On August 1, 1999 the Mennonites of Manitoba Canada celebrated the arrival of the first load of Mennonite settlers at the landing site at the confluence of the Red and Rat Rivers. The settlers had arrived after a journey of many months from their homes in the southern Ukraine. This was the first boat load of many over a period that initially spanned three years and involved approximately 7000 people.

Their voyage started in the Mennonite Colonies of the Southern Ukraine in Russia particularly the Molotschna, Chortitza and the Bergthal Colonies. It continued through to England across the Atlantic to Quebec. From there they continued mostly by train to Lake Superior. The crossed the Lake, landing in Duluth, Minnesota where they boarded a train to Moorhead. In Moorhead they boarded a paddle wheeler to travel upriver a journey of several hundred miles along the Red River to Manitoba. There were a variety of routes and conveyances during the migration. The route described seems to have been the major one.

The first ship load of settlers arrived in Winnipeg (Fort Garry) on July 31, 1874. 

Jacob Warkentin arrived in Canada on July 1, 1875 nearly one year later.