The Story of CMU

Canadian Mennonite University is the result of the amalgamation of three colleges: Mennonite Brethren Bible College/Concord College (est. 1944); Canadian Mennonite Bible College (est. 1947); and Menno Simons College (est. 1989).

The origins of CMU go back to the early 1990s when people from the business community and from four Mennonite colleges in Manitoba—CMBC, Concord College, Steinbach Bible College and Menno Simons College—met to talk about inter-Mennonite co-operation in higher education. This led to formal discussions among the colleges, beginning in 1995. Steinbach Bible College withdrew from the process in 1996.

In August, 1998, the government of Manitoba proclaimed the charter for the creation of a university-level, degree-granting federation of Mennonite colleges. On November 18, 1998, the three colleges signed a Memorandum of Agreement, signifying final approval for the creation of the federation. On May 4, 1999, the agreement to purchase 500 Shaftesbury Blvd. was concluded. The Mennonite College Federation began offering its new, jointly sponsored academic programs in September, 1999. By September, 2000, CMBC and Concord College located together on a common campus at 500/600 Shaftesbury Boulevard. (Menno Simons College remained in downtown Winnipeg as CMU's campus at the University of Winnipeg.) In October, 2008, CMU became a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (now known as Universities Canada).

Each of the founding colleges has its own story. Yet, from the beginning, the individual stories have often intersected and are now part of a common story—a story of how God has led them to work together on a common educational mission called CMU.