Minister and Board of Directors
Minister: REV. Claudia orr
Rev Claudia Orr had been the minister at the Gateway since 2008. She has been a Spiritualist for many years and was first ordained in the United States in 2007 and received her Canadian ordination from the Spiritualist Church of Canada (SCC) in 2011. Claudia previously sat for three years as Western Liaison for the SCC.
Claudia is a Spiritual Healer and taught the church healing classes at the Gateway for many years. She is also a Reiki Master Healer/Teacher, a Certified Reflexologist and a Crystal Bowl Sound Healer.
Rev Claudia is available for weddings, memorials, child naming services, as well as other ceremonies.
president: sharon armstrong
In 2000, Sharon was drawn to Spiritualism and started going to the spiritualist church for Meditation. Once that door was open, she expanded her knowledge and began to focus on spiritual healing and other healing modalities. She has taken various courses over the years and has participated in many circles but has also held her own circles. She has trained with a number of UK mediums and tutors. In 2018, Sharon had the opportunity to attend and participate in the Spiritualist World Congress held at the Arthur Findley College, where there were 50 countries represented. Sharon enjoys serving spirit and her spiritual community by being a medium and healer. With her vast knowledge in business and spiritual knowledge, she has stepped into the role of President of the Gateway Centre.
vice president: Joanne rogers
Joanne has been a member of the Gateway for the past four years. For the past two years, she has been a board member where she serves Gateway in so many different ways. If you attend an event or service, you will see Joanne helping out wherever she can.
As life history, Joanne was a Farmer's wife, a Provincial Government Driving Examiner, a Department of Transportation Public Education Representative and an Industrial Health and Safety Engineer.
Joanne also served on several boards including the Fire and Ambulance for the City of Edmonton and as an executive with the Provincial Association of the Industrial Health and Safety Engineers.
Joanne now enjoys being retired but continues to serve and volunteer at the Gateway and at the food bank. In her free time, she likes to slip away from the city and enjoy nature where she and her partner Alex go camping as often as time permits.
secretary: sandra waytowich
Sandra Waytowich began her journey in Spiritualism as a healer in 1998. She has studied and developed her psychic and mediumship abilities through home circles and courses. She continues to take courses when guided to do so and is grateful for the many teachings that Spirit has provided. Sandra is on a lifelong journey of learning and discovery. With her inquisitive mind, she knows that it will guide her to uncover and reveal her spiritual truths as she continually evolves and unfolds her spirit within. She has over 30 years experience in the legal field and this knowledge is beneficial to have for the Board. She is dedicated to inspiring and teaching others and looks forward to working with the Board.
TreAsurer: ALEX COLWELL
Alex has been a widower since 2017 after 36 years of marriage. He became an active member of the Gateway Spiritualist Church in 2019 when Joanne, the love of his life, asked him to come listen to her while she spoke on platform at the Gateway. He was immediately “hooked” by the lack of “Dogma” so prevalent in mainstream religions. He also noted how open and genuine the church members he met that night accepted him as one of their own! He immediately realized he had found a movement that both touched his heart and made perfect sense!
Alex has 3 adult “children” who, along with Joanne, mean the world to him! He recently retired from being a Building Operator with previous careers in Electronics and Plumbing. His “off-the-wall” sense of humor has served him well by making difficult situations and people easier to deal with. He loves people (especially watching them!), camping, playing softball with his “kids”, fixing / tinkering with things (even if I didn’t break them in the first place!) and life in general. Sometimes he bites off more than he can chew, but knows the only way to eat an elephant is “one bite at a time”.
director - event planner: marie lamoureux
In 2001 Marie started her spiritual journey when she experienced a connection with her Spirit Guide. Through her Guide, she was able to evolve and uncover reasons behind her life events. In 2004, Marie left her birthplace of Winnipeg and moved to Calgary, where she continued to learn the knowledge and wisdom relating to the mysteries of life and the Universe. From this journey, Marie’s business “Triple Vision” began. She has developed over the years with such practices as: Trance Channeling, Reiki, Native Healing Arts, Psychometric, Dream Analysis, Crystal Ball Visions, Pendulum Alignment, Past Life and DNA Readings. These practices over the years have culminated into strong ability of truthfulness utilizing Divine Visions and Spiritual Channeling.
Marie – White Feather Eagle – continues to explore her Metis heritage, ancestry and native roots. She is passionate about guiding and mentoring others to connect with their own perhaps forgotten native roots.
Marie is actively involved in community work, organizing fundraisers, inviting other psychics and holistic teachers to share their services with the public, and offering services when she feels directed by spirit. She is a member and board member of Gateway Center and Spiritualist Church where she continues to practice healing through sharing, mediation, mediumship and channeling.
administrator: Donna Granat
Donna has been a working medium for over 20 years. She has received training from national and international teachers including Angel Anne and Andy Byng. Donna is a certified medium from the state of California and continues to build on her years of training by participating in development circles and courses. Donna devotes her time to the Gateway by being a board member, assisting with services and events and shares her knowledge by teaching the Beginners Circle on Wednesdays.
If you have any questions for the Board of Directors, are interested in joining the Board, or wish to send us a message, please visit our contact page.