The Reverend S. Derek Shelly (retired the end of June 2018)
Derek was born in Tillsonburg where he went to high school and grew up in nearby Port Burwell. After graduation he attended Teachers’ College in London and taught in the elementary system in Elgin County. Baseball and hockey were among the sports he played and he enjoyed teaching physical education in school. Derek completed his Bachelor of Arts during this time, travelling wherever the courses were offered to get the credits needed. He married and has two sons and a daughter. Although Derek had been brought up in the Anglican Church, once married he and his wife attended the United Church in Tillsonburg where they lived, becoming more active and involved in church life.
In 1975 his decision to enter the ministry was made and the family moved to Kingston so he could attend Queens. As a student minister he had a 3-point charge that he was responsible for, while he worked on the rest of the requirements for ordination. Completing this in 3 years, he was ordained in 1978 and began his ministry on the south shore of Nova Scotia staying there for 4 years. Returning to Ontario he served at pastoral charges in Hyde Park, Strathroy and Almonte before coming to Trinity in Huntsville in November of 2003.
Preaching is important to him in his ministry and in the pulpit his insight and humour mix to bring messages home in this challenging time in our society. Also very satisfying for Derek is the sharing in people’s lives of both the good and the sad times and being invited to share in their celebrations. Grandchildren are now part of his busy life. He is active in theatre and improvisation groups either as a leader or participant or both. Education is ongoing as is being involved in the community. For two years he served as President of Hospice Huntsville. This community organization that provides care and comfort for the dying and their families, operates a five-bed residential hospice in Huntsville. In the winter he takes advantage of the snow in Muskoka to cross country ski and in the other seasons you’ll find him on the golf course or kayaking on nearby lakes.
Derek was born in Tillsonburg where he went to high school and grew up in nearby Port Burwell. After graduation he attended Teachers’ College in London and taught in the elementary system in Elgin County. Baseball and hockey were among the sports he played and he enjoyed teaching physical education in school. Derek completed his Bachelor of Arts during this time, travelling wherever the courses were offered to get the credits needed. He married and has two sons and a daughter. Although Derek had been brought up in the Anglican Church, once married he and his wife attended the United Church in Tillsonburg where they lived, becoming more active and involved in church life.
In 1975 his decision to enter the ministry was made and the family moved to Kingston so he could attend Queens. As a student minister he had a 3-point charge that he was responsible for, while he worked on the rest of the requirements for ordination. Completing this in 3 years, he was ordained in 1978 and began his ministry on the south shore of Nova Scotia staying there for 4 years. Returning to Ontario he served at pastoral charges in Hyde Park, Strathroy and Almonte before coming to Trinity in Huntsville in November of 2003.
Preaching is important to him in his ministry and in the pulpit his insight and humour mix to bring messages home in this challenging time in our society. Also very satisfying for Derek is the sharing in people’s lives of both the good and the sad times and being invited to share in their celebrations. Grandchildren are now part of his busy life. He is active in theatre and improvisation groups either as a leader or participant or both. Education is ongoing as is being involved in the community. For two years he served as President of Hospice Huntsville. This community organization that provides care and comfort for the dying and their families, operates a five-bed residential hospice in Huntsville. In the winter he takes advantage of the snow in Muskoka to cross country ski and in the other seasons you’ll find him on the golf course or kayaking on nearby lakes.
Our Church Administrator, Suzy Simson
Suzy has been back in Canada and living in the Huntsville area with her husband and children since the year 2000. She grew up in East Challow near Oxford, England and was only 17 years old when she met her future husband, Ray, in the pub where she worked. Ray grew up on Three Mile Lake near Windermere, and was in England visiting family at the time. Suzy and Ray moved to Canada together for 3 years, and then back to England for 10 years where they were married. Their first daughter, Molly, was born in England. When Molly was only 18 months old they moved back to Canada, and their second daughter Megan was born here in 2001.
Suzy has honed her secretarial and administrative skills over the years. She has been a stay-at-home Mom with her two girls, as well as helping to run her husband's drywall business "The Art of Drywall", which has been operating since 2004.
Suzy started her new job as Trinity United Church's Church Administrator in the spring of 2015. She brings to us a wealth of organizational and administrative skills. Some of her responsibilities include preparing the bulletin each week for the Sunday Service, booking and organizing all the rentals for the church, including regular users of our facilities. Suzy handles all inquiries coming into the church office. Her enthusiasm and pleasant personality is appreciated by all who come through Trinity’s doors.
Suzy has been back in Canada and living in the Huntsville area with her husband and children since the year 2000. She grew up in East Challow near Oxford, England and was only 17 years old when she met her future husband, Ray, in the pub where she worked. Ray grew up on Three Mile Lake near Windermere, and was in England visiting family at the time. Suzy and Ray moved to Canada together for 3 years, and then back to England for 10 years where they were married. Their first daughter, Molly, was born in England. When Molly was only 18 months old they moved back to Canada, and their second daughter Megan was born here in 2001.
Suzy has honed her secretarial and administrative skills over the years. She has been a stay-at-home Mom with her two girls, as well as helping to run her husband's drywall business "The Art of Drywall", which has been operating since 2004.
Suzy started her new job as Trinity United Church's Church Administrator in the spring of 2015. She brings to us a wealth of organizational and administrative skills. Some of her responsibilities include preparing the bulletin each week for the Sunday Service, booking and organizing all the rentals for the church, including regular users of our facilities. Suzy handles all inquiries coming into the church office. Her enthusiasm and pleasant personality is appreciated by all who come through Trinity’s doors.
Our Director of Music, John Langille
John Langille (Johnny to his friends) came to Huntsville in the fall of 1997 from his home in Nova Scotia. From a very musical family of strong Baptists, it was natural for Johnny to be very involved in music in the church. He grew up in the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia, enjoying competitive racket sports in high school, lawn bowling and playing clarinet in the band. He was a 5 time Nova Scotia swimming champion and the butterfly was his specialty. Graduating from Mount St. Vincent University in Nova Scotia with a Bachelor of Arts in history and an honours degree, he substituted in the elementary system in music and worked also as a kitchen manager.
Largely self taught Johnny completed his formal piano training with the Toronto Conservatory of Music. His organ work began in 1983 and has taken him from Middleton, Nova Scotia to Dartmouth and Halifax, and finally to us in Huntsville. Working at the Deerhurst Resort as a fine-dining server, he also was the Supervisor of Staff Housing, overseeing young adults who come to work there from all over the world. Johnny’s musical talents are evident on a weekly basis at Trinity as he works with the choir of 30, presenting challenging cantatas and anthems. His organ and piano solos are always a treat and his love of music and sharing God’s message this way are meaningful and a blessing to all.
John Langille (Johnny to his friends) came to Huntsville in the fall of 1997 from his home in Nova Scotia. From a very musical family of strong Baptists, it was natural for Johnny to be very involved in music in the church. He grew up in the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia, enjoying competitive racket sports in high school, lawn bowling and playing clarinet in the band. He was a 5 time Nova Scotia swimming champion and the butterfly was his specialty. Graduating from Mount St. Vincent University in Nova Scotia with a Bachelor of Arts in history and an honours degree, he substituted in the elementary system in music and worked also as a kitchen manager.
Largely self taught Johnny completed his formal piano training with the Toronto Conservatory of Music. His organ work began in 1983 and has taken him from Middleton, Nova Scotia to Dartmouth and Halifax, and finally to us in Huntsville. Working at the Deerhurst Resort as a fine-dining server, he also was the Supervisor of Staff Housing, overseeing young adults who come to work there from all over the world. Johnny’s musical talents are evident on a weekly basis at Trinity as he works with the choir of 30, presenting challenging cantatas and anthems. His organ and piano solos are always a treat and his love of music and sharing God’s message this way are meaningful and a blessing to all.
Minister Emeritus, The Reverend John McTavish
Do you remember what you were doing on July 1, 1967? John McTavish certainly does. It was the first day of his life as a United Church minister in the community of Port Loring, a small village west of Trout Creek. John 'hit the heights' that day, sharing the back seat of a convertible with the late Stan Darling, long time member of parliament for Parry Sound - Muskoka in that town's Centennial celebration parade. As John so irreverently says, his career was all down hill from there! And what a career it was.
Following the path of most young ministers, John and Marion and their family moved to Richmond Hill for five years before arriving in Bracebridge in 1975. John and Marion have always had a love of theatre and together they have produced and directed dozens of plays and musicals over the years. It was in Bracebridge that John made mark as a person who wouldn't bow to pressure when their production of Godspell was picketed by a group of Christian fundamentalists. He says he has taken a few hits to the jaw but has never been knocked out. In fact, John went on to publish his own director's manual for Godspell which has been used by a number of other productions.
After several years in Bracebridge the McTavish family was off to Kitchener before arriving in Huntsville in 1988 and here John really blossomed as a minister and in his outreach to the community. For that is what John's efforts as director amounted to. He pulled people in from the entire community for an experience many would never forget. One of John's favourite playwrights is Alan Ayckburn and he and Marion have produced the Norman Conquests twice in their favourite format, Theatre in the Round. John even had the chance to play Norman himself in one of these productions. Musicals have also played a large role in John's directing career. Anne of Green Gables, Annie, Lil' Abner and Godspell have all graced the small stage in Trinity Hall.
John is also an accomplished playwright and the congregation at Trinity has been enriched by his stirring chancel plays, especially the one honouring Martin Luther King. For a number of years John had a regular column in the Weekender and has been a book reviewer for the Observer and the Presbyterian Record. Thankfully, although John has been retired for over five years, he is till contributing to the richness of life in Huntsville and especially to the enrichment of the congregation of Trinity. Late in 2009 John was honoured to be designated Minister Emeritus of Trinity United Church, an honour well deserved. Well done, John! Not such a downhill slide after all.
Do you remember what you were doing on July 1, 1967? John McTavish certainly does. It was the first day of his life as a United Church minister in the community of Port Loring, a small village west of Trout Creek. John 'hit the heights' that day, sharing the back seat of a convertible with the late Stan Darling, long time member of parliament for Parry Sound - Muskoka in that town's Centennial celebration parade. As John so irreverently says, his career was all down hill from there! And what a career it was.
Following the path of most young ministers, John and Marion and their family moved to Richmond Hill for five years before arriving in Bracebridge in 1975. John and Marion have always had a love of theatre and together they have produced and directed dozens of plays and musicals over the years. It was in Bracebridge that John made mark as a person who wouldn't bow to pressure when their production of Godspell was picketed by a group of Christian fundamentalists. He says he has taken a few hits to the jaw but has never been knocked out. In fact, John went on to publish his own director's manual for Godspell which has been used by a number of other productions.
After several years in Bracebridge the McTavish family was off to Kitchener before arriving in Huntsville in 1988 and here John really blossomed as a minister and in his outreach to the community. For that is what John's efforts as director amounted to. He pulled people in from the entire community for an experience many would never forget. One of John's favourite playwrights is Alan Ayckburn and he and Marion have produced the Norman Conquests twice in their favourite format, Theatre in the Round. John even had the chance to play Norman himself in one of these productions. Musicals have also played a large role in John's directing career. Anne of Green Gables, Annie, Lil' Abner and Godspell have all graced the small stage in Trinity Hall.
John is also an accomplished playwright and the congregation at Trinity has been enriched by his stirring chancel plays, especially the one honouring Martin Luther King. For a number of years John had a regular column in the Weekender and has been a book reviewer for the Observer and the Presbyterian Record. Thankfully, although John has been retired for over five years, he is till contributing to the richness of life in Huntsville and especially to the enrichment of the congregation of Trinity. Late in 2009 John was honoured to be designated Minister Emeritus of Trinity United Church, an honour well deserved. Well done, John! Not such a downhill slide after all.
Our Custodian, Wayne Stahls
Wayne Stahls was born and raised in Huntsville. He attended Huntsville High School taking technology courses. Over the years he has played on and coached Lacrosse teams at both the Ontario and Canadian levels of competition. In his youth he also enjoyed hockey as a goaltender, ice fishing and snowmobiling, all great sports in Muskoka! His working career started as a grocery store clerk for Dominion and then A&P. In 1983 he married Wendy and they have 3 children who are young adults now. Wayne began working for Trinity United as Custodian in 2000. The level of activity on a daily basis in the church building keeps Wayne very busy but he is always happy to stop and chat. He enjoys helping senior friends as a handyman and with demands of year round outdoor maintenance in Huntsville. Holidays are camping adventures and during hockey season you’ll find him at a nearby coffee shop where hockey is the topic and he has his own Coach’s Corner.
Wayne Stahls was born and raised in Huntsville. He attended Huntsville High School taking technology courses. Over the years he has played on and coached Lacrosse teams at both the Ontario and Canadian levels of competition. In his youth he also enjoyed hockey as a goaltender, ice fishing and snowmobiling, all great sports in Muskoka! His working career started as a grocery store clerk for Dominion and then A&P. In 1983 he married Wendy and they have 3 children who are young adults now. Wayne began working for Trinity United as Custodian in 2000. The level of activity on a daily basis in the church building keeps Wayne very busy but he is always happy to stop and chat. He enjoys helping senior friends as a handyman and with demands of year round outdoor maintenance in Huntsville. Holidays are camping adventures and during hockey season you’ll find him at a nearby coffee shop where hockey is the topic and he has his own Coach’s Corner.