Lay Chaplains are carefully chosen lay members of Unitarian congregations who are trained to perform significant rites of passage ceremonies for members of the community. Ottawa Lay Chaplains are available to perform ceremonies at the location of your choice, whether onsite at UUFO, at First Unitarian, or at a location significant to you.
- Click here for more information about renting the UUFO Sanctuary.
- Click here for more information from First Unitarian.
- Please email ceremonies@uufo.org or omr@firstunitarianottawa.ca to find a lay chaplain available to help with your ceremony
Lisa Boulay
Lisa has been a member of the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa since 2018 and has quickly become involved in many aspects of the Congregation. She is a retired Family Counsellor who for twenty years provided both individual and group counselling. In addition, she has developed and delivered several workshops and training programs on substance use, mental health, trauma and recovery. Before becoming a counsellor, Lisa worked in the corporate environment and brings a background in training/course design, and communications to her work. Currently, Lisa is a facilitator for the Ottawa Pastoral Care Training Program. Lisa is also a Reiki practitioner and certified Yoga teacher.
As a Lay Chaplain Lisa is happy to offer her talents and abilities to support you in creating a meaningful and sacred ceremony to celebrate with reverence, compassion and gratitude the rites of passage and milestones of your life.
Guy Belleperche
Guy is an engineer by education, a pragmatic idealist by temperament, a husband, father, retired public servant, resident of Ottawa since 1989, and a part of the FirstU community since 2004, where has volunteered as a sexuality educator, youth advisor, worship associate, and member of the board of directors.
As a Lay Chaplain, Guy will work with you to create a rite of passage (wedding, memorial service, celebration of life, naming and dedication service) that matches your needs and expectations.
Alex Campbell
A former priest, Alex Campbell has been a Lay Chaplain at First Unitarian since 2014 and looks forward to helping you design your special rite of passage. With his compassion, warmth and his easy-going nature he will work with you to plan your unique, personalized, spiritual and enjoyable wedding, design a meaningful Memorial Service/Celebration of Life for your deceased loved one, or create a cherished Child Naming/Dedication for your child(ren).
With his academic background in theology and philosophy, psychology and spirituality and adult education, Alex has been an adult educator for most of his life. He brings a life-long commitment and involvement in spiritual growth and development to his lay chaplaincy.
After his early retirement in 2001, he volunteered for ten years in the Day Program at the Hospice at the Maycourt. Music has always been an important part of his life, and he sings in two choirs at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa.