Who We Are

Rooted in place, tradition and history, Salal + Cedar is a ministry of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster that strives to be accessible to all bodies. We meet regularly for worship outdoors, education and action. We are part of a growing movement across Turtle Island (North America) of communities of Christians re-connecting to the creation-values and land covenants at the core of our tradition.

Watershed Discipleship refers both to watersheds as natural geographic divisions and to the fact that we are at a watershed moment in terms of climate crisis.

Leadership Team

  • Sarah Bjorknas

    COUNCIL MEMBER

    Sarah (she/they) has been connected to S+C pretty much since it began and loves to include outdoor worship and the practice of Watershed Discipleship in their activities of faith and justice. A co-founder of the Vancouver Catholic Worker and a labour activist, Sarah feels strongly about the need to build and nurture diverse communities of humans and more-than-humans. She often brings a dog to church and tries to share her organizing skills with the Council.

  • Jan Constantinescu

    WARDEN

    Jan Constantinescu (she/her) finds that the faith communities of Salal+Cedar Watershed Discipleship and Catholic Worker House have been a deep well for Jan, challenging and refining her worldview.  They offer a systemic critique of social and climate justice, and ecological engagement.  She particularly values Salal+Cedar's aspiration to inclusive and non-hierarchial process.  

  • Laurel Dykstra

    PRIEST

    Laurel (no pronouns or they/them if you have to) started Salal + Cedar as a place for sacramental practice in nature and concrete action for ecological justice, but found community along the way. Laurel is responsible for both the big picture and coordinating moving parts.

  • Emily Ann Garcia

    COMMUNICATIONS

    Emily Ann (she/they) joined Salal + Cedar staff in May 2022. They are responsible for the overall communications strategizing and execution, along with Laurel. She is also a member of Open Way Community church.

  • Tracy Tobin

    COUNCIL MEMBER

    Tracy (she/they) is a long-time front-line worker in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver and is training to do work in spiritual care. Tracy has been around Salal + Cedar for a number of years and in 2021/2022 did a field education placement with us through Vancouver School of Theology. They are of Celtic and Mik'maq descent, actively seeking to engage and connect with their heritage

  • Benjamin Wilder

    COUNCIL MEMBER

    Benjamin (they/them) has been hanging out with S+C in various capacities for sundry exploits since 2018, and is currently a council member. S+C’s heart for justice is what drew them to the community, and the queerness and neurodiversity have kept them coming back.

  • Corvus Corax

    COMMON RAVEN

    At S+C our practice of Watershed Discipleship means that we take seriously listening to the wisdom of the creatures, plants, geology and waterways of Coast Salish territory and that we seek to follow Indigenous leadership in caring for and defending the land.