As I reflect on the community of Niverville, I am so aware of the contributions made by the many people who have come to us from elsewhere. George and Deanna Sawatzky are one such couple.
George was born in Gnadenthal, Manitoba (near Winkler) and spent his high school years there and at the Mennonite Collegiate Institute in Gretna. He was the second youngest of five children. After high school, he took some jobs in retail but determined to get involved in banking. With that in mind, he applied to the Lowe Farm Credit Union and Niverville Credit Union. George would have been unaware of how significant a role he would play when he accepted the job in Niverville, taking over as assistant to John Friesen.
The Niverville Credit Union began in 1949 when George Church, Hymie Bronstone, William Loeppky, Jake Loeppky, and others got together to find a cooperative way to provide fair lending in the community. By the time George arrived in 1965, the credit union’s assets had grown to $700,000. The following year, George assumed the role of general manager.
In those years, the credit union was housed in a smaller version of the same building that serves today as the Town of Niverville civic office.
Through three major expansions and the addition of more than 30 staff, we fast-forward to George’s retirement in 2011, by which time the credit union’s assets had reached $300 million. Yet success is about much more than making money and ensuring a solid bottom line. Communities are forged through relationships, and George was a relational person. He loved mixing within the community and no one did it better.
Through connection in the community, he determined to do something about the shortage of seniors housing. The Niverville Credit Union owned a couple of lots on First Street North with older houses, which were bulldozed to make room for a new building, Niverville Place, the first seniors home of its kind. That project won a national developmental award.
His close relationship with Norman Wittick led to the establishment of the Niverville Health Foundation. Through George’s initiative, both the Niverville Health Foundation and Niverville Credit Union were significant stakeholders in building Niverville Credit Union Manor in the newly formed Niverville Heritage Centre. George, together with other community-minded individuals, was instrumental in seeing Norman Wittick’s dream finally realized—a personal care home. The Niverville Health Foundation has contributed over $600,000 to these and other community projects.
George was also active in an executive capacity with the Niverville Chamber of Commerce, the Niverville Curling Club, the Niverville Funeral Aid Society, Silver Courts Life Lease, and the construction of the Niverville Centennial Arena in 1967. He was also involved in coaching minor hockey.
When I asked George about specific highlights during his time at the Niverville Credit Union, his response surprised me. He spoke of the emigration of hundreds of Mennonites from South America in the 1970s and 80s. During this high-interest period, many new arrivals came to settle in our community. He spoke of the challenge of finding ways to help them during such a difficult time, and how much integrity and appreciation was shown as the settlers began to give back. It was Ben Sawatzky, a son of one of those immigrant families, who really kick-started the building of the Niverville Heritage Centre in early 2000 by contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Apart from his community involvement, George was asked by the Province of Manitoba to serve on the Manitoba Lotteries and Gaming Commission, the Manitoba Land Value and Appraisal Commission, and the South East Regional Health Authority.
For 20 years, George was also involved in the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Steinbach, serving on the church council and as deacon and elder. He also served his church and the Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church on the provincial and national boards.
From the difficult years of tragically losing his friend and business partner Henry Hiebert in 1975, to the culmination of his years at the Niverville Credit Union, we have been blessed that George and Deanna chose Niverville in 1965.
George and Deanna are parents to sons Greg and Kevin and daughter Kim. As a grandparent to ten children, and great-grandparent to two, George now enjoys retirement by spending lots of time in the garden and indulging in an occasional round of golf.
George, thank you for the generous life you have demonstrated as a community builder.
