- Video tour of 473 Oakwood (16 December 2025)
This video tour of our home at 473 Oakwood Ave was recorded in December 2025.
- Our Theme for January is “Awakening Wonder” (1 October 2025)
Our monthly themes and Journey Groups are small reflection circles that enable us to go deeper into our monthly theme by sharing our thoughts with a small gathering of people.
- We Did It! A Successful Renovation (27 September 2025)
The project to renovate our building at 473 Oakwood is now concluding. We officially moved in in September 2025. We've been pillars for each other through it all! There are
- Sunday September 7, Dedicating Our New Home (5 September 2025)
Join us for our annual Water Communion Service as we dedicate our new building and renew our collective commitment to our community, welcoming and celebrating through ritual and song the start of a new chapter in our 180-year history.
Water flows and shifts, and so do we. So much has changed in our lives. This year, we will have even more to celebrate as we also dedicate our new space. Join us, in person or online for the celebration. You are welcome to bring some water to share that is representative of the changes and travels you’ve experienced in the last ...
- Welcome Home to 473 Oakwood Ave on August 24 – In Person! (20 August 2025)
This message was sent to all members and friends on August 20, 2025. Dear Beloved Members and Friends of FirstU Toronto, Your Board of Directors is thrilled to announce that
- Our home featured on CTV News (19 August 2025)
On August 15, a news item on CTV featured our new building: “Former post office south of Little Jamaica has been renovated and is now a Unitarian Church” Former post
- People and Stuff at 473 – July 2025 with real photos! (9 July 2025)
These are photos of 473 Oakwood taken on July 2 and 9, 2025, before the official opening.
- Our New Mission Statement (3 June 2025)
- Annual Report – July 2024 – June 2025 (1 June 2025)
- Congratulations to Captain Rev. Nicole McKay (23 May 2025)
Our affiliated community minister, the Captain Reverend Nicole McKay received her mandate from the Chaplain General of the Canadian Armed Forces on May 15, 2025. The mandate outlines her professional responsibility to care for all in her service to Canada.
- Ministers for 2025-2026 (21 March 2025)
Rev. Linda Thomson will be joining FirstU as our summer minister. Rev. Linda will also serve as a part-time contract minister until next Spring,
- We’re Moving into 473! Join Us by Supporting FirstU! (18 March 2025)
As we prepare to finally cross the threshold, our excitement will likely be running high. But also maybe some butterflies, as we begin this exciting new chapter. We’ll need to be careful stewards of our beloved new building, taking care in all sorts of ways to make sure it is the welcoming place we have dreamed of for so long. There will be a bunch of new bills to pay as a result, along with staff and ministerial support.
- Mission Discernment Workshops (13 February 2025)
The Transition Task Force is working with the congregation to look at our Mission and Vision statements to be sure they speak to us and to others in a way that truly represents FirstU in its new context.
- Updated Board Policies (4 February 2025)
This past year, the board and the administrator have been reviewing FirstU policies for clarity, for compliance with current legislation, and for consistency with current practices.
These board-approved policies, reformatted for ease of reading, are available on the community home page. Please login to the community pages to see the policies and other member information. (if you have trouble logging in, please contact web@nullFirstUnitarianToronto.org.) The available policies include: Safe Steps Policy (2024) and Program Resource (2025)
Harassment, Sexual Harassment, and Violence Prevention Policy (2024) and Program Resource (2025)
Facility Rental Policy (2024)
Safe Steps Policy (2024)
Fundraising Policy (2024)
Lay Chaplain Program Policy (2024)
Governance Policies (2020)
Financial Policies and ...
- Looking for your 2024 tax receipt? (4 February 2025)
Please check for an email with the subject “Your giving statement from First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto”. The emails were sent on January 28 at about 5 pm. If we
- Revising our Mission Statement (20 December 2024)
The Transition Task Force has made a commitment to guide the congregation through “discernment about FirstU’s transition” … what does that even mean? RevJ explains in a video.
- Annual Report – July 2023 – June 2024 (25 October 2024)
Read the Annual Report
Letter from Tanya Cothran, Co-Chair of the Board of Directors
Living in transition is unsettling! This year, I was continually impressed with how the congregation stuck together as we faced each new unknown. As we said goodbye to Rev. Lynn, welcomed the interim ministry team, and switched back and forth from online to hybrid services, we continued to journey together in a community of care and respect.
In the past year, we experienced many meaningful moments, such as the Solstice Service and guest speakers from Black Urbanism TO and Thunder Woman Healing Lodge. We also had joyful occasions, like ...
- Our Transition Team and Its Responsibilities (5 September 2024)
FirstU’s Transition Team has been formed and will begin planning the congregational activities which will support RevJ and First’s interim discernment period
- First video message from RevJ (10 August 2024)
This video was included in the August 9, 2024 edition of First Light.
- Meet Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Our Interim Minister (19 May 2024)
The Board and the Interim Minister Search Committee are very pleased to announce that the Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kūpono Kwong (he/they) has accepted our offer to join FirstU as Lead Minister for the 2024-2025 year, starting August 6.
- Our Stained Glass Panels: Radiance, Reflection, Revelation (9 July 2022)
Our Stained Glass Tower at 175 St Clair Ave West was dismantled in June 2022. The panels will be displayed in our new home at 473 Oakwood Ave.
The tower was magnificent, and the individual panels are stunning. See the panels.
The tower, designed by Sarah Hall, was installed in 1995.
Sarah Hall and her delegate, John Wilcox, are working with our team on designing an approach and installing our panels at 473 Oakwood.
- Building a Better World – 34 Minute Video (11 June 2021)
