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. They are now expecting their second child. Emma's believes her first ministry is the call to serve her family and loves being a wife and mother. 

Jamie Ward is originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, where she lived until she graduated high school. She was incredibly blessed with parents who know and love Jesus Christ, and through their faithfulness and God's grace, was saved in February of 2003.

In 2016, she moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi to attend college at William Carey University. After graduating college in May 2020, Jamie had plans to attend a graduate program at University of Tennessee. While that would have been the most practical route to take by most standards, she found herself questioning if it was the right time for it. Over the last few years, Jamie has spent time working and serving in various positions at Petal-Harvey Baptist Church, which has only made her passion for ministry grow.

“I am so excited to take all that I have learned through Calvary Shreveport and Petal-Harvey, and use it to serve the Lord in Victoria!”

To know Him, and make Him known.

Mike served as pastor to college students and young adults at First Baptist Church, Jonesboro, GA from 2010 until 2017. Early in 2017, Mike and Sarah began to feel God preparing their hearts for a new adventure. Victoria had been on Sarah’s heart several years earlier. They began praying for clarity on what God’s next assignment might be, and received a call from Ashley Austin soon after. Ashley shared with them his vision to see Canvas Church begin a new campus in Oak Bay. A group of people had been meeting once a month already, and he asked if Mike and Sarah would pray about moving to Victoria to take leadership over that second campus of Canvas Church.

In July 2017, Mike and Sarah and their boys took a trip to Victoria to see what God was doing and pray. During their time on the island, God made it clear in a variety of ways that the next chapter of their lives was to be in Oak Bay. In January 2018, Mike and Sarah packed up their lives and moved 2,800 miles to join God in His activity in Oak Bay! Every life tells a story, and the Blackabys are excited about their next chapters on Vancouver Island. They would love for you to contact them to hear more of their story or to come see what God is doing in Oak Bay.

We are all part of a bigger story. Pray and consider whether or not your story might intersect with those at Canvas Church.

Evan McKay and his family became a part of Canvas in October 2017 and since then has been involved in serving in Canvas Kids and currently helps lead the Young Adult ministry. His family is so excited and blessed about what God is doing through Canvas in Victoria. He has a passion in defending the Christian worldview through apologetics and exploring and answering tough questions we face in these days about our faith to help equip our youth, young adults and our church. Evan currently serves as the vice-chairperson on the Canvas Ministry Leadership Board.

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.

Lisa Blais and her husband, Paul, have been part of the Canvas family since 2016. She has been involved in ladies bible studies, youth and young adult events, mission trip to Cuba and prayer ministry. Lisa is so grateful to be part of the family of Christ! Lisa currently serves as the Secretary on the Canvas Ministry Leadership Board.

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.

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.

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.