By 1905 supporters of the Mennonite Collegiate Institute at Gretna, Manitoba felt that its building should be re-modeled or replaced by a new building. Some felt that the new building, if any, should be constructed at Altona, which would offer a more convenient site. In an open meeting in May 1905, a majority voted for the Gretna site. Those favoring Altona thereupon raised money for a new school, and somewhat later the Gretna supporters also raised money for a new building. By 1908 the two schools were built and in operation. The Gretna school was incorporated as the Mennonite Collegiate Institute (M.C.I.) and the Altona school as the Mennonite Educational Institute (M.E.I.).

The M.E.I. was built on the later site of the Agricultural Hall and Fair Grounds of Altona. In January 1926 the building was burned to the ground and was not rebuilt. The object of the school was to train Mennonite teachers for the schools in the Manitoba Mennonite settlements. The principals of the school were J. J. Balzer, G. G. Neufeld, J. S. Schultz, and Gerhard Friesen.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, p. 621. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

©1996-2008 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.

To cite this page:

MLA style: Hamm, H. H. "Mennonite Educational Institute (Altona, Manitoba, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1953. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 17 May 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/M466652.html>

APA style: Hamm, H. H. (1953). "Mennonite Educational Institute (Altona, Manitoba, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 17 May 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/M466652.html>