You'll find a full re-cap of the 2025 Regional Meeting in this special newsletter including the following:
- nearly 100 photo gallery (below)
- music resources from the meeting
- video resource links
- our General Council commissioners
- our Executive members
- those commissioned and ordained to the order of ministry
The Chinook Winds Regional Gathering took place May 8-11, 2025 in Lacombe, AB with theme speaker, the Right Rev. Dr Carmen Lansdowne, Moderator of The United Church of Canada. During her three-year tenure, Carmen led the Flourishing Project, research-based workshops and conversations across the country about what it means to thrive. With Carmen and through worship and theme sessions, we explored what flourishing means for us as individuals, our churches and communities. To truly flourish, we need more than survival — we need connection, belonging, and strong social foundations.
Regional Meeting 2025 Photos
Photos from the 2025 Regional Gathering are highlighted. Click on a photo for a larger format and to scroll through the gallery.
The Meeting began with a Land Acknowledgement with Marlene Lightening, Maskwacis, and Rev. Tony Snow, Chinook Winds Indigenous Minister.
Readying the meeting space: Executive Minister Treena Duncan and Theme and Worship Planning Chair Karen Holmes.
Getting ready to welcome people to Chinook Winds Regional Meeting 2025: Regional Minister Rev. Dr. Karen Medland and Community of Faith Strategy Consultant Rev. Joel Den Haan.
Presiding Officer Joanne Anquist opens the meeting on May 8, 2025.
Rhondda Gower, Gaetz Memorial United, Red Deer, and Vogstad, Knox United, Drumheller and Strathmore United. Photo: Mark Dutkoski.
Opening Worship with Rev. Karen Holmes, Theme and Worship Chair, May 8, 2025. Mauricio Araujo.
Opening Worship: Rev. Shelley Den Haan, Communications and Cluster Support, Rev. Karen Holmes and Rev. Marco Williams-Ste. Marie. The worship began with a few stories from our Church's history.
Opening Worshp: Rev. Marco Williams-Ste Marie and Rev. Karen Holmes. Photo: Mauricio Araujo
United Church Moderator Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne led our Flourishing Workshop sessions. The Flourishing Project came out of work and research by Carmen with other leaders and is now a program available through the United Church's growth animators.
Moderator Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne.
Rev. Cameron Fraser, Director, Growth and Ministry Development for the United Church co-led theme sessions with Moderator Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne.
Our Guest Music Team! Mark Green, Cheryl Dennett and Barbara Myers.
Table Groups at the Regional Meeting give us the opportunity to meet others across our Region. They also facilitate significant conversations as we discussed what flourishing can mean for ourselves and our communities.
Barbara Goodwin, Stettler (AB) United and Rev. Jope Langejans, Lakeview United, Calgary. Photo: Mark Dutkoski
Rev. Eva Biederman, Airdrie United Church and member of the Theme and Worship Committee led Saturday morning's worship with the theme, Chaotic World.
Annette Forer, Chair of Board, Airdrie United Church joined Eva Biederman at the podium. Annette and Rev. Eva Biederman, spoke on their Church's move out of its former building and the new ministries that are now emerging. Annette said, "We are a church on the move."
Business Chair Dave Pollard with Youth Council members.
Treena Duncan and Joanne Anquist during meeting business conversations.
Youth Council member Madi Naude introduced a mock proposal to help the Regional Council learn how to do business. Also pictured: Treena Duncan, Joanne Anquist, Business Chair Dave Pollard and Youth Council member Dasan Shillington.
Youth Council member Madi Naude and Chris Mah Poy. Photo: Mark Dutkoski.
Business conversations and a bit of humour: Dave Goodwin, Stettler; Sue Brodrick, Parkdale, Mark Dutkoski, De Winton and Barbara Davison, Strathmore and National UCW President.
Rev. Lynn McKinnon, Minister, Didsbury and Olds. Photo: Mark Dutkoski.
Table Group Conversations
Table Group Conversations
Meeting Materials & Resources
Live-streaming for the Meeting & Sunday’s Celebration of Ministry Worship
You’ll find the live-streaming of the Regional Gathering during the meeting on the Chinook Winds YouTube Channel.
On Sunday, May 11 at 10 am, congregations throughout Central and Southern Alberta are invited to join in worship with us through the live-streaming. We have a good tech team on board and congregations will have a cell number that they could call or text if they experience technical issues.
Theme Speaker
We were delighted to welcome the Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, Moderator of The United Church of Canada from 2022-25 as our theme speaker. Born in Alert Bay, BC, and a member of the Heiltsuk First Nation, Carmen Lansdowne attended the Vancouver School of Theology and was ordained into The United Church of Canada in 2007. She served Marengo Pastoral Charge (Alsask and Loverna, SK), and then completed a PhD from Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. She maintains her academic interests through guest lectures and various writing projects and as a Christ Institute Fellow with the Westar Institute.
The Moderator has served the church in a variety of roles locally, nationally, and also internationally with the World Council of Churches. Until she was elected Moderator, she served as Executive Director of First United Church Community Ministry Society, which serves the people of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. She resigned from First United effective June 30, 2023, and following her term as Moderator she is excited to join the faculty at Emmanuel College as Assistant Professor of United Church of Canada studies. She starts teaching January 2026.
An avid reader and traveller, she lives with her partner and two children in Coquitlam, BC. She is committed to Indigenous ways of being, partnering, and parenting. She works from both Toronto and Burnaby (or on a plane).
Children & Youth
Bring the Next Generation to the Chinook Winds Regional Gathering!
We’re prepared to offer dynamic children and youth programs for ages 5 to 14 alongside the Regional Gathering! These fun and engaging sessions will run at the same time as the main event and provide a chance for young people to connect, learn, and build friendships with others from across Central and Southern Alberta.
Youth Council in Action @ Chinook Winds Regional Gathering!
Chinook Winds Full-Zip Hooded Sweatshirt available
You can order a Chinook Winds full-zip hooded sweatshirt. Choose your size and colour from this PDF document and order through your Regional Meeting registration form by April 1, 2025. Cost $50 each. You will receive your new hoodie at the Regional Meeting in May.
Any questions, please email Jes Beckerley at jbeckerley@united-church.ca
These garments are locally printed and manufactured under OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and in a mill partnered with Fair Labour Association and WRAP certified.
