Outreach
Kathy Biasi
Outreach Manager
Contact Kathy
(416) 364-7865, ext. 222
Kathy manages our Outreach Program, Friday Drop-In, provides outreach support, oversees volunteers, and heads up the St. James arm of the Faith+Hub network.
Kathy holds a BA in psychology and has an extensive background in the social service/non-profit field; including shelters, second-stage housing, outreach, and other drop-ins.
Kathy joined the Cathedral team in May 2017.
Music
Thomas Bell
Music Director & Organist
Contact Tom
(416) 364-7865, ext. 224
Tom’s early musical education was as a boy chorister at Salisbury Cathedral, England, where in addition to singing for the daily choral services, he played the flute, violin and piano. Following his later musical studies at Durham University, Tom taught music in Oxford and London. During this time, he directed professional instrumental and choral ensembles specializing in early music. He later immigrated to Toronto, Canada, where he has lived and worked for nearly thirty years.
Tom has been Music Director at several Anglican churches including St. Peter and St. Simon-the-Apostle, Toronto; St. Jude’s, Oakville; and for ten years at St. Paul’s Bloor Street. Tom is also an experienced teacher, particularly of children. He directed the Mississauga Children’s Choir for sixteen years; under his leadership, the choir won the CBC choral competition and toured internationally. He has also taught music at the Toronto French School for over twenty-five years.
Tom’s choral compositions are published by G.I.A., Oxford University Press, Boosey and Hawkes, Alliance, Hinshaw, and others.
He is married to The Right Reverend Susan, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Niagara. They have four wonderful children.
Cara Halpin
Children's Community Choir Director
Contact Cara
(416) 364-7865
Cara studied piano with Canadian composer Ruth Watson Henderson before completing her Bachelor of Music from Western University.
She also holds a Bachelor of Education (OISE) and a Master of Music in Choral Literature from the University of Toronto. Cara, an alumnus of the Toronto Children’s Chorus, taught vocal music for many years in the TDSB, where she conducted both children and youth choirs.
Prior to her current position, Cara was Director of Music & Organist at St. John’s Norway Anglican Church in Toronto, where in addition to leading the adult choir, she introduced and established a Hand Chime Choir.
She is a Colleague of the Royal Canadian College of Organists.
Children, Youth, and Family Ministries
Karyne Whalen
Children, Youth, and Family Minister
Contact Karyne
(416) 364-7865, ext. 221
Karyne has joined the Cathedral team as the part-time Children, Youth, and Family Minister.
She holds a BA in Youth Education & Counselling Studies from Briercrest College and Seminary, Caronport, SK.
Karyne’s love for God and church ministry began at a young age growing up in a Baptist church in Oshawa where she taught Sunday School, volunteered in the nursery, was a camp counsellor, played piano for the services, sang in the choir, helped with the vulnerable in the community, was a youth leader, helped lead church services in LTC homes, to name a few.
Karyne felt led to move to Christ Memorial Anglican Church in Oshawa 8 years ago where she has served as a youth pastor and Sunday school teacher.
She also works as an Educational Assistant in a high school in Whitby.
Karyne is committed to the spiritual development and growth of our children and youth at the Cathedral.
Lay Pastoral Ministry
Maddy MacGregor
Lay Pastoral Associate
Contact Maddy
mmacgregor@stjamescathedral.ca
(416) 364-7865, ext. 221
Maddy (she/they) is joining the Cathedral team in the last year of her Master’s of Divinity at Trinity College, University of Toronto. Raised Episcopalian in Northern California, Maddy moved to Canada 10 years ago, where she did her Bachelor of Arts in music and psychology at McGill. Since then she has led bilingual children and youth ministry and contemporary worship at Christ Church Cathedral, Montreal, led music and youth group at St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Etobicoke, and worked as National Youth and Young Adult Pastor for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada.
Maddy is a Postulant for the Diocese of Toronto, and has fallen in love with the diversity of life and its many expressions in the city. Having loved hospital chaplaincy at St Michael’s Hospital this summer, she is looking forward to growing into parish work through pastoral care, to continuing work with young adults, and to participating in the diverse liturgies of the Cathedral. She is passionate about creating spaces where people feel welcome and able to be fully themselves.
In her spare time, Maddy lives with her husband Jonathan (lute player and Cathedral choir tenor), and enjoys cuddling their pug Satie, obsessing over Canadian slow fashion and hand sewing, and singing and playing guitar.
Administration & Finance
Susan So
Executive Director
Contact Susan
(416) 364-7865, ext. 225
Susan joins the Cathedral with 29 years of professional experience in managing not-for-profit membership organizations. She previously worked at The Albany Club for 20 years and was the Assistant General Manager since 2014. She oversaw the club’s financial and accounting matters and was a key player in the leadership team, adding her expertise in managing operations and administration.
Susan has served in volunteer governance roles in other churches, most recently as the treasurer and a member of the Board of Trustees for another large Anglican Church. She is an active member of her parish and attends services with her husband Luke and their daughter Liz.
Ursula Tsoi
Operations Manager
Contact Ursula
(416) 364-7865, ext. 232
Ursula brings a passion for Christ and His Church, a collaborative spirit, and strong organizational expertise to her role as Operations Manager at the Cathedral.
She supports the Cathedral’s mission, ministries, and community life through administrative operations, team leadership, volunteer and HR coordination, IT, and organizational processes.
Working alongside clergy, staff, volunteers, ministry leaders, and community partners, she values building strong relationships that foster a welcoming, Christ-centred, and thriving faith community.
Serena Li
Administrative Assistant, Dean’s Office
Contact Serena
(416) 364-7865, ext. 229
Serena joined the Cathedral in August 2023. As administrative assistant, she is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Dean’s office, including the preparation of all service materials, administration for the Cathedral team, and the processing of donations.
Property
Jim Kotsifas
Property Manager
Contact Jim
(416) 364-7865, ext. 253
As Property Manager, Jim oversees all operations and maintenance of the Cathedral, the Cathedral Centre, and the Diocesan offices.
He manages the building service workers and the sextons (Tenzin Wangchok, Frank Kenyon, Walter Snow).
Cathedral Governance
Cathedral Wardens
Sandra Mowat
People’s Warden
Sarah McKinnon
Rector’s Warden
Richard Harrop
Deputy People’s Warden
Bob Hart
Deputy Rector’s Warden
Stanley Baptiste
Assistant Deputy People’s Warden
Christophe Pike
Assistant Deputy Rector’s Warden
Contact: wardens@stjamescathedral.ca
Lay Leaders
Cathedral Council Members: Matt Jaeger, Bill Benson, Jane Rowan, Rob Haines, Zanefar Ramoutar, Angela David, Paul Melville-Gray, Carol Kysela, Christian Kingsmill, Louis Nettleton.
Ex-Officio Council Members: Susan So (Operations), The Dean, The Vicar
Lay Delegates to Synod: Marie Crosta, David Hedley, Peter Dawes, Daisy Pittis, Billie Anne Robinson.
Synod Alternates: Joan Peters, Zidan Murshed
Parochial Tribunal: David Gates, Sterling Mancuso
To get in touch with Cathedral Lay Leaders, please contact the main office.
Altar Guild: Yosola Adeoye
Carillon Bells: Annie Odom
Change Ringers: The Rev. Jillian Ruch
Education for Ministry Mentor: Carol Kysela
Greeters: Yvonne Joseph
Servers & Sacristans: Paul Seddon, Leslie Laing, David Grant
Sidespersons: Louis Nettleton and Wairimu Nduati
York Group: Sandra Mowat