Article and picture submitted by Jewel White

The Pembina Valley's Filipino community continues to grow, and that could be seen clearly as the group celebrated at its 7th annual Christmas Gathering December 13th at Winkler Mennonite Brethren Church.

Dolores Thiesen,the first Filipina who came to Winkler forty years ago, said, "when we started this Christmas gathering seven years ago,there were only five Filipinos in this area. Now,seven years later,there are almost 300 of us! We are very fortunate to belong in a very welcoming community, and to be in country where all dreams are possible"

Over the years Filipinos have been hired to work in a wide variety of jobs throughout the Pembina Valley.