I well remember Libby Hanna from the first time I saw her in the halls of Niverville Collegiate back in 1973. She had just moved into the area and had settled in Otterburne where her father Ken was President of Providence College and Theological Seminary. She was entering Grade 10 that year and it did not take long for her to connect with people, many of whom have become lifelong friends.
Libby was born the oldest of two children to Ken and Mary Hanna. She was well travelled by the time she moved to southeast Manitoba. She was born in Tennessee, and when she was three years old her parents moved to Dallas, Texas, where her father continued his education at the Dallas Theological Seminary. At eight years of age, Libby moved with her family to Winnipeg, where her father took on the responsibilities as registrar, and then president, at Winnipeg Bible College (which later moved to Otterburne and was renamed Providence College).
Though small in stature, there was nothing small in Libby’s way of thinking. Libby held to beliefs about fairness and justice. She had an easy-going disposition but was formidable in any debate or discussion on issues she was passionate about.
After graduation, she enrolled at the University of Winnipeg and then continued on to the University of Manitoba. Libby married Chris Wiebe in 1976, and in the next chapter of her life she opened a retail clothing store in Winnipeg. While pursuing business, her first child was born, and a few years later Libby found out she was pregnant with twins. Sensing that this was more than she was prepared for, she sold the store and settled into raising her family on their property just outside of Niverville.
The year 1985 brought more change as Chris’ father passed away and Libby joined her husband to build their growing business, Wiebe’s Excavating.
Libby’s volunteering efforts can only be described as incredible. As a mother of three children, she got involved in the local preschool program. As the children grew, she was involved in the parent council for many years and started the Junior Achievement program at Niverville Collegiate. She served on the executive of Clipper Ice Sports and managed ringette teams. She also held executive positions on both Eastman Ringette and the Manitoba Ringette Association. Other involvements were with the Niverville Horticultural Society, serving on the Western District Advisory Council for South Eastman Health, and joining South Eastman Health’s Start Fresh Committee to help community members fight chronic disease issues.
She taught Sunday School at her church and now sits on the board of Providence College. Libby also serves on the board of the Niverville Credit Union and is a co-chair of the Niverville Multiplex team.
When I asked her for highlights from the thousands of volunteer hours she has given, she told a story about Growing Minds, the community daycare. Developing Growing Minds took volunteers many years to accomplish. There were many obstacles to overcome, and they heard a lot of nos along the way. When the project came to fruition Libby stepped down and others have come along to support this ever-expanding community program.
Numerous times when we spoke she mentioned the aspect of teamwork and recounted the names of so many others who were a part of her volunteering journey. Libby expressed how involvement with the community has increased her understanding of the importance of working with people and showing value for people’s different gifts.
“When thinking about all of the new people that have moved to Niverville, there are so many gifts we need to help unwrap,” she said. That statement so well defines the heart of openness we need to have for the people who choose to invest their lives in our community.
On behalf of the citizens of Niverville and the surrounding communities, we say thank you. Libby, you have lived a life of sharing and caring. May you enjoy the best years yet ahead.
