized 4 alumni with the CMU Blazer Distinguished Alumni Award, Sept. 30. A 1980 graduate of MBBC, Lois Coleman Neufeld served with MB Mission in DR Congo, and with MCC as country representative for Zambia and as director of national programs. She is currently executive director of Mediation Services, Winnipeg. A 1961 MBBC graduate, David Loewen he served Camp Arnes and the Manitoba Camping Association over 20 years, then founded Kingdom Ventures – supporting Christian camping in the former Soviet Union – in 1990. CMBC graduates Robert John Wedel and Judith Klassen were also awarded, and Mennonite artist and curator, Ray Dirks, received the CMU Distinguished Community Service Award.—CMU 
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Sept. 25, Killarney Park MB celebrated 50 years as a church in the multiethnic southeast neighbourhoods of Vancouver. The service included a choir for the occasion, and most former KPMB pastors were present. Some 100 former members came back to join the 160 current regular attenders in the celebration, which lasted for most of the day. Among the reminiscences highlighted were Killarney Park’s willingness to serve individuals and community needs. In the early 1990s, the church instituted a neighbourhood daycare program, which continues after 20 years.—BMc

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