The Order of the Dioceses of New Westminster honours and gives special recognition to lay members of the Diocese who have given outstanding service over a significant period of time in their volunteer ministry.
Recipients from St John’s Shaughnessy
Joan Stewart (Bishop’s Nominee), 2022
Originally from the Caribbean island of Trinidad, Joan Stewart has been an Anglican since birth and, for the past 35 years, has been involved in various ways within three parishes on Vancouver Westside: St. Anselm’s, St. Helen’s, and at her current parish, St. John’s Shaughnessy (SJS).
She has held the Rector’s Warden and People’s Warden positions multiple times and has been a member of an ACW and Sanctuary Guild. She has led a Bible Study program for over 20 years and led ‘Quiet Days’ at several parishes.
She has served as a fundraiser for a parish’s 100-year centennial and been a committee member for annual fundraising parish events, including organizing an African Children’s Choir event and homestay at parishioners’ residences.
Since its inception in 2007, Joan has been a Westside Anglicans Neighbourhood Ministry member, which serves homeless and vulnerable people on Vancouver’s west side. She is currently Chair of its board and has spoken at several Diocesan events and Vancouver’s City Council about the program.
Joan also serves as Co-Chair of the Bishop’s Friends committee, which seeks to provide opportunities for fellowship and support to the Bishop and raise discretionary funds for projects that are dear to the Bishop’s heart.
Judith Downes, 2020
Judith Downes has been an Anglican her entire life. Her parents and grandparents attended St. John, Shaughnessy and she spent her formative Sunday School years attending the parish and was involved in a few different areas of parish life at that time. Judith raised a family in West Vancouver and they attended an Anglican parish there where she became involved in the leadership of Sunday School and general parish life. She returned to St. John’s in 2012 which was shortly after the ownership of the building was settled and a new congregation was beginning. Judith has been actively involved in the parish community ever since.
Judith is a lawyer by training and currently is a Commissioner at the BC Securities Commission. Her expertise in the areas of law, finance, and governance has been an enormous benefit to St. John’s Shaughnessy, especially as the parish has grappled with its new existence and parish structure. Her guidance with the creation of new by-laws, the role of Trustees, the parish governance, legal contracts and leasing arrangements has been invaluable.
Judith was the Rector’s Warden at St. John’s Shaughnessy twice. Judith’s wise counsel and support for building up the parish is very much appreciated by the Rector and the parish as a whole. Judith often attends the 8:00 am Sunday Eucharist and usually reads one of the Bible readings. She is also a regular greeter and welcomer at the 10:00am Eucharist. She has a keen vision of the parish and works hard to help build a strong and vibrant community. She brings a warmth and a compassionate perspective. She attends many meetings related to parish life and cheerfully takes on many tasks asked of her.
Dr Robyn Woodward, 2016
Robyn’s family has been part of St John, Shaughnessy since it was built in 1949. Early on she helped her grandmother with flower arrangements, something Robyn continues today. Returning to Vancouver after her studies, she became active at St Mary’s, Kerrisdale. When St John’s was returned to the diocese, Robyn also returned, serving as People’s Warden and until earlier this year as Rector’s Warden. She has made remarkable improvements to the parish website and to the parish gardens, served on a canonical committee, and helped with the transition of the Administration Building to the Synod Offices.
Brita Owen, 2015
In 1972 Brita joined the Sanctuary Guild and she was a dedicated member for the next 36 years. She held every position and speaks lovingly of the wonderful women she met and worked with over the years, who taught her everything and were like mothers to her. Since 2011 Brita is back in the Sacristy. Not a week goes by that she is not busy washing and ironing the linens, polishing the chalices or mentoring to newcomers to the Sanctuary Guild team.
Philip Walter Owen (Bishop’s Nominee), 2014
Philip started his lifelong association with the parish of St John Shaughnessy in kindergarten in the original church and Administration Building, and later in Cubs and Scouts. He attended The Saturday Night Club at the church, the only place for teenagers of the day to assemble and dance. He was confirmed and married at St. John’s, served as Rector’s Warden, and was a member of a Canonical Committee. Philip chaired the Bishop’s Men, for Archbishop David Somerville. He is currently a Trustee. Many of your will know Philip as “Mayor Owen” given his service as Mayor of Vancouver from 1999 to 2008.
Peter Erskine Kidd, 2014
Peter has been a member of St. John’s for more than 40 years, and has dedicated himself to the maintenance and upkeep of the parish property and grounds, including a lot of hands-on labour such as removing the asphalt coating on all the brick windowsills. Most recently Peter has managed the replacement of the church roof and the landmark cedar cross.
Margaret (Peg) Adele Cleveland Andrews, 2013
Peg has been a member of St. John’s, Shaughnessy since the early 1960s. She took a quiet and firm stance against the St. John’s Vancouver movement. Today, as the longest serving member of the parish, we honour her and her faithful 51 years of service to St. John’s.
Nancy Southam (Bishop’s Nominee), 2013
Nancy Southam has been a long time member of St. John’s Shaughnessy. She currently serves on Diocesan Council, the Administration and Finance Committee, the Communications Committee, and she is also the Chair of the Grants & Loans Committee. This Order is given, in part, in recognition of the extraordinary generosity of the Southam and MacMillan families, including the magnificent Tree of Life Window installed in 2009 in Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver.
Stephen Paul Schuh, 2012
Steve has been a loyal and dedicated member of our church despite not being allowed to serve in a leadership capacity in his home parish until recently. He has been a faithful Anglican and advocate for Gay and Lesbian voices in our church, locally, nationally and internationally.