Ashley grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Yes, he is a huge New Orleans Saints fan.) Ashley did his under graduate work at the University of Southern Mississippi in Sport Business and Business Finance, his masters and doctoral studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Ashley loves to hike, kayak, paddle board, workout, drink great coffee, and explore local restaurants in the community. His greatest joy is Jesus, his family, and all the amazing people God has put in his life.

Ashley and his wife April began to sense a call from God in August 2011 to transition from the church they were serving in Biloxi, Mississippi. to join God in introducing people to Jesus on Vancouver Island and planting life-giving, Jesus-focused, relationship-building, family-oriented, community-serving, faith-filled, prayer-consumed, and Spirit-led churches across the island. In March 2013, Ashley, April, and their three boys made the faith-filled move from Biloxi, Mississippi to Victoria, BC. They spent their first year learning a new ministry context, building relationships, praying for the community, serving the city, and putting a team together. Canvas started in the Austin living room in September 2013 with nine adults and six kids. The church began meeting publicly at the Westin Bear Mountain in January 2014. In 2017, Ashley and his wife April felt led to start a second campus, Canvas Oak Bay in the eastern part of the city. Canvas and Canvas Oak Bay are both now incredible life-giving churches serving the people of greater Victoria.

In 2019, Ashley, April and their boys were blessed with Canadian citizenship! They are grateful to call Victoria home and to be a part of what God is doing on Vancouver Island and all across Canada.

Not only has April been a part of the calling and dream to join God in helping Ashley start Canvas Church and Canvas Camps but she also serves as the Children’s Minister. April loves Jesus, loves families, and loves children! She does an amazing job providing leadership in Little Canvas and Canvas Kids. April is also involved in leading Canvas Community Groups with Ashley.

Scott and Stephanie grew up in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.  Scott went to university at Mississippi College where he studied Christian Ministry and Biblical Languages.  Stephanie studied Elementary Education at Mississippi State University and then worked as a grade 4 and grade 5 math and science teacher.  Scott and Stephanie got married June 2018 and then moved to Birmingham, Alabama where Scott received his Master of Divinity from Beeson Divinity School.  Scott and Stephanie enjoy rock climbing and exploring new hiking trails with their dog Mozzie.  

Scott and Stephanie sought God's will for their life as graduation from seminary approached.  When reaching out to various churches, they felt convicted by God to contact Ashley Austin about any ministry opportunities.  Since the spring of 2021, Scott and Stephanie have sensed God leading them to serve the families and students of Canvas Church.  Their passion is discipling young people to live into God's plan for their life.

Noah grew up in Gulfport, Mississippi. He was a part of Crosspoint Church, and later led worship for Opportunity Church, a church plant on the Gulf Coast. He went to college at William Carey University where he studied Christian Ministries. He married Emma in 2020, and they lived in Folsom, Louisiana where Noah served as the Youth and Worship Pastor at First Baptist Church. Emma gave birth to their first son, Jones, in May of 2022. Noah is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and he will continue his studies online from Victoria.

Noah was first introduced to Canvas while helping with Camp Create in 2015. He made several trips up to help with Canvas Camps and visit his sister, Emily, while she was an intern at Canvas. Noah and Emma are excited to join God in the work he is doing here, specifically through leading in the Worship Ministries at Canvas, training up Worshipers and Worship Leaders.

Emma grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. There, she was raised in a Christian home as a daughter of a Worship Pastor. God had been working in her life for many years, but when she turned 17 she fully surrendered her life to Him. She felt a strong call to ministry but was unsure of exactly what that would look like. At Southeastern Louisiana University she found herself prayerfully choosing to major in Marketing- A field she initially knew little about. Over the years God has shown Emma ways to serve the church with these types of skills.

Emma moved to Victoria in August 2022 with her husband, Noah, and their son, Jones. In August of 2023 God has blessed them a daughter, Ella Lovejoy. Emma's believes her first ministry is the call to serve her family and loves being a wife and mother. She is passionate about loving and encouraging moms who are also in the throws of parenting young children.

Michelle was born and raised in Edmonton, AB, where she attended a private christian school. Michelle has always been taught the importance of serving in church. In Edmonton, she was involved serving in youth ministry, this gave her the opportunity as a young adult to build long-term relationships with the youth, many of which she calls family today. She also led and served on the worship team, which taught her the importance of being sensitive to the Spirit of God while serving with humility.

Michelle is humbled to serve as Canvas' Camps Coordinator. Her passion and commitment is to create memorable camp experiences that nurture personal growth, community-building, and the development of lifelong skills in every child. Her goals are to provide the campers with experiences that inspire, educate, and challenge them while building and strengthening their faith.

Michelle's story with Canvas began a few year ago when God called her to beautiful Victoria and to Canvas Church. She is beyond grateful for His call. She has been blessed by and served in different ministry areas at Canvas, so when God put it on her heart to join the staff at Canvas, she was honoured to work along side such an amazing team. Michelle is looking forward to seeing all that God has in-store in the years to come.

Shiloh was born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, and graduated from Belmont Secondary School in 2022. In January 2023 God called her to Louisville Kentucky to participate in a DTS (Discipleship Training School) with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) and led her to Brazil for her outreach. There God radically changed her life and gave her a passion for missions and discipling others. Shiloh loves hiking, rock climbing, exploring new places on Vancouver Island, sharing about Jesus, and making new friendships.

Shiloh started attending Canvas in 2018 with her family and has served in many Canvas camps since then. Shiloh felt God calling her to join staff as an intern in 2024. She is super excited to be a part of what God is doing through Canvas in Victoria.

Jordan Milne and his family became part of Canvas in the spring of 2015. Jordan has been involved in serving our Youth on Sunday mornings, through our Canvas Camps and more recently at Youth Group on Wednesday evenings. Jordan is excited by and passionate about what God is doing in and through the Canvas faith family.

Sandy Munro and her husband Jim started attending Canvas in the Austin living room in the fall of 2013. Sandy has been involved in serving in Canvas Kids, Canvas Camps, and has led many ladies Bible studies at Canvas during the last eight years. Sandy currently serves as the Treasurer on the Canvas Ministry Leadership Board.

Kelly Blundell and his family have been a part of Canvas Church since 2022. Kelly and his
family enjoy caring for the youngest of the Canvas Church family in the Little Canvas Sunday
School class. Kelly is very grateful to be a part of the Canvas Church family. Canvas Church is
a faith family that cares about each other and Jesus. It is very clear that Jesus is at the center of
Canvas Church. Kelly’s desire is to follow Jesus daily and be a part of what God is doing in the
lives of His people. He is very pleased to serve at Canvas Church and he is excited to
encourage others in their journey with Jesus.

Tim Chiu and his family were led to Canvas in the summer of 2017, where they instantly felt at home. Over the years, they have been called to share the love of Christ through various ministries, including Canvas Camps, Children Ministries, and Community Groups. They are delighted to share God’s blessings in their lives with those around them and are looking forward to experiencing God’s plan with this amazing Canvas faith family. Tim currently serves as the Treasurer on the Canvas Ministry Leadership Board.

Karla Townsend is from Nicaragua and has lived in Canada for 20 years. She has been a part of the Canvas family since 2014 and is passionate about leading a group of biblical studies in the Spanish-speaking community at Canvas and an integral part of our prayer team. Karla firmly believes that as a member of the body of Christ, we must help, bless, and edify one another in the Church and in our communities.

Ashley Austin and his wife April felt called by God to start Canvas in the fall of 2013. Their heart beat was to start a church that was a life-giving, Jesus-focused, relationship-building, family-oriented, community-serving, faith-filled, and Spirit-led faith family. Ashley serves as lead pastor at Canvas, as an elder, and on the Canvas Ministry Leadership Board.