Connection Through Faith | Barb Smith-Morrison (BA 1994, MTS 2007)
“Grebel has been interwoven with my vocational path in powerful ways,” Barb Smith-Morrison (BA 1994, MTS 2008) shared. Barb arrived at Conrad Grebel University College in her first year of university with a calling to pastoral ministry that grew out of United Church youth camp experiences. She had little experience being part of a congregation or intergenerational faith community and Grebel was her first introduction to the Mennonite tradition. "The College introduced me to the faith tradition in which I made a home,” Barb shared. Previously working for Grebel as the Interim Dean of Students from 1994-1996, and as a pastor within Mennonite Church Eastern Canada for 28 years, Barb is now the Executive Director of Brooksong Retreat and Cancer Support Centre, located in the Haliburton Highlands.
In her second year of studying Religious Studies at Grebel and the University of Waterloo, Barb began working as a youth pastor at Preston Mennonite Church. “Gloria Eby, Dean of Students at the time, was instrumental in making the connection with the congregation for me,” she explained. “As I was taking my first tentative steps in congregational ministry, Grebel also supported me through the Ministry Inquiry Program.” Barb also served as Interim Dean of Students at Grebel upon graduation. “It was a job I loved!” Barb recalled. “As a young grad, I still had much to learn – but the students, professors, and staff were gracious and forgiving.” Barb later served on Grebel’s Board of Governors for two years as a way to give back to a community that was so important in her life and in the life of her family.
“My time at Grebel was incredibly formative, and those words don't feel nearly adequate enough to describe the role that Grebel played in my life,” Barb recalled. She lived at the College for three years – serving as a Don in her second year and co-Chapel Convenor in her third year. While serving as Interim Dean of Students, Barb also began her Master of Theological Studies degree at the College. “It took me many years to finish this degree, as I started a family and moved into full-time pastoral ministry,” she stated. "Grebel was very supportive.” Barb became a pastor at St. Jacobs Mennonite Church, eventually moving to Bloomingdale Mennonite Church. She served the three congregations (Preston, St. Jacobs and Bloomingdale) within Mennonite Church Eastern Canada for 28 years altogether. During this time, she also studied spiritual direction at Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Virginia.
“My partner began working for Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) in the mid ’90s and we had the opportunity to travel to some amazing places in the world and meet incredible entrepreneurs within emerging economies,” Barb described. In 2020, Barb and her family moved to Haliburton County, Ontario, where Gerald – whom she met at Grebel – was originally from. She was introduced to Brooksong Retreat and Cancer Support Centre and became Executive Director. “Brooksong is a young, innovative cancer support centre that offers unwavering support through whole person (body, mind and spirit) wellness retreats and online programming to people across Canada who are facing a cancer diagnosis,” Barb explained, “including those living with a diagnosis, as well as their caregivers/key support persons. Our organizational values at Brooksong include the understanding that healing and wholeness are enhanced in community,” Barb explained. “This is a core understanding that has shaped my life from my days at Grebel.” Since moving north, Barb has also trained as a Forest Therapy Guide. “I am most content and grounded when I'm outside in relationship with nature,” she described.
“After graduation, we slowly grew our family, adding two wonderful children, our youngest attending Grebel as well,” Barb stated. “While the kids were young, we spent many happy hours at hockey arenas, piano lessons, and soccer pitches, enjoying the community aspects as much as the activities themselves.” Barb and her family are avid campers – progressing from interior canoe trips to a small trailer – and spend many hours in Algonquin Park and Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve.
“I think that my career and personal life have always intersected, as a pastor, and now as a leader of a cancer support charity,” Barb said. “It has been a privilege to not only accompany people during the milestones of their lives – births through deaths – but to help cultivate and care for whole communities and organizations who seek to embody the values of compassion, acceptance, hope, love, and healing.”
“I can't think of Grebel without remembering a sea of faces, countless Community Suppers, retreats, classes, late night study sessions in the lounge, sky bunks, Dutch Blitz, music, chapels, and on and on,” Barb said. “Grebel provided a home, mentors, and a safe and supportive space for me to find my way through my young adult years and then throughout the early chapters of pastoral ministry.”
The Grebel residence and academic communities shaped Barb’s understanding of the importance of creating places of safety, belonging, humility, and collaborative learning. “Life is filled with both joy and difficulty, and I really don’t think we are meant to find our way alone,” she explained.
“Curiosity is probably the greatest quality to cultivate,” Barb suggested. “It doesn't come naturally to all of us - I had to work hard at being curious. Being curious about myself, others, and the world has built a lot of bridges and removed a lot of walls in my life.”
By Natasha Forth
Barb Smith-Morrison (BA 1994, MTS 2008) is Executive Director of Brooksong Retreat and Cancer Support Centre. Barb was called to pastoral ministry while attending Grebel and worked for the College as the Interim Dean of Students.
Barb's story is part of Grebel's 60 Stories for 60 Years project. Check out our 60 Stories page for more articles in this series.