Moderator of the 2023 General Assembly

The Rev. Mary Fontaine, B.A., M.DIV.

Mary Fontaine is Nehiyaw (Cree) from Mistawasis Nehiywak, Saskatchewan, where she grew up attending the Mistawasis Presbyterian Church with her family. The Founding Director of Hummingbird Ministries (2005), an Indigenous-led healing and reconciliation ministry, Mary discerns the Spirit at work in Indigenous wisdom and spirituality and sees how this can enhance the church she loves and grew up in. Through healing circles and the performing arts, Hummingbird educates the public and raises the profile of Indigenous people, especially Indigenous children.

The Rev. Mary Fontaine

Mary has a B.A. in Native Studies from the University of Alberta (1995) and an M.Div. from the Vancouver School of Theology (2003). She was on the Executive Committee of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (2010-2017). She convenes the National Indigenous Ministries Council of The Presbyterian Church in Canada and serves on the Special Committee re Listening, Confession and Associations.
Working In relationship-building and care of the earth, Mary hopes that as in the Indigenous vision (similar to Revelation), one day, the nations will gather beneath the tree of peace and learn to love and live in harmony with one another. Mary preaches at local churches and special occasions such as the 2019 General Assembly.

Mary was elected and installed as the 2023 General Assembly Moderator, and welcomed by the former moderator, the Rev. Dr. Robert (Bob) Faris, after the opening worship. Part of Mary’s installation was the sacred ceremony of smudging, after which she was presented with a star blanket.

Support for LGBTQI+ People Worldwide
This 2023 ecumenical letter conveys support for the Government of Canada’s efforts to stand with the LGBTQI+ community in Uganda by calling on the Government of Uganda to revoke the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act. The letter also encourages Canada to continue supporting LGBTQI+ people around the world through advocacy, pathways to securing refugee status, international assistance and humanitarian aid.

Previous Moderators

2022
The Rev. Dr. Robert Faris
The Rev. Dr. Robert Faris
Moderator of the 147th General Assembly

2021
The Rev. Dr. Daniel Scott
The Rev. Dr. Daniel D. Scott
Moderator of the 146th General Assembly

2019
The Rev. Amanda Currie
The Rev. Amanda Currie
Moderator of the 145th General Assembly

2018

The Rev. Daniel Cho
Moderator of the 144th General Assembly

2017

The Rev. Peter Bush
Moderator of the 143rd General Assembly

2016
The Rev. Douglas Rollwage
The Rev. Douglas Rollwage
Moderator of the 142nd General Assembly

2015
The Rev. Karen Horst
The Rev. Karen Horst
Moderator of the 141st General Assembly

2014
The Rev. Dr. Stephen Farris
The Rev. Dr. Stephen C. Farris
Moderator of the 140th General Assembly

2013
The Rev. Dr. David Sutherland
The Rev. Dr. David Sutherland
Moderator of the 139th General Assembly

2012
The Rev. Dr. John A. Vissers
The Rev. Dr. John A. Vissers
Moderator of the 138th General Assembly

2011
The Rev. Dr. H. D. Rick Horst
The Rev. Dr. H. D. Rick Horst
Moderator of the 137th General Assembly

2010
The Rev. Dr. Herbert F. Gale
The Rev. Dr. Herbert F. Gale
Moderator of the 136th General Assembly

2009
The Rev. A. Harvey Self
The Rev. A. Harvey Self
Moderator of the 135th General Assembly

2008

The Rev. Dr. Cheol Soon Park
Moderator of the 134th General Assembly

2007
The Rev. Dr. J.H. (Hans) Kouwenberg
The Rev. Dr. J.H. (Hans) Kouwenberg
Moderator of the 133rd General Assembly

2006

Dr. M. Wilma Welsh
Moderator of the 132nd General Assembly

2005
The Rev. Dr. M. Jean Morris
The Rev. Dr. M. Jean Morris
Moderator of the 131st General Assembly

2004

The Rev. Dr. Richard W. Fee
Moderator of the 130th General Assembly

2003
The Rev. Dr. P.A. (Sandy) McDonald
The Rev. Dr. P.A. (Sandy) McDonald
Moderator of the 129th General Assembly

2002
The Rev. Dr. J. Mark Lewis
The Rev. Dr. J. Mark Lewis
Moderator of the 128th General Assembly

2001
The Rev. Dr. Joseph W. Reed
The Rev. Dr. Joseph W. Reed
Moderator of the 127th General Assembly

2000
The Rev. Dr. H. Glen Davis
The Rev. Dr. H. Glen Davis
Moderator of the 126th General Assembly

1999
The Rev. Dr. Arthur Van Seters
The Rev. Dr. Arthur Van Seters
Moderator of the 125th General Assembly

1998
The Rev. Dr. William J. Klempa
The Rev. Dr. William J. Klempa
Moderator of the 124th General Assembly

1997
The Rev. Dr. John D. Congram
The Rev. Dr. John D. Congram
Moderator of the 123rd General Assembly

1996
Dr. Tamiko (Nakamura) Corbett
Dr. Tamiko (Nakamura) Corbett
Moderator of the 122nd General Assembly

1995
The Rev. Dr. Alan M. McPherson
The Rev. Dr. Alan M. McPherson
Moderator of the 121st General Assembly

1994
The Rev. Dr. George C. Vais
The Rev. Dr. George C. Vais
Moderator of the 120th General Assembly

1993
The Rev. Dr. Earle F. Roberts
The Rev. Dr. Earle F. Roberts
Moderator of the 119th General Assembly

1992
The Rev. Dr. Linda J. Bell
The Rev. Dr. Linda J. Bell
Moderator of the 118th General Assembly

1991
The Rev. Dr. John R. Cameron
The Rev. Dr. John R. Cameron
Moderator of the 117th General Assembly

1990
The Rev. Dr. John F. Allan
The Rev. Dr. John F. Allan
Moderator of the 116th General Assembly

1989
The Rev. Dr. J.J. Harrold Morris
The Rev. Dr. J.J. Harrold Morris
Moderator of the 115th General Assembly

1988
The Rev. Dr. Bruce A. Miles
The Rev. Dr. Bruce A. Miles
Moderator of the 114th General Assembly

1987
The Rev. Dr. Tony Plomp
The Rev. Dr. Tony Plomp
Moderator of the 113th General Assembly

1986
The Rev. Dr. J. Charles Hay
The Rev. Dr. J. Charles Hay
Moderator of the 112th General Assembly

1985
The Rev. Dr. Joseph C. McLelland
The Rev. Dr. Joseph C. McLelland
Moderator of the 111th General Assembly

1984
The Rev. Dr. Alex J. Calder
The Rev. Dr. Alex J. Calder
Moderator of the 110th General Assembly

1983
The Rev. Dr. Donald C. MacDonald
The Rev. Dr. Donald C. MacDonald
Moderator of the 109th General Assembly

1982
The Rev. Dr. Wayne A. Smith
The Rev. Dr. Wayne A. Smith
Moderator of the 108th General Assembly

1981
The Rev. Dr. Arthur W. Currie
The Rev. Dr. Arthur W. Currie
Moderator of the 107th General Assembly

1980
The Rev. Dr. Alexander F. MacSween
The Rev. Dr. Alexander F. MacSween
Moderator of the 106th General Assembly

1979
The Rev. Dr. Kenneth G. McMillan
The Rev. Dr. Kenneth G. McMillan
Moderator of the 105th General Assembly

1978
The Rev. Dr. Jesse E. Bigelow
The Rev. Dr. Jesse E. Bigelow
Moderator of the 104th General Assembly

1977
The Rev. Dr. DeCourcy H. Rayner
The Rev. Dr. DeCourcy H. Rayner
Moderator of the 103rd General Assembly

1976
The Rev. Dr. A. Lorne MacKay
The Rev. Dr. A. Lorne MacKay
Moderator of the 102nd General Assembly

1975
The Rev. Dr. David W. Hay
The Rev. Dr. David W. Hay
Moderator of the 101st General Assembly

1974
The Rev. Dr. Hugh F. Davidson
The Rev. Dr. Hugh F. Davidson
Moderator of the 100th General Assembly

1973
The Rev. Dr. Agnew H. Johnston
The Rev. Dr. Agnew H. Johnston
Moderator of the 99th General Assembly

1972
The Rev. Dr. Maxwell V. Putnam
The Rev. Dr. Maxwell V. Putnam
Moderator of the 98th General Assembly

1971
The Rev. Dr. Murdo Nicolson
The Rev. Dr. Murdo Nicolson
Moderator of the 97th General Assembly

1970
The Rev. Dr. Dillwyn T. Evans
The Rev. Dr. Dillwyn T. Evans
Moderator of the 96th General Assembly

1969
The Rev. Dr. Edward H. Johnson
The Rev. Dr. Edward H. Johnson
Moderator of the 95th General Assembly

1968
The Rev. Dr. Clifton J. MacKay
The Rev. Dr. Clifton J. MacKay
Moderator of the 94th General Assembly

1967
The Rev. Dr. John Logan-Vencta
The Rev. Dr. John Logan-Vencta
Moderator of the 93rd General Assembly

1966
The Rev. Dr. G. Deane Johnston
The Rev. Dr. G. Deane Johnston
Moderator of the 92nd General Assembly

1965
The Rev. Dr. J. Alan Munro
The Rev. Dr. J. Alan Munro
Moderator of the 91st General Assembly

1964
The Rev. Dr. Hugh MacMillan
The Rev. Dr. Hugh MacMillan
Moderator of the 90th General Assembly

1963
The Rev. Dr. Harry Lennox
The Rev. Dr. Harry Lennox
Moderator of the 89th General Assembly