MacDiv receives highest rating  03.11.2010

HAMILTON, ON—The board of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) has given McMaster Divinity College the highest possible rating in its accreditation review. The ATS periodically subjects all accredited schools to a review that examines their faculty, curriculum, policies, administration and student outcomes. After completing an intensive review process the ATS board voted to affirm McMaster's accreditation for a period of 10 years, the highest level of affirmation that can be given. (—from a release)

World Vision workers shot dead in Pakistan  03.10.2010

OGHI, PAKISTAN—World Vision is in mourning after masked gunmen kicked down the doors of the Christian aid organization's office in the Mansehra district of Pakistan on March 9 and shot and killed six World Vision employees. Eight others were wounded by gunfire and by a homemade bomb detonated by the attackers as they left. The two women and four men who died were all Pakistani nationals working in an area hit hard by the 2005 Kashmiri earthquake. All of World Vision's operations in Pakistan have been temporarily suspended. (—compiled from media reports)

CAM International of Canada appoints new director  03.10.2010

BURLINGTON, ON—CAM International of Canada has appointed Charlene de Haan as its new executive director. De Haan succeeds Larry Hower who has moved to the organization's Dallas office. CAM International does evangelism and church-planting work in Spanish-speaking countries, with a focus on training local leaders. De Haan has worked as manager of human resources for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and as executive director of Pioneer Clubs Canada. (—from a release)

David Kilgour nominated for Nobel Prize  02.26.2010

WINNIPEG, MB—David Kilgour has been nominated for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. Kilgour, a former Member of Parliament and a Preysbyterian Christian, has been nominated, together with Winnipeg lawyer David Matas, for their work to publicize atrocities committed against followers of Falun Gong in China. Followers of the religious movement are persecuted, imprisoned and executed in China. Kilgour and Matas reported on the practice of organ harvesting, where victims are killed for their organs which are used for transplants.

Last year the International Society for Human Rights awarded Kilgour and Matas the prestigious 2009 Human Rights Prize. (Winnipeg Free Press)

New president at Alberta Bible College  02.23.2010

CALGARLY, AB—Rob Pittman is the new president and executive director of Alberta Bible College. Pittman comes to the position from a career in the financial services industry. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Manchester, England. (from a release)

Redeemer appoints third president  02.23.2010

ANCASTER, ON—Redeemer University College has appointed Hubert Krygsman as its third president. Krygsman will take up the reins June 14, 2010. He replaces Justin Cooper who is retiring after serving in the position for 16 years. Krygsman currently directs the Andreas Centre for Reformed Scholarship and Service at Dordt College in Iowa. Krygsman grew up in southwestern Ontario and earned his PhD from Carleton University in Ottawa. (from a release)

Anglican aid agency forced to scale back  02.23.2010

TORONTO,ON--Severe budget cuts have forced the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund to restructure and reduce its 2010-2011 budget by 26 per cent. The relief and development arm of the Anglican Church of Canada eliminated seven positions and created three new ones. Executive director Cheryl Curtys also resigned. The PWRDF drafted a budget of $5.2 million for this year, which will be used support programs in developing countries to fight HIV/AIDS, and support gender equality, environmental sustainability and human rights. The Canadian International Development Agency used to co-fund more than 40 PWRDF partners in developing countries, but now funds only six. The PWRDF has not changed the list of countries where it has partnerships. (Anglican Journal)

New card lets EFC supporters donate Air Miles  01.26.2010

TORONTO, ON—The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) has launched its own Air Miles card, which supporters can swipe at participating retailers to accumulate points. The EFC can then use those points to provide free air travel for staff.

"A lot of people collect miles," says Bill Winger, chief financial officer, "but then these miles sit and languish in accounts for years because it can take a very long time for one person to accumulate enough miles to fly.

"We're always looking at ways to reduce our costs, and this is one way that people can help our ministry without it costing them anything."

Polygamist launches unlawful prosecution suit  01.26.2010

VANCOUVER, BC—Winston Blackmore, a leader of the Fundamentalist Mormon community of Bountiful in southeastern B.C., has filed a lawsuit claiming the provincial government acted unlawfully when it charged him last year with practising polygamy.

The charges were dropped in September after a B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled then-Attorney-General Wally Oppal had exceeded his authority in appointing a second special prosecutor who decided the charges should be laid. The first special prosecutor hired to review the case had decided against laying charges against Blackmore.

Blackmore, who is said to have at least 25 wives and 101 children, also claims that as a result of the pending charges, he "suffered business and other financial losses and he and his family were put under extreme stress and anxiety." He is seeking full compensation for the legal fees and expenses he incurred plus unspecified damages.

New leader for Siloam Mission  01.22.2010

WINNIPEG, MB—Floyd Perras is the new CEO of Siloam Mission, an organization that provides food, shelter, clothing, health care and job training to homeless people in Winnipeg.

Perras is no stranger to humanitarian work and street missions. He has served as executive director of the Salvation Army's Harbour Light Ministries in Toronto and chief operating officer of The Mustard Seed in Calgary. Perras will begin his new job on March 1.

In a press release, Perras said he has "followed Siloam since its small beginnings on Main Street." Perras has volunteered at Siloam and served on its board of directors. He replaces John Mohan who resigned from his position as CEO in November, 2009. Mohan is credited with bringing Siloam from a small soup kitchen in 2001 to the $4.5 million per year operation it is today.

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