The Jesus Our Compass tour, with General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, concluded on Monday, following several days of events in the Ontario Division.

The General and Commissioner began their visit to the division in Ottawa on April 30. Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Paul Gallant and member of Parliament Rob Oliphant (Don Valley West) hosted The Salvation Army’s international and territorial leaders on Parliament Hill.

In the House of Commons, Oliphant paid tribute to The Salvation Army and welcomed the delegation. Francis Scarpaleggia, Speaker of the House, affirmed, “The Salvation Army is always there,” as members of Parliament unanimously rose in applause. 

Later that day, hundreds gathered at the Infinity Convention Centre for a Salvationists’ rally and reception with contingents from Eastern Ontario, Ottawa and Montreal. Lt-Colonels Brian and Lynn Armstrong, divisional leaders for Ontario, welcomed participants, and worship was enhanced by Legacy Brass, Legacy Chorus and the Montreal Citadel Timbrel Brigade. The General shared a message based on Psalm 23, reminding those in attendance that the Lord is our shepherd.

As part of the service, two Army members from Shawinigan, Que., were honoured with Others Awards: Marie-Rose Rousseau (accepted by her corps officer) and Claire Deziel. The Others Award is named in recognition of General William Booth’s one-word rallying cry to Salvationists: Others!

The Buckinghams then travelled to the Greater Toronto Area, where senior executive Salvation Army leaders gathered together with National Advisory Board members on Friday to hear a word of encouragement from the General. He commended the Canada and Bermuda Territory for its service to the Lord and urged us to “keep Jesus at the centre.”

The evening was an historic occasion, as it gathered three Salvation Army Generals together in one room—General Lyndon Buckingham, General Brian Peddle (Rtd) and General Linda Bond (Rtd)—along with the grandson of General Arnold Brown, Neil Hetherington.

As part of the event, several people were honoured with Others Awards for their outstanding service to The Salvation Army and community: National Advisory Board Chair Susan Waterfield, Colonels Eleanor and Glen Shepherd, and Commissioner Christine MacMillan (accepted by Lt-Colonel Lynn Armstrong). As well, Commissioner Tracey Tidd received her 40-year long-service recognition from the General, and Commissioner Lee Graves, territorial commander, recognized Colonels Brenda and John Murray who have taken up new appointments as territorial leaders in Uganda.

The tour continued on Saturday night with a worship concert that brought hundreds to the Canada Event Centre in Whitby, Ont. Attendees were blessed by various music groups, including the territory's three staff sections—the Canadian Staff Band, Canadian Staff Songsters and NEON—and the divisional youth sections, Impact Brass, Solidarity Brass and Soul Chorus. Following this time of worship and devotion, Canada Bermuda Youth hosted a "General Admission" youth event featuring games, food and an open Q&A session with our international leaders.

A final public meeting was held on Sunday morning in Richmond Hill, Ont., where a capacity crowd of Salvationists and friends gathered to worship and receive a Word from the Lord. As the General concluded his message, many gathered at the mercy seat for prayer, and all left encouraged in faith and love.

The tour concluded on Monday as the General and Commissioner Buckingham led a chapel service with territorial headquarters staff and met with cadets at the College for Officer Training. 

At the Sunday meeting and chapel service, several officers and employees were honoured with Others Awards, including Commissioner Susan McMillan, Dr. Jake Tran and the senior leadership team at the Toronto Grace Health Centre, Janet Park, chief development officer, Manjita Biswas, of the international development team, and and Paul Goodyear, CFO and finance secretary. Also receiving long-service commendations were Lt-Colonels Michelle and Scott Rideout, Lt-Colonel Keith Pike and Colonels Brenda and John Murray. 

The Canada and Bermuda Territory thanks the General and Commissioner Bronwyn for their incredible leadership during the Jesus Our Compass Tour and their beautiful witness to the power of Christ at work in the life and ministry of The Salvation Army around the world.