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 |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Minister [staff] | Rev. Shawn Newton (416-924-9654 x2220) [email] | Reports to the Congregation, works cooperatively with the Board |
| Minister of Spiritual Care [staff] | Rev. Lynn Harrison (416-924-9654 x2260) [email] | Reports to the Senior Minister |
| Summer Minister 2022 [staff] | Rev. Danielle Webber [email] | Reports to the Senior Minister |
| Director of Administration [staff] | Mary Anne Roche (416-924-9654 x2210) [email] | Reports to the Executive Committee |
| Remote Admin Support [staff] | Afsoon Sabaa (416-924-9654 x2210) [email] | (until July) |
| Director of Lifespan Religious Education (DLRE) [staff] | Angela Klassen (416-924-9654 x2230) [email] | Reports to the Senior Minister |
| Director of Congregational Music and Community Connections [staff] | Dallas Bergen (416-924-9654 x2250) [email] | Reports to the Senior Minister |
Governance
| Role or Group | Contacts | Organizational |
|---|---|---|
| Executive Committee | Shawn Newton, Senior Minister Tanya Cothran (President) Karen Dunk-Green (Former President) | Reports to the Board |
| Board of Trustees | Aleza Coldevin Juleth Dawson Tanya Cothran, President Liz Galarneau, Safe Steps Liaison Helen Iacovino, Secretary Christopher Lee Nacia Miller, Vice-President David Priebe, Ken Wulff, Board rep to FMC | Reports to the Congregation; Elected by the Congregation |
| Treasurer (ex-officio member of the Board) | Bill Dunk-Green | Reports to the Board |
| Nominating Committee | Lis Kean, Chair Peter Brydon, Dawn Crandall, Brenda Ponic, Susan Richardson, Owen Smith | Reports to the Congregation; Elected by the Congregation |
| Policy Committee | Margaret Kohr | Reports to the Board |
| Funds Management Committee | Garrett MacLean, Chair | Reports to the Board |
Music
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Director of Congregational Music and Community Connections [staff] | Dallas Bergen (416-924-9654 x2250) [email] |
| Resident Musicians [staff] | Gabrielle Byrnes, Joanne Chapin, Danny Fong, Tom Lillington, Tahirih Vejdani |
| Pianist [staff] | Adam Sakiyama |
| Sound Technician [staff] | Matt Rideout |
| Alternate Pianist [staff] | Michel Ross |
| Choir Committee | Ron Cragg, Judy Clarke, Ilene Cummings |
Community Engagement
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Lay Minister | Jeanne Van Bronkhorst |
| Director of Congregational Music and Community Connections [staff] | Dallas Bergen (416-924-9654 x2250) [email] |
| Spiritual Care Team | Jeanne Van Bronkhorst, Coordinator Cathy Brown, Tanya Cothran, Jane Larimer, Claude Marchand, Barbro Vice, Joseph Zeighami |
| Journey Groups | Margaret Kohr, Coordinator of Journey Group Facilitators Sue Berlove, Registrar |
| Newcomer Services | Diane Wagner, Coordinator [email] |
| Central America Community Development | Richard Kirsh, Liaison [email] |
Religious Education (RE)
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Director of Lifespan Religious Education (DLRE) [staff] | Angela Klassen (416-924-9654 x2230) [email] |
| Youth Advisors | Portia Dodds, Nicole Johnson, Lisa Trentin |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Worship Leaders | Moara Barrett, Paul Bognar, Maya Ferguson Klinowski, Margaret Kohr, Catherine Lake |
| Ushers | Jim Mason, Coordinator |
| Greeters | Linda Brown, Coordinator |
| Worship Aesthetics | Hope Paul |
Eco/Social Justice
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Liaison for Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC), Unitarian Congregations of GTA and UU United Nations Office (UNO) | Kalvin Drake |
| Refugee Sponsorship and Settlement Program (RSSP) | Beth van der Weerd, Chair Steering Committee: Margaret Bryant, Richard Kirsh, Wendy Peebles, Margaret Postlethwaite [email] |
| Amnesty International Chapter 142 | Ted Wood, Chair [email] |
| Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice | Margaret Rao, Liaison [email] |
| Central America Community Development | Richard Kirsh, Liaison [email] |
| Green Sanctuary | Linda Heron, Coordinator |
| Reconciliation Working Group | Gilbert Salgado |
| Welcoming Congregation | Art Brewer |
Communications
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Director of Congregational Music and Community Connections [staff] | Dallas Bergen (416-924-9654 x2250) [email] |
| Communications Specialist [staff] | Adé Adeyemi [email] |
| First Light | Dace Veinberga, Stephanie Bryant, Editors Subscribe to First Light and Today at First • Submit an announcement |
| Social Media | Jennifer Beer, Editor |
| Video Processing | Jennifer Beer |
| Webmasters | Bill Dunk-Green, Stan Yack, Mo MacMahon [email] |
Denominational Affairs
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Lay Chaplains | Jennifer Beer, Karen Dunk-Green, Sue Meggs |
| Lay Chaplain Coordinator | Maureen Millard [email] |
| Lay Chaplains Committee | Peter Brydon, Chair |
| Unicamp Liaison | John Jordan |
| Liaison for Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC), Unitarian Congregations of GTA and UU United Nations Office (UNO) | Kalvin Drake |
| Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice | Margaret Rao, Liaison [email] |
Small Groups
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Booktalk | Wendy McDonald |
| Bridge Group | Peter Brydon |
| Conversational French | Claude Marchand |
| Jewish Awareness Group | Merrilee Brand |
| Meditation Group | Moara Barrett |
| Men’s Group | Stan Yack |
| Our Pagan Grove | Wendy Quirion |
| Yoga | Johanna Lanfranco, Hanna Heger |
Administration
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Director of Administration [staff] | Mary Anne Roche (416-924-9654 x2210) [email] |
| Director of Administration | Mary Anne Roche (416-924-9654 x2210) [email] |
| Remote Admin Support [staff] | Afsoon Sabaa (416-924-9654 x2210) [email] |
| Relocation Ops & Admin Committee | Sasha Akhavi, Chair |
| Policy Review Committee | Margaret Kohr |
Finance
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Bookkeeper [staff] | Daniel Grzymisch (416-924-9654 x2240) [email] |
| Assistant Bookkeeper [staff] | Carmen Schultz [email] |
| Treasurer (ex-officio member of the Board) | Bill Dunk-Green |
| Finance Coordinator | Winnie McDonagh |
| Team Generosity | Jack McFadden, Chair David Gunn, Mo MacMahon, Jan Mahood |
| Cashiers | John Cummings, Coordinator |
| Planned Giving | Margaret Kohr |
| Funds Management Committee | Garrett MacLean, Chair |
| Treasurer Emerita, Internal Auditor | Kathy Thompson |
Property
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| "On the Move" Team | Art Brewer, Judy Clarke, Jane Larimer, Coordinators |
| Renovation Steering Committee | Karen Dunk-Green, Chair Richard Kirsh, Craig Mahood, Beth Ann McFadden, David Priebe, Loo Russell, Gregory Suttor |
| Renovation Environmental Advisory Committee | Donald Cole, Chair |
| Renovation Accessibility Advisory Committee | Peter Hughes, Wayne Lepine, Co-chairs |
| Renovation Kitchen Committee | Wendy Peebles, Chair |
| Relocation Ops & Admin Committee | Sasha Akhavi, Chair |
| Renovation Aesthetics Advisory Committee | Susan Low-Beer |