Ethics and the

    Columbia River Treaty


    Righting Historic Wrongs

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     The Rev. Greg Powell, Chair

      Kootenay Presbytery, United Church of Canada


Greg Powell was born in Calgary and grew up in Ottawa, where he spent summers as a camp counsellor on the Ottawa River and at the family cottage on Otter Lake. With water in his blood, he studied environmental engineering at the University of Waterloo, which included a volunteer term with Engineers Without Borders in Nepal.

Greg started his engineering career with a run-of-river hydropower company in Calgary, first believing our challenges were of a technical nature. He then went to work for the Pembina Institute, believing that shifting public policy and corporate policies and practices could avert the looming climate and water crises. Finally hearing a call to ministry, Greg went to Emmanuel College in Toronto to pursue his Master of Divinity, which he finished in 2014 with the belief that spiritual matters underlie our humanitarian and environmental challenges. Greg has been in congregational ministry in Castlegar since 2014 and was ordained in the United Church of Canada in 2015.

In 2016, Kootenay Presbytery was invited to intervene on behalf of the Ktunaxa Nation Council as part of the Supreme Court of Canada hearing to protect Qat’muk (aka Jumbo Valley). Greg’s role as Chair of Presbytery took him to witness the case as an intervenor.

Greg and Nicole co-parent two young children, who inspire him to keep ethics at the forethought of every action. Running, mountain biking,  back-country skiing, and contemplative practices keep Greg grounded. He has recently completed a pilot of the Castlegar Centre for Contemplation and Justice, which will be fully launched soon. Greg is also active with the BC Greens.


email:  chair@kootenayunited.ca