Our Minister and Staff

Minister: Rev. Samaya Oakley

The Rev. Samaya Oakley is passionate about our Unitarian Universalist faith. Once she started attending the North Shore Unitarian Church, she quickly became active continentally though the Youth Office of the UUA. She holds at the heart of her ministry the importance of relationships and compassion. She is a strong believer in social justice and believes that our theology calls us to be active agents for love and justice in the world.

She was Co-Chair of the Canadian Unitarian Council’s (CUC) Truth, Healing and Reconciliation Reflection Guides – five age-appropriate reflection guides for use in Canadian UU congregations. Most recently she helped to coordinate the CUC’s Widening the Circle program that invitee leaders and aspiring change-makers to engage with the work of finding new ways of being together that challenge our current ways of thinking.

Email: minister@calgaryunitarians.ca

Music Director: Jane Perry

Jane has been a church musician in Canadian Unitarian Universalist congregations since 2000, serving the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa (2000-2011) and Calgary Unitarians (since 2011).

In Calgary, Jane has also been the Founding Artistic Director of One Voice Chorus (2011-2021) and Artistic Director of Calgary Renaissance Singers & Players (2011-2022.)

Jane trained as a classical pianist, learned how to play jazz, and continues to enjoy a wide variety of music as a pianist, choral composer/arranger, and audience member.  Her professional passions are music education, community-building, and social-justice work, elements that find a natural home in her work with UU congregations.

Email: music@calgaryunitarians.ca

Director of Religious Education: Sheila MacMaster

I’ve lived in Alberta most of my life, and in Calgary for the past twenty years. I am a believer in life-long education, and am currently finishing my Multidisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree (with a double minor of architecture and drama) at the University of Calgary. This means I bring a broad liberal arts education and many exciting ideas to our Children and Youth Religious Education program.

I also have over nine years experience as an Administrator and I’m very pleased to bring those skills to the position of DRE. With a young child of my own, it’s very important to me what our children are learning and I feel very blessed to be a part of it.

When I’m not at church, I’m often busy going on adventures with my family and being creative.

Email: dre@calgaryunitarians.ca

Choral Conductor: Krishan Power

Calgary-born Krishan Power is active in the local music scene, contributing his skills as a teacher, director, clinician, and performer. He enjoys teaching a variety of groups and students of all ages and abilities. In addition to his work with the Calgary Unitarians, Krishan has recently accepted a directorship with Calgary-based Vocal Latitudes, and will be launching the Calgary High School Honour Choir in June 2024. As a clarinetist, he enjoys working as a clinician with band programs in addition to freelance professional work. Krishan has also performed and recorded with Luminous Voices, and is a lifelong chorister and lover of choir.

Administrator: Christopher McBain

Having just finished his BA in Sociology, Christopher is now pursuing a Master of Divinity full-time; he brings 15 years of social justice work in non-profits, from frontline community work to program coordination and management. Beyond work, Chris is a fantasy geek, an amateur pianist, a writer, a kayaker, and a painter who explores different spiritual expressions with childlike curiosity. Chris is enthusiastic about supporting a Church renowned for its historical alignment with progress and deeply appreciates Unitarian values, prioritizing loving action over rigid doctrines. You’ll hear him laugh from the other side of the building long before he’ll meet the whites of your eyes.

Email: office@calgaryunitarians.ca