Newsletters & Toast Talks

Toast Talks are a series of information sessions during which members of the FIRST UNITED team offer updates, insights, and information about our work to our communities of faith, volunteers, donors, stakeholders, and friends. To make sure you never miss out on invitations to Toast Talks, subscribe to our emails.

In our October 2022 edition of Toast Talks, Interim Executive Director Amanda Burrows shares some updates, including some brief updates on the status of the redevelopment of our building. Staff Lawyer Sarah Marsden also joined us to share about all about our new eviction mapping project. 

Watch the recording below!

We’ve also included the digital version of the fall edition of our First Things First newsletter below:

First United Fall 2022 Newsletter

Toast Talks are a series of information sessions during which members of the FIRST UNITED team offer updates, insights, and information about our work to our communities of faith, volunteers, donors, stakeholders, and friends. To make sure you never miss out on invitations to Toast Talks, subscribe to our emails.

In our June 2022 edition of Toast Talks, Acting Executive Director Amanda Burrows shared the latest updates on the building redevelopment, including how we said goodbye to the 320 East Hastings building. She also shared an exciting update on our Executive Director, the Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne’s nomination for Moderator of the United Church of Canada. We also heard from Didi Dufresne, First United Advocacy Manager, on some updates from our Advocacy program.

Watch the recording below!

We’ve also included the digital version of the summer edition of our First Things First newsletter below:

First United Summer 2022 Newsletter

Toast Talks are a series of information sessions during which members of the FIRST UNITED team offer updates, insights, and information about our work to our communities of faith, volunteers, donors, stakeholders, and friends. To make sure you never miss out on invitations to Toast Talks, subscribe to our emails.

On March 17th, almost one year to day since our first Toast Talks, we virtually gathered to look back on our 2020-2021 fiscal year! Executive Director Camren Lansdowne walked attendees through highlights and accomplishments of the latest Annual Report, and we heard from long-time First United Case Planner Stephanie Kallstrom about what working the frontlines in the Downtown Eastside is like.

Plus, we were able to share a few big pieces of news including our Imagine Canada accreditation and information about staff changes. Watch the recording below!