The Story of John: Canadian Volunteer, Mennonite Heart, Ukrainian Roots

By Olena Gadomska

On a hot July day at Wilmot Ukrainian House in the town of New Hamburg, a smiling man in dark jeans and a simple t-shirt was carefully fixing the house door. This is John Reimer, a volunteer supporting newly arrived Ukrainians through the Grassroots Response to the Ukrainian Crisis initiative (hereinafter - Grassroots).

John has lived in New Hamburg for over 25 years. He moved here with his wife to be closer to her parents. After retiring, John was searching for meaning and new challenges. When he saw a note in the church bulletin about the need for volunteers, he decided: it’s time to act. That’s how his story with Grassroots began - with repairs, cleaning, and simple but important tasks.

“I retired and started looking for something to do. I saw an announcement in the church bulletin about a need for help, and decided to join. I just wanted to be useful: clean up, fix something,” John recalls.

A quiet, retired life suddenly became intertwined with active volunteering. But the roots of this dedication lie in his own history.

Despite his German-Dutch origin, John has a connection to Ukraine through his ancestors - Mennonites, who were invited by the Empress of Tsarist Russia to settle lands near Zaporizhzhia in 1789 (territory of Ukraine that was under Russian control at the time). In then-Prussia, laws had changed - it became almost impossible for Mennonites to own land, and they were forced into military service, which contradicted their faith and beliefs. So the Mennonites embraced the opportunity to build a life in Ukraine.

“Catherine II invited the Mennonites to Ukraine because we knew how to work with water - we were from the Netherlands. They offered land near Zaporizhzhia - 176 acres per family. And so my great-grandfathers settled in Ukraine in 1789,” John says.

John’s ancestors lived there for three generations and were farmers, craftsmen, and pacifists. Eventually, his forebears left Ukraine because Tsarist laws did not allow Mennonites to pass on the Ukrainian land they farmed to their children. The family spent five long months travelling to Manitoba, Canada.

“When you have 10–12 children in a family, land quickly becomes scarce. Some Mennonites were very wealthy and rented land from Ukrainians. Others were poor, so they had to leave. There were also fears that the Russian government would force pacifist Mennonites into military service. So our family lived in Ukraine for only three generations,” John shares.

John is curious whether his ancestors had genuine connections with Ukrainians, whether there was friendship or if they helped those around them. He doesn’t deny the influence of Ukrainian culture on family traditions - he remembers his grandmother’s black floral headscarf as something that might have come from Ukrainian tradition.

“I will never forget Ukrainians because of the watermelons. The family was living in Odesa after moving from Zaporizhzhia,” he laughs. “We ate them with bread - it enhances the taste. Mennonites do something similar - Roll Kuchen, fried dough eaten with watermelon. That was a summer lunch in my childhood.”

When the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began, John felt confused. As a pacifist, he cannot accept violence, but he deeply empathizes with the Ukrainians’ struggle for independence. After all, freedom and autonomy are values Mennonites have sought in many countries.

John contributes daily to helping Ukrainian families build new lives - helping them settle, repairing homes, and creating safe spaces. His goal is not just to make things “good enough.” He wants Ukrainians to have better. Because everyone deserves a decent welcome.

“I’m not always satisfied with the result, but it’s the best I can give. And this is my way of saying to Ukrainians - Welcome to Canada. You are home,” John says.

John Reimer’s story is a reminder of how deeply personal roots, faith, and a willingness to act can be connected. His path is an example of how family history can inspire change and support for others.