St. Timothy's

The Reverend Clare Louise Stewart

Direct Line: 587.687.1490    clare@sttimothy-edm.ca 

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Clare+ was raised in a Valley Town at the base of the Niagara Escarpment outside Hamilton, Ontario.  From her bedroom window, she could see the rocks of The Escarpment and at night listen to the trains.  In summers, Clare+ would spend time up in the Muskoka area of Ontario at Girl Guide Camp and at a cottage with her family, where she would explore the different rocks of the Canadian Shield to be found there.

This early passion for collecting rocks led Clare+ to earn an undergraduate degree in Geological Engineering from the University of Waterloo, followed by a graduate degree (M.Sc.) in Earth Science all from the University of Waterloo.  For 20 years, Clare+ built a career as a Hydrogeologist, specialising in the study of groundwater and contaminant flow at landfill sites, analysing the data from all parts of the natural environment to unravel the story it had to tell, finding solutions for landfill management, and sustainable solutions for future waste management.  Clare+ remains a licenced professional engineer (non-practicing) in Ontario and Alberta.

In 2014, Clare+ left her career and enrolled in seminary at Huron University College at Western in London, Ontario.  She did this without a clear picture of where it would lead, but knowing she was called to the study of theology and church history, learning more about herself and her relationship with Christ, and to explore where God might be leading her.  While completing her Master of Divinity (M.Div.) Clare+ realised she was called to ordained ministry of the priesthood.

Clare+ began her ordained ministry on the Great Northern Peninsula in the Diocese of Western Newfoundland.  There she served a four point parish encompassing five communities and eight cemeteries. 

Clare+ arrived in the Edmonton Area about 3 weeks before the Public Health Orders around COVID-19 were issued in March 2020.  Thus, she found herself in a new place, during a challenging time for our world, society, and the church.  Clare+ was asked by Bishop Jane to undertake a 3-month part-time position as Interim Vicar at All Saint’s Cathedral whilst they searched for a new Vicar.  This was followed by a year of part-time ministry at St. Mary’s in Highlands.  During these part-time ministry positions, Clare+ also undertook contract engineering work.  Clare+ came to St. Timothy’s in October 2021 as our Interim Priest-in-Charge and was inducted as our Rector on June 1, 2022.

As the Rector of St. Timothy's, Clare+ is an Honourary Director of Canterbury Foundation where she also sits on the Governance Committee and the CEO's Advisory Committee related to management of the Foundation's physical assets.  One a month, Clare+ leads worship for the community of the Canterbury Foundation.  She also leads worship once a month at Capital Care Laurier House, Lynnwood.

In addition to her work at St. Timothy’s, Clare+ is a member of the Diocesan Executive Council. She also sits on two working groups of the Diocesan Social Justice Committee ~ one related to environmental concerns (5th Mark in Action) and the other around advocacy and inclusion for LGBTQIA2S+ persons (Queerly Beloved).  

At the national level, Clare+ is a member of the Public Witness for Social and Ecological Justtice Working Group “Creation Matters” of the Anglican Church of Canada.  In 2024, Clare was appointed by the Primate as the representative of the Anglican Church of Canada to the Task Force on Carbon Neutrality of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

Clare’s ministry passions include Christian Education and running a meeting that is well planned, organized, and no longer than necessary.