Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees is elected each year at the annual general meeting in November.
Scroll down for board-sponsored upcoming events and recent posts from the board.
Michael O'Neil
Michael and his wife, Catherine Stewart joined the Vancouver Unitarians in 1990. The 90’s were spent involved in children’s RE. There was a hiatus of involvement at the turn of the millennia when 2 children’s teenage activities dominated. Michael and Catherine re-connected in 2004 after Steven Epperson arrived.
Michael was involved in a few projects such as the Services Auction and the “Capping it off” fundraiser. He then was on the Re-development Committee for 3 years. He joined the VanU Board in 2019 as a member at large and then was VP 2020-21. Michael served on the Interim Ministry Search Committee and then the Ministerial Transition Team. After this, he was on the Decision-Making Task Force and then the Ministerial Search Committee for the settled minister.
He currently is on the Health and Safety Committee and the Partner Church Committee. He also supports Catherine with some of her Vancouver Unitarian activities such as Sunday kitchen duty, and her work with B+G and the Refugee committee. Michael feels that Unitarian principles are an important element in working toward a just, equitable and sustainable world.
Shirley Brunke
I have been a member of Vancouver Unitarians since 1976. My husband Mark and I were looking for a spiritual home and a place to get married. After hearing a sermon by Phillip Hewett entitled something like … “Are You a Unitarian?” We identified ourselves as Unitarians and joined. Philip married us in the sanctuary in 1977. Both my children went to religious education at VanU. Mark and I taught “Sunday School” for several years. Stephen Epperson officiated at Mark’s Celebration of Life in 2018.
I became a Chaplain in 1980 and participated in Rights of Passage services until 1988. I have organized many congregational dinners and Women’s Retreats over the years and participated in many committees. I have recently rejoined the choir after several years of absence. I have enjoyed helping out the Library Team for the last year or so.
Tim Smith
Tim discovered Vancouver Unitarians last fall, after coming to Vancouver in 2017.
Tim has appreciated the connections he’s made on the coffee team and hopes that serving on the board will create new opportunities to build relationships with members of the VanU community as we engage in the work of sustaining and growing our congregation. His previous board roles included tours as treasurer for a West End masters swim club and for the Canadian branch of a global membership organization. Tim lives in Chinatown with his wife Liang and works as a software developer.
Elly
Elly has been a member of the congregation since 2023, and serves on the worship team and the welcome team in addition to her role as treasurer. When not at VanU, she spends her time hiking, running long distances, and writing computer programs.
Cheryl Amundsen
Cheryl grew up in Alaska. She came to Montreal in 1984 to attend graduate school. She and her husband, Rob, moved to Vancouver in 1988 and they began attending VanU. She and Rob chose VanU as a place where their children would grow up to appreciate a variety of spiritual ideas and learn to work with others from different backgrounds.
Cheryl has taken on many roles at VanU over the years. She was active in the children and youth programs for many years and has sung in the choir for several years. Last year she retired after a six-year term as a Lay Chaplain. Cheryl served 2 terms as Vice President and one term as President to the VanU Board. She will continue for a year as Past President.
She has very much enjoyed her time on the Board and feels this is a great opportunity to be part of a dedicated team at an exciting time in VanU history. Cheryl is Professor Emeritus at Simon Fraser University.
Leslie Hill
Leslie has been a member of the congregation for twenty years, and a part of the choir even longer. She served four years on the Board before and during Covid, and was part of the committee search for the Interim Minister when Steven Epperson retired. She was a member of the Congregational Identity Task Force and the Ministerial Transition Team and has served a couple of years on the Canvass committee. She has huge affection for Van U and great respect for its principles and values.
Laureen Stokes
Laureen has been a member of VanU since 2017. She joined the worship services team the same year and became a lay chaplain a year later. When not on campus, she can be found working as an intern architect, riding her bike, hiking in the forests, walking labyrinths or painting.
John Omielan
During the 15 years John has been a member, he’s been involved with various groups, but not on the board. Nonetheless, about 30 years ago, John was the secretary, treasurer and president of the ICCA (Independent Computer Consultants Association) of BC.
At VanU, John has just finished serving on the Services Auction team, plus is currently a Sunday Greeter/Usher and on the Library team (including being a Sunday librarian once a month). He will be on the Canvass team starting next year. In the past, John has also been on the Membership team, the Environment team and a Sunday Office Assistant. In addition, John usually tries to help in any situation when he is not otherwise occupied and where his help could be used.
Kathy Sayers
Kathy has been interested in community since she was a child. Her family moved every year or two and her appetite for roots and connection runs deep. She joined Vancouver Unitarians 12 years ago and found her spiritual community.
A year ago she moved into another intentional community at Our Urban Village Cohousing where she shares her life with 12 friendly families. Born in the US, she now identifies fully as a Canadian. She was a serial entrepreneur and has started four businesses including a yoga studio. She is charmed by children, a voracious reader and is an accomplished parallel parker.
Ralph Theroux
In 2016, Ralph and his wife moved from New York to Vancouver, and began attending services at VanU. They felt at home here and before long became members. Ralph had retired after more than five decades in the thoroughbred horse racing industry–the last 15 years as a racing official — and they moved here to be close to their older daughter and her family, including their first grandchild. In 2019 Ralph joined the greeters’ team, which has given him the opportunity to meet many fellow members. He enjoys this role tremendously. If you don’t see him at a Sunday service, he’s probably in California with his younger daughter and her family. Ralph is happy to be part of the Vancouver Unitarians, and he looks forward to serving as a Member-at-Large of the Board.
