The Reverend Canon Robert Heard is our priest-in-charge, and has joined us to guide the parish through a process of self-examination and reflection while we prepare to search for a new rector. Rob is a retired priest of the Diocese of Ottawa and has served parishes here for 33 years. He began his ordained ministry as Assistant Curate at Holy Trinity in Pembroke, followed by service as the rector in the Parishes of Buckingham in West Quebec, St Christopher's in the Deanery of Ottawa East, and St. Martin's in the Deanery of Ottawa West. Rob also served as Regional Dean in the Deanery of Clarendon and later in the Deanery of Ottawa West. He is chaplain to the Ottawa Police Service, where he offers service and training, in various aspects of critical incidence response and in counseling. During his time at St John's, Rob will provide liturgical leadership and pastoral care, in partnership with the staff and people of this faith community. He will also share in their deliberations as they take counsel for the ongoing life of the parish.
Dr Gordon Johnston has been Organist and Choirmaster of St John's since 1986. A native of Calgary, he studied organ and choral conducting in Calgary and in the United States, receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees in organ and church music from Brigham Young University (Utah, USA). Prior to coming to St John's, he was guest organist at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. In 2003 he was awarded a Doctorate in Sacred Music summa cum laude from the Graduate Theological Foundation. He is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian College of Organists. An active conductor and composer, his four-volume set of Psalms from the Revised Common Lectionary is published by the Anglican Book Centre, Toronto, as well as published by Novalis/Bayard, and self-published at www.PsalmsForPraying.com. Gordon is also Director of Music in the Anglican Studies Programme at Saint Paul University.
Caitlin Reilley Beck, Director of Children and Youth Ministries, was raised as an active member of both the Ottawa Bahá’í community and St John the Evangelist Church. At St John’s Caitlin has been a server, a member of the choir, a delegate to synod and a youth group leader. Caitlin has a Bachelor of Arts in mission studies and interreligious dialogue from Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Canada, and a Master of Arts in Religion in liturgical studies from the Institute of Sacred Music and Yale Divinity School. Caitlin has worked with children and youth as a swimming instructor, coach, camp counsellor, nursery school worker, university liaison officer and youth group leader. Besides learning and working with children, Caitlin loves to travel, laugh, sing and play percussion at every opportunity. She is grateful for the many ways that this community has supported her in ministry through the years and is excited to answer God’s call to service in this place.
Tasmin Rajotte is our parish administrator. She brings a wealth of experience working in non-governmental organizations, and a passion for social justice. Tasmin is in the office Monday to Friday from 8:30 am till 12:30 pm, and welcomes contact by e-mail or by telephone, or simply drop by her office.
Karen Grant has been custodian at St John's for nearly ten years. She is responsible for the set up and take down of the furnishings in the ever changing scenery of our intensive multi-use building; for the shine on the floors and the smiles on the faces of renters and parishioners. She is a tenant of our multi-faith housing project at Somerset Gardens, along with numerous other parishioners, and enjoys spending time with her family, her dog and the many neighbours she has made friends with over the years.