From Rev. Dana

From Rev. Dana’s Desk

June 11, 2026

The 2^nd Bradford West Gwillimbury Anti-Poverty Summit took place Friday May 29, bringing together representatives from social service agencies, local organizations like Helping Hands Food Bank, WOW Living (Clothing Room, Out of the Cold Café etc.) and their volunteers, members of town council, churches, and the general public, including those with lived experience of poverty in our community. The first Summit last year led to the creation of an Anti-Poverty Strategy for our community, which Councillor Jonathan Scott spoke to us about in January. As part of his opening remarks, he celebrated the progress that has already been made on that strategy, highlighting the seed funding for School Fuel, a food program based in schools to ensure children are fueled up to learn.

The Summit itself and the work that has already been accomplished are examples of what can happen when we as a community choose to work together to address the pressing needs of our community. It is also a sign of being a community who recognizes our interconnectedness, that our individual well-being is connected to the well-being of others, and of the community as a whole. This is a biblical concept as well, as Paul writes about in his letters using the analogy of a body. While this analogy has often applied to the Church, it is also applicable to the geographical communities that we are part of, where we live, work and play (which may be different). When a community thrives those who are part of it also thrive and when there is suffering or decline in members of the community it affects the whole community. When people feel seen and cared about, a part of their community, they give back to that community.

An analogy that comes from the Church Health and Growth Literature is that of a wooden bucket with staves (wooden slats that are held together by a ring). Each stave represents a significant and measurable aspect of health, in that case, of a congregation. The analogy goes that the bucket can only hold as much water as the lowest stave. In Church Health and Growth that means addressing the factor(s) that are weakest or lowest, creating more potential for growth and vitality, spiritually and numerically. When it comes to the health and vitality of our local community, this image reminds me that we are only as healthy and vibrant as a community as the most vulnerable among us. That poverty does not just affect those for whom it is a daily reality, it affects everyone who is part of that community. When we seek to deal with factors contributing to or exacerbating poverty, we build stronger, more resilient communities.

If we take the School Fuel program for example, when children are hungry or worried about where their next meal will come from, their ability to focus is limited. This leads to teachers spending more time repeating lessons, impacting the learning for everyone. School Fuel levels the field, helps everyone in that school environment and beyond, the circles around them like their family and community groups. This is just one example of how addressing one of the aspects of poverty can have a positive impact on the whole community. In our bucket analogy, by addressing the stave of childhood hunger, we allow the community bucket to hold a little more water, to be a little healthier overall. The challenge in this analogy is that there will always be another lowest stave or factor of healthy and vibrant communities to be addressed. But each one creates a positive impact for the community. We can either become discouraged and cynical about the never-ending challenges, or we can be encouraged by the impact small changes can make.

Throughout the Summit we were encouraged to think about the small ways we individually and as part of community groups and organizations, can make a difference in our community. Seeing a room filled with people and knowing the many others whom they represented was encouraging. Together we dreamed dreams of what we as a community could do and be by being a community. As Christians, the kind of community that God envisions and calls us to, that is invested in each other, building up and honouring the weaker members, recognizing our mutual dependence, and the interconnectedness that makes us community.

June 4, 2026

June is a very busy month as far as official celebrations. June is designated as Pride Month, Seniors Month, Indigenous History Month and Men’s Health Month, along with other specific weeks and days that are designated, marked and celebrated. I know there are others I have not mentioned. I suspect that most months, I was paying more attention to are similar as we try to raise awareness and celebrate our diversity. It can be a little overwhelming at times trying to ensure we do not leave anyone out or minimize their identity or the challenges that many face.

I suspect that I was aware of the Pride and Indigenous History because those are causes that we as a Church community have particularly focused on in recent years especially. When it comes to Pride, as a congregation we were very deliberate in the process we undertook before declaring ourselves an affirming congregation three years ago. I think that process helped to shape our identity, how we see ourselves and how others see us. As I recently said, being affirming is often the first thing that new people tell me that drew them to Trinity and that people outside of Trinity mention about Trinity. At our Vestry meeting in February, I asked you to think about what someone five years from now who had never been inside the church would say about Trinity. That is already happening when it comes to being affirming. At the Bradford West Gwillimbury Pride Flag raising on Monday June 1, Trinity members showed up and were a visible sign to our community of inclusion and being a safe space. The mayor recognized us in his remarks, invited me to speak and invited us to receive the official proclamation for Pride Month. That happened because we choose to be a visible presence in our community. The official proclamation is now on display in the Upper Room along with two photos from the day. See photo on page 5.

When it comes to Indigenous History Month, this is something that is at the heart of our weekly Treaty Declaration as part of our commitment to reconciliation with all Indigenous people. As Canadians over the last couple of decades we have become increasingly aware of the dark history of our country regarding our Indigenous siblings, as history that sought to erase their culture, language, way of life and even them as a people within the land that is now Canada. As stories were told and listened to at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission starting in 2009, then compiled in the report and more recently as unmarked graves were identified associated with many Residential Schools, we have had to face that the history we learned in school or as part of citizenship tests was a bias history with large gaps in it. As part of reconciliation many have tried to educate themselves about the truth. A few years ago, our study group watched and discussed the documentary “Doctrine of Discovery: Stolen Lands, Strong Hearts” created by the Anglican Church of Canada Indigenous ministry, which was an eye-opening experience and challenging for all of us (if you have not seen it, I highly recommend it). A couple of years ago we heard from some of our own members who are indigenous about their experience. These are just a few ways we have tried to learn about this important history that was suppressed for far too long.

For me one of the core reasons that Pride and Indigenous History Month, along with the other celebrations and days are marked, is important is they reflect our baptismal promise to respect the dignity of every human being, and to strive for peace and justice among all people. When we seek to celebrate our diversity, we recognize the diverse ways that God is made known to us through others. When we seek to be inclusive, we are demonstrating God’s love for all, especially those who may differ from us. When we seek to bring to light the truth about history, we are honouring those who came before us and those among us, because we are all shaped by that history in some way.

A few upcoming related events to take note of:

Sunday June 14, 7 pm to 8:30 pm, on Zoom, Bishop Andrew will be sharing what he’s learning on the journey of re-establishing the Diocese of Toronto’s Treaty relations with Indigenous nations located within our diocesan boundaries. Sign up online to receive the Zoom link from the Diocese.

Sunday June 21 we will celebrate National Indigenous Day of Prayer and there is also a celebration by Bradford West Gwillimbury at the Leisure Centre and Celebration Square starting at 12 pm, with a flag raising, dancers, and other events to mark the day.

Wednesday June 24, All Saints King City is hosting a Deanery Pride Service, “Fully Known and Fully Loved” at 7:00 p.m. in their chapel. All are welcome.