Staff

Rev. Tom Vais - Full-Time Minister

Tom was born in Cambridge Ontario and is the oldest of 4 children. Through his junior years Tom lived in Toronto, Huntsville and Winnipeg. After graduating from Westwood Collegiate in Winnipeg, Tom went to the University of Winnipeg where he earned his B.A. in Religious Studies in 1986. Soon after, he set off to Knox College where he received his Master of Divinity Degree in 1990. In 1988 - 1989 he served an internship at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Victoria, B.C. A few months after graduation, Tom received a call to Caledonia Presbyterian Church where he served as Minister for seventeen years. Rev. Tom enjoys reading, listening to his ipod, following the Toronto Maple Leafs and spending time with his family.

Rev. Heather Vais - Part-Time Minister

Heather was born in Calgary, Alberta. She and her twin sister are the youngest of six kids. Throughout her childhood Heather lived in Timmins, North Bay, and Cambridge, but London was where her family eventually settled. After high school, Heather went to the University of Western Ontario where she received a B.A. in English and Philosophy. She, too, then set off to Knox College. Between 1989 - 1990 Heather served an Internship at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Dartmouth N.S. After graduating with her M.Div, Heather received a call to Alexandra Church in Brantford where she served for eight years. After a couple of years at home with the children, Heather received a certificate in Interim Ministry Training and served at Kirkwall Church for six years in an Interim capacity. Rev. Heather enjoys cycling, photography, reading, crosswords, scrabble, cards and playing with her family.

Heather and Tom were married in 1993 and have two children Brett (12) and Elizabeth (10). Tom, Heather, Brett, & Elizabeth are excited about their new ministry at TPC and look forward to getting to know the community.

Stephanie Vandermey - Office Administrator

Stephanie has been a member of Thornhill Presbyterian Church for 10 years. Before joining the staff here, Stephanie was an at home Mom and involved with her children's school as a volunteer. She later accepted a position as a children's lunchroom supervisor. This led to full time employment at the Toronto District School Board as a Special Needs Assistant for behavioural children and also in Kindergarten classes as an Educational Assistant.
Stephanie and her husband Frank have been married for 25 years and have three children; Steven, Jenna and Eric.

She enjoys singing in the choir, crafts, Folk Art painting, photgraphy and time spent at their home away from home in Gravenhurst.

Maria Lim - Organist and Choir Director

Maria obtained her Masters of Church Music degree (organ major) from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley California. She has had the honour to represent the Philippines as a featured soloist at the Second International Bamboo Organ Festival sponsored by the Royal Belgian Embassy, the German Cultural Centre and Cultural Centre of the Philippines. In 1995 she made her debut at the Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts (New York City) as the featured pipe-organist in the American premiere of An-Lun Huang's "Psalm 22,Opus 43" written for Pipe Organ and Mixed Choruses with the Tan-Yue Chorale Society. She has been a recitalist at the Yorkminster Park Baptist Church Noon Hour Recital Series.

Maria is married to Milton and they have two daughters, Amy and Heidi. She also volunteers as a spiritual caregiver at York Central Hospital in her spare time. She may be contacted by phone at (905)508-7913 or by e-mail at maria.p.lim@gmail.com