Office Administrator
Jaesook Peters is likely the first person you will encounter at FMCW. She has been our Church Office Administrator since late 2013. She was born in South Korea and came to Canada in 2002 to study. This is where she met her husband James.
Jaesook grew up in the Catholic Church in Korea and had never encountered Mennonites in her upbringing. However she has found everyone at First Mennonite to be very friendly and welcoming and she feels at home here. She, James and their two children attend regularly and are very involved in the Church family.
In her spare time, she enjoys going for a walk with her husband and their dog.
204- 772-2419
office@firstmennonitechurch.ca
Leading Minister
David Driedger joined the ministerial team at First Mennonite Church in 2010. David was ordained in 2011 and became Leading Minister 2022.
David grew up on a farm south of Altona and as a young adult moved to the West End of Winnipeg where he commuted to Providence College and Seminary completing a BA and MDiv. During this time David met and married Chantal.
In 2005 they moved to Hamilton, Ontario where David studied briefly at McMaster University and began pursuing ministry in Mennonite Church Canada. David’s first pastorate was on a pastoral team at Hillcrest Mennonite Church in New Hamburg, Ontario. During this time he also finished an MA in spiritual care and psychotherapy at Wilfrid Laurier University.
When their child Salem was born in 2009 they looked to move closer to family and started working here at First Mennonite.
When time and energy allow David works to help build mutual support and understanding among religious and secular organizers working for a more just and caring society.
David enjoys reading and writing and has published articles in Canadian Mennonite, Leader, Anabaptist Witness, Rhubarb, and The Conrad Grebel Review.
204- 772-2419
david@firstmennonitechurch.ca
Zach Dueck – Associate Minister (Christine Formation)
Zach came onto the First Mennonite Church ministerial team in 2023 with an aim to focus on Youth and Young Adults ministry.
Zach’s interest in working with those who are youthful both in life and heart was born out of his time working in camp ministries, having held every role from Leader in Training and Cabin Leader up to Camp Pastor and Year-round Director at his childhood camp over the years. More Recently, before making his way to FMC Zach found himself filling in for a variety of youth programs around the Saskatoon area post-Pandemic including Mennonite Church Saskatchewan’s provincial Youth Pastor while he was Associate Pastor of Youth and Young Adults at Mount Royal Mennonite Church in Saskatoon SK.
Zach studied at Canadian Mennonite University receiving a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Biblical and Theological Studies and a Minor in Communications where he built up a wonderful social network he has been excited to return to since joining FMC.
Zach enjoys Saturday morning cartoons and animation in general, gaming with anyone willing to share in arbitrary rule sets, exploring soundscapes through both the creation and enjoyment of music, and delving into whatever rotating craft/project of the week has become his current hyper-fixation.
204- 772-2419
zach@firstmennonitechurch.ca
Karissa Durant – Associate Minister
Karissa Durant is an Associate Minister on the ministerial team at First Mennonite Church. Originally from Southern Alberta, Karissa moved to Winnipeg in 2011 to study Human Rights at the University of Winnipeg and has made Winnipeg home ever since. After completing her undergraduate degree, Karissa has been invited into various roles with church and parachurch organizations. These experiences led her to have more questions about theology and ecclesiology, motivating her to pursue her Master of Arts in Theology at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU). Karissa is passionate about the unity of the Church, meaningful liturgy, and seeking hope and justice in her community.
Karissa has a deep value for joy and celebration, which has resulted in fun surprises to celebrate with her friends, spontaneous road trips to amusement parks, organizing a (mostly) annual bicycle brewery crawl, and what her friends describe as a ‘spiritual gift’ of gift-giving. When she isn’t plotting a celebration, she is most often spending cozy, quality time with people, from exchanging stories over coffee to laughing with friends around a campfire. Karissa doesn’t have any dedicated hobbies; she likes collecting memories. Some of these memories are best found cycling around the city, canoe tripping in the White Shell, going to concerts, movie marathons with friends, or grabbing a meal at one of her favourite local restaurants.
204- 772-2419
karissa@firstmennonitechurch.ca
Karis Wiebe – Music Minister
Karis Wiebe’s love for music blossomed early, nurtured by her father’s passion for church music. Growing up, she actively participated in youth choirs and took on music leadership roles at Mennonite Collegiate Institute, Canadian Mennonite Bible College, and Camps With Meaning. Her musical journey extended beyond Canada, reaching places like the Frankfurt Mennoniten Gemeinde in Germany. Closer to home, she served as a church music leader at Arnaud Mennonite Church and Home Street Mennonite Church in Manitoba.
With a Master’s degree in Music, Bachelor of Music/Education and a Bachelor of Church Music from Canadian Mennonite University, Karis is a skilled educator who has taught at the university level and in private studios. She currently shares her passion for music as the Director of the Choral and Singer Songwriter Department at Grant Park High School on a part-time basis.
Karis is presently pursuing ordination as a minister, deepening her commitment to serving her church community. She is blessed with two sons who also share her love for music. As Associate Minister of Music and Worship at First Mennonite Church, she is dedicated to preserving the Mennonite tradition of four-part harmony. She fosters congregational singing, introduces new hymns, and conducts the FMC Choir, FMC Trebles, and the former FMC Junior Children’s Choir, producing inspiring, biblically-based musicals.
Karis Wiebe’s life exemplifies the power of music to glorify God and enrich lives. Her unwavering faith and passion for music make her a true inspiration.
204- 772-2419
karis@firstmennonitechurch.ca
Caretaker
John Samia
204-955-8241