Donna has worked passionately with the Mennonite Church her whole life. Thirty of those years were spent doing community development and Bible work in a Muslim village in Burkina Faso. In Edmonton she continued to be drawn to relate to Muslims and learn more about Islam. She gave leadership to a group called A Common Word Alberta that created spaces for Muslims and Christians to engage with each other. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Biblical studies from Canadian Mennonite University and a Masters degree in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. The final degree was about half courses in Islam. In order to be close to family, she relocated to Winnipeg, where she continues to view the world culturally as an anthropologist.
Milton graduated from Red River Community College with a certificate in Design and Drafting in 1984 and worked as a draftsman for four years. He took over the family grain farm in 1988 and farmed for 32 years. He was the treasurer for his church for 32 years. He was a municipal councillor in RM of St. Francois Xavier for 6 years and on the Bethel Place board for 6 years. Milton has been married to Janice Dueck since 1983 and they have two children and one grandchild. He is now retired and in the last stages of building a house on an acreage near Winnipeg. He also volunteers on a committee that sponsors new refugees to Canada. He has been serving on the CPI board since 2024.
Andrew Tappenden is the Dean of Natural Science at King’s University in Edmonton, Alberta. He has a Ph. D. in Computer Engineering and Software Design from the University of Alberta. His research interests and numerous publications include Software Engineering, Security Testing, Software Verification, and Mobile Systems. At King’s University Dr. Tappenden joins the growing number of Faculty involved in International Development and extending the impact of the University to the global community.
Henry Hubert was raised on an irrigation farm in southern Alberta. After high school he attended a local Bible institute for two years before graduating from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. After marrying Elsie Voth that summer, Hubert and his wife left for one year of general studies at the George August Universität in Göttingen, in what was then West Germany. Returning to Canada, he completed an M.A. in English Studies at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, followed by a year of studies at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Returning to the Vancouver area, he taught high school for one year, after which he began a lengthy career in post-secondary education, as both educator and administrator. In 1971 he began teaching English studies at Cariboo College, a two-year institution in Kamloops, British Columbia. While there he completed his Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia. In 1989 Cariboo College affiliated with the University of British Columbia to become a 4-year university college, during which time Hubert became the Dean of Arts. In this position in 2005 he assisted in the Faculty of Arts transition from university college to becoming fully registered as a faculty in what became Thompson Rivers University. With his wife battling cancer, he retired in 2007, but ended his teaching career as a part-time instructor on the Simon Fraser University campus in Kamloops. His research and publications focused on the history of university English studies as well as communication. Following the death of his wife Elsie in 2013, on a Canadian Mennonite University tour to the Middle East in 2016 he met a fellow traveller that had also lost her spouse. He married Connie Epp in 2017 and now lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
David Hubert, with his brother Henry, was raised on an irrigation farm in southern Alberta. After high school he attended a local Bible institute before gaining a Standard Secondary teaching certificate at the University of Alberta. After his marriage to Martha Goertz that summer, he began a 15-year teaching career in Aboriginal settings in northern Alberta. During this time, he also attended the University of Alberta in Edmonton, where he completed a B.A. (History/Classics) and an M.Ed. (Administration of Post Secondary Education). And during this time three children were born to the family. Hi teaching culminated in the establishment of Portage College in Lac La Biche, Alberta, from where he moved to a 4-year presidency of Norquest College in Edmonton. This was followed by an Alberta government position as Director of Instructional Services for the Department of Advanced Education and Technology. In 1985 he left government service to set up the Edmonton Mennonite Center for Newcomers, after which he was recruited by the Mennonite Central Committee of Canada (MCC Canada) to establish a national Employment Development Program. During eight years there, employment generation programs were organized from BC to the Maritimes, including the Edmonton Recycling Society, which provided curbside recycling services for 100,000 homes in Edmonton, and employed many mentally handicapped people, including his daughter Angele. Another major project, the Tire Recycling Atlantic Canada Corporation, still recycles tires throughout New Brunswick. In recognition of more than 35 years of community service, in 2012 St. Stephen’s College at the University of Alberta conferred on Hubert a Doctor of Sacred Letters. Also, in recognition of his community service, in 2019 he was inducted into the City of Edmonton Hall of Fame. Hubert’s publications include Canada@Peace: Coactive Security, which demonstrates how Canada could be defended by non-violent, Gandhian means, and Mennonite Economics, which reviews a variety of leading-edge economic programs initiated globally by Mennonite individuals or communities. In 1997, while in Honduras for a Habitat for Humanity program, Hubert also responded to appeals for local education from Honduran community leaders. For this he developed a computer assisted learning program rooted in his earlier educational experience in Alberta. The program operated out of local premises such as community centres, churches, or even other housing structures, and it also operated without formal teachers—and thus also formal teacher salaries. By 2021 the Honduras program had more than 8,000 students complete classes from grades 7 – 10 at a net cost of less than $100 per student per grade. Many of the students have now graduated from high school, and some have gone on the university—some of them in the U.S. The success of the Honduran program encouraged CPI to transplant the CAL program to Sub-Saharan Africa, which has the largest educational deficit in the world. By the end of 2025 the program will be available in nine schools in three countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Present CPI plans see this program spreading throughout Ethiopia and Sub-Saharan Africa within the next decade.
Siyemule (“Semu”) is a passionate advocate for sustainable development and social justice, with a strong foundation in accounting, marketing, and supply chain management. Originally from Zimbabwe, she completed her high school education and earned a Diploma in Accounting from Bulawayo Polytechnic. She later pursued a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing in South Africa, followed by advanced studies in Supply Chain Management at the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply in the United Kingdom. With over a decade of experience in accounting across Southern Africa, Semu has dedicated much of her career to faith-based organizations, focusing on food security and community development in Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone. Her work is deeply rooted in a commitment to Biblical social justice, utilizing her professional expertise to empower individuals and strengthen organizations. In 2019, Semu joined her husband, Mbongeni Nunu, also a Zimbabwean, in Canada, to start a family. They have been blessed with two beautiful girls, April and Olothando. Serving as a Board Member of Canadian Peacemakers International, she brings a wealth of experience and a heartfelt dedication to advancing human development in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ken, a finance professional with an MBA, brings over 20 years of expertise in Finance, Accounting, and Business. Before joining Church of Christ Development Company Ltd (CCDC), he held key roles, including Commercial Banker at Scotia Bank, Project Services Coordinator at Syncrude Canada Ltd., and Principal (Owner) of a financing franchise with Liquid Capital Corporation. Ken is dedicated to building strong relationships with stakeholders and financing seekers, ensuring seamless service and value-driven solutions. Beyond his financial acumen, he is passionate about empowering vulnerable communities worldwide, particularly through education. His strategic approach and commitment to meaningful impact make him a trusted leader in financial solutions and social advancement.
Tiffany is a native Albertan who has been involved in education for almost all her life. Following graduation from high school, Tiffany enrolled at Vanguard College and then graduated from King’s University with qualifications in music and education. This led to a career in teaching and youth work in summer camps. Tiffany learned of the work of Canadian Peacemakers International from Theo Fumana and Gloria Mwangi and wanted to become involved. She will have an opportunity to do this through her involvement on the Board of Canadian Peacemakers International.
George Loewen is a retired physician and a longtime supporter of development in Africa. George has served as a locum in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has had young Africans, sponsored by the Mennonite Central Committee SALY (Serving and Learning Together) live in his house for a year-long placement. Following these placements, and while pursuing other MCC involvements, George and his wife Helga visited with one of these SALY students in his African home, with his family. They encouraged Simon in several entrepreneurial endeavors on his way to becoming a successful businessman. Dr. Loewen continues his interest in promoting development in Africa through his involvement on the CPI Board.
Joshua is a dedicated professional with a strong foundation in business, leadership, and community service. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business Administration and Philosophy (Christian Apologetics) from Tyndale University and Seminary College in Toronto. He later pursued his graduate studies at the University of Maryland in the United States, earning a Master’s degree in Business Technology. With a career spanning project management, entrepreneurship, and education, [Your Name] has led numerous initiatives that bridge innovation and impact. He has served on multiple boards, contributing his expertise in governance, strategic planning, and organizational development. As a business owner and Instructor at Red River College Polytechnic, he is passionate about mentoring future leaders and fostering practical, value-driven education. A staunch Christian, Joshua is also a devoted husband and father of three—two daughters and one son. He brings his faith, family values, and professional experience together in service of causes that uplift communities and create lasting change.
Patrick J. OBONDE serves at Canadian Peacemakers International as the director of programs. He brings over two decades of professional experience in teaching, corporate finance and organizational capacity development, having worked extensively with international organizations, non-governmental and Governmental agencies across East and Central Africa. Obonde holds a Bachelor of Education in Science from Kenyatta University (Kenya) and a Master of Arts in Theology and Peace Studies from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary IN, USA. He is currently pursuing a PhD Leadership in Higher Education Administration at Andrews University MC, USA. In addition to his academic background, Obonde has undertaken studies in Accounting & Management at Strathmore College (Now University)-Kenya, MBA at DALC Education with The Cambridge Association of Managers (CAM-UK), and Intercultural Missiology at Hendrik Kraemer Institute (HKI, Netherlands). Patrick is deeply dedicated to Anabaptist leadership education and global mission work with Kenya Mennonite Church (KMC). He is ordained and licensed minister of faith by the Government of Kenya and the serving Secretary to KMC Board of Registered Trustees. His work is grounded in a strong Christian commitment to wholistic education, peace-leadership development, nonviolence peacemaking, and sustainable community transformation.
Theo Fumana is a dedicated advocate for peace and education, deeply committed to addressing the challenges faced by marginalized communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and across Sub-Saharan Africa. Born in Winkler, Manitoba, Theo spent 13 years in the DRC before returning to Canada in 1998 during the Great African War. Arriving with only a few belongings and limited resources, he settled in Winnipeg and pursued a bachelor’s degree in Finance at St. Boniface College. In 2002, Theo moved to Edmonton to join his wife, Gloria Mwangi, and continued his education at the University of Alberta, earning a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Economics. Professionally, he worked as a Senior IT Manager in CNC before transitioning to operate his own logistics business, allowing him more time to focus on family and community service. As a passionate supporter of CALCongo and Canadian Peacekeepers International, Theo uses his academic and professional expertise to promote education as a tool for peacebuilding. His work focuses on empowering communities, fostering dialogue, and addressing the root causes of conflict. Theo and Gloria are proud parents of three teenage children who share their dedication to serving both local and international communities.
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