Church House Staff Honour Archbishop Anne Germond’s ministry as Acting Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada

On Thursday, June 12, following the weekly chapel service at Church House (the head office of the Anglican Church of Canada), staff gathered for a special luncheon to express their heartfelt thanks to Archbishop Anne Germond for her service as Acting Primate.

The gathering was filled with laughter, poetry, tears, and deep appreciation. A humorous send-off poem was shared, celebrating +Anne’s ability to wear “four and then three hats” while still bringing “sunshine and light to this place we call Church House.” But it was the personal reflections from colleagues that most powerfully revealed the impact of her time in this role.

Over and over, staff named one defining quality of +Anne’s leadership: her capacity to make people feel seen, heard, and valued—regardless of position or title. In a building that some have remarked can often feel hierarchical or administratively complex, +Anne brought a ministry of presence and compassion, one that cut across roles and departments.

“Your leadership has added something wonderful to the heart and soul of this place,” one staff member remarked. “You reminded us that what we do matters. You greeted us in hallways, remembered our stories, and saw us not just as staff, but as people called to serve.”

Others spoke of her pastoral encouragement—in emails and cards, in chapel homilies and table blessings—and how she made Church House feel more like a faith community.

+Anne responded with characteristic humility and warmth, saying she had been nervous at first, but immediately felt at home among friends who shared her love for the Church. She said it had been “one of the great honours” of her life to serve as Acting Primate, and thanked the staff for their welcome, faithfulness, and friendship.

“You didn’t get to meet my family,” she said with a smile, “but my family knows all of you. You’ve been family to me.”

As a parting gift, +Anne was presented with Dancing Loon, a limited-edition print by Anishinaabe artist Jeffrey Red George. The piece was chosen for its symbolism of strength, leadership, and spiritual calling. According to the artist, the loon’s call “awakens the unbroken” and brings “peace in the land of Mother Earth.” The white outline surrounding the bird represents the spirit of a leader whose presence offers wisdom and comfort.

Looking ahead to General Synod and the election of a new Primate, +Anne offered words of faith and encouragement: “Let’s trust that God’s got this. We are stepping into a new time—and it’s a good one—because we are all part of it.”

Though her time as Acting Primate was short, +Anne’s impact has been profound. She leaves Church House with the gratitude, admiration, and affection of all who had the privilege of working with her—leaving behind the legacy of a brief but impactful primacy that has graced the heart of the Anglican Church of Canada.