Our Minister

Born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Rev. Katie Vardy brings a little East Coast warmth, humour, and hospitality to her ministry in Scarborough!

Katie completed her Bachelor of Arts at Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2019 before beginning her Master of Divinity at Emmanuel College (University of Toronto) in the fall of 2020. After beginning her studies remotely, Katie finally made the move to Toronto in January 2022.

Following her graduation in 2024, Katie began her Supervised Ministry Education (SME) placement at Birchcliff Bluffs United Church. Her placement was a collaborative one, meaning that alongside the everyday joys and responsibilities of congregational ministry, she worked closely with Rainbow Community Places and the Scarborough Church Cluster. These experiences deepened her passion for community-building, collaborative ministry, and creating spaces where everyone can experience belonging.

In June 2026, Katie returned home to Newfoundland to be ordained as a Minister of Word, Sacrament, and Pastoral Care in The United Church of Canada. Following her ordination, she began serving two congregations in Scarborough: Birchcliff Bluffs United Church, as Minister of Word, Sacrament, and Pastoral Care, and St. Paul's United Church, as Intergenerational Minister.

At the heart of Katie's faith and ministry is a deceptively simple question: “What Would Jesus Do?” For Katie, this is more than a familiar phrase; it is an invitation to live a faith rooted in love, compassion, and courageous action. Grounded in the belief that every person is a beloved child of God, Katie is passionate about radical hospitality, social justice, and building communities where people are not simply welcomed but genuinely celebrated for who they are. She believes the church is called not only to proclaim God's love but to embody it through empathy, solidarity, and care for one another.

When she's not at the church, Katie can usually be found crocheting her latest project, singing to herself (often without realizing it!), or curled up on the couch with her fiancée and their cat. And, of course, she'll never turn down an opportunity to talk about her beloved Newfoundland!