This weekend, Lowe Farm will play host to a family reunion, but not just any. It’s an occasion that will also celebrate history and attempt to solve a Mennonite mystery.
How long have Blatzes been around?
The reason for the reunion, according to one of its organizers, Dulaney Blatz, is to commemorate a significant milestone — 150 years since the Blatz family arrived in Canada.
“I think [family history] has always interested me, and a little over a year ago, I realized that our family was going to have [this] big event, and I think that's pretty important,” he said. “[I thought it] should be recognized and we should celebrate it.”
After Blatz discovered the upcoming anniversary, he turned to his family — who else? — to begin the planning process for the reunion.
He said that he enlisted the help of his dad’s cousin, Judy Thiessen, and Mary Dyck, who has a family connection through her grandparents, for the Blatz 150th Canadian Immigration Anniversary Committee.
Since its inception, the group has been searching to locate family members to invite to the 150th celebration, but along the way, it has also attempted to address a gap in the family tree.
As it turns out, there is a missing line of descendants.
The Blatz name
As for the legacy of the Blatz name that the family will celebrate, it all began in Europe well over a century ago.
Thiessen said that the Blatz family has roots in Holland, Germany, and Russia.
According to Blatz, who has conducted extensive research into his family’s history, the first person with his name arrived in Canada on July 13, 1875, on the ship USS Peruvian.
When it comes to the name’s origin, although the etymology is somewhat speculative, the committee has heard it’s related to platz, which Dyck said means “the town meeting place,” in German (and, as any sweet tooth will know, it shares its name with a pie that Mennonites bake).
While the history of the Blatz family is marked by long journeys, resilience, and new beginnings in Canada, it also has its darker moments.
In addition to the more inspiring information about the family, Blatz has also uncovered the family members who did not fare well in Canada.
He said that he found at least seven Blatzes who did not survive the first year in the country.
Attempting to locate three lines
The sobering reality that not every family member flourished in Canada makes the Blatz committee’s mission to honour a lineage all the more meaningful.
It also comes with work.
Before the reunion could take place, the committee had the daunting task of reviewing the Blatz genealogy and contacting as many family members as possible.
“They don't speak any English, they just speak Low German, and they've never been out of Mexico before. They thought it was pretty exciting, so they said that they will be there.”
-Dulaney Blatz on the family members in Mexico who heard about and plan to attend the Blatz 150th reunion.
Blatz said that this part of the reunion preparation has “not been easy.”
What thickens the plot is that Blatz and the rest of the committee have identified three lines of Blatzes — and one of them seems to be missing.
“There's one, her name was Maria Blatz, and she got married, so her name changed, and we are having a hard time finding people from that line to come to this event,” he said.
Blatz said that the group is specifically seeking descendants of Daniel Blatz, who was born in 1789.
Dyck said that she suspects some members of this family may be in Mexico. However, since families often move between Mexico and the Pembina Valley, she’s hopeful that there are still Blatzes from the line in the region.
The thrill of the search
For Dyck, it’s an adventure to search for the missing line.
So is finding distant relatives along the way.
“It’s like a treasure, and every time you find something, it’s like the lottery,” she said.
Family from far and wide
Mystery of the missing Blatzes solved or not, the Blatz family reunion from July 26th to July 27th is sure to be a joyous occasion with all the marks of a traditional Mennonite gathering, including food.
“This event got a little bigger than what we kind of thought it would. There are some people coming from Ontario and Nova Scotia, [and] there's quite a group coming out of Alberta.”
-Dulaney Blatz on the growing interest in the Blatz 150th reunion.
Thiessen said that faspa (a traditional Mennonite meal that features meat, cheese, and pickles, among other favourites) will be a part of the weekend as well as roll kuchen (pieces of fried dough) and its companion, ra’bus (watermelon).
The event will also be an opportunity for generations to connect (or reconnect).
According to the Blatz 150th Canadian Immigration Anniversary Committee, enthusiasm for the gathering has been mounting.
“This event got a little bigger than what we kind of thought it would,” said Blatz. “There are some people coming from Ontario and Nova Scotia, [and] there's quite a group coming out of Alberta.”
Related stories:
- 'It’s in my blood': Reinland and Rosengart celebrate 150 years with a homecoming
- ‘If we’re not going to tell our story, who is?’ what Manitoba looked like 150 years ago
- Schoenwiese comes together to celebrate 150 years in grand reunion
There will also be family from outside the country — the U.S.A. (North Dakota) and Mexico.
Blatz said the relatives from Mexico called after they heard about the reunion.
“They don't speak any English, they just speak Low German, and they've never been out of Mexico before,” he said. “They thought it was pretty exciting, so they said that they will be there.”
A beloved tradition
For Thiessen, the reunion will take place in the spirit of the family gatherings she grew up appreciating.
“We always had family gatherings every summer,” she said. “It was a priority in our family.”
The aspect to look forward to for Blatz is the “exciting” (and rare) opportunity to learn about the genealogy of his family up close and personally.
It may also be the perfect place to solve a mystery.
To contact the Blatz 150th Canadian Immigration Anniversary Committee, see the information below:
Judy Thiessen – hjthiessen@hotmail.com (204-822-3394)
Dan Blatz – jadetreeguy@gmail.com (204-325-8965)
Dulaney Blatz – lowefarmball@gmail.com (204-746-5121)
Mary Dyck – unrau202@gmail.com (204-362-1521)
With files from Jayme Giesbrecht