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 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.

At Canvas, Emma oversees communication and graphic design. She enjoys using her gifts and passions as an intentional way to reach the lost in our community and communicate with our Faith Family throughout the week.

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.

Kai grew up in a Christian home in Victoria, BC. After graduating high-school in June 2024 from RCOA, an opportunity arose to participate in a residency program at Canvas. He initially began attending Canvas in 2020, where he began to help in the student ministry and on Sunday mornings. Kai has truly surrendered his life to Christ in this time by serving humbly and seeking a relationship with God through it. He has continued to serve in the youth ministry, behind the computer on Sunday mornings and with his men's Bible study, all of which is now part of his residency at Canvas. He has felt a calling to Canvas and is ready to move in whichever direction the Lord calls him to. Kai is ready and excited to see God work through the students and Canvas and Canvas as a whole.

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.

Noah and his family moved to Langford to serve at Canvas in August of 2022. He has a heart to spread the Gospel and care for the Church. Noah serves as Worship and Young Adults Pastor and on the Canvas Shepherding team. 

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.

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.

Dave Steingard and his wife Audrey, started attending Canvas in May 2014. Dave has been involved in leading several Men’s 33 Groups at Canvas, he and his wife Audrey have hosted Alpha and Alpha Marriage Courses, he has a heart for prayer and to be led by the Holy Spirit as he joins God in what He is doing around him.

Jimmy and his family began attending Canvas in the fall of 2022, where they discovered a church centered on God's Word, led by a humble and obedient pastoral staff, and a vibrant faith family to be a part of.  As a member of the shepherding team, Jimmy looks forward to witnessing how God will work powerfully in and through the Canvas faith family for His glory.  

Levi Timmermans and his family became a part of Canvas in the fall of 2014. Levi has been involved in leading community groups, serving our Youth on Sunday mornings, and most recently supporting the formal establishment of Canvas Church as a society.  He is passionate about Canvas and what God is and will be doing through this amazing faith community. Levi is currently the chairperson of 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.

Dave Steingard and his wife Audrey, started attending Canvas in May 2014. Dave has been involved in leading several Men’s 33 Groups at Canvas, he and his wife Audrey have hosted Alpha and Alpha Marriage Courses, he has a heart for prayer and to be led by the Holy Spirit as he joins God in what He is doing around him.

Krista and her husband Jim began attending Canvas in 2022, and immediately felt like they had come home. Krista and her family have enjoyed getting to know the Canvas Church family and becoming increasingly involved in various aspects of serving and community within the church, including Little Canvas, the Worship Ministry and several different bible studies and community groups.  Krista especially appreciates the fact that Canvas is a family of believers who are truly seeking to learn what it means to follow Jesus every day, to grow in their faith and knowledge of God, and to support and encourage one another through prayer and doing life together.  Krista is excited to continue to follow God’s leading in her life, and to find new opportunities to serve her church family and be part of what God is doing in and through Canvas Church.

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.

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.