HOSTS of OPEN SPACE 2026

A Time to Connect group Making Safe & Caring Connections

A Time to Connect seeks to make safe and caring connections for LGBTQ+ people and/or their allies who are or were associated with the Mennonite Brethren world and beyond. Members of A Time to Connect group were at the Open Space 2023 in Winnipeg, Open Space 2025 in Ontario and BC, and seeing the beneficial outcome of these events, wanted to make this available in Manitoba again to nurture and continue the momentum of this journey.

In This Together We are in this together, working towards a more integrated Church

We envision and work toward a just world where LGBTQ+ people are fully integrated, recognized, respected, and valued in a spirit of mutuality in Anabaptist communities in Canada.

Countdown Until Open Space 2026:

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Schedule

FRIDAY

Park in the lot north of the building, Great Hall, CMU Castle (North Campus)

6:30pmRegistration

Arrive & register in Great Hall. Coffee, tea & snacks

7-9pmPlenary & Generate Topics

Welcome & centering. Safe place covenant shared.
Open the space, and generate breakout session topics deriving from our guiding question: "How can we build communities of resiliency & bravery to care for one another in challenging and even hostile environments?"
Group all the topics, then choose your session to attend or facilitate.

Saturday

8:30 - 9amCentering and Instructions in Great Hall

Morning gathering with centering practice, and instructions for the day

9 am- 11:45 am with break in betweenDiscussion Groups #1 & #2

Attend the topical session of your choice that surfaced from our guiding question. Each breakout session is 1 hr & 15min of open dialogue together. Break in between.

11:45am - 1pmLunch in the Great Hall

Lunch will be in the cafeteria We will dine together to deepen relationships, encouraging one another.

1pm - 5:15 with breaks in betweenDiscussion Groups #3 & #4 & #5

Attend the topical session of your choice that surfaced from our guiding question. Each breakout session is 1 hr & 15min. Breaks in between.

5:15 - 6:30pmDinner in the Great Hall

Dinner in the cafeteria together

6:30-7:30pmSummary overview

High level summaries that came out from each breakout sessions will be shared. Vote on top priorities.

7:30-9pmTalking Stick Circle

Share reflections around the circle, listening to each other as people would like to share or be quiet. No feedback, just listening and sharing what came up for you. A powerful time and hopefully encouraging. Prayer and dismiss.

9pmDismiss

Registration Information

  • Individual regular registration

  • Student of any educational institution & under the age of 30; or an outside Manitoba participant; or 2nd partipant from same household; or any participant needing a reduced rate.

  • Reduced cost for participants coming for ony Friday night only (no meals included).

  • Reduced cost for participants coming for Saturday only (2 meals included).

I will arrange my own accomodations or hotel. Suggestions: hotel Stay 549 www.stay549.com; and the Travelodge & Hilton Garden Inn are also nearby.

We have a few host familes offering free stay at nearby homes. Would you like the registrar to contact you to see if one of these homes will be available for you?

Resource Table at the Event

  • Various books & resources available to browse at event

    Common Word (the CMU bookstore) will have a desicated table at their store by the folio cafe/library on campus

$0.00


Can you make an optional donation?

Your generosity will go towards subsidizing students and pay-as-you-can guests attend at a lower cost, to further the the diversity of the dialogue.  If you would like a tax receipt, please contact the Open Space Coorindator, David Wiebe or email [email protected], and we will give you instructions for donating and receiving a tax receipt. If you do not need a tax receipt, you may add a non-tax receipted donation here below to your total now.

Suggested Amounts
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Billing Information

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Guiding Posture & Confidentiality Statement

IN THIS EVENT

- Participants will hear from and be heard by others

- Participants engage with each other about opportunities and challenges that exist

- Participants will have the opportunity to discern next steps together

- Participants will have access to resources including each other’s wisdom.

GUIDING POSTURES

- Everyone has wisdom. Everyone’s input is important.

- Listen to understand.

- Offer ideas, beliefs, convictions and stories with humility

- When the going gets rough, engage curiosity, ask questions and listen carefully.

- We will listen to, respect, and dignify people with whom we disagree.

CONFIDENTIALITY

- Participants agree not to divulge the names of others who attend.

- Participants will hold people’s stories with care, and confidentially if required.

- Participants will protect others from potential exposure and judgement by others,

including those in leadership.

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