The first of four public meetings with the three nominees for the episcopal election took place on the evening of Feb. 11 at St. Helen’s Anglican Church in Orleans.
The meetings are intended as opportunities for everyone in the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa to get to know the nominees — the Ven. Brian Kauk, the Ven. Kathryn Otley and the Ven. Monique Stone.
The first meeting began with prayer, especially for the people of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, traumatized by the deaths and injuries from a mass shooting there, as well as for the people of Kitigan Zibi First Nation, who have been shocked by a murder-suicide involving two children and their father in that community.
Moving to the planned agenda, each nominee began with five minutes to answer the question “What are your God-given gifts and how do you see them exercised through the ministry of bishop?”
Then moderator Jamie Tomlinson opened the proceedings up to questions from those attending and all three nominees responded to each. They were asked about:
- Priorities for outreach and engagement with the broader community
- The diocesan relationship with Alongside Hope
- How the diocesan can thrive in a secular society
- How the Inuit ministry can be supported
- Their support for congregations sharing their buildings with other faith groups
- How they would ensure meaningful synodical governance for our Diocese
- If they would support amending bylaws to create space for youth members of Synod
- Their vision for diocesan involvement in affordable housing and housing justice
- Episcopal accountability
Finally, everyone was invited to talk informally with the nominees and with each other at a reception hosted by the St. Helen’s congregation.
The next three meetings are slated for:
- Thursday, February 12, 2026 – Trinity Church
105 Second Street West, Cornwall
- Sunday, February 15, 2026 – St. Paul’s Anglican Church
20 Young Road, Kanata
- Friday, February 20, 2026 – Holy Trinity Church
68 Renfrew Street, Pembroke
All of the meetings will be livestreamed and recordings of them can be viewed here.
Each of the public meetings begins at 7:00 p.m. and concludes at 9:30 p.m. and follow the same agenda: have the opportunity to listen to the nominees as they offer formal remarks, respond to questions from the audience, followed by an informal reception with light refreshments where attendees may engage in conversation with the nominees.
Should extreme weather conditions prevent a public meeting from taking place in person, a Zoom webinar link will be widely publicized and made available on the episcopal election page of the diocesan website.
The episcopal election will take place at Christ Church Cathedral on Feb. 28. Registration will begin at 8 am followed by a 9 am celebration of the Eucharist. Everyone is invited to attend the Eucharist worship service but only members of the electoral synod can vote.
The electoral Synod will not be livestreamed, but results of each ballot will be posted on the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa’s Facebook page and the episcopal election page of the diocesan website and the election news will be posted on Perspective on Feb. 28.
Saint Mary’s Church, Westmeath — Deanery of the Northwest