Connections Day

Local Gatherings Throughout EOORC

November 1st, 2025

The fall meeting of the Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Council is going to look quite different this year! Instead of doing one meeting, we’re holding five of them on the same day at the same time, but in locations across the region. During the region’s strategic planning process, it was decided that we should transform our fall meetings so that they reach more people, closer to home, to build connections and relationships with the wider church. Unlike in normal Regional Council meetings, this invitation is extended to all congregational members and leaders, as well as their ministry personnel. If you are involved in your local church in any way, we’d love to see you! Your presence is important as we connect, discuss and remind ourselves that we are not alone in this ministry.

Locations:

Trinity United Church (Vankleek Hill, Ontario)

Grace United Church (Chelsea, Quebec)

Zion United Church (Pembroke, Ontario)

Kanata United Church (Ottawa, Ontario)

St. Paul’s United Church (Perth, Ontario)

FAQs

Which event should I attend? We invite you to choose the location which is closest to your community of faith (or which makes geographic sense for your community of faith.) We are hoping that these events will be a good opportunity to meet neighbouring communities of faith.

When are the gatherings? All the gatherings will take place on Saturday November 1st. At 9:00 am, we will have a time of gathering with coffee and snacks. Worship will be at 9:30 am. We will wrap up by 4 pm. A more detailed agenda will be available soon.

Is food provided? Coffee and snacks will be available on arrival at each location. We ask that you bring along your own packed lunch. Due to logistical challenges, participants will not have access to fridges or microwaves, so we ask that you pack accordingly.

Who should attend this event? Congregational lay leaders (including council members, committee chairs and more), ministry personnel, lay representatives to the regional council, and more. If you are involved with your local church in any way, you are very welcome. We hope you can join us to meet your neighbours, worship, learn, and share about your local church’s experience.

Are all the sites accessible? All sites are wheelchair accessible. Please see the more detailed accessibility information available by scrolling down on this page.

Accessibility and Parking Information

All of the churches which are hosting these events were chosen because the buildings are wheelchair accessible. We know that more detailed information is sometimes helpful in planning, so we will provide detailed accessibility information for each site below. If there is anything else that would help make this meeting more accessible for you, or if you have questions, please feel free to write to nmatkovsky@united-church.ca.

All of the events are scent-free.

All events will have a microphone and sound system.

Those who are creating the slide show for the presentation will choose larger fonts so it is easier to read.

Kanata United Church:

Kanata is fully accessible; has accessible parking near the front door; there is an accessible sidewalk which brings you to the front door. Both entrance doors are accessible with access by a wave of the hand, or even by being close it.

Inside the building we have an accessible and gender neutral washroom and all spaces are wheelchair/walker accessible.

Most of the chairs are cushioned, and we have some extra cushions. A few of the chairs have arms – if you require one of these chairs, please speak with one of the hosts or write to nmatkovsky@united-church.ca.

We have overflow parking access at the school next door, and I would ask those for whom slightly (as in 1 minute) longer walk is comfortable to park in the overflow area or the back of KUC’S parking lot.

There is also a circular drive with a dip in front of the door where folks can be dropped off.

Lastly, we are a scent-free building and this extends to the hand-soap in the bathrooms.

St. Paul’s United Church, Perth

St. Paul’s U.C., Perth is located at the corner of Gore and D’Arcy Streets. There are two parking spaces for those with mobility restrictions on D’Arcy St. The D’Arcy St. door is the accessible entrance via ramp. D’Arcy St. is the only entrance for those requiring wheelchair accessibility. The office entrance at the corner of D’Arcy and Gore will be used as well for those arriving in the morning who wish to have tea, coffee, and muffins prior to the meeting. The double wooden doors on Gore St. lead directly into the sanctuary where the meeting will be held in the morning.

Once you are in the building, there is more than one floor. You enter the building using the ramp at the D’Arcy St. entrance, and there is an elevator there to take one down to the Fellowship Hall for refreshments prior to the meeting.

There is an accessible washroom. Follow the ramp to the washroom at the end of the hall. Signs will be posted.

The morning part of the meeting will be held in the sanctuary. There are chairs with arms available for those who require them. The pews and chairs all have cushions. The afternoon portion of the meeting will be downstairs in the Fellowship Hall. Tables will be set up for lunch and left up for the balance of the meeting. Chairs with arms can be brought in for anyone who requires one.

Coffee, tea, and muffins will be served on arrival. Coffee, tea, and snacks will be available at lunch as well.

Other Site Information to Come