Jump to section: Ministers and Directors • Governance • Music • Congregational Life • Religious Education • Sunday Service • Eco/Social Justice • Communications • Denominational Affairs • Small Groups • Finance • Property
First Unitarian staff and volunteers are involved in all aspects of the congregation’s activities. We are fiercely proud of the high calibre of our people.
Ministers and Directors
| Role or Group | Contacts | Organizational |
|---|---|---|
| Lead Minister for 2025/26 [staff] | Rev. Linda Thomson (416-924-9654 x102) [email] | Reports to the Board |
| Pastoral Minister | Rev. Victoria Ingram | Reports to the Board |
| Affiliated Community Minister | Captain Rev. Nicole McKay | Reports to the Board |
| Director of Lifespan Religious Education (DLRE) [staff] | Angela Klassen (416-924-9654 x103) [email] | Reports to the Lead Minister |
| Director of Congregational Music [staff] | Dallas Bergen (416-924-9654 x101) [email] | Reports to the Lead Minister |
| Director of Administration [staff] | Mary Anne Roche (416-924-9654 x101) [email] | Reports to the Lead Minister |
Governance
| Role or Group | Contacts | Organizational |
|---|---|---|
| Executive Committee | Tanya Cothran (President & Co-Chair) Rev. Linda Thomson Christopher Lee (Vice-President & Co-Chair) | Reports to the Board |
| Board of Directors | Peter Brydon Jill Caskey Tanya Cothran (Co-President) Kate Cottington Brian Deming Helen Iacovino (Secretary & Board Reporter) Christopher Lee (Co-President) Owen Smith (Funds Management Committee Liaison) Brigit Swenson (Safe Steps Liaison) | Reports to the Congregation; Elected by the Congregation; Read their biographies |
| Treasurer (ex-officio member of the Board) | TBD | Reports to the Board |
| Nominating Committee | Juleth Dawson, Marilyn Donofrio, Susan Drake, Meg Edmonds, Barb Wentworth [email] | Reports to the Congregation; Elected by the Congregation |
| Funds Management Committee | Jack McFadden (Chair), Garrett MacLean, Paul Scott, Owen Smith (Board rep) | Reports to the Board |
| Search Committee for the Settled Minister | Beth Ann McFadden, Loo Russell, Co-Chairs Judy Clarke, Terri Marks, Kim Saltarski, Harold Wright [email] | Reports to the Congregation |
Music
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Director of Congregational Music [staff] | Dallas Bergen (416-924-9654 x101) [email] |
| Resident Musicians [contract staff] | Gabrielle Byrnes, Joanne Chapin, Tom Lillington, Tahirih Vejdani |
| Sound Technician [contract staff] | Matt Rideout |
| Pianist [contract staff] | Gregory Oh |
| Choir Committee | Judy Clarke, Ilene Cummings |
Congregational Life
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Spiritual Care Team | Donald Cole, Tanya Cothran, Angela Klassen, Jane Larimer, Rev Victoria Ingram SCT Lead Learn more |
| Journey Groups | Margaret Kohr, Coordinator of Journey Group Facilitators |
| Membership Coordinator | TBD |
| Volunteer Coordinator | Aleza Coldevin |
| Name Tags & Congregational Directory | Mo MacMahon |
| Building Connections with Oakwood Vaughan (BCOV) | Catherine Lake (Chair), Sue Berlove, Judy Clarke, Karen MacDuffee, Nacia Miller, Lynda Robson, and Gilbert Salgado |
Religious Education (RE)
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Director of Lifespan Religious Education (DLRE) [staff] | Angela Klassen (416-924-9654 x103) [email] |
| Youth Advisors | Portia Dodds, Meghan Edmonds, Nicole Johnson |
| Our Whole Lives (OWL) Teachers | Various; Coordinated by the DLRE |
| Nursery Staff and Child Minders [contract staff] | Various; Coordinated by the DLRE |
Sunday Services
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Director of Congregational Music [staff] | Dallas Bergen (416-924-9654 x101) [email] |
| Worship Leaders | Art Brewer, Ashley Culver, Jewels Krauss, Catherine Lake, Alexa Yaphe, Jordy Yaphe |
| Welcoming Team (Coffee, Greeters, Ushers) | Aleza Coldevin, Coordinator |
| Worship Support and Aesthetics | Hope Paul |
Eco/Social Justice
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Liaison for Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) and UU United Nations Office (UNO) | Kalvin Drake [email] |
| Refugee Sponsorship and Settlement Program (RSSP) | Steering Committee: Merrilee Brand, Richard Kirsh, Sue Meggs, Wendy Peebles, Margaret Postlethwaite, Beth Van der Weerd [email] |
| Amnesty International Chapter 142 | Ted Wood, Chair [email] |
| Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice | Margaret Rao, Liaison [email] |
| Green Sanctuary | Linda Heron, Gwen Harris, Coordinators |
| Reconciliation Working Group | Gilbert Salgado, Wendy Youens, Coordinators |
Communications
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| First Light | Stephanie Bryant, Dace Veinberga, Editors Mo MacMahon, Technical Editor Subscribe to First Light and Today at First • Submit an announcement |
| Social Media Editor | Sylvia Black |
| Video Processing | Jennifer Beer |
| Website | Bill Dunk-Green, Mo MacMahon, Stan Yack [email] |
| Zoom Support | Kalvin Drake |
Denominational Affairs
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Lay Chaplains | Jennifer Beer, Kelly Ferguson |
| Lay Chaplain Coordinator | Maureen Millard [email] |
| Lay Chaplains Committee | Sue Meggs, Chair |
| Liaison for Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) and UU United Nations Office (UNO) | Kalvin Drake [email] |
| Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice | Margaret Rao, Liaison [email] |
Finance
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Treasurer (ex-officio member of the Board) | Bill Dunk-Green |
| Finance Coordinator | Bill Dunk-Green |
| Team Generosity | Stephanie Hodnett, Chair Robin Drever, Mo MacMahon, Jan Mahood |
| Finance Assistants | Winnie McDonagh (Receivables & Donor Relations), Mo MacMahon (Donations & Pledges) |
| Cashiers | Judy Clarke, John Cummings |
| Legacy Giving | Art Brewer, Coordinator |
| Funds Management Committee | Jack McFadden (Chair), Garrett MacLean, Paul Scott, Owen Smith (Board rep) |
| Financial Sustainability Committee | Bill Dunk-Green, Karen Dunk-Green, Mary Anne Roche, Greg Suttor |
Property
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Operations Team | Angel Gabriel Dominquez, Alex Ndungu, Matt Rideout, Mary Anne Roche |
| Property Management Committee | Karen Dunk-Green, Mary Anne Roche, Matt Rideout |
| Caretaker [staff] | Alex Ndungu |
| Cleaner [staff] | Angel Gabriel Dominquez |