May Leader’s Snapshot
The Leader’s Snapshot is a short companion to the CUC eNews, highlighting opportunities, updates, and items leaders may want to share within their congregations and communities.
A moment of transition and renewal
This month brought the CUC’s Annual General Meeting and marked an important moment in the CUC’s leadership transition as outgoing Executive Director Vyda Ng attended her final AGM in the role. As Canadian UU life continues to evolve, several of the opportunities and stories below may be worth bringing into conversations within your congregation and community.
Action items
Sharing Our Faith Grants: Deadline Extended
The application period for Sharing Our Faith Grants has been extended until June 21, creating additional time for congregations to strengthen submissions and for new ideas to emerge.
Learn more and apply.
National Lay Chaplain Committee Seeking Members
The National Lay Chaplain Committee is looking for current or former lay chaplains and people with lay chaplaincy committee experience to help support and strengthen the program nationally. Those with experience in Quebec or Nova Scotia are particularly encouraged, given provincial marriage regulations. Contact: lcc@cuc.ca
Worth Sharing
Public Workshop: Boundaries Are My Love Language
May 28 | 4:00 pm PT | 5:00 pm MT | 6:00 pm CT | 7:00 pm ET | 8:00 pm AT | 8:30 pm NT
How do we honour our care for others while also caring for ourselves? This upcoming Dismantling Barriers session explores boundaries not as walls but as an expression of healthy relationships, sustainable leadership, and community wellbeing. Worth sharing with pastoral care teams, volunteers, and anyone who tends to give a great deal of themselves. Register here.
Refugee Sponsorship: Rebuilding Lives Together
When the world feels overwhelming, shared action matters. Refugee sponsorship offers one way Canadian UUs can respond together. For one family, it can mean safety, belonging, and the chance to dream again. Consider sharing their story and fundraising appeal with your congregation.
Unicamp 2026: Registration Now Open
One of North America’s longest-running multigenerational UU communities, Unicamp offers summer experiences for children, youth, families, and adults in Southern Ontario. If your congregation includes families or young people looking for a deeply UU summer experience, this is worth passing along. Learn more and register.
Community Notes
Transitions and New Beginnings: It is a season of renewal across many levels of Canadian UU life. Thank you to departing volunteers across boards and committees, and welcome to new members stepping into service.
- Incoming Executive Director Michael Jodah shares a first message worth reading, reflecting on membership, imagination, and what it means to liberate a movement rather than simply preserve one. Read his letter.
- Three congregations will also welcome new ministers in August: First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto (Rev. Alex Jensen), the Unitarian Congregation in Mississauga (Birch Cue), and Grand River Unitarian Congregation in Kitchener (Rev. Anne Barker). Congratulations to each community entering this new chapter.
- Vyda’s Farewell
Join us in celebrating outgoing Executive Director Vyda Ng on June 12, in person and on Zoom, after 14 years of dedicated leadership. Details here.
Upcoming events at a glance
May 28: Dismantling Barriers: Boundaries Are My Love Language
June 6: Emergent Strategy Book Club, Session 2
June 12: Vyda’s Farewell
June 20: Canadian UU Experimentation Coffeehouse
June 25: Dismantling Barriers: Engaging in Governance
June 27: RAMP! Workshop: Projects, Partnerships & Practical Wisdom
Want to receive the Leader’s Snapshot in your inbox each month? Sign up here.
Is there something above that sparked a thought, question, or story from your own congregation? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.