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 (Board Co-Chair) Rev. Linda Thomson Christopher Lee (Board Co-Chair) | Reports to the Board |
| Board of Directors | Rich Bailey Peter Brydon Jill Caskey Tanya Cothran (Co-President) Kate Cottington 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) | Michael Sims | Reports to the Board |
| Nominating Committee | Sue Berlove, Merrilee Brand, Brian Deming, Susan Drake, Meg Edmonds [email] | Reports to the Congregation; Elected by the Congregation |
| Funds Management Committee | Jack McFadden (Chair), Sandy Henbest, Garrett MacLean, Paul Scott, Owen Smith (Board rep) | Reports to the Board |
| Transition Team | Dennis DeJonge, Wendy Dines, Kalvin Drake, Karen Dunk-Green, Sandy Henbest, Stephanie Hodnett Learn more | Reports to the Board |
| Search Committee for the Settled Minister | Beth Ann McFadden, Loo Russell, Co-Chairs Judy Clarke, Maya Ferguson-Klinowski, 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, Danny Fong, Tom Lillington, Tahirih Vejdani |
| Pianist [contract staff] | Adam Sakiyama |
| Sound Technician [contract staff] | Matt Rideout |
| Choir Committee | Judy Clarke, Ilene Cummings |
Congregational Life
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Spiritual Care Team | Tanya Cothran, Angela Klassen, Jane Larimer, Barbro Vice, Barb Wentworth Learn more |
| Journey Groups | Margaret Kohr, Coordinator of Journey Group Facilitators |
| Membership Coordinator | Mary Anne Roche |
| Congregational Directory | Mo MacMahon |
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 |
| RE Teachers and RE Committee | Kelly Ferguson, Coordinator |
Sunday Services
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Director of Congregational Music [staff] | Dallas Bergen (416-924-9654 x101) [email] |
| Worship Leaders | Donald Cole, Maya Ferguson Klinowski, Margaret Kohr, Jewels Krauss, Catherine Lake, Alexa Yaphe, Jordy Yaphe |
| Welcoming Team (Ushers and Greeters) | Mary Anne Roche, 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 Work Group | Gilbert Salgado, Wendy Youens, Coordinators |
| Welcoming Congregation | Art Brewer |
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] |
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) | Michael Sims |
| Finance Coordintor | Bill Dunk-Green |
| Project 473 Capital Campaign Team | Robbie Brydon, Chair Rich Bailey, Karen Dunk-Green, Nacia Miller |
| Team Generosity | Stephanie Hodnett, Chair Robin Drever, Mo MacMahon, Jan Mahood |
| Finance Assistants | Winnie McDonagh (Payments & Donor Relations), Mo MacMahon (Donations & Pledges), Sandy Henbest |
| Cashiers | Judy Clarke, John Cummings, Coordinators |
| Legacy Giving | Art Brewer, Coordinator |
| Funds Management Committee | Jack McFadden (Chair), Sandy Henbest, Garrett MacLean, Paul Scott, Owen Smith (Board rep) |
| Financial Sustainability Committee | Bill Dunk-Green, Karen Dunk-Green. Michael Sims, Greg Suttor |
| Treasurer Emerita, Internal Auditor | Kathy Thompson |
Property
| Role or Group | Contacts |
|---|---|
| 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 | Wayne Lepine, Chair |
| Renovation Kitchen Committee | Wendy Peebles, Chair |
| Relocation Ops & Office Committee | Sasha Akhavi, Chair |
| Renovation Aesthetics Advisory Committee | Susan Low-Beer, Chair |