Board of Directors
President - Lisa Sharp. Lisa and her husband Eric Ranger have 7 children and 6 grandchildren. Lisa worked for 15 years in the Ottawa Community with youth at the Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre and Family Services Ottawa before starting her second career as a family litigator at the Ottawa Superior Court of Justice, representing victims of domestic violence. She has served on the Board of Directors of the County of Carleton Law Association, and she regularly writes and speaks on access to justice and poverty law issues.
Lisa has been involved with FirstU for almost 20 years. Before joining the board in 2017, Lisa was actively involved with the RE program, including as a youth advisor, and in the JR, SR High and adult OWL program for 15 years. More recently, Lisa has served as a Greeter, organized the food at the fall fair, and is a board rep on the Embracing Diversity Committee and is dedicated to the development of programming for youth and young adults.
Send an email to the President
Lisa has been involved with FirstU for almost 20 years. Before joining the board in 2017, Lisa was actively involved with the RE program, including as a youth advisor, and in the JR, SR High and adult OWL program for 15 years. More recently, Lisa has served as a Greeter, organized the food at the fall fair, and is a board rep on the Embracing Diversity Committee and is dedicated to the development of programming for youth and young adults.
Send an email to the President
Vice President - Brent Nicolle
Brent has been a member of FirstU since 2004, together with his wife Alison Harvey. They have two children, Patrick (16) and Tristan (13).
Brent has volunteered at the church for over 10 years working on the Religious Exploration programme for kids of various ages, as well as on the Stewardship Committee and the Pledge campaign. Professionally, Brent is a self-employed software quality consultant, and has a B.A.Sc. in Computer Engineering. In his free time, Brent enjoys playing soccer and bridge.
Brent has been a member of FirstU since 2004, together with his wife Alison Harvey. They have two children, Patrick (16) and Tristan (13).
Brent has volunteered at the church for over 10 years working on the Religious Exploration programme for kids of various ages, as well as on the Stewardship Committee and the Pledge campaign. Professionally, Brent is a self-employed software quality consultant, and has a B.A.Sc. in Computer Engineering. In his free time, Brent enjoys playing soccer and bridge.
Secretary - Caycee Price
Caycee has been Involved with FirstU for over a decade. She grew up in Montréal and came to Ottawa via Toronto in 2001. She started volunteering as an RE leader, is an OWL facilitator, and loves Spirit Play as a teaching method. She currently leads earth-centred Pagan rituals at FirstU, and sits on Denominational Affairs and the Embracing Diversity Committee.
Caycee works as a public servant, is a union representative, and likes to challenge hetero-normative assumptions and celebrate diversity. She is a parent and her hobbies include singing, learning Korean, cinema, and video games.
Caycee has been Involved with FirstU for over a decade. She grew up in Montréal and came to Ottawa via Toronto in 2001. She started volunteering as an RE leader, is an OWL facilitator, and loves Spirit Play as a teaching method. She currently leads earth-centred Pagan rituals at FirstU, and sits on Denominational Affairs and the Embracing Diversity Committee.
Caycee works as a public servant, is a union representative, and likes to challenge hetero-normative assumptions and celebrate diversity. She is a parent and her hobbies include singing, learning Korean, cinema, and video games.
Treasurer - Justine De Jaegher
Originally from Winnipeg, Justine moved to Ottawa in 2012 to complete her Masters in Public Administration at Carleton University. She works as Education Officer for the Canadian Association of University Teachers and previously as Executive Director for the Canadian Federation of Students, a national, member dues-funded non-profit.
As well as Treasurer of the FirstU Board of Directors, Justine also serves on the board of the Council of Canadians. She has previously served as Treasurer for a labour union local and an arts sector non-profit. Justine and her partner Tara began attending FirstU in the summer of 2018.
She is a self-described nerd and a great lover of all things Star Wars.
Originally from Winnipeg, Justine moved to Ottawa in 2012 to complete her Masters in Public Administration at Carleton University. She works as Education Officer for the Canadian Association of University Teachers and previously as Executive Director for the Canadian Federation of Students, a national, member dues-funded non-profit.
As well as Treasurer of the FirstU Board of Directors, Justine also serves on the board of the Council of Canadians. She has previously served as Treasurer for a labour union local and an arts sector non-profit. Justine and her partner Tara began attending FirstU in the summer of 2018.
She is a self-described nerd and a great lover of all things Star Wars.
Member-at-Large - Carl Sonnen
Carl works as an Application Developer at the House of Commons. He is the former Executive Director of Job Quest of Metropolitan in Toronto--a self-help initiative to assist individuals with mental health challenges obtain meaningful employment. Raised Anglican, Carl switched to United, and then became a self-aware UU in his early 20s. He is well versed in religious texts of major world religions.
Carl has volunteered with the Canadian Institute of Child Health, the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Care Group, and the Ancoura Mental Health Residence Initiative. At FirstU, Carl has participated in the Sound Team, OWL, the Nominating Committee, and the UU Web Working Group. Carl currently chairs the Communications and Outreach Committee.
Carl works as an Application Developer at the House of Commons. He is the former Executive Director of Job Quest of Metropolitan in Toronto--a self-help initiative to assist individuals with mental health challenges obtain meaningful employment. Raised Anglican, Carl switched to United, and then became a self-aware UU in his early 20s. He is well versed in religious texts of major world religions.
Carl has volunteered with the Canadian Institute of Child Health, the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Care Group, and the Ancoura Mental Health Residence Initiative. At FirstU, Carl has participated in the Sound Team, OWL, the Nominating Committee, and the UU Web Working Group. Carl currently chairs the Communications and Outreach Committee.
Member-at-Large - David Chernushenko
David and his wife Marie-Odile Junker came to FirstU nearly 20 years ago, in search of a spiritual community and religious exploration programming for their children. They soon became members, and occasional volunteers. David has often contributed guest sermons and talks at breakfasts and arts events.
David served 8 years as an Ottawa city councillor (2010-18) with a particular interest in building better communities by design and a commitment to sustainable practices. He now writes fiction and leads discussion groups focused on our role in a changing society and deteriorating ecosphere, seeking ways to restore and collectively live within the ecological systems of the planet.
David and his wife Marie-Odile Junker came to FirstU nearly 20 years ago, in search of a spiritual community and religious exploration programming for their children. They soon became members, and occasional volunteers. David has often contributed guest sermons and talks at breakfasts and arts events.
David served 8 years as an Ottawa city councillor (2010-18) with a particular interest in building better communities by design and a commitment to sustainable practices. He now writes fiction and leads discussion groups focused on our role in a changing society and deteriorating ecosphere, seeking ways to restore and collectively live within the ecological systems of the planet.
Member-at-Large - Irvin Waller
Irvin was introduced to FirstU by Susan Tanner with whom he has been married for 37 years. They joined 30 years ago, attracted by unique religious exploration for their children, the influence of diverse philosophical and faith backgrounds, and a community that turns compassion into action. They are inspired by early UU influencers such as Thoreau, the Harvard Trust and two US Presidents. Their involvement with FirstU is particularly about leaving a planet habitable for their nine grandchildren and more, social justice that stops violence and incarceration, and respect for diversity and gender.
Irvin hopes that his term on the Board can help FirstU build on the sense of community and amazing talents and energy of current congregants. He wants FirstU to attract new congregants from more diverse backgrounds benefitting from the rich talents in this unique city and so make our mission live locally and globally while ensuring that no one is left behind.
Irvin was introduced to FirstU by Susan Tanner with whom he has been married for 37 years. They joined 30 years ago, attracted by unique religious exploration for their children, the influence of diverse philosophical and faith backgrounds, and a community that turns compassion into action. They are inspired by early UU influencers such as Thoreau, the Harvard Trust and two US Presidents. Their involvement with FirstU is particularly about leaving a planet habitable for their nine grandchildren and more, social justice that stops violence and incarceration, and respect for diversity and gender.
Irvin hopes that his term on the Board can help FirstU build on the sense of community and amazing talents and energy of current congregants. He wants FirstU to attract new congregants from more diverse backgrounds benefitting from the rich talents in this unique city and so make our mission live locally and globally while ensuring that no one is left behind.
Past President - Guy Belleperche
Guy is a husband, father, retired public servant, resident of Ottawa since 1989, and a part of the FirstU community for 16 years. A Northern Ontario native, he has been happily committed to his life-partner, Meghan Dunn, for almost 29 years. Guy is an engineer by education, a pragmatic idealist by temperament, and a UU by choice.
Guy has volunteered in the Lifespan Learning program as a facilitator (Junior and Senior OWL), youth advisor, committee member and chair. Guy has also served as a worship associate, greeter, and occasional coffee server. Guy currently serves on the Governance Committee.
Send an email to the Board of Directors
Guy is a husband, father, retired public servant, resident of Ottawa since 1989, and a part of the FirstU community for 16 years. A Northern Ontario native, he has been happily committed to his life-partner, Meghan Dunn, for almost 29 years. Guy is an engineer by education, a pragmatic idealist by temperament, and a UU by choice.
Guy has volunteered in the Lifespan Learning program as a facilitator (Junior and Senior OWL), youth advisor, committee member and chair. Guy has also served as a worship associate, greeter, and occasional coffee server. Guy currently serves on the Governance Committee.
Send an email to the Board of Directors
