SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Alexandra discovered Unity in 1992. She resonated with the Unity teachings and began studying to become a Licensed Unity Teacher. She continued on this path as she moved to Ottawa and then Vancouver, B.C. in November 2017 she graduated as an Licensed Unity Teacher.

"Unity has changed my life. Through Unity I have come to recognize my Divine Nature and Identity. This awareness has infused my life with new meaning.  My purpose is to do my best to live from this awareness and, by doing so, be an agent of transformation in the world."

Rev Pat is the Regional Representative and consultant for Unity Canada, a certified Ministry Skills Consultant and Transition Ministry Consultant, Chair of the Evolving Ministries team for Unity Worldwide Ministries and a member of UWM Standards Team, Colleague Connection Team and UWM Ethics Review System Chair of Administration. She is also a certified Spiritual Coach, a Healthy Congregations Trainer and a Quantum-process Coach.

She is the founding & senior minister of Unity Ministry in Motion, an alternative Unity ministry formed to "nurture and coach seeds of Unity in Canada to fruition". As appointed mentor  by Unity Canada to guide & coach established Unity ministries she serves in that capacity at several Unity centres. Rev Pat lives in Calgary with her Havanese dog, Chloe, who attends all church functions and spreads unconditional love wherever she goes. Rev Pat has 3 adult children and 9 grandchildren, in Ottawa, Calgary and San Diego. She is passionate about Unity and helping to create thriving and dynamic Unity ministries.

Angelika is a student of the Principles of Unity and an active member of Unity of White Rock. She is a talented public speaker and educator with over 35 years experience.  As spiritual counsellor and Reiki master since 1995, she has been privileged to assist people of various ages and backgrounds to reconnect with their purpose and find peace and joy in life again. She finds it a true privilege to speak at Unity in sharing our spiritual journey.

Carl is a loving father and partner a compassionate environmentalist, a senior IT consultant and professional musician, an award- winning songwriter, and a past president of the White Rock Social Justice Film Society. He is the father of two vibrant young adults in their late teens and lives in South Surrey with his wonderful partner Izzy. Carl awakened to his spiritual journey in his mid-teens and knows with every fiber of his being that we are all connected, everything in the Universe is connected and that we are all One.

Deidrey Francois is a soulful Singer-songwriter, Speaker and Theatrical Performer.  A proud Mom of 3, she's earned 2 Posi Music Honorable Mentions and a 2020 Empower Posi Nomination.  She performs in Unity churches all across Canada and was the soloist at the Unity Canada mini-conference on November 28th.  Her intent is to express Spirit in Melody to bring joy and to touch a listener's heart. 

 Désirée was born and raised in Unity and has been a member of Unity of White Rock since 2002. Formerly a Regional officer with the “Northwest Youth of Unity” and later served in the Youth and Family Ministry at this church for 9 years.   She is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, her love and enthusiasm for singing and dancing is both inspiring and playful!   “I grew up in Unity and have very much enjoyed being a part of this beautiful spiritual community. Unity has taught me to look within for answers to life’s challenges. 

Eric is a communications and change coach, Director of the Centre for Spirituality and Work, and co-founder of the world’s first “blue box” recycling program. For the past 40+ years he has tried his best to follow God/Spirit. Often a challenging journey, it has also brought him much guidance, healing and deep compassion for those on a spiritual path. Eric likes to speak from the heart, with humour and deep reverence for the sacred. (For more info, see www.erichellman.com.) 

Janet feels a deep connection with all people. Her background is in the creative arts & transformational models of education .A lifelong Unity Student & Teacher she has attended numerous SEE classes at Unity Village and as the ministers’ assistant at the Vancouver Unity center for many years’ .As a consciousness teacher & leader she embraces life with vitality & resonance. Currently she is a prenatal & postnatal health care practitioner & manager for Mothers Choice Products. Working in the field of wellness allows her to be in the synchronicity of all living things. She is passionate about the transformative potential that dwells in each person. Her recent TEDX talk entitled “The Healing Power of Trees “embodies our personal  “Healing Place NOW.”

EDITH is a talented, prolific songwriter and a singer known for her passionate, memorable voice. Being transplanted from Scotland as a teenager, living several years in Alberta and finally settling on British Columbia's beautiful West Coast has given Edith a broad outlook on life as an ever-changing journey. In the past, Edith has toured across North America and performed in Japan, Australia and Europe. Her work has been featured on local and national TV and radio. She has created four albums, the latest of which is “First Bloom”.

Lawrence is our local musician/singer. He is part of the ;"Little Unity Band That Can" and has been a song writer since age 15.  His music inspires the listener, with powerful lyrics that are hopeful, positive and heart moving.

He joined the Unity movement 2012, following the invitation of Lori and Will Firstbrook and has been blessing our Unity of White Rock spiritual Community with his heartfelt music weekly ever since.  He is a regular speaker and musician for our  services and finds spare time to record his songs for his first CD

Widely known in New Thought circles, Martha’s trainings approach deep inner work as an adventure with a sense of curiosity and wonder. A master of the art of right questioning, she calls forth the most stubborn and self-defeating patterns to create a new way of being, literally. Ordained in Religious Science and Divine Science, Martha has served as Great Lakes Unity Consultant, and is a member of Unity Institute faculty. She has attended Emerson Theological Seminary (Masters and Doctorate), Byron Katie School for The Work, and Hoffman Institute. She is a Healthy Congregations Facilitator and Trainer. See more at www.marthacreek.com. 

Mark is a singer songwriter, performer, sound alchemist, vibrational healer, composer, spiritual mentor, facilitator of change, educator, and visionary.

His inspirational music and activities are intended to be in alignment  with the integrity of humankind. All of his creations support compassion, wholeness, personal spiritual evolution, and the manifestation of planetary oneness.

Nathen Aswell is a recording artist and speaker based in Vancouver, Canada, and he believes that his calling in this life is to encourage people to live Big Lives one Small Step at a time through his heart-centered music-making, his engaging talks and his warm listening. His CDs “Little By Little” and “YES” are celebrations of life, transformation, evolution and the oneness of humanity, delivered in a variety of popular music styles.

Nathen honours his calling by performing and speaking internationally at Conferences, Concerts, Retreats and Churches, presenting his music, stories and humour with his voice and the Chapman Stick (http://www.stick.com/instruments/grand/).

Wanting to best serve during this pandemic, he now offers “Morning Musings (with Music and Meditation)” every Wednesday morning at 10:00 AM Pacific (via Facebook Live).  In September and October of 2019, Nathen walked the Camino de Santiago, a 500 mile / 800 km pilgrimage across Spain; he is currently writing a book about his experience.

Pixie has been a long-time student of Unity in Ottawa and New Westminster in the 90's where she co-facilitated workshops and spoke on occasion. After moving to Crescent Beach, Pixie began to attend Unity of White Rock. Currently she is Vice-President of the Board, a Spiritual Leadership Team member and frequent speaker on Sundays. She enjoys playing her crystal bowls, being in Nature, kayaking, helping people, beekeeping and gardening. 

Rev. Rhona:  I was born in Cape Town, South Africa and my family moved to Canada in 1977. I am blessed with an amazing son David, and I’ve been married to my wonderful husband Walt since 2009. It is a privilege for me to speak at Unity.  I enjoy interpreting the Bible metaphorically and metaphysically. I believe that our life’s work is to connect with the energy we call God and live as expressions of God. As we manage our personal power, we create our life experiences. Let us choose, then, to love ourselves despite our “flaws” and love each other despite our differences: it is in love and service to ourselves and one another that we connect with the powerful beauty and joy of life. God is Love; I am Love; I am God in Expression. Life is Good, and I am grateful!

Rosi is a long-time active member of Unity of White Rock. She is part of the Spiritual Leadership team and our current treasurer on the Board. Rosi finds great joy, growth and reward in service to our spiritual community. She has raised four wonderful boys and the teachings of Unity have been a great help through all her lives challenges. Rosi was born and raised in Germany. While traveling in Thailand she met a Canadian who turned out to be the love of her life! 

Sheila is a Licensed Unity Teacher since 2013 and a student of life through eternity.  Her childhood home in eastern Ontario gave her strong ties to community, spirituality and nature. At University, her spiritual journey became very eclectic until she came home to Unity nearly thirty years ago.

Thomas  is a ministerial student with unity Worldwide Ministries and a regular speaker and active participant at the Unity Church of Nanaimo. Over the past two decades he has built a successful and values focused financial advisory firm while raising twin daughters with his amazing wife and business partner Leslie. 

Wendy has been a member of the Unity movement since 1984, and recently celebrated her 20th anniversary as a Licensed Unity Teacher. She currently serves as Licensed Unity Teacher Representative and Education Coordinator to Unity Canada, as well as serving on Unity Worldwide Ministries’ Licensed Unity Teacher Ministry Team. Wendy’s current endeavour is teaching Spiritual Education and Enrichment (SEE) classes by video conferencing. Learners from across Canada are joining together weekly to study Unity teachings and the Bible.

Nelson Beavington

Bio: Nelson has been sharing music with children of all ages for over 50 years. From his weekly gig with 1-year-olds, to Christmas caroling, to his 1200+ songbook repertoire (you choose the song!), to his own personal emotive guitar compositions, he brings people together in the joy of music.