These are some of our past leaders who have moved away, but are not forgotten!

Emeritus Artist-in-Residence:

Jessica Ziakin-Cook (she/her) lives with her husband, two children, and three guinea pigs in Saanich, BC. She teaches art history, creative development, and drawing at The Vancouver Island School of Art (VISA). She graduated from the Vancouver Island School of Art in 2015 with a diploma of fine arts. She also holds a BA in Art History from the University of Victoria, and studied religion at McGill University. After seriously considering applying to the Vancouver School of Theology to pursue ordination, Jessica has recently accepted a fellowship to study art history at the University of Victoria, where she will be researching the intersections between theology, art, and activism.

Emeritus poet-in-residence and ongoing contributor: Benjamin Hertwig (he/him) is a writer and artist recently re-located to Treaty Six, Edmonton, after a number of years living on the lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tseil-Waututh. His debut poetry collection Slow War was published in 2017 by McGill-Queen's University Press. He has offered writing workshops for inmates, veterans, and students across Canada.    

Emeritus poet-in-residence and ongoing contributor: Céline Chuang (莊善寧)  (she/her) is a diasporic settler, writer, and educator, who lives, forages, and agitates on Treaty 6 (Edmonton). You can find her on Instagram (@celinebythesea), on her blog, holy spit!, or as one of the hosts of Resetting The Table, a podcast expanding imagination around race, place, and faith in pursuit of collective liberation. Together with Benjamin Hertwig, she conspires, cozifies, and co-gardens and owns a local, independent bookstore. They also write a column for Geez Magazine called Notes from Northern Turtle Island. 

 

Emeritus Music Coordinator: 

Catherine Pate is a lifelong Anglican and former church planter, Catherine has been journeying with AbbeyChurch since 2016 (until 2024) when she moved to Victoria from Winnipeg. She's been part of the Emmaus Community and is guided by its Rule of prayer, presence, and simplicity. She is honoured to be asked to share more formally in the worship leadership, and to co-create music alongside the gifted and gracious musicians who lift us up each week in song.