The Path Ahead: Leadership, Vision, Engagement, and Partnership at Ignatius Jesuit Centre

With the recent Town Hall meetings now concluded and the community informed of the decision to conclude retreat programming at Loyola House by the end of 2025, we are turning our focus to what comes next. While much of the future of IJC is shaping up in real time, we want to keep you informed of the changes that are taking place. This update outlines key developments in leadership, future vision, community engagement, and partnerships as we move into a new chapter at Ignatius Jesuit Centre. While we are still in the early stages of shaping this new vision, we expect details to evolve over time as we continue working with the Jesuits of Canada to clarify the direction ahead.

Leadership Changes

Alongside the broader transition at Ignatius Jesuit Centre, a new leadership structure will take effect as of July 1, 2025. This shift reflects both structural and personnel changes as IJC moves away from retreat programming and toward a renewed focus on ecology, education, and community partnership. We are adopting a more horizontal organizational model, with a leadership team composed of the following individuals:

Fr. Kevin Kelly, SJ – Interim Executive Director
Kevin will guide IJC through this period of transition, drawing on his experience in Jesuit leadership and formation. He will help ensure that all changes remain rooted in Ignatian values and aligned with the Provincial mandate, offering continuity and spiritual grounding as IJC moves into its next chapter.

Carsten Knoch – Senior Director of Transition
Carsten will support strategic direction and provide oversight as IJC transitions away from retreat programming and towards the future. His role will ensure that partnerships, education, and land-based initiatives remain central to IJC’s evolving mission rooted in integral ecology.

Wendy Fraser – Director of Administration
Wendy will oversee finance, human resources, facilities, and internal systems. Her role is essential in managing IJC’s operational realignment and supporting staff through this time of transition.

Andrea Scapinello – Director of Partnerships
Andrea will lead the development of strategic partnerships. Her work will focus on co-programming, collaborative planning with aligned institutions, and long-term initiatives that support IJC’s vision and sustainability. Her work will be essential to ensuring that the evolving mission is supported by strong infrastructure, shared leadership, and durable external relationships. 

Craig Chamberlain – Buildings Manager
Craig will continue to manage the maintenance and care of IJC’s facilities. His deep knowledge of the site and long-standing dedication provide important stability as we assess and adapt our physical infrastructure.

Heather Lekx – Farm Manager
Heather will continue to lead Ignatius Farm operations and supervise the Farm and Conservation team. Her focus on farming and farmer training, ecological land stewardship, and conservation partnerships will remain vital to IJC’s mission.

Kel Smith – Communication and Community Manager
Kel leads IJC’s communications, public engagement, and development work. In addition to donor relations and outreach, Kel is also responsible for cultivating community-level partnerships, supporting local organizations, small program partners, and collaborative initiatives that bring people into closer relationship with the land and IJC’s mission.

We are also grateful that Greg Kennedy will continue to accompany retreatants through Loyola House’s final season. Greg has shared that he has decided he will be concluding his time at IJC at the end of 2025. His years of thoughtful leadership, spiritual guidance, and commitment to ecological justice have left a profound mark on this community. He will be deeply missed.

Alongside the staff leadership changes, the Jesuit community at IJC is also in a period of transition. Across the Province, many Jesuits are being re-missioned, and while some will continue to live and serve within the local parish, others will be called to new roles elsewhere.

At this time, the full picture of future Jesuit presence at IJC is still emerging. Notably, the Jesuits of Canada are actively seeking to appoint a Jesuit with expertise in integral ecology and social and ecological justice. Once appointed, this individual would help guide the spiritual and curricular transition away from retreat-based programming and toward future development.

Direction and Vision: Moving into 2026

The closure of Loyola House does not mark the end of Jesuit presence at IJC. Rather, it opens the door for a renewed mission rooted in ecology, spirituality, and community. Drawing on the guidance of the Jesuits’ Universal Apostolic Preferences—particularly the call to Care for Our Common Home—we are taking steps toward a renewed purpose for this land.

A central idea under development is the creation of a Laudato Si’ Field School: an initiative that will bring together spiritual reflection and hands-on ecological learning. Building on IJC’s long-standing work in farming and farmer training, conservation, and Ignatian spirituality, this initiative aims to serve as a space of encounter, formation, and collaboration for people of all ages and backgrounds.

As part of this work, we have organized our efforts into five strategic pillars that reflect both our legacy and our aspirations:

Farm & Farmer Training: Continuing the legacy of Ignatius Farm, we are deepening our support for regenerative agriculture, offering mentorship and training for new farmers, and exploring ways the farm can remain a source of education, food, and community.

Conservation: Our commitment to ecological restoration and biodiversity remains strong. We are expanding volunteer opportunities, strengthening partnerships with conservation groups, and developing programming that invites the public into active stewardship of this land.

Centre for Integral Ecology: The vision for a Laudato Si’ Field School falls within this pillar, which will house educational and spiritual programming focused on the interconnectedness of ecological, social, and spiritual well-being. Early-stage planning is underway to define curriculum, partnerships, and pilot programming.

Friends of Ignatius: This new initiative will serve as a network of supporters, volunteers, and community members who want to stay involved and help shape IJC’s next chapter. We are working on a structure that includes membership, gatherings, and meaningful ways to contribute time, talent, and resources towards caring for the land and building the organization.

Real Estate & Tenancies: We are actively reviewing the use of IJC’s buildings and facilities to ensure they are aligned with our mission and financially sustainable. This includes assessing current facilities, identifying underutilized assets, and exploring responsible redevelopment options where appropriate.

Each of these areas is grounded in our commitment to spiritual depth, ecological responsibility, and meaningful community engagement. As we move forward, we will continue to provide updates and invite participation as the vision takes shape.

Community Engagement: Building Connection and Shared Purpose

As IJC transitions toward a new mission rooted in ecological and spiritual engagement, we are launching a range of community activities designed to deepen relationships, invite participation, and foster shared stewardship. Our engagement strategy focuses on both structured and informal pathways for involvement, ensuring people can connect in ways that feel meaningful and manageable. We are planning the following engagement strategies moving forward:

Advisory Groups (Starting Summer 2025)
Advisory groups will be formed to support the key areas of IJC’s work outlined above, providing thoughtful input as we move through this period of transition. Each group will focus on a distinct area of our mission and meet regularly to help identify priorities and shape questions for broader community engagement. If you’re interested in getting involved, we welcome you to reach out—expressions of interest will be considered with care, keeping in mind the experience and perspectives needed to support IJC’s evolving direction.

Design Circles (Starting Fall 2025)
Design Circles are facilitated gatherings that use design thinking tools to explore specific questions or challenges. These structured, time-bound, and solution-focused sessions will be held when advisory groups or staff identify a need for community input on a particular topic.

Friends of IJC Community Program (Starting Fall 2025)
A new initiative that invites individuals and organizations into deeper relationships through volunteerism or financial contributions, helping to share the responsibility of caring for the land and keeping it accessible to the public. 

Seasonal IJC Gatherings (Starting Winter 2025)
Informal seasonal events for updates, connection, and community building—such as potlucks, tours, or solstice celebrations. These will replace formal town halls as a more regular rhythm of communication.

Volunteer Opportunities (Active)
Earlier this year, IJC launched a comprehensive volunteer program to invite community members into meaningful roles supporting conservation, farm work, hospitality, and administrative tasks. Building on a long-standing tradition of volunteer involvement at IJC, this program will continue to offer opportunities for individuals to contribute their time and energy in support of IJC’s mission.

Full Calendar of Public Programming (Active)
Seasonal events, workshops, and volunteer opportunities will provide consistent ways for people to engage across all levels—from casual trail users to long-term partners.

Each of these initiatives is designed to focus on care, participation, and reciprocity, while supporting community input that aligns with our evolving mission and operational realities. These efforts are intentionally emergent and will continue to adapt as we learn, listen, and grow through this period of transition.

We know that people connect with IJC in different ways. Some may enjoy walking the trails or reading our newsletter, while others feel called to take on more active roles through volunteering or programming. Our approach is being designed to honour all of these levels of engagement and to make it easy for people to find a way to connect, no matter their starting point. We’ll be sharing updates and invitations through our newsletter, website, social media, and seasonal gatherings, focusing on creating open lines of communication that help us stay connected and grow together.

Strategic Partnerships: Strengthening Capacity Through Collaboration

As IJC moves into its next chapter, we are shifting our approach to partnerships in a way that emphasizes collaboration, clarity, and shared mission. While some opportunities for connection will be offered through the new Friends of IJC community program, our broader focus is on cultivating meaningful, mission-aligned relationships that allow us to expand capacity and share the work of stewarding this land and vision.

One of our key priorities during this transition is identifying and working alongside organizations that can both contribute to and benefit from the unique resources IJC offers: our ecological assets, our Ignatian foundation, and our long-standing role as a place of reflection, restoration, and learning.

We are fortunate to have a strong network of partners who have been connected to IJC for many years through shared work in programming, conservation, and community engagement. These long-standing relationships provide a valuable foundation as we expand collaborative efforts in support of our evolving mission. 

Conclusion: Rooted in Mission, Moving Together

This time of transition at Ignatius Jesuit Centre invites both reflection and action. While the closure of Loyola House’s retreat programming marks the end of a meaningful chapter, it also opens space for new growth rooted in our mission of spiritual depth, ecological engagement, and community connection.

We are moving forward with clarity and care, guided by Ignatian values, shaped by community insight, and supported by strong partnerships. Through changes in leadership, bold new visioning, deeper engagement strategies, and collaborative models of working together, we are laying the foundation for IJC’s next chapter.

There is still much to unfold, and we remain committed to sharing the journey as it happens. Whether you’ve been walking the land for decades or just recently found your way here, your presence matters. We hope you’ll continue to be part of this evolving story.