Irene first held offices in the Church in the diocese of Niagara, serving as Diocesan Girls’ Auxiliary Secretary and member of the Diocesan W. A. council. After being elected to the Diocesan Committee, she was elected a member of both General and Provincial Synods. She was a long-time member of St. David’s Church in Welland, sitting on Parish and Deanery Councils.

As well as her church involvement, Irene served as an Alderman on Welland City Council, a Governor of Niagara College of Applied Arts & Technology, a member of the Hospital Board, and Chair of the Library and Museum Boards.

Irene attended Brock University in St. Catherines as a full time mature student, graduating with a BA in History and English in 1977. In 1984, she was awarded a Gold Medal by the Province of Ontario for services to the church and community.

John Simmons - People's Warden

I reside in Oshawa, and have been a member of St. George’s since 2006; however I have been very active in previous parishes within the diocese of Niagara and the diocese of Toronto.

I am now retired from business, having been with Commercial Alcohols Limited for over thirty years as Sales Manager – Ontario and Western Canada. CAL was the largest manufacturer of industrial alcohol in Canada with its head office in Montreal, Quebec and an office and warehouse in Scarborough, Ontario, where I was located.

I organized a junior sidesmen group at Grace Church, Hamilton, when I was 16 years old and was appointed to their Advisory Board as the Youth representative when I was 18.

After I was married, I was co-president of the Married Couples’ Club and president of the Young Adults Council of the diocese of Niagara. I have since served as a warden in four different parishes in Niagara and Toronto dioceses. I have also had the pleasure of serving on several advisory boards and various committees in addition to being a treasurer, lay administrator and a lay reader.

I look forward to serving the parishioners of St. George’s Memorial Church, Oshawa. I take great pride in this church and the community it so well serves.

Please do not hesitate to make yourself known if I may be of any service to you.

Don Clement - Deputy Warden

Don was confirmed at St. George's Oshawa in 1968 and has been a member ever since. Don is currently a member of the Long Range Planning Committee and the Property and Building Committee. Don is also a sidesperson's captain at the 8:15 am service and a volunteer for the Open Door Program.
After a varied 34 year career with General Motors, Don retired in 1997 from the Engineering and Forward Planning Department, Vehicle Design. Don's current hobbies include golf, metalworking and woodworking. The latter two vocations have been quite useful considering the number of restoration challenges that the Property and Building Committee faces each year.
Don's primary focus is to serve the people of St. George's and the greater parish community and he looks forward to making new friendships along the way.

Jim Blight - Deputy Warden 

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