After more than a century of shaping young lives through faith, education, music, and sports, the Mennonite Collegiate Institute (MCI) will be “pausing operations” at the end of June. The school’s Board of Directors made the announcement earlier this week, citing declining enrollment and financial challenges as the reasons behind the tough decision.
“It’s not something we took lightly,” said MCI CEO Kris Harms. “It puts people in a tough spot, finding out in the middle of June that their kids don’t have a school potentially for the fall. Even for staff, this isn’t a great time of year to be looking for jobs in the education field. Most positions are filled.”
The Anabaptist Christian high school, located in Gretna just south of Altona, has been a pillar in the region since its founding in 1889. For 136 years, it’s drawn students from across southern Manitoba, including many from the Southeast, and built a strong reputation for community, music, and Christian values.
Despite months of planning and exploring every possible option, the Board ultimately decided the current challenges were too steep to overcome without taking a step back.
A personal loss for many
Karen Peters, a former student and long-time financial supporter of the school from Randolph, reflected on what MCI meant to her family.
“I graduated from MCI in 1972. My dad went there and had a great experience, so he really encouraged me to go,” said Peters. “It was hard to leave the Steinbach Treble Teens choir I was part of, but MCI ended up shaping my life in countless ways.”
For Peters, the school’s Anabaptist roots ran deep. “We had a mandatory Mennonite history class where I learned so much about my own heritage and why our ancestors moved to Canada for peace. That kind of education sticks with you.”
She added that it wasn’t just the academics that stood out. “The friendships we formed in the dorms, the music, the sports teams, the staff, all of it created a really unique experience. I still run into people from MCI at events in Steinbach or Winkler. It’s a network that never really went away.”
“Pause” feels like an “End”
While the term “pause” leaves room for possibilities, Peters admits she’s realistic.
“We all know that when you pause something, it’s really difficult to pick it up again,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean it was all for nothing. The school created lifelong friendships and incredible experiences. That needs to be celebrated, not mourned.”
She’s hopeful that the school community will gather to honour MCI’s legacy.
“I’d love to see a big celebration, to honour the people who started it, the people who taught there, the students who went on to do incredible things. That impact stretched across Canada and even beyond.”
Peters’ graduating class is planning to return in 2027 for their 55th reunion. “Our 50th was a huge success. The campus may be quiet now, but the people are still the people. The connection is still there.”
The music lived in the halls
Millie Hildebrandt, a proud member of MCI’s class of 1970, echoed those feelings in an email filled with warm memories.
“To this day, I still say my three years at MCI were some of the best,” wrote Hildebrandt. “The music was beyond anything I could’ve imagined, from Handel to Mozart, we performed incredible works under the direction of Henry Engbrecht.”
Originally from Oak Lake, Hildebrandt had to move away from home to attend MCI. But she never looked back.
“There was an orchestra, voice and piano lessons, operettas, and excellent academic instruction. It’s where I realized I wanted to pursue a career in music.”
Hildebrandt says the impact of her time at MCI has lasted a lifetime, and she’s looking forward to a reunion with her classmates this summer, 55 years after graduating.
Good friends - Lots of connections
For Charlene Kroeker, with Steinbach Community Outreach, hearing news of the school's closing brought back many good memories.
"I graduated from MCI in 1990, and one of my favourite memories is being involved in the musical we put on, "Anne of Green Gables."
Kroeker says, "Of course it's sad to hear that the space where you lived for so many years, where you learned and grew, is now shutting down."
She also recalls that the school was very musical and involved in bands and choirs, but mostly, Kroeker recalls making a lot of connections during her time at MCI.
"When I was in High School, I had a good group of friends who really enjoyed hanging out with. We really connected well, and yeah, I have made a lot of good memories with them."
These days, Kroeker says she is constantly running into people she went to school with, and that's pretty special.
Next Steps: Still Unknown
A former MCI staff member shared that the financial strain was likely the biggest factor in the school’s pause.
“The staff are wrapping up as if they won’t be back,” the employee said. “But no one really knows what’s next.”
An ownership meeting is scheduled for the second week of July. That meeting will determine the future, whether the school reopens, officially closes, or finds some other path forward.
In the meantime, the emotions are still raw.
“There’s a lot to process,” the staff member admitted. “It’s not just a job. For many of us, it was home.”
A Lasting Legacy
For Karen Peters, the school’s impact will live on, even if the classrooms go quiet.
“Even if it doesn’t open again, it meant something. It changed lives. That can’t be taken away.”
As she put it, “Everything in this world is temporary, including us. But the influence of MCI will carry on in the lives of everyone who walked through its doors.”
