This bursary, honouring the legacy of Helena and Gerhard Unruh, will support aspiring post-secondary students who are immigrants or the children of immigrants.
Helena and Gerhard Unruh immigrated to Canada in October 1925 from the village of Waldheim in the Molotschna Colony of South Russia. Seven of their thirteen children travelled with them, six having perished in Russia. In the years prior to their departure, starvation, illness, and violence had taken a toll on the family. Helena and Gerhard were devoted to the survival of their remaining children: Elizabeth, Margaret, Frieda, Neil, George, Agnes, and Ben. Once in Canada they were dedicated to service in their adopted community. Gerhard was named the first Mennonite Brethren Minister in Steinbach and died in 1933. Helena faithfully served this community and her family until she passed away in 1938.
Their love of learning has been passed down to all of their grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. As a result, education has often played a major role in their families’ lives. Many of them have continued their studies at the post-secondary level and beyond, pursuing careers in the arts, sciences, medicinal disciplines, engineering, business, and education.
With this bursary Helena and Gerhard’s family honour the courage, sacrifice, service, and dedication of Helena and Gerhard and hope to contribute to the success of future generations.
Your gift will be pooled and invested with the generated income distributed as student bursary. As the original gift remains invested, your contribution will continue to benefit scholarship recipients in perpetuity.
