A first generation Canadian, she was born and grew up in Toronto. She received her B.A. in Modern Languages from Victoria University, U of T. Meriel was very active at her home church, Dewi Sant Welsh United Church in Toronto, where she taught Sunday School, was on Council, assisted the Clerk of Session and did some lay preaching. For many years, before ministry, she worked in the corporate world, initially in the airline industry, then as a computer programmer and finally as a Communication Specialist for a bank.

Like many other people, Meriel’s call was not a “burning bush” but a slow realization and response to God’s nudges and whisperings, which had never stopped through the years, and she completed her Masters of Divinity degree from Emmanuel College, Toronto.

After graduation and an intern year at Westway United Church, she was ordained and appointed to Cosburn U.C., a small congregation in the east part of Toronto. Two years later, Meriel was delighted to receive a call from Scarborough Bluffs U.C. and spent seven wonderful years there.

In 2024, Meriel’s life and faith journey moved her to Nanaimo B.C. where her remaining family lives. Her sister was practicing medicine in Michigan and wanted to come back to Canada to practice and be with family, so they arrived in May and are happily settled in Nanaimo.

In February, 2025, she started serving as interim minister in Sylvan United Church in Shaunigan Lake, while they search for a full-time minister. In September, 2025, she joined St. Andrew’s United Church as interim minister.

Angie Leah Jones is a published photographer, retreat facilitator, curator, and community builder whose work is rooted in creativity, connection, and meaningful gathering. She has hosted retreats in Banff, Tofino, and Joshua Tree, and led a year-long mastermind, Wild Woman Collective, creating spaces for women to reconnect with their creativity, intuition, and sense of belonging.

Angie studied Vocal Arts at Grant MacEwan College and Business at SIAST, a combination that has shaped her ability to blend artistic vision with strong organizational and leadership skills. Her creative practice and event work are informed by years of experience curating transformative experiences that bring people together through art, music, nature, and community.

Originally from Saskatchewan, Angie now lives in Nanaimo, where she serves as the Event Coordinator and Administrator at St. Andrew’s United Church. Having grown up within the United Church, her connection to the denomination is both personal and deeply rooted. Her grandmother is a United Church minister in Saskatchewan, and this legacy of faith, service, and community has strongly influenced Angie’s values and work.

Since relocating to Vancouver Island three years ago, Angie has fallen in love with Nanaimo and is passionate about helping St. Andrew’s United Church become a vibrant hub for creativity, music, and connection. As the driving force behind many of the church’s concerts and events, she has played a key role in transforming the space into an active, welcoming community and events centre.

Angie believes that churches—and gathering spaces of all kinds—can be dynamic, inclusive places that foster creativity, belonging, and transformation. Through her work, she continues to bring people together in ways that are intentional, inspiring, and deeply human.

Elly Parker, author, entertainer, poet, songwriter, singer, painter, artsy fartsy granny that finds peace in her garden and in the arms of her loved ones. Elly loves people and never met a flower or a kid she didn't like, " I can create a workaround for pretty much any issue,
to make it a win win for all concerned" its her getter done cheerful attitude that puts a smile on her face.

Liam Pistor has previously served as the music director and organist/pianist at Chemainus United Church, and as the organist/pianist at St. Stephen’s United Church in Qualicum Beach.


While growing up in Nanaimo, he studied piano, clarinet, and voice. He played clarinet and tenor saxophone in his school bands, sang with three community choirs, played piano accompaniment for three other choirs, and commuted to Victoria to play clarinet with the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra.


He then completed a Bachelor of Music with Distinction in Keyboard Performance at the University of Victoria (2019), a Master of Music in Piano Literature and Performance at the University of Western Ontario (2021), and a Diploma in Music Performance (clarinet) at the University of British Columbia (2024). In the process, Liam was awarded sixteen UVic scholarships, a Western University fellowship and scholarship for having “the most outstanding record of performance and academic work” of a student entering the Master of Music program, a Canada Graduate Scholarship (SSHRC), two UBC music scholarships, plus the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra’s scholarship award for outstanding instrumentalist (any instrument).


Although Liam’s first degrees focused primarily on solo piano performance and collaboration, Liam also studied clarinet throughout his time at university. In addition to playing clarinet as a soloist and in a variety of small ensembles, Liam played principal clarinet with the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra, the UVic Symphony Orchestra, and the Western University Symphony Orchestra, and played various clarinet parts with the UBC Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and the UBC Symphony Orchestra.


Since finishing his university studies, Liam has worked not only at St. Stephen’s United Church, but also as a freelance musician, a piano accompanist for the Nanaimo Youth Choir, and a music instructor for both the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music and the City of Nanaimo (Parks, Recreation and Culture). He has also played clarinet with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (2025), sung with the Island Consort Chamber Choir and the Sinclair Singers, and participated in workshops and recitals held by the Victoria Organ Studio at Christ Church Cathedral, where he studies organ (on scholarships from the Royal Canadian College of Organists) with Christ Church’s assistant music director, Mark McDonald.