Major (retd) the Rev. Dr. Michael Peterson, CD

Father Michael Peterson and his wife Joy Packham are delighted to have joined the All Saints’ Collingwood community starting September 1, 2022.

Michael holds a PhD in Early English Literature from McMaster University, and initially had plans to be an academic until led in another direction. He completed his Master of Divinity at Wycliffe College, Toronto School of Theology, in May 2004, and was ordained later that year in the Diocese of Huron. In 2006, while serving a parish north of London, Ontario, Michael became a Canadian Forces Army Reserve chaplain, or padre, with the Fourth Battalion, the Royal Canadian Regiment. Two years later he transferred to serve full-time with the Regular Force.

After various postings across Canada, including the opportunity to earn an MA in Religious Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, Michael’s last posting was as the Senior Chaplain, Canadian Forces Base Borden. He considers this a blessed coincidence, as this was same position held by a previous rector of All Saints’, Collingwood, the Rev. F.C. Sherring, during the Second World War. Michael retired from the military in 2020 and became canonically resident in the Diocese of Toronto., serving for a time as interim at All Saints, King City. Michael’s theological interests include religion and society, ecumenism and interfaith dialogue, and missiology.

Michael enjoyed being a grandfather, reading, military history, and outdoors pursuits. His theological reflections and sermons may be found here and his super nerdy wargames hobby can be found here.