The Rev. Alexandra McIntosh
Priest-in-Charge
The Rev. Alexandra (Ali) McIntosh was born and raised in Toronto, and with deep roots in this city, she is thrilled to be ministering to her beloved hometown. She has been engaged in pastoral work for 10 years, beginning with a passion for youth ministry, participating in and leading volunteer trips in Quebec, Yukon, New Orleans, and France.
Alexandra has been an ordained priest since February 2023, after earning her Master of Divinity from Trinity College in 2022. She completed her curacy at Christ Church Deer Park in midtown Toronto, and served as their associate priest for some time after that. In the past, she has worked as a Pastoral Associate, a Youth Ministry Coordinator for the Diocese of Toronto, and a Pharmacy Assistant in a small community pharmacy in the Junction.
Alexandra was as surprised as anyone when she began her journey to the priesthood and is deeply thankful for the gentle leading of the Spirit and God’s faithfulness in her life.
After graduating with a B.A. in English Literature, and Diaspora and Transnational Studies from the University of Toronto she began to explore faith in earnest and fell in love with the grace-filled, generous, radical call of Jesus and the cross. Recognizing in her peers a deep longing for something different than the disingenuousness of social media, and the desire to be connected to something other than wifi, Alexandra sees good news in the changing landscape of the church and spirituality for this generation.
She believes there is room for everyone at God’s table, and that God can make all things new… from our biggest mistakes, to our most petty moments. When not at church you
can find her with her nose in a book, on a yoga mat, or trying to get her 10,000 steps in. She is married to Christian who is a Brewmaster in West Toronto.
The Reverend Canon
Sr. Constance Joanna Gefvert
Honorary Associate
Sister Connie, as she likes to be known, is a member of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine, a priest and an adjunct instructor at Wycliffe College, where she teaches courses on prayer and Benedictine spirituality.
She recently co-edited a book on the history of the Sisterhood entitled A Journey Just Begun, and she loves poking around in church and city archives. In her spare time she enjoys film, music, art and reading good mysteries.
Her favourite scripture passage is from St. John’s gospel:
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
Michael Leach,
Director of Music
michael@nullstgeorgeonyonge.ca
Montreal-born and Toronto and London (England) trained, Michael Leach is in his 40th year as an organist and choir director. As a pianist, organist and choral conductor, Michael has performed widely in Canada, the USA, England, France and Italy. He is also a longtime member of the Faculty of Fine Arts at York University, Toronto, and is very active in the fields of theatre and dance. Michael has been with St. George’s since 2008.
His favourite scriptural verse is:
“O God, thou art my God: early will I seek thee.”
(Psalm 63:1)
Kathy Baillie
Office Administrator
office@nullstgeorgeonyonge.ca
Kathy was raised in Willowdale and was baptised and confirmed at St. George’s Church. She continues to live in the area with her mom in the house she was raised in. She has been a volunteer in many capacities including a long time Church school teacher, member of the parish life committee, editor of the newsletter and has been happy to be a part of the staff team as the Office Administrator since 2020.
Her previous careers have included being a library technician, working for an international vacation company which allowed her to work in 6 other countries for almost 8 years, and most recently the office administrator for a non-profit charity for 22 years.
She loves to garden, travel, and be under the water scuba diving, or up in the air on the flying trapeze.
Kathy’s favourite scriptural verse is: “but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’” (Matthew 19:14)