eNews: April 22, 2026 – Issue 182

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This Issue:

Letter from Rev. Debra Faulk, Co-President CUC Board of Trustees (BoT)
Community Learning & Leadership
Governance and Shared Decision-Making
- Annual General Meeting Update
- YOB Elections Update
Spiritual Life & Community
- Spring National Service
- CanUUdle XXVI: The Spirit of NatUUre
- Vyda’s Party
- Church Administrators’ Chat
- Charity of the Month: The David Suzuki Foundation
Things to Know About the CUC
What’s Making us Smile
Events Calendar

Letter from Rev. Debra Faulk, Co-President CUC Board of Trustees (BoT)

Honouring Leadership,
Welcoming What Comes Next

These are significant days in the life of our national organization.

As we approach our Annual General Meeting in May, we find ourselves in a important time of transition — an opportunity to reflect on the breadth of work happening across our community, and to welcome new leadership at both the Board and staff levels. This year, we mark the completion of Margaret Kohr’s six-year term (2 consecutive 3 years terms) on the Board of Trustees, the past two years as Co-President.

Margaret has offered steady, values-grounded leadership through times of change and growth. Her commitment to justice, equity, and community has shaped both our priorities and our relationships across the organization. Whether guiding governance conversations, championing inclusivity work, or supporting initiatives and congregations across Canada, her influence has helped strengthen our foundation and broaden our reach. She has led with clarity, kindness, and an unwavering belief in the power of Collaboration.

Leading alongside Margaret has been a privilege and a joy. Her leadership has always reflected the essence of our Unitarian Universalist principles. I have learned so much from her, appreciate her wise counsel, and cherish the friendship that has developed and will continue. Sharing the Co-President role has been a true collaboration, honouring the gifts we each bring — with full recognition that it has taken both of us, with different and complementary skills, to navigate this work well. My sincere hope is that we have modeled the potential for such sharing, and that it will continue.

Margaret is a UU blessing.

At the same time, we are entering a new chapter as we welcome Michael Jodah as our new Executive Director, following 14 years of devoted service from Vyda Ng.

Michael brings strong experience in organizational leadership, along with a deep alignment with the values that guide our Unitarian Universalist movement. We are already inspired by his vision, and we look forward to working together as we continue to support congregations and nurture communities grounded in spiritual exploration, justice, and mutual care.

I also want to recognize the dedication of the Executive Director Search Team, whose thoughtful, values-driven focus and due diligence made this transition possible: Mara Shaw (Kingston), Rev Lara Cowtan (Ottawa), Tessa Walsh (BoT East/Fredericton), Margo Ellis (BoT East/Montreal), James Garland (BoT Central/Durham), and Rev Debra Faulk (BoT BC/Victoria). We are grateful for the time, care, and discernment each of them brought to this process.

Leadership in our movement is never about one individual. It lives in the relationships that connect us across congregations, regions, and generations. As we move forward, we carry with us the wisdom and contributions of those who have served, while making space for new energy and new possibilities.

To Margaret, thank you for your integrity, generosity, and lasting impact.

And to Michael, welcome. We look forward to the work ahead, and to what we will continue building together.

Namaste
Rev Debra Faulk
CUC Co-President of the Board of Trustees

Editor’s note: Michael is transitioning into the role on a part-time basis and Vyda continues to be responsible as Executive Director until June 15. At that time, Michael will take on the full-time ED role.

Across the Canadian UU community, leaders and congregations are exploring new ways to learn together, nurture spiritual care,
and strengthen shared work. Below you’ll find opportunities for learning, updates on shared governance,
and resources to support congregational life in the months ahead.

Spaces where Unitarian Universalists across Canada are learning together, mentoring one another, and nurturing leadership in our communities.

Upcoming RAMP! Workshops

The RAMP! Program (Reciprocal Annual Mentorship Program) is underway, with the mentorship pairs hard at work on their projects and the public skill-building workshops running alongside them. Last month’s session You are Here: Resources, Readiness and Reality kicked things off.

The April 25th workshop What If Our Congregational Buildings Could Do More? Economics for Community Flourishing will build on these learnings, like how to assess where we are and our capacity, with guest speaker Shaun Loney, a national social enterprise leader. There is still time to register if you haven’t done so already.

Shaun will share:

- Stories of church property being redeveloped to serve community needs
- Practical assessment tools for congregations with different levels of capacity
- Ways congregations can align economic sustainability with justice commitments
- Questions to help communities discern whether new possibilities are worth exploring

For many congregations, the first step is not launching a new project but developing a clearer understanding of what is actually possible.

May 9th Session: Navigating Conflict
“Building Trauma-Informed, Conflict-Ready Communities“
with Guest Speakers, Necessary Trouble Collective

This session invites us into a different relationship with conflict, one grounded in care, curiosity, and courage. Together, we’ll explore how to navigate tension, accountability, and emotional complexity in ways that foster understanding rather than division. You’ll leave with practical tools for trauma-informed practice, compassionate dialogue, and building resilience, skills that help turn moments of friction into opportunities for growth and connection.

We’re especially excited to welcome Necessary Trouble Collective as guest facilitators for this session. Through guided exercises and reflection, they will support participants in engaging disagreement and strengthening relationships, even in challenging moments.

Necessary Trouble is a collective of trainers and facilitators working to build capacity in movements and organizations addressing climate, racial, and social justice, with particular attention to conflict, harm, and burnout.

Dismantling Barriers Position Winding Down

The CUC’s Dismantling Barriers staff position was created to help us explore, deepen, and support the work of dismantling systemic barriers to full inclusion in ourselves and our institutions. It was established as a two-year full-time contract position, funded in part by a generous grant from the Unitarian Universalist Funding Program.

Camellia Jahanshahi began the role in October 2024 with the mandate of helping the CUC live into the 8th Principle and to “imagine, curate and design underlying structures and processes that will continue to shift the organizational culture towards dismantling racism and eliminating systemic barriers to full inclusion.”

In fulfillment of that mandate, Camellia has designed and hosted monthly Dismantling Barriers conversations along with the creation of imaginative and impactful toolkits which gently and firmly invite us to shift our attitudes and live into our beliefs. She consistently brings this lens into CUC staff planning and thinking, shaping programming and internal planning.

The position is not reflected in the budget that will be presented at the 2026 Annual General Meeting and will come to an end on September 30. Before taking on the Dismantling Barriers role, Camellia also created and has been hosting the Rising Together online gathering for UUs of Colour. The September session will be her last one as host (here’s an opportunity for a new host to emerge so that Rising Together may continue).

Before the position ends, we wanted to offer you an opportunity to meet with Camellia for consultation. If you haven’t had a chance to participate in the Dismantling Barriers sessions, or if you did attend and have follow up questions, Camellia is offering online office hours. You can book your hour-long session here.

Camellia has been a significant part of the work to move the CUC along the path of attitudinal change so that we can begin to take down those barriers to inclusion. She will continue this work to the end of September. You are invited to join Camellia and CUC staff at the next Dismantling Barriers session on Thursday, April 23, on Economics and Positionality (exploring how our political and social identities interact and shape our experiences and understanding of money). Register at the link.

In a report to the CUC Board in October 2025, Camellia wrote:

“Our challenge is not a lack of commitment, it’s about shaping the structures that allow care and connection to flow more freely. The opportunity in front of us is to align our values with our practices, to clarify our shared purpose, and to continue building a culture where love, equity, and transparency are not just ideals but daily actions. I remain grateful to be part of this unfolding work, to witness the care and courage and imagination that everyone brings to the table, and to continue building a Unitarian Universalism that reflects the world we long for.”

How has the work of dismantling barriers impacted you? Drop us a line at communications@cuc.ca.

Dismantling Barriers Series

Through the CUC’s Dismantling Barriers work, Unitarian Universalists across Canada have been exploring how our communities can become more just and inclusive. These monthly gatherings offer space for reflection, learning, and practical tools for addressing systemic barriers. Upcoming sessions include:

News and decisions shaping our shared Unitarian Universalist work.

CUC Annual General Meeting Update

It’s almost here!!

The CUC’s Annual General Meeting is when UUs come together to make decisions at a national level. The 2026 AGM will be held on Saturday, May 23rd at the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto at 473 Oakwood Avenue, Toronto M6E 2W4. This is in person and online – all are welcome, and those within commuting distance are warmly invited to come to the congregation.

The CUC Board, staff, committee and groups will share updates on the past year. The meeting will include financial reports and budgets, proposed bylaw changes, and the announcement of this year’s grant recipients.

Light appetizers will be served after the AGM!

How to Participate

There are two ways to be involved in the AGM: 1) as a delegate approved by your congregation; 2) as an observer.

Delegates can vote on behalf of their congregation and participate in discussion on matters on the agenda. Others who can also participate in this way are CUC board and staff, ministers, youth, designated representatives from the CUC’s Affiliate partners, and the CUC’s accountant.

Observers may speak as the chair of the meeting and time allows.

Registration

Participation: To participate in the AGM (either in person or online, as a delegate or observer) registration is required. Register for the AGM here.

Delegates: In addition to registering to attend the AGM, delegates need to be registered by their congregations in order to vote. Delegate registration is required by May 10, 2026.

AGM reports and documents will be distributed to congregations and delegates in early May.
You can find more about delegates here.

We look forward to your participation!

Orientation & Discussion Sessions

If you are joining the CUC Annual General Meeting (AGM) as an online delegate or observer, and/or are interested in the business items coming to the AGM, these sessions are for you. You can attend one of the two below sessions, each similar in content:

- May 2, 2026 | 120 mins
  10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT | 1:00 pm ET | 2:00 pm AT
  Register for the May 2 session

- May 7, 2026 | 120 mins
  4:00 pm PT | 5:00 pm MT | 6:00 pm CT | 7:00 pm ET | 8:00 pm AT | 8:30 pm NT
  Register for the May 7 session

In part 1 (55 mins) of this session, you will learn:

- How to access the AGM online platform
- How to participate in discussions
- How voting will work
- What to expect on the day of the AGM

There will be a 5 minute break after 55 minutes to allow folks to stretch and leave or join.

Part 2: 60 mins – starts at the top of the second hour. What to expect:

- An overview of the proposed motion to update the CUC’s bylaws to include processes to amend its covenantal documents;
- An overview of the updated 2026 and proposed 2027 budgets
- Time for discussion and questions

Important

Participation in either session does not register you for the AGM.
To attend the AGM on May 23, you must register separately.
Delegates must also be registered here by their congregation’s board or minister by May 10.

To become familiar with the AGM materials, access them in the CUC AGM 2026 Public folder (updated documents are uploaded as they become available).

YOB Elections Update

Hello from your YOBS (Dan and Lila)!

If you are between the ages of 14-18 (as of late May), now’s your time to apply for the role of Jr. YOB!

What is a YOB? (Youth Observer to the Canadian Unitarian Council Board)

Check out the YOB description for basic info here: Youth Observers to the Board – Canadian Unitarian Council Conseil unitarien du Canada

Why we love connecting UU youth and the CUC:

We get to work alongside the most influential people in Canadian Unitarianism to support our UU youth community! We do this through fun projects like the YOB Instagram, the FUTURE zine, and the MyceliUUm Discord server, while also learning helpful professional skills by attending board meetings and keeping up-to-date information on youth groups. — Dan

Being a YOB gives you a place to come up with creative community-building projects for UU youth across Canada! It’s an avenue where you can dream up new forms of connecting online and in-person, and the CUC is happy to provide all the resources you need so your plans actually happen. Plus, incoming YOBs get lots of support from their Sr. YOB, so it’s an easy transition into the role. – Lila

Stories, reflection, and creativity within our Unitarian Universalist community.

Spring National Service

This year’s national service is being offered in a new format – a sermon and resources have been created for congregations to use, and there will not be an online national service. These resources are now available to congregations by completing this short form.

We hope this offering opens space for reflection, conversation, and connection among your members and friends.

CanUUdle XXVI: The Spirit of NatUUre

CanUUdle is the annual national conference for Unitarian Universalist youth (ages 14-19) and their adult advisors (25+).

It’s a beautiful weekend where youth and adults create an amazing community, worship together, grow as spiritual beings, and join in multigen activities. CanUUdle attendees stay overnight at the Vancouver Unitarians Congregation from Friday to Monday.

Registration deadline: April 28, 2026

A message from this year’s Co-Deans

Hello forest dwellers, as your CanUUdle XXVI Co-deans, we are SO ecstatic to welcome you to the 26th annual CanUUdle, The Spirit of NatUUre! We will be embarking on a marvelous journey of exciting spiritual growth and whimsical activities, such as covenant making, group bonding, art and crafts, and nightly worship. Throughout the duration of our adventure, congoers will get to be a part of a UU youth community built of members from all across Canada.

In all seriousness, CanUUdle has been an incredible experience for the both of us, as staff and as congoers, and we hope that whether you are a seasoned congoer, or a first time adventurer that you enjoy this mystical magical adventure with us.

See you soon!
Isabella and Quinn
CanUUdle XXVI Co-Deans

Vyda’s Party

Join us for a joyful and heartfelt gathering as we celebrate Vyda Ng’s time with the Canadian Unitarian Council and wish her well on her next adventure.

Together, we’ll share memories, music, and tributes honouring Vyda’s leadership while also making space for laughter, storytelling, and connection across our community in Canada and beyond.

We also invite you to take part in the celebration:

- Come ready to enjoy and share stories. If you would like to speak or have photos to share, please email communications@cuc.ca
- Share a favourite recipe or mocktail in honour of Vyda
- Come ready to enjoy stories
- Take in a visual journey through photos and memories from her time with the CUC

Whether you’ve worked closely with Vyda or connected with her from afar, you are warmly invited to be part of this special moment. Register here

Church Administrators’ Chat

Church administrators are invited to a monthly, peer-led conversation facilitated by Janni Kretlow, who brings over 40 years of administrative experience.

These one-hour online gatherings offer space to connect, share challenges, and learn from one another.

Charity of the Month: The David Suzuki Foundation

The David Suzuki Foundation was established in 1990, with a mandate to change the way we were living, consuming and thinking about our natural world. The roots of the Foundation stem from this single, transformational paradigm shift: that respect for nature and interdependence with it must be our species’ top priority. The Foundation’s early projects focused on fisheries, forestry, species at risk, pesticides and the economics of sustainability. Highlights included international projects, as well as several projects working with Indigenous communities on Canada’s west coast.

The Foundation has long partnered with communities, including Indigenous communities on the west coast, to support approaches to stewardship and sustainable development.

From its beginnings as a small organization, it has grown into a well-known voice in environmental work in Canada.

Things to Know About the CUC

The CUC’s programming this year has taken an intentional approach, aligning the content each month around a shared theme. The RAMP! public skill-building workshops, Congregational Conversations, and Dismantling Barriers (DB) sessions are all asking the same questions.

- - Last month, participants explored: Who are we, and what do our communities need now?
  - This month, they will ask: How do we sustain ourselves with justice and abundance, not scarcity?
  - May’s sessions will think about how we navigate conflict with courage and compassion.
  - And in June, we’ll consider how we make decisions and lead in ways that honor our interdependence.

These sessions have been designed this way in the hopes that cross-pollination will occur based on the learnings that result, and that rather than one off-sessions, they will help form a vibrant, interconnected learning ecosystem where participants and the wider UU community grow together. Participants who gain insights from a RAMP! workshop have the opportunity to talk about how this plays out at a congregational level in one of those conversations, while also learning about the barriers that stand in the way at a DB session. And if the answers aren’t always clear, the process of asking these questions may prove to be as important as the product.

If you haven’t participated in any of this programming so far, there are still plenty of opportunities coming up. We hope you’ll find practical tools, inspiration, and spiritual grounding for UU life in a changing world.

What’s Making Us Smile

The Oscars are over, but whether or not you saw last month’s awards ceremony, Associated Press Film Writers Lindsey Bahr and Jake Coyle have selected their own awards, because while a movie year might be celebrated for its best film or best performances, dishing out honors for the best cat or funniest prop is just as important.

The writers also “handed out” an award for most ecstatic religious ceremony (unfortunately, it wasn’t a UU one).

Upcoming Events

Below is a list of upcoming gatherings, workshops, and conversations taking place across the Canadian UU community in the coming months. Please share with your congregation.

CanUUdle XXVI
May 15 to May 18: 6:00 pm PT to 12:00 pm PT

View all events at: cuc.ca/events

Enews written, edited, and formatted by the CUC communications team: Tatiana Saliba, Comms Manager; Kenzie Love, CUC Writer; and Brigitte Twomey, CUC Website Specialist. Contact communications@cuc.ca

Canadian Unitarian Council
Conseil unitarien du Canada

Interdependence. Love. Justice.

eNews April 22, 2026

eNews: April 22, 2026 – Issue 182

This Issue: