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Youth Council


The PWRDF Youth Council are a group of folks between 16 and 29 years old from across the country appointed and elected through the structures of the Anglican Church, as well as by our ecumenical partners in Canada.

The Youth Council:

  • is a forum for significant dialogue and engagement by and for youth with the wider PWRDF organization.
  • is advisory to staff for strategic direction, priority setting and implementation.
  • will participate in developing and sustaining the justgeneration.ca network of Anglican youth throughout Canada to support and promote PWRDF.
  • will represent the values, ethics, policies, vision and mission of PWRDF and justgeneration.ca within the youth constituency of The Anglican Church of Canada.

    • Their main goal is to create a network of youth which supports and promotes the work of justgeneration.ca and PWRDF on a grassroots level. The Youth Council also recommends a representative to the PWRDF Board of Directors to advocate for the voices of youth and young adults to the organization.

    Melissa Green is one of the representatives for the ecclesiastical province of British Columbia and Yukon. She comes from the small town of Savona, BC, where she is actively involved in the parish of St. Hilda’s Anglican Church. Melissa organizes both a Junior and Senior youth group and serves on Parish Council. She is involved on a number of committees and with youth ministry within the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior.
    Melissa is currently attending Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops BC where she is working to complete her Bachelor of Arts with a major in English. Melissa has a passion for working with children and youth. She enjoys having fun with them, being with them in times of need, and helping to make sure they receive what it is they need and deserve in life. Providing awareness and education about justice, peace and international development work with the children and youth Melissa works with is important to the ministry work she does.

    heather pearsonheather pearson

    Heather Pearson has been the acting Rupert's Land rep for the last year and a half and has now officially become the rep for the ecclesiastic province of Ontario. Heather is a PK and has grown up in and around Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver Island.Along with long walks on the beach Heather is interested in films and is currently working for the Calgary International Film Festival. She has just completed her diploma in Human Resources and is looking forward to moving out to Ontario where she can further her education. If you want to get Heather's attention you could bring up such topics as: foreign films, social justice issues, witty teen dramas, or free gifts at cosmetic counters.

    derrick lovellderrick lovell

    Derrick Lovell comes to the Youth Council from the Parish of White Bay in the diocese of Western Newfoundland and represents the ecclesiastical province of Canada. He is the vice-president of the student council at Main Point Academy, Pollard's Point, and was the co-founder of his school's environment and citizenship group. He is very involved in his parish as a usher, a reader, and a server. He is also involved with the Diocesan Mission Committee.

    victoria garrettvictoria garrett

    Victoria Garrett is the other councilor representing the ecclesiastical province of Canada. Victoria is from Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton. She has completed her Bachelor's degree in Business Adminstration, with a focus in Human Resources, at the University of New Brunswick, and is very involved in the students' union at the university. She is currently the youth representative on the PWRDF Committee of the Diocese of Fredericton.

    But enough of the formal stuff, here's what you really want to know:

    1. Nickname: Vicki
    2. Favorite Color: PINK
    3. Favorite Food: Pasta
    4. Favorite Animal: Puppies
    5. Favorite Movies: All Trilogies: Pirates of the Caribbean, Shrek, Lord of the Rings, etc.
    6. Favorite Thing to Do: Laugh, Love, Sing and Act Silly!!
    7. Favorite Quote: "I believe in Christianity, as I believe that the sun has risen; not because I see it, but because by it, I see everything else." - C.S. Lewis
    8. Best Friends: Meghan & Ashley
    9. Sign: Sagitarius
    10. My Hero: My Mom

    kathy ashford-smithkathy ashford-smith

    Katharine Ashford-Smith was born in Mississauga, Ontario and is the new Lutheran (ELCIC) youth representative on youth council. She is currently attending University of Guelph at Humber in Toronto where she has recently entered her second year in the Family and Community Social Services program; and so far have really enjoyed her time there.

    She attended Meadowvale Lutheran church with her parents and sisters; but due to a constantly decreasing congregation there was no youth group. When she turned 12 she decided to attend church with her grandparents at St. Philips Lutheran church in Toronto. She joined the youth group there and was able to attend three National Lutheran Youth Gatherings; one in Vancouver, one in Hamilton and one in Winnipeg. She was able to be very active within her youth group; serving both as vice-president and president. She currently lives at home while attending school and work at a local fish and chip restaurant to pay for university. If you have any questions please feel free to ask!

    evan rudderhamevan rudderham

    Evan Rudderham represents the ecclesiastical province of Ontario, and is from St. John the Evangelist, Hamilton (Diocese of Niagara), where he is active as a server, and in a leadership role with the junior youth group and Vacation Bible School. Evan also handles the sound system weekly for St. John's early Sunday service. He has been the parish youth delegate to Diocesan Synod for two years and as such is a member of Parish Council. Evan is also involved on the Diocesan level as a delegate to Niagara Youth Conference and Youth Synod.

    Not pictured:

    Beth Lorimer is the acting member at large with a special focus on delegations and partnerships. She was born and raised in Ottawa, where she currently works for the Canadian International Development Agency. She graduated from Queen's University in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in Economics and Global Development Studies. In 2006, Beth completed an internship with PWRDF, working with the Youth Initiative and the Partnership for Life campaign for the International AIDS Conference in Toronto. She has been actively involved in the diocese of Ontario’s youth, camping and social justice ministries for many years. She was a guest speaker at the Invisible college and diocesan youth synod and a youth and social justice ministry intern at her parish of St. James, Kingston. Beth gets really worked up about human rights, water pollution, fair trade, and local food. She especially enjoys playing with her camera, jamming on her violin, reading Geez magazine and drinking chai lattes.

    Nominations pending:
    - Anglican Council of Indigenous People