Salvation Army Leamington Community Church & Community & Family Services

10/29/2026

📖 The Salvation Army Leamington Community Church & Community & Family Services is now on the YouVersion Bible App! We’d love to connect with you! This makes it easier to grow in faith, engage with Scripture, and walk together as we follow Jesus.

Whether you’re just beginning your faith journey or have been walking with Christ for years, there’s a place for you in this community.

🙏 Connect with us. Grow in God’s Word. Share the hope of Jesus.

📲 Open the YouVersion Bible App and search for The Salvation Army Leamington Community Church or scan the QR code below to find and follow us!

Let’s grow together in faith and live out our mission to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs, and be a transforming influence in our communities.



https://www.bible.com/organizations/a3ab431f-e0f0-45e6-98be-b2acd4d02370

10/22/2026

A heartfelt thank you to the Erie Shores South Catholic Family of Parishes / St. Michaels's Knights of Columbus for their generous donation of canned goods collected during the recent Queen Tribute Band Concert held at the Leamington Portuguese Community Club. Your support and commitment to helping those in need make a meaningful difference in our community. We are grateful for your kindness, generosity, and dedication to serving others. Together, we continue to make our community stronger! ❤️🥫👏

Salvationist Magazine The Salvation Army in Canada The Salvation Army Ontario Division The Salvation Army International

10/14/2026

10/09/2026

Nourish Leamington: Family Meals. Stronger Communities.

From October 22 to December 10, pantry staples and fresh food will be available:
📆 Thursdays 4:30 - 5:30 pm
🚩 Margaret D. Bennie & St. Louis Elementary Schools

Preregistration is available and encouraged!

For more information visit wechu.org/nourish-leamington

Greater Essex County District School Board
Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board

10/09/2026

Thousands Raised for The S'Aints 5th Annual Rock Seacliff to Fight Hunger Concert!

Leamington, ON – October 6, 2026 – On September 5th, concert goers The S’Aints concert attendees, although volunteers were still counting, had helped to raise a minimum of $15,154.00 plus a trunk load of canned, paper, baby, hygiene and sanitary goods.

Organizers have announced that the final tally now brings the 2026 total to $16,589.28. The final grand total breaks all yearly records. Organizers had hoped to bring the five-year total to $25,000 and instead the five-year total now stands at $36,992.63.

Yearly totals to date 2022: $2,500 - 2023: $4,400 - 2024: $4,750 - 2025: $8,753.35 - 2026: $16,589.28

The 2026 funds will be aid and be split to fund these Leamington initiatives:

* Leamington United Church – Monday Community Meal Ministry
* St. Paul's Lutheran Church- Leamington – Outside Pantry Ministry
* Society of St. Vincent de Paul Leamington Food Bank – Food Bank Ministry
* The Salvation Army Leamington Community Church & Community & Family Services – Food Bank Ministry
* St. John the Evangelist, Leamington – Community Meal & Outreach Ministry

Deacon Deborah Wilson-Safa said “St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church was profoundly grateful to receive the 2025 funds that supported our community meal and outreach ministry. These resources strengthened our ability to serve neighbours with dignity, hospitality, and compassion.

As we look ahead to 2026, we recognize that our ministry is rooted in partnership. The right and faithful path is to share these blessings with the community partners with whom we collaborate and with whom we share our resources. Together, we continue the work of caring for our community in ways no one organization could accomplish alone.”

Founding member and drummer of The S’Aints Jeff Burrows said “I never thought we’d be able to bring yet and another fundraiser to the community outside of the annual S’Aints Christmas concert, but here we are, 5 years in, and really starting to ramp things up! None of this is possible without the Municipality of Leamington, the volunteers, The Bank Theatre, and of course our presenting sponsor LIUNA!625 - see you next year!”

Presented by LIUNA!625 at Leamington’s SUNSET® Produce Amphitheatre at Seacliff Park, the concert took place on Saturday, September 5, 2026 and is in partnership with the Municipality of Leamington and produced by The Bank Theatre.

The concert is and all ages, free to attend fundraiser, a great family day and an annual Labour Day weekend event in celebration of hard-working labourers across all industries. The S’Aints philanthropic concerts are legendary and continue to be driven by founding members Jody Raffoul and The Tea Party drummer Jeff Burrows, in partnership with local favourites and world-renowned talents: Wes Buckley, Kelly “Mr. Chill” Hoppe, David Cyrenne, Kay Howl, Marty Bak, Jim O’Neil and The Twisted Sisters aka Liz Robinson and Stephanie Baker.

Plans are already underway for the 6th Annual S’Aints Rock Seacliff to Fight Hunger at SUNSET® Amphitheatre in Seacliff Park, Leamington and is set for September 4, 2027 at 7:30 pm! If you would like to sponsor the event please contact Jeff Burrows or Jody Raffoul.

Media Contact: Jeff Burrows | [email protected]

In the photo

Back Row: John P Moran, Event Co-Producer & President -The Bank Theatre, Jody Raffoul Music lead singer & Co-Founder of The S'Aints, Derik Hyatt of The Salvation Army Leamington Community Church & Community & Family Services, Jeff Burrows drummer and Co-Founder of The S'Aints

Middle Row: Deborah Wilson-Safa Deacon St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, Marilyn Miller St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Carmen Smith - Volunteer The Bank Theatre & St. John's Anglican Church, Lillian Brisseau and Melodee Lovering Leamington United Church

Front Row: Michelle Fortier Event Co-Producer & The Bank Theatre Manager, Shirley Chorba Leamington United Church, Veronica Costa St. Vincent de Paul.

Southpoint Sun

10/05/2026

September 26-27, 2026 was a special weekend for The Salvation Army Leamington Community Church & Community & Family Services as we celebrated 140 years of ministry and service in our community — a milestone that provided an opportunity not only to look back at where we have come from, but also to consider where God may be leading us next.

We're grateful to see a little piece of that celebration featured in last week’s Southpoint Sun. A sincere thank-you to Mark Ribble for being there to capture these moments and for continuing to tell the stories of our community.

The celebration began Saturday evening with a wonderful community concert featuring the Salvation Army Heritage Brass Band. The music was a fitting reminder that while much has changed over the past 140 years, there are some things that remain constant — faith, fellowship, service and a desire to bring hope to our neighbours.

Sunday morning brought the anniversary celebration into worship, with General Brian Peddle (Ret.) and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle (Ret.) joining us for the occasion. Having the Peddles with us made an already significant weekend even more meaningful. General Peddle, who served as the international leader of The Salvation Army from 2018 to 2023, brought a message that was both simple and profound.

“So far, so good.”

Those words have stayed with us.

After 140 years, we certainly have a lot to celebrate. Generations of Salvationists, officers, soldiers, volunteers and community partners have served faithfully in Leamington. People have been fed, families supported, lives changed, prayers answered and hope offered in countless ways.

But so far is an important part of that statement.

It reminds us that the story isn't finished.

We can look back with gratitude and say, "So far, so good." God has been faithful through changing times, changing needs and changing generations. But we can also look forward with anticipation, trusting that the same God who has carried The Salvation Army through the past 140 years will continue to guide its future.

A special thank-you as well to Mayor Hilda MacDonald and other members of the Municipality of Leamington along with Wendy Parsons of the Leamington Chamber for joining us and recognizing the longstanding contribution The Salvation Army has made to the Leamington community.

And behind every celebration like this are countless people whose contributions aren't done justice in a newspaper — Major Kathryn Ritson, staff, volunteers, soldiers, families, musicians and supporters who continue to give their time, energy, gifts and hearts to this ministry. Thank you.

For us, this anniversary feels like more than simply commemorating a date on a timeline. It is an opportunity to remember that ministry is ultimately about people — meeting people where they are, walking alongside them, offering practical help, sharing the hope of Christ and reminding people that they are seen, valued and loved.

That mission remains as relevant today as it was 140 years ago.

Love God. Love others. Serve people. Share hope.

So as we celebrate 140 years of The Salvation Army in Leamington, perhaps General Peddle's words are exactly what we need to hear:

So far, so good.

We can be grateful for the past.

We can be faithful in the present.

And we can step into the future with hope.

140 years behind us.
God willing, many more years ahead.
So far, so good — and onward we go.

10/05/2026

What an incredible weekend celebrating 140 years of The Salvation Army in Leamington.

As we look back on the weekend of September 26-27, one of the things that stands out most is the beautiful connection between where The Salvation Army has come from and where God may be leading us next.

Saturday evening brought an incredible community concert at the Leamington United Mennonite Church on Oak Street featuring the Salvation Army Heritage Brass Band (whose musicianship and energy were absolutely awesome) followed by a special anniversary worship service Sunday morning with General Brian Peddle (Ret.) and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle (Ret.) at The Salvation Army Leamington Community Church & Community & Family Services.

General Peddle shared a simple phrase that has stayed with us:

“So far, so good.”

After 140 years, those words carry a lot of weight.

There is so much to celebrate — generations of Salvationists, soldiers, officers, volunteers and supporters who have served faithfully; countless people who have received practical assistance, compassion, friendship and the hope of Jesus; and a community that has continued to make room for The Salvation Army to serve.

But so far also means the story isn't finished.

That became especially evident during Sunday’s enrolments.

Three young people were enrolled as Junior Soldiers, making their own commitment to follow Jesus and grow in their faith. Watching these kids take that step was a powerful reminder that the future of the Church is not some distant idea — it is sitting right in front of us.

There were also three Senior Soldier enrolments: Hepzi, Brittni Hyatt and Derik Hyatt.

For Brittni and Derik, standing together and making that commitment as husband and wife was an especially meaningful moment. Their journey to this point has been anything but predictable, but God has a pretty incredible way of taking our stories — including the messy parts — and weaving them into something beautiful.

And then there was Hepzi, making that same commitment as well.

Different stories. Different journeys. Different reasons for arriving at that moment.

One Saviour. One mission. One family.

It was a beautiful picture of what The Salvation Army is meant to be.

Another deeply meaningful part of the weekend was Derik Hyatt sharing his testimony and speaking about the journey that has brought him to this point of faith, recovery, service and surrender. During the celebration, Derik also received his Candidates Connect pin, marking an important step as he continues to prayerfully discern God’s calling and explore a potential pathway toward Salvation Army officership and pastoral ministry beginning at CFOT College for Officer Training. It is a journey that is still unfolding — not a destination he is claiming for himself, but a calling he is seeking to discern faithfully with God, his family, his Corps and the wider Salvation Army community.

Commissioner Rosalie Peddle also brought an incredibly powerful and engaging message, sharing with warmth, wisdom and conviction as she encouraged us to remain open to where God is leading and faithful to the call He places before us. Together, these moments made the weekend feel not only like a celebration of 140 years of history, but also a glimpse of the stories and callings God may be writing for the next generation.

We were also blessed by a fascinating look back at our Corps history, shared by Fraser Lear, giving us an opportunity to remember those who came before us, the work they faithfully carried out, and the generations of lives impacted through The Salvation Army in Leamington. It was a powerful reminder that we are not simply celebrating 140 years of history — we are standing on the shoulders of those who faithfully served before us.

A huge thank-you to Major Kathryn Ritson, our Acting Corps Officer, for her leadership, pastoral care and dedication to the Leamington Corps and community. Thank you as well to our officers, staff, soldiers, volunteers, families, musicians and everyone who worked behind the scenes to make the weekend so special.

Thank you to Mayor Hilda MacDonald and other members of the Municipality of Leamington for joining us and recognizing 140 years of The Salvation Army's contribution to Leamington.

And thank you again to General Brian and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle (Ret.) for sharing the weekend with us and reminding us that while we have plenty to celebrate, we also have plenty to look forward to.

Because perhaps that is the real message of 140 years.

We don't celebrate the past simply to stay there.

We celebrate it so that we can remember God's faithfulness, recognize the responsibility we have today, and step courageously into whatever comes next.

Three young Junior Soldiers.

Three new Senior Soldiers.

One Corps with 140 years of history.

And, God willing, a whole lot more chapters still to be written.

So far, so good.

We can be grateful for the past.

We can be faithful in the present.

And we can move into the future with hope.

140 years behind us.
A new generation before us.
God leading us forward.

09/23/2026

We’re honoured to be featured in this week’s Southpoint Sun as we celebrate 140 years of service in Leamington.

From humble beginnings in 1886 to the community we’re blessed to serve today, our story has always been about loving God, loving others, and being there when people need hope.

This weekend, we’re celebrating that history — and looking ahead to what God has in store for the next chapter.

🎺 140th Anniversary Concert featuring the Heritage Brass Band
📅 Saturday, September 26
🕖 6:00 PM
📍 Leamington United Mennonite Church, 78 Oak Street East
🎟️ Free admission
☕ Light refreshments will be served

Featuring special guests General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle (retired).

⛪ 140th Anniversary Celebration Worship Service
📅 Sunday, September 27
🕥 10:30 AM
📍 The Salvation Army Leamington Community Church, 88 Setterington Street

Whether you’ve been part of our story for decades, recently walked through our doors, or have never joined us before —you’re welcome!

Come celebrate 140 years of faith, community, service and hope with us. We’d love to see you there and share this special weekend together.

140 years of serving. 140 years of hope. And by God’s grace, the story continues.