AGM

2026 AGM: Tuesday, June 16

Join us for our 2026 Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, June 16 at 7PM

Our AGM is more than a meeting - it's an opportunity to look back with gratitude, look ahead with faith, and participate in the life of our church in a meaningful way. All are welcome to attend and we hope you'll join us in person or online (see below for more information about the online option).

At this year's AGM, we'll be giving a financial update, affirming two new elders - Glen McMillan and Mike Carmody - (scroll down to read their bios), sharing some new initiatives, and having a time of Q&A.


If you have questions ahead of time, please email them to Kevin Lloyd, Operations Director, at klloyd@lakesidechurch.ca.

 

Joining Online?

A livestream will be available for those unable to attend in person.


Please note:
- The stream will be non-interactive
- Votes can only be cast in person


If you’re a Lakeside Partner and want your vote counted,
we encourage you to attend in person.

Watch Here

Documents

Interested in Partnership at Lakeside?

If you're not yet a partner and want to learn more, click the link below.

Partnership at Lakeside

New Elder Bios

I was born and raised in Guelph and grew up in the United Church, though I don't remember having conversations about God outside of church.

As a child, I found a lot of things about Christians confusing. Being a curious child and being met with silence, or getting unsatisfactory, inauthentic, overspiritualized, or contradictory answers instilled a significant amount of doubt and had an impact on my spiritual formation.

As I started university, my church attendance declined, and after my wife, Theresa (who was raised in a different United Church in Guelph) and I graduated and got married, we stopped attending altogether.

In 2014, after an international trip with my brother-in-law, I felt called to go deeper in my spiritual journey. I decided to start helping out with the student Christian club at the high school where I teach. At that time, most of the students in that group attended Lakeside, and they would frequently share how excited they were to attend the youth group. Teenagers who were enthusiastic about going to a church? I wanted to see this place for myself! 

At that time, Lakeside held to a traditional view of marriage. My sister is in a same-sex marriage, and I support same-sex marriage in general; however, I decided to continue attending Lakeside because I could sense the culture was one of growth. I joined a men’s book study and an Alpha group and found them to be very formative experiences in my journey.

A few years ago, the process took place that eventually transformed Lakeside’s stance toward LGBTQ issues. I was particularly moved by the way that the elders were open to examining these issues and having intentional and thoughtful conversations about them. I really appreciated how the leadership engaged with the congregation in these contentious matters, navigating conflict with courage, compassion, and empathy. Their work has helped Lakeside become an even greater place of safety and belonging.

I'm looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to the authentic and inclusive culture at Lakeside so that others can also find it to be a place of belonging and support.

Outside of Lakeside, Theresa and I enjoy travelling and attending our sons' baseball games.

I grew up in a loving home where faith wasn't a regular part of family life, but I always had a sense that there was something more. As a teenager, through friends who shared their faith with authenticity and patience, I began exploring who Jesus was and eventually made the decision to follow him.

Like many people, my faith journey has not been a straight line. There were seasons of doubt, questions, and frustration when I struggled to reconcile what I believed about God with what I experienced in life and church. Over time, I came to understand that faith is not about what I can accomplish for God, but about what God has already done for me through Jesus.

That realization sparked a lifelong desire to learn, grow, and wrestle honestly with questions of faith. Through Bible college, university, marriage, family life, and years of ministry - including serving on pastoral staff - I continued seeking a deeper understanding of what it means to love God and love others well.

Along the way, my wife Karen and I found ourselves asking important questions about belonging, grace, and the role of the church in people's lives. We longed for a faith community where people could explore, grow, and experience the love of Jesus without fear.

When we discovered Lakeside, we found exactly that - and more. We found a community committed to loving God and loving people, where questions are welcomed, relationships matter, and faith can be lived out authentically.

Looking back, I can see God's presence in every chapter of my story. Looking ahead, I know there is still more to learn and discover. I am grateful to be part of the Lakeside family and excited to continue growing alongside this community.

Outside of Lakeside, Mike is the Chief Marketing and Development Officer for Children Believe. He's also a lifelong Toronto Maple Leafs Fan ... so he's known heartache.