Launch of 'From Shore to Shore' Poetry Collection at Brubacher House Museum

On February 1st, Brubacher House Museum hosted the launch of *From Shore to Shore: Ukrainian Mennonite Poetry in Translation*, a bilingual poetry collection by Hannah Gardiner and Jakob-Michael Stephan. The event attracted local Mennonite history enthusiasts, literary community members, and the authors' family and friends, creating an atmosphere filled with warmth and excitement.

The collection features ten poems written in German during the first half of the 20th century by Mennonite individuals from the Chortitza and Molotschna colonies in Ukraine. Gardiner and Stephan compiled these poems during their residency at Brubacher House in 2022-23. Their translations provide personal narratives that showcase the historical experiences of many Mennonites, reflecting their commitment to family, hope, and faith. One descendant of a featured poet expressed the significance of seeing his ancestor's work in print.

Henry Paetkau, Vice President of the Mennonite Historical Society of Ontario (MHSO), acknowledged the MHSO's J. Winfield Fretz Special Projects Fund for its contribution to the book's publication. He also noted the project's significance, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Mennonite emigration from the former Soviet Union. During the Russlaender 100 cross-Canada train tour commemorating this emigration, participants had the opportunity to hear one of the translated poems, enhancing their experience. Paetkau remarked on the emotional impact of Anna Rempel's poem, illustrating the profound loss experienced by Mennonites fleeing the Soviet Union in the 1920s.

*From Shore to Shore* honors the experiences of Ukrainian Mennonite immigrants to Canada and aims to preserve their poetry while enriching the understanding of their family histories. This project represents a significant milestone for the Brubacher House's Artist-in-Residence program, launched in 2017, which is supported by the MHSO. The initiative has fostered new discussions about migration, memory, and cultural preservation within the Mennonite community.

The book is currently available for online purchase.