Celebration of Life for Marianne Blumenstiel


Marianne Blumenstiel passed away in mid September. A celebration of life will be held on NOVEMBER 16 from 1-3pm at the West Vancouver Senior’s Activity Centre (695 21st Street, in the Marine Room which is past the cafeteria). The family is asking people to refrain from wearing black to the event. If you are able to attend or would like to share some memories of Marianne, please contact her daughter, Sandra, at sobrien2u@gmail.com.

See Marianne’s obituary here.

Coming Soon: Fire Drill

Soon, we will conduct a “surprise” Fire Drill during a Sunday Service.

The purpose of this drill is to practice exiting the building in case a real emergency ever happened requiring evacuation.  During the drill, you will be given clear instructions as to what you need to do, and where you should exit. Ushers will be available to help anyone needing assistance, and we will also have the use of two wheelchairs.

Lynn Sabourin's Memorial

Livestreamed at http://van.ca/lynnsabourin

Her obituary (from https://vanu.ca/event/lynn-sabourin/):

It is with profound sadness that we share the news of our beloved Lynn’s sudden passing on August 16, 2025. Lynn leaves behind her husband of 54 years, Douglas; sons Ryan, Colin, and Derek; grandson Boston; Sister Nora, brother-in-law Dennis; Nieces Lisa and Lindsay; brother Michael; Great Aunt Rose, and numerous family members across several generations.

Lynn Sabourin (nee Hanberry) was born in North Vancouver on May 20 th , 1951, and was a proud and lifelong North Van resident, contributing to the local community in myriad ways. A graduate of Carson Graham Senior Secondary, Lynn went on to study education at SFU, determined to fulfill her ambition of becoming a teacher. Marriage to Doug happened in 1971 while they were starving students, and once established in their careers, home ownership and motherhood soon followed.

In the early 1980s, Lynn pivoted her career to becoming an interfaith religious education professional with the North Shore Unitarian Church, and it was there that she found her true calling and her life’s work. A fledgling congregation grew and grew, and Lynn was front and center as a leader of this development.

Lynn was passionately dedicated to her role as a mother; her 3 boys and her family were her pride and joy. She had a similar commitment to her role as a religious educator, evidenced by her various professional awards and recognitions. It is not hyperbole to say that she was an absolute legend within Unitarian Universalist circles in the Pacific Northwest, and this eventually led to her becoming a well-known figure across North America. Her loss has been felt far and wide, and the absence her loving and giving personality leaves behind will be impossible to fill.

Lynn is incredibly admired and loved by all her knew her. Her sudden passing has been profoundly felt by everyone in her life, and her family has been uplifted significantly from the messages and visits of love and support that have been pouring in from friends, family, and colleagues. Simply put, she was loved and inspired by everyone who ever knew her. She will be remembered for her dedication, passion, and her commitment to the happiness and betterment of every single individual in her life.

Her smile and warmth will live on in our memories and will certainly continue to inspire us to lead our lives with a similar positivity and joy. She loved her family and friends with an authenticity that was undeniably felt, because it was pure and unconditional. She was honest, heartfelt, and composed of the love and integrity that she knew was possible even in the tiniest details of the lives we all lead. Lynn absolutely loved life; Lynn was and is loved deeply.

Her light will shine on, and we are all taking our first steps in navigating a world without her. We love you, Lynn. We love you, Mom.

Janni working from home . . .

Due to ongoing complications following thumb surgery, Janni has a splint on her left hand/wrist -- and can't drive until the splint comes off.  She will be mostly working from home for at least the next few weeks (if not longer), but will be available by phone (604-926-1621) and email (info@northshoreunitarians.ca) during her regular work hours M-F.  Please call before stopping by NSU (unless you have a key) as the door will be locked when no one is there.

Talking About Climate Hope and Solutions

Facilitators from Regenerate BC will lead a series of 3 workshops on climate communication on three Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 pm:

September 9 - Seeing through climate disinformation;
September 16 - Communicating with family and friends;
September 23 - Strategies for engaging with politicians.

Vancouver Unitarians will host the sessions in their Fireside Room in Hewett Hall at 949 West 49th Ave., Vancouver. Due to technical difficulties, the option of remote participation from NSU has been cancelled for the remaining sessions.

Contact Marcia Stephenson or the Main Office for more details.

Hope Matters: 10am to noon on 4 Fridays Starting September 12th

This fall, Beacon Unitarian and Century House Seniors are again presenting a four-session series ‘Hope Matters’, an exploration of the critical role hope plays in our climate emergency response. Elin Kelsey’s book Hope Matters, and Joanna Macy’s Work that Reconnects, provides the basis for our work together.

Sessions are held from 10am to noon on these Fridays:

  • September 12th

  • October 10th

  • October 31st

  • December 12th

The series is held in person (in New Westminster) and online.

Registration is now open. Join the series to explore eco-grief, eco-healing and finding your eco joy. Presenters include Karin Roberts (Joanna Macy’s work) and representatives of New West Environmental Partners and the New West Climate Action Hub.

Please use the New West Active Living Guide for registration (both in-person and on-line). Look in the ‘General’ section, then ‘Workshops’, Hope Matters is about 7th in the workshop listings.

The workshop is free of charge.

September's Outreach Recipient: Backpack Buddies

Each month, 100% of our Sunday morning collection plate, unless otherwise noted, is donated to a registered charity whose mission is in line with our values. We call this “Outreach”.

During the month of September, as children across the province head back to school, we will be collecting donations for Backpack Buddies, a non-profit headquartered in North Vancouver. With one in four BC families experiencing food insecurity, Backpack Buddies fills empty cupboards for needy kids each Friday.

In 2012, a mother-and daughter founding team started with delivering just 20 bags of food to an East Vancouver school. Today, passionate volunteers, donors and staff ensure that over 6,000 kids from every corner of BC get the food they need. North Vancouver is one of ten communities served by Backpack Buddies.

Weekly food deliveries are coordinated in partnership with teachers and administrators. Front-line educators advise on the needs of their students and identify children who will benefit most from receiving a bag of food for the weekend.

With over 1.65 million meals passing through their warehouse every year, Backpack Buddies leverages purchasing power to stretch every dollar. Volunteers are welcome to lend a hand.

Read more about Backpack Buddies HERE and the scope of food insecurity in BC HERE.