The Team

God called together a local team of experienced workers in June 2021 to lead the effort to initiate and oversee Embrace Ministries. The Embrace Team serves as part of the Connecting Streams ministry in Canada, partnering with One Way Ministries. Connecting Streams is a Christian ministry serving various vulnerable communities across the country. One Way Ministries serves the Ottawa community by supporting Christian leaders and facilitating cooperation between churches.

Anne McGregor

Lead

Anne was a Senior Manager in Geriatrics and Palliative Care before transitioning into a ministry role at the Metropolitan Bible Church. Latterly much of her focus was on City Outreach, connecting the church with the marginalized in our community, as they shared Christ and offered loving support in Jesus’ name.

Lou Ranahan

Project Manager

Lou has served in various leadership capacities in churches in Canada and has a heart to see Ottawa churches serve the elderly as a response to the Gospel.

Connie Coburn

Secretary

Connie is a follower of Christ, wife and mother of two amazing young adults. She is a registered nurse that works with individuals who have sustained catastrophic injuries and during Covid assisted at Ottawa Public Health. In her spare time she enjoys being in the garden, reading and ministering in her church.

Lynda Clingen

Director

Lynda “grew up” in the retirement residence industry, and has been managing retirement communities for many years. Her love for seniors began at a young age when she had the opportunity to be a dining room server in a residence during her high school years. Today Lynda considers it a privilege to support seniors in residences and is excited to see the mission of Embrace come to fruition where Ottawa churches show the love of God to such a valuable and important group of individuals.

Carolyn Della Foresta

Director

From a young age, Carolyn knew that her life’s work would be with seniors. Over the past 30 years, Carolyn has worked as a Nurse’s Aide, a Recreation Director and for the past 14 years has served as an Administrator in the long-term care sector. As a Christian, Carolyn believes strongly that we must also meet the spiritual needs of the elderly we serve, regardless of their cognitive abilities.

Cheryl Jones

Director

Cheryl Jones PhD, is a Neurologic Music Therapist and a Registered Psychotherapist. She maintains a full time clinical practice, in person and virtual, working with individuals who have sustained a brain injury or are living with a neurodegenerative disorder. She has taught in 3 universities and her research interest is music-based cognitive rehabilitation following brain injury. Since her youth, Cheryl has been passionate about the use of music in worship and is thrilled that all 3 of her adult children are active worship leaders in their home churches. Cheryl is pleased to serve the Lord using music-based interventions to support therapeutic goals of her clients

Gabe McReynolds

Director

Gabe serves on the Love Ottawa Executive Team and leads the Friends for Dinner program for international students. He and his wife Linda have six children and are grandparents. They journeyed with three of their parents through the transition to senior’s residences and long-term care in Ottawa.

Carol Rourke

Director

Carol is a widow, mother to three grown children and grandmother to 10.

Having walked alongside several elderly family members Carol has become very aware of the needs of seniors in long term care residences.

Today, Carol reaches out to churches to make a personal connection, encouraging them to become involved in serving and meeting the needs of seniors in their own communities.

Karen Henderson

Communications Manager

Karen enjoys graphic design and administrative details, and has a passion to communicate with excellence, especially when it comes to the Gospel. She has invested over 15 years at the Metropolitan Bible Church in various roles including Communications and Database Management and now joyfully spends her days with her young family.