Dawn L. Braithwaite MDiv
Community Leader, Teacher/Learner
Spiritual Director and Priest

Email to Dawn

Dawn received her Master of Divinity degree from the Vancouver School of Theology in May 1995. She was ordained Deacon in September 1995 and Priest in June 1996 in the Anglican Church of Canada by the Bishop of the Diocese of British Columbia.

Dawn first served at St. James Anglican Church in Nanaimo, and also at this time began her ministry at the Nanaimo Correctional Centre. With members of St. James, she established a transition house for ex-inmates and programs for ex-inmates and their families during incarceration and after release.

Building on her vision to "break down the walls" and with Diocesan support she was commissioned as Community Chaplain for Nanaimo in 1999 and was the founder and executive director of the Loaves & Fishes Community Outreach Ministries.

In 2000 she accepted a part-time 2 year position as Chaplain at Queen Margaret's School in Duncan, while continuing her ministry in Nanaimo. During her appointment she encouraged inter-faith worship and dialogue within the Anglican context of the school.

Due to lack of ongoing funding for the position of Community Chaplain, Dawn accepted the position as Rector of St. Andrew Cowichan Station from 2001-2010. During her time there, she built upon the communities understanding of what it means to be a Christian in an increasingly secular world.

As an advocate for the excluded, Dawn continues to follow her calling to "break down" the walls. As Community Leader of Cowichan Centre for Progress Christianity she is also Executive Chair of the Centres' outreach program – G.I.F.T.S, the Global Initiative Fair Trade Store, which promotes global economic and social justice. As a director of the society she is responsible for promoting, along with its membership, the principles of Progressive Christianity. As teacher/learner and priest she welcomes all to "explore and embrace Divine Mystery".