Ministry Team

Rev. Philip Newman joined the staff of West Vancouver United Church as Lead Minister in August 2015. Philip was raised on a small farm in Southwestern Ontario from which he commuted to the local university in the border city of Windsor where he received his BA in Developmental Psychology. He then pursued his Master of Divinity at the Toronto School of Theology and has since served congregations in New Brunswick, Ontario,​ and now ​on ​the North Shore in British Columbia’s lower mainland. Philip sees The United Church of Canada as the place where people are called to think for themselves and to ponder theological questions about how God works in their lives and in the world.

Many years ago Philip and his wife, Kim Logan, met at a United Church Camp, and to this day both Kim and Philip enjoy camping with family and friends. They reside in Ambleside where walks along the seawall make life all the more fun.​

Rev. Simon LeSieur joined our ministry team in March, 2010. He grew up in Quebec City, completed his undergraduate degree at Redeemer University College in Ontario and then moved to Stellenbosch, South Africa, where he did his Master of Divinity. He is currently working on a Doctorate on the Holy Spirit through Fuller Seminary in California.

Simon, his wife Meghan, and their two children live in intentional community, sharing their home and adventures with good friends. It is with that passion and commitment to sharing meaningful life with others that Simon follows Jesus and strives to invite others into God's movements on the North Shore and beyond.

Celeste joined the Ministry Team at the West Vancouver United Church as Office Manager in May 2018.

For the past five years she worked as the Operations Manager for the Lynn Valley Services Society at Mollie Nye House. Previously she worked in the office at St. Monica’s and St. Francis-in-the-Wood. Celeste has a BAA in Radio & Television Arts from Ryerson University.

Born in Vancouver, Celeste has lived with her partner and daughter in Horseshoe Bay since 2003. She enjoys walking in nature, family road trips and tending to her backyard chickens.

She is very pleased to be bringing her passion for community building to West Vancouver United Church.

Dal grew up in Vancouver attending Knox United Church in Kerrisdale, after being introduced to the Sunday School by his neighbour. He attended UBC earnings degree in Mathematics before attending Union College on the Campus, a forerunner to the Vancouver School of Theology.

He met his wife Helen at church through her family who had moved to Kerrisdale from Regina.

After Ordination, he was transferred by the United Church to Manitoba to a pastoral charge of 5 churches. Since, he has served congregations in Northern B.C. and around the Greater Vancouver area, finishing in Maple Ridge from where he retired. After retirement he was called back into service at West Vancouver United Church when a vacancy occurred and continues assisting whenever needed. In addition he also serves as Chaplain to the Royal Canadian Legion in West Vancouver.

While in the North he was adopted by the First Nations Community of Lax Kw’alaams and is proud to be a member of the “wolf” clan of that community.

Having been introduced to the United Church by a friend, he sees the importance of individual evangelism (gently speaking of one’s faith with those one knows).

He and Helen live in Horseshoe Bay, have two married children and three grandchildren.

I worked with Vancouver Coastal Health in Home and Community Care in various capacities including Home Care Nursing, Long Term Care Case Management, Education, Intake and most recently was the Team Lead for the Geriatric Outreach Program. My main focus has been with frail seniors in the community ensuring they remain as safe and independent as possible. I also feel passionate about supporting caregivers and families to ensure they are receiving what they need to help reduce their stress during difficult times.

I have a wonderful family which is my main focus and enjoy spending as much time as possible with them as I can, especially with my grandchildren.

Most weekends in winter you will find me on the slopes of Whistler and in summer boating in Howe Sound. Jogging, golf and needle arts are hobbies I enjoy in my spare time.