Minister & Staff
Minister Stephen Atkinson
Stephen is our recently called minister who joined our church in August 2007. He graduated with a Master’s of Divinity degree from Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago. He was the ministerial intern at First Unitarian Church of Dallas in 2005-6.
Ministry is Stephen’s second career. Having received his Doctor of Medicine from Dalhousie University, he completed a residency and practiced in psychiatry in Toronto between 1980 and 2000. A native of Fredericton, Stephen returned there after early retirement to pursue a new course in life, first studying creative writing and film before going to seminary.
Lynn Sabourin, Director Religous Education
Lynn has directed the North Shore church’s children’s program since 1981, during which time the church school enrolment has grown from eight to at times more than 120.
She is a former public school teacher. Lynn has also provided leadership to regional and continental associations of Unitarian Universalist religious educators. Her husband, Doug, and their three sons all have been active in the church and in Eliot Institute, the Northwest Unitarian Universalist summer camp.
Cara Elrod, Religious Education Assistant
Cara has been involved with the North Shore church school since she was eight years old. She worked with Lynn Sabourin, the Director of Religious Education, when Lynn first came to the church in the 1980s; Cara taught the younger children while Lynn worked with the older ones.
After a period away from the church, continuing her education and being a special-needs foster mother, she returned in 1995 to take on her present role. She also works in the public school system as a special education assistant.
Samaya Oakley, Youth Program Coordinator
Samaya Oakley has been involved with the youth program for 10 years, during which the program has grown to serve approximately 40 youth. She is a Chrysalis trainer for the Youth office of the Unitarian Universalist Association and is a trainer for 4 of the 6 Our Whole Live curricula.
She is involved regionally, nationally and continentally and has served in a variety of roles: as an adult member of the Youth Adult Committee (YAC) for the BC Regional YAC, the adult at large for the Pacific North West District, and the CUC Youth Advisory Group. Samaya has certificates in Business Administration and Life Skills Coaching. She has membership with the International Coaching Federation and LREDA (Liberal Religious Educators Association). She is currently serving a 3-year term on the Board of Directors for Eliot Institute as the Youth Program Chair. She lives with her teenage daughter in North Vancouver and her favourite colour is purple as evidenced by her greatly loved purple Jetta
Alison Nixon, Music Director
Alison was appointed Music Director in September 2003. She conducts several other choral groups in the area including the Douglas College Choral Society, Note Bene Women’s Choir and SummerChor.
Alison is an accomplished violinist and has performed with orchestras in Britain, Switzerland and Vancouver. She is responsible for the church’s music program, which includes a 40-member adult choir, classical ensemble, folk choir and children’s choir. Alison also coordinates the musical component of the weekly Sunday services
Tom McPherson, Accompanist & Choir Director
Tom McPherson is the accompanist for NSUC senior choir, and he also leads both the folk choir and the children’s choir. Through the week, he conducts the Vancouver City Singers, accompanies Richmond Chorus, and teaches piano at a studio in Kitsilano.
Tom has co-written a musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol, produced in 2006 by Smile Theatre of Toronto, a company that provides touring entertainment for seniors’ homes around Southern Ontario. Tom participates in our church services three Sundays each month.
Debbie Leslie, Office Administrator
Debbie oversees reception and clerical functions, publishes the church directory and Orders of Service, maintains our events calendar, and helps us all with many other tasks.
Debbie joined our staff in May 2000, bringing sales and service skills gained as a national airline employee and operating her own business. Debbie grew up in West Vancouver and has lived on the North Shore all her life. She enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her husband and grown children.
Kay Welwood, Financial Administrator
Kay and her family discovered NSUC in 1991 and all became quickly involved in many terrific church programs.
For 15 years, half of that time as a volunteer, Kay has worked as financial administrator producing monthly financial statements for the Board and numerous related duties, as well as serving on the Finance Committee.
