The Rev. Kevin Robertson, Rector

Our rector is on Sabbath Leave, and will return to the parish on Tuesday, September 3. For pastoral care from the clergy, and all others matters that would normally be directed to the rector, please contact the Reverend Julie Meakin or the Reverend Canon Douglas Graydon.

Kevin arrived as the Rector of Christ Church Deer Park in October, 2011.

A graduate of Holy Trinity School in Richmond Hill, Huron College (UWO) and Trinity College (U of T), he was ordained to the diaconate in 1997 and to the priesthood in 1998. After ordination, Kevin served as the Assistant Curate at St. James Cathedral. He then moved on to incumbencies at St. Peter’s Oshawa, and St. Nicholas, Birch Cliff.

Kevin is a member of the Diocesan Postulancy Committee, the “Our Faith – Our Hope” Allocations Committee, Trinity College Corporation, and the Ontario Provincial Commission on Theological Education. He also serves as the Bishop’s Liturgical Officer in the Area of York-Scarborough. He enjoys travel, long-distance running and cycling, and spending time with his family.

416-920-5211 ext 26 / email »

The Reverend Canon Douglas Graydon, Associate Priest

Born and raised in Brampton, Douglas studied Architectural Science at Ryerson before changing his career goals and completing his M. Div. at the University of Trinity College in 1982.

While completing his curacy as an Associate Priest at St. James Cathedral, Douglas pursued his interest in hospital chaplaincy and became the first non-Roman Catholic chaplain hired by St. Michael’s Hospital. He would spend the next 20 years developing a career as a palliative care chaplain working at Casey House Hospice where he specialized in HIV/AIDS spiritual care and then at Princess Margaret Hospital as part of the health care team for cancer palliative care.

In 2002 Archbishop Terence Finlay appointed Douglas as the Coordinator of Chaplaincy Services for the Diocese of Toronto. Besides his duties as Chaplaincy Services Coordinator, Douglas was the half-time priest-in-charge of St. Philip the Apostle Anglican Church until its closing in May of 2010.

Douglas also functions as the Diocesan Resource Coordinator for Pandemic Planning and is staff support to the Diocesan HIV/AIDS Network Douglas also holds a Master’s Degree of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. He is a respected speaker and educator on the subject of healing ministries, spiritual and religious care and pastoral counseling.

416-920-5211 ext 27 / email »

The Reverend Julie Meakin, Assistant Curate

Julie graduated with a Master of Divinity from Trinity College and was ordained a Deacon in May 2012. Previously she taught English as a Second Language at Thornlea Secondary School in Thornhill for twenty-two years.

She comes from a clergy background, with a grandfather, uncle, and mother Anglican priests. Julie is interested in prayer and spirituality and is actively involved with the Toronto Christian Meditation Community. She is also interested in Christian education, ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, and liturgy.

She is delighted to be at Christ Church Deer Park!

416-920-5211 ext 31 / email »

The Rev. Dr. Peter Slater Honorary Assistant

Dr. Slater was born in England, raised in Burma, Australia and Canada and holds degrees in philosophy and theology from McGill, Cambridge and Harvard universities. Professor Emeritus of Theology at Trinity College, he is a former member of the Partners in World Mission Committee of the national church. Dr. Slater has been a member of Christ Church Deer Park since 1999 and serves on the Learning Ministry Committee. Contact Dr. Slater through the parish office: Email »

The Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton, Ecumenical Partner

The Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton has held the position of General Secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches since 2002. The Council was founded in 1944 to coordinate the growing number of Canadian cooperative ventures in social services, religious education, and overseas mission. The Council communicates and cooperates with other national and regional councils around the world. It consists of 22 denominations across Canada and is the largest ecumenical body in the nation. It is registered with the United Nations and participates in world conferences and commissions on such isues as funding for development, refugee settlement and human rights.

Dr. Hamilton represents the Council in Canada and around the world. She works for ecumenism, inter-faith dialogue and global justice. She is the recipient of the Ontario Heritage Day award for the Association of Progressive Muslims. In 2008, Novalis published her book entitled, The Acceptable Year of the Lord.

Contact Dr. Hamilton at The Canadian Council of Churches: 416-972-9494 or toll free 1-866-822-7645 / email » or visit the Council's webpage here »

Eric N. Robertson, Organist and Director of Music

ERIC ROBERTSON, A.R.C.T., F.R.C.C.O., has been a church musician since the age of ten. He studied in Edinburgh, Scotland with William Minay, who had been a pupil of Ralph Vaughan Williams, and with Francis Thomas, whose teacher had been Hans Gal. When he immigrated to Canada as a young teenager, Eric was a scholarship student at the R.C.M.T. with Samuel Dolin and Charles Peaker, and was the first recipient of the IBM Electronic Music Scholarship.

As an organist and choir director, Eric has held positions in the Church of Scotland, the Lutheran Church of Canada, and from 1966 to1990 at Humbercrest United Church in Toronto. In 1990, he was appointed co-Music Director and in 1993 Music Director of one of Canada’s largest churches, St. Paul’s Bloor Street Anglican Church in Toronto.

While at St. Paul’s, Eric played and was curator of the church’s famous Blackstock Memorial Organ and conducted it’s 60-voice choir which he built from an original group of 10 singers. Under his leadership, the choir developed a comprehensive repertoire stretching back more than five hundred years.

Eric is the Artistic Director of the Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation [website»], a not- for-profit organization that presents inspirational concerts for the benefit the community. Presentations have included noon hour recital series and concerts featuring international groups such as the Choir of Westminster Abbey, the Kings College Cambridge Choir, the St. John’s College Cambridge Choir, and the Choir of Canterbury Cathedral, as well as Canadian talent such as Colin Fox, Michael Burgess, John McDermott, and Erica Goodman. From 1990 till 2008, Eric and the Foundation were involved in the presentation of the Toronto Star Christmas Concerts, and in December 2009, Eric became Music Director of the City Carol Sing, a large annual Christmas charity event that raises money for food banks in the Toronto and across Canada.

Eric is an Adjunct Professor of Composition at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music and a Juno and Gemini award-winning film composer. He has also written extensively in the field of sacred music, receiving commissions from choirs such as The Elmer Iseler Singers, the Orpheus Choir, and the Amadeus Choir of Toronto. His book of praise songs, “Worship Songs in a New Key”, is used regularly at church services across Canada.

Eric bgan his duties at Christ Church on Sunday, May 3, 2009. Contact Eric at 416-920-5211 ext 25 or email » Download this bio here »

Natalie Kemp, Director of Children & Youth Ministry

Natalie Kemp began her position as the Director of Children and Youth Ministry at Christ Church Deer Park in January, 2013.

Natalie is an Ontario Certified elementary school Teacher. She is a graduate of Trent University’s Bachelor of Education program, and holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Political Science, from the University of Toronto. Currently Natalie is taking an Additional Qualification course in Special Education at OISE through the University of Toronto.

With seven years’ experience working with children ages 5-17 at Harbourfront Centre Camps, and as a Programming Director at Canadian International Student Services, she continues to be passionate about working with children. At Christ Church Deer Park Natalie works with children of all ages and abilities through the PromiseLand and YAL (Young Anglican Leaders) programs.

See PromiseLand here » / YAL here »
Contact Natalie through the parish office 416-920-5211 or email »