Trinity United Church
1099 Maitland Ave
Ottawa, ON K2C 2B8
613-225-3627
Our People
Trinity is about people enjoying each other and enriching their lives and faith. We do a lot of helping work as a community, but we also get together regularly just to have fun.
Rev. Dr. Junior Smith ~ Minister
Rev. Dr. Junior Smith was born in the heart of Jamaica's capital, Kingston and was privileged to have received an excellent high school education at Saint Georges College, graduating in 1973.
In 1974, he left the "island in the sun" for Canada. During his first year in Ottawa, he entered Carleton University to study Chemistry but soon switched to his other love, Mathematics in which he received a bachelor's degree in 1979. After graduation, he obtained permanent employment as a statistician in the Federal Government but has never stopped going to school. He has also completed undergraduate degrees in Economics and Bachelor of Commerce, and graduate degrees in Master of Business Administration and Master of Pastoral Theology.
In 1976, he started a radio program at Carleton University because there were no public radio stations in Ottawa that reflected the Jamaican culture in the form of music. Today, Reggae in the Fields (RITF) continues to broadcast every Saturday between 3:00pm and 5:30pm at CKCU 93.1 FM around the world at www.ckcufm.com. The program is quite eclectic and features Jamican and West Indian music, artist interviews, and interviews with community and political leaders on economic, political, and other social issues. RITF supports a vibrant multicultural and multi-ethnic religious community by allowing various Christian denominations to publicly express their values and beliefs. RITF is Canada's longest running Reggae radio program.
In 2016, he received his doctoral degree in Ministry. The research study used a values model and a spirituality construct to identify differences among Blacks, the Chinese, First Nations, the Japanese, and Whites within The United Church of Canada. The outcome of the study was to determine how groups can continue to celebrate the commonality of their values while recognizing and finding ways to mitigate the inhibiting consequences of their differences. He considers the increasing global movement of people and the resulting cultural diversity this brings, as a valuable outcome for the survival of our Churches in Canada. Immigrants often search for a sense of belonging by attending activities at religious organizations as they seek to bridge differences between their native culture and their new Canadian identity. Embracing diversity is a key objective of his ministry.
He is married to Maria and has a blended family of six children - Jason, Nicholas, Robert, Natasha, Belinda, and Ruth.
Kimberley (Kim) Allen-McGill ~ Director of Music
Kim joined the Trinity United Church family as Director of Music in September 2020. She is an experienced and fun loving church musician. In this role, Kim teaches and sings, plays piano and organ, plans and coordinates music for worship services along with her colleagues in ministry. She also leads the choir, as well as congregational singers and musicians.
After a successful career in corporate communications and publishing, Kim became a full-time professional musician teacher in 2016. Kim began work as a United Church organist and choir director in a rural congregation at age 12, and since then, has enjoyed singing and playing in various churches, and with a number of choirs, groups, teaching private lessons, and working as a ceremony musician.
In addition to her work at Trinity, Kim makes music with her praise band, The FROGS (Fully Rely on God) Band, and operates her own music studio, Silver Cadence Music in the Findlay Creek community in Ottawa, and is a contract teacher at the Manotick School of Music. She serves as the United Church of Canada's Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Council Convenor for Music United (www.musicunited.ca), and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Summer Institute of Church Music (www.sicm.ca). Kim is also the Mom and CEO in a busy household that includes husband Bob and her young adult children, Reaghan and Murray. Kim joyfully welcomes the opportunity to serve and sing together in the warm, talented and supportive Trinity United Church family.
Courtney Sladden ~ Office Administrator
Courtney came to Trinity in the Fall of 2022. Originally from the southern state of Georgia in the US, she immigrated to Canada to marry her husband Mike in 2012. She comes with a background in both office work and customer service, with an interest in graphic design and finds herself following many other creative pursuits
Courtney attended the University of Georgia in 2001 where she studied in Psychology, and after moving to Canada she attended the Interactive Media Design Program at Algonquin College in 2015.
Courtney often calls on her husband, Mike for any tech-related problems in the office, as he is a Network and IT manager. Her daughter Emily is also a star at Trinity United, and loves to come to church every Sunday.
Correna McCormick ~ Child Program Leader
Correna grew up in Ottawa in the area around Trinity United Church. She is a student at Carleton University studying Childhood and Youth Studies. She will graduate in 2026 and then continue with a Bachelor of Education. She plans on becoming an elementary school teacher in the future.
Correna grew up in the Anglican Church and completed Sunday School at All Saints Westboro Anglican Church. She played field hockey for the Nepean Nighthawks and continues to love coaching in the summer months. She enjoys working with children and is thankful for the opportunity Trinity United Church has given her to gain experience working with youth.
Church Council
Council is made up of people from a cross-section of our congregation who provide oversight of Trinity function and activities. Council is the decision-making body for all Trinity congregational and spritual matters not decided by the congregation. Participation in Council is an opportunity for members to ensure Trinity is a nuturing and thriving community.
Our Children & Youth
Their sounds and activity are a natural part of our worship, so parents can come to church and relax into the family atmosphere. There is no dress code to discourage kids and teens. Sunday dresses and torn jeans are equally acceptable - for parents too!
Children of all ages are invited to participate in the intergenerational beginning of our worship service. Following this time, children are invited to go downstairs for a Sunday school program led by our child program leader and other volunteers. Parents are welcome to stay, and encouraged to participate.
Children may remain in the sanctuary for the duration of the service, if that is what helps them be more comfortable. We have colouring kits availabe for their use.
At the moment we are a one-room Sunday school, using the Seasons of the Spirit curriculum. It is a comprehensive curriculum that encourages connection between church and the world.