Meet the SMSV Board Nominees for 2026
Dear SMSV Family,
We are pleased to introduce the nominees standing for election to the SMSV Board of Directors for the 2026 term. We encourage all members to learn more about each nominee and participate on election day, Sunday, June 14.
Deacon John (Dr. Rami Abdelshaheed)
Biography
Deacon John has served within the SMSV community for more than 13 years, focusing on youth mentorship, spiritual growth, and relationship-centered ministry.
His service began with high school youth ministry and has evolved to include serving young adults through His Table. Through mentorship, discussion, and fellowship, he strives to help young people build a strong and lasting relationship with Christ.
He helped establish The Fountain, a ministry dedicated to the spiritual enrichment and renewal of Youth Group servants. He has also served in premarital ministry, #RelationshipGoals, MaaPS marriage ministry, and catechism services.
Deacon John currently oversees the Catechism Ministry, guiding catechumens and individuals exploring the Orthodox faith through structured teaching and personal support.
Professionally, he is a Respirologist whose vocation has shaped his perspective on compassion, stewardship, and servant leadership. As a husband and father of three, he is deeply invested in the future growth of the Church and its younger generations.
Vision Statement
Deacon John believes the congregation’s many gifts and talents should be intentionally cultivated and utilized for the benefit of both the Church and the wider community.
He hopes to foster a culture where service is viewed as a natural expression of faith and where people are encouraged to discover and use their God-given gifts.
One of his key ideas is developing a centralized intake process that helps connect individuals with ministry opportunities that align with their skills, interests, and spiritual gifts.
He also supports expanding outreach initiatives that allow the congregation to visibly serve the broader community through charitable efforts, partnerships, and community events that demonstrate Christ’s love through action.
Current SMSV Ministries: Consecrated Deacon, Catechism Ministry, His Table, The Fountain, Premarital Ministry, #RelationshipGoals Ministry, and MaaPS Marriage Ministry.
Dr. David Assaad
Biography
David Assaad was born in Toronto in June 1975 and grew up as an active member of St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church in Scarborough.
He graduated from Medical School at the University of Toronto in 2000 and completed five years of residency training in Ophthalmology in Toronto. He currently serves on staff at St. Michael’s Hospital (Unity Health) and actively practices in a busy community-based Ophthalmology clinic in Scarborough.
David has been married to his wife, Sherri, a pharmacist, for over 20 years. Together they are the proud parents of Joshua (18) and Maya (15).
Since its inception more than 20 years ago, David has been an active member of the SMSV community. He is grateful for the role the church has played in supporting him and his family throughout the years and is eager for the opportunity to give back through service and leadership.
Vision Statement
David hopes to contribute to the mission and vision of SMSV by dedicating his time and attention to listening carefully to the needs of the congregation and the wider community it serves. He believes in approaching decisions with fairness, objectivity, and honesty, while being transparent about both his strengths and limitations in service to the Church.
One area he is particularly passionate about is outreach to members who may have become disconnected from the Church. He would like to support initiatives that help reconnect individuals who no longer attend regularly or who may have drifted away from the faith after being active during their youth or early adulthood.
David believes that meaningful engagement begins with presence and genuine relationships. As a regular attendee at Sunday liturgies with his family, he values opportunities to connect with fellow congregants and believes that building strong personal relationships creates opportunities for meaningful dialogue, encouragement, and service.
While he is not currently serving in a formal ministry, David previously
served as a Deacon throughout his youth at St. Mark’s Church and later as a Grade 9/10 Sunday School teacher during his university and early adult years. With his medical career now firmly established and his children growing older, he is excited to dedicate more of his time and energy to serving the church that has supported his family for so many years.
Current SMSV Ministries: None currently. Previous service includes
the Deaconate and Grade 9/10 Sunday School.
Nicolette Julien
Biography
Prior to joining the Coptic community in 2016, Nicolette was raised Roman Catholic, and had a deep love for service in the church, serving in Children’s Ministries, joining many choirs and deepening her curiosity about her faith.
Nicolette is passionate about multiculturalism and growing spiritually and relationally within the Christian community. She previously volunteered with the SMSV youth ministry, and currently volunteers with the marriage preparation ministry, working with couples who are preparing for marriage.
Nicolette is a Registered Psychotherapist, and has several years of experience working with families, couples, youth, and individuals. She attended Tyndale Seminary out of a desire to learn how to integrate her faith and her profession in Clinical Counselling. From this experience, she deepened her love for Jesus, and for the church.
Nicolette is a graduate of Tyndale, earning a Master of Divinity in Clinical Counseling, and is currently working towards a PhD in Counselling and Psychological Studies.
Vision Statement
I hope to be able to serve the church and our community, in order to offer praise and glory to God. My hope is to give back to the community where there may be a need or a calling and in turn grow spiritually and be a positive influence to others.
I’d be interested to see more services in the church that add to the area of wellness, specifically mental health. With tremendous mental illness stigma present in today’s society, I believe it is important to cultivate spaces to talk about mental health and wellness in the community to
promote further openness, and communication. My current interest lies in the connection between mental health healing, and the healing of Christ. I would be curious to expand these into a program for trauma survivors or those experiencing thoughts of suicide.
I have experienced the richness of being a part of many different communities; in turn I have felt the unity and fulfilment of giving back my time in service. Service has allowed me to experience the fulfilment of caring for others, while also encountering barriers that can come in
the way of serving, such as the feeling of not belonging, a lack of time, and a lack of purpose. It is my understanding that connecting to the desires of congregation members can help direct them to a service that feels purposeful and fulfilling in their season of life. It would be in my heart to connect with congregants to continue to promote a sense of belonging, purpose and fulfilment in serving within our church.
Current SMSV Ministries: Youth Ministry (formerly), Marriage Preparation Ministry.
Marlene Khalil
Biography
Marlene Khalil is a dedicated and long-standing member of the SMSV congregation who has witnessed firsthand the growth and spiritual vitality of the church community.
Guided by a heart for service and a desire to see every member thrive, Marlene actively serves within both the Sunday School and Greeting Ministries.
Professionally, she serves as a Director of Training Programs and brings over 26 years of experience in communication, leadership, collaboration, and organizational development. She has also served on nonprofit boards and values strategic, faithful stewardship.
Vision Statement
Marlene hopes to support SMSV’s vision of Love, Integration, and Outreach by bringing her years of ministry experience and community insight to the Church Board.
Through her service in the Greeting Ministry and Sunday School, she has developed a deep understanding of the needs of both newcomers and long-standing members. She hopes to ensure that diverse voices across the congregation are represented and heard.
One area she would like to focus on is strengthening intergenerational connections through mentorship programs, service opportunities, and shared community events that bring youth, families, and long-time members together.
Marlene is also passionate about fostering a stronger sense of belonging for newcomers through intentional integration efforts and clear pathways for involvement.
She views stewardship as a sacred responsibility and hopes to advocate for transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability to support future generations.
Current SMSV Ministries: Sunday School and Greeting Ministry.
Ramez Kheir
Biography
Ramez Kheir is a proud husband and father of two children, aged 14 and 12. He has been a member of the SMSV family for over 15 years and looks forward to many more years of service, God willing.
Ramez’s connection to SMSV runs deep. He has been making the holy bread in the Korban Ministry since he was 15 years old, and that passion has never faded.
Over the past year, he led a full transformation of the ministry, modernizing its
processes, building a sustainable donation and supply model, and developing a volunteer application to unify its four teams. He is equally passionate about recruiting young members into the ministry and ensuring this sacred tradition continues into the next generation.
Professionally, Ramez is a technology executive with 25 years of experience leading
large-scale transformation programs across global organizations. While his career has
included many accomplishments, his greatest joy comes from serving others and giving back to the community that has given his family so much.
Ramez and his family cherish SMSV for the love, faith, and sense of belonging it provides. Serving on the Board would be an opportunity to apply the gifts God has blessed him with in support of SMSV’s vision.
Vision Statement
Realizing SMSV’s vision as a pioneering intercultural parish requires strong operations, disciplined processes, and smart technology. As a technology executive with 25 years of experience leading complex transformations, I bring that structured perspective to the Board.
Through my work in the Korban Ministry, I have already seen how technology and process improvements can transform ministry operations. What we achieved there can be replicated across many ministries within SMSV.
As SMSV continues to grow, active integration becomes increasingly difficult without
intentional systems. I would introduce improved coordination platforms, streamlined
administrative workflows, and dashboards that help track ministry health, engagement, and outreach impact.
I would also support a cross-ministry outreach model where technology enables every congregant—regardless of age, language, or background—to participate meaningfully. This could include matching members’ skills and availability with ministry needs, improving volunteer onboarding, and coordinating service opportunities more effectively.
Technology can transform good intentions into measurable, sustainable service that advances SMSV’s mission and strengthens our impact in the wider community.
Current SMSV Ministries: Korban Ministry Team Lead.
Monica Michael
Biography
Before joining SMSV in 2017, I had the opportunity to participate in several mission trips to Bolivia. Those experiences shaped my heart for outreach and service and strengthened my desire to be part of a church community passionate about bringing people to Christ through love and outreach.
When I found SMSV, I immediately felt at home because of its commitment to that mission. I began serving in Youth Group in 2019 after previously serving in Sunday School and currently serve as a lead for the Grade 9/10 class. It has been a blessing to walk alongside youth as they grow in their faith and identity.
I am a Registered Nurse and have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing as well as a Master of Public Health at the University of Waterloo. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working at SickKids Hospital and other children’s hospitals across the GTA, experiences that deepened my passion for supporting children and families.
I currently work at York Region Public Health as a Public Health Nurse on the Health Promotion Unit – Community Liaison Team, supporting children and new mothers in reaching their fullest potential. My role involves engaging with the community and connecting families with resources and supports that empower them.
Outside of work and church, I enjoy staying active, exploring the outdoors, going on adventures, and meeting new people. I am grateful for my husband, parents, two older sisters, and four nieces and nephews who bring so much happiness and joyful chaos to my life.
From the moment I joined this church family, I knew this was my long-term home. The mission and values of this church spoke to me from a young age and, over the years, my belief in them has only grown stronger.
Vision Statement
The mission of SMSV is rooted in love, integration, and outreach. I strongly believe that the future of the Church lies in the hands of its youth. By mentoring, guiding, and supporting them, we build a thriving and sustainable foundation for future generations.
By serving on the board, I hope to advocate for youth by ensuring their voices, needs, and perspectives are represented. I also deeply value diversity and believe in the strength that comes from welcoming and integrating individuals from all walks of life into our SMSV
family.
One idea I would like to introduce is creating more structured opportunities for youth to share their thoughts, experiences, and needs. Initiatives such as youth town halls could provide direct feedback and help leaders better understand how to serve effectively.
I believe people are most engaged when they feel connected and understand the purpose behind what they are doing. By fostering fellowship, collaboration across ministries, and a clear understanding of our mission, we can encourage greater participation and service throughout the congregation.
My goal is to serve as a humble and open liaison between the congregation and the board, always focusing on how we can best share the love of Christ while preserving the values and
traditions that define SMSV.
Current SMSV Ministries: Youth Group – Grade 9/10 Leader.
John Nagiub
Biography
John Nagiub is a Chiropractor and a Cadet in Training with York Regional Police. He has a strong passion for serving the community and has been involved in SMSV ministries for over ten years.
Throughout his time at SMSV, John has served in numerous ministries and initiatives, including Youth Group, the Gym Committee, fundraising efforts, mission and service projects, coaching, and organizing sports tournaments and leagues.
Much of his ministry has focused on supporting and mentoring youth as they navigate life’s challenges and grow in their faith. Watching young people grow in Christ has strengthened his desire to continue serving the Church and community.
Vision Statement
John hopes to contribute to SMSV’s mission through humility, dedication, and a commitment to helping people feel welcomed, supported, and encouraged in their relationship with Christ.
He is particularly passionate about reigniting the spirit of outreach that has always been central to SMSV’s identity. He hopes to strengthen connections with both congregation members and the broader community.
John would like to create more opportunities to reconnect individuals who may have become disconnected from church life, helping them rediscover the Church as a spiritual home where they are welcomed and supported.
He believes service becomes most impactful when it is accessible, meaningful, and connected to fellowship. By encouraging participation across all ages and backgrounds, he hopes to strengthen the congregation’s culture of service.
His goal is to help SMSV continue growing as a place of faith, unity, outreach, and community engagement.
Current SMSV Ministries: Youth Group, Gym Committee, Fundraising,
Mission & Service Initiatives, Coaching, and Sports Programming.
Diana Nasr
Biography
Diana Nasr is originally from Alexandria, Egypt, and is fluent in English,
French, and Arabic. Her multicultural journey has shaped both her personal and professional life.
After arriving in Canada in 1993, Diana joined St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, where she grew spiritually under the guidance of Fr. Marcos and Fr. Amonios. In 2017, she became a member of St. Maurice & St. Verena Coptic Orthodox Church, which she now considers her church family. Her daughter and son-in-law are also members of SMSV, making their spiritual journey a shared family blessing.
Diana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Alexandria University and a Master of Project Management from York University.
Professionally, she brings extensive experience in project management, having worked with organizations including Bombardier and Scotiabank. Throughout her career she has developed strong leadership, strategic planning, communication, collaboration, stakeholder engagement, conflict resolution, and organizational skills.
Diana is passionate about serving and connecting with others. She enjoys learning, sharing experiences, listening, and offering support and encouragement. She strives to live with the understanding that we are all children of God and seeks to see Christ in every person.
Vision Statement
Diana hopes to support SMSV’s mission of love, inclusion, spiritual growth, and outreach through Christ-centered service. She is passionate about strengthening ministries and creating welcoming environments where people from diverse backgrounds can deepen their relationship with God.
She would like to support initiatives that strengthen connection and engagement across the congregation, including mentorship opportunities between generations, family-oriented community service projects, and enhanced newcomer integration.
Diana believes people are inspired to serve when they feel connected to a shared purpose. Through communication, encouragement, and leading by example, she hopes to foster a culture where serving others becomes a natural expression of faith.
Drawing on her professional background in project management, she hopes to help build thoughtful structures and collaborative processes that support SMSV’s sustainable growth while ensuring that Christ’s love is reflected through every action.
Current SMSV Ministries: Greeters & Welcome Team, Database Updates, Laundry Ministry, Good Shepherd, Flower Ministry, Vineyard Ministry, and Small Groups.
Dr. Renee Ramzy
Biography
I graduated from medical school in Egypt, then moved with my husband, Dr. Nashaat Asham, to the United Arab Emirates. I worked there as a Family Medicine physician for 21 years. We immigrated to Canada in 2006 but didn’t fully move from the UAE until 2013. I then started working as a family doctor in Newfoundland, away from my family and from any Coptic church which made me long for that sense of community. I finally moved to Toronto in 2015 and currently run a private medical office in Whitby.
I started attending SMSV in 2008 when the liturgies were held at St. Luke Church, and I immediately felt a strong sense of belonging.
Having lived in the UAE for so long, I was exposed to people from all walks of life, different nationalities, religions, and cultures. As I started going to SMSV more frequently, I noticed that, similarly to the UAE, SMSV really embraces all cultures and all people with open arms, no matter their race.
I have always been passionate about serving my community. Back in Egypt, I started serving when I was 17 years old. I served children in Sunday School as well as in orphanages throughout Egypt. Those experiences opened my eyes to the challenges disadvantaged people face and how we can contribute to improving their lives through service.
I also served in Sunday School and Youth Ministry throughout my time in the UAE. Additionally, I was involved in annual church exhibitions and a ministry serving our monk priest’s household weekly.
In Toronto, I have been serving elderly sick people in nursing homes when needed. At SMSV, I have been involved in the Hospitality Ministry and the Laundry Ministry. I love the community we have built at SMSV, and I hope to always be able to serve in any way that I am called to.
Vision Statement
Since joining SMSV as a newcomer years ago, I have always felt a strong sense of community, inclusivity, and warmth. I truly believe in the mission and vision of the church to focus on outreach and missionary work, to welcome everyone into the church, and to embrace diversity and multiculturalism. Outreach can be incredibly powerful and impactful to both existing and prospective members of the community.
I want to advocate for services and activities that support this mission so that this sense of commitment and service continues to pass to future generations.
Missionary work is the backbone of SMSV. I want to help create a service that follows up with members of the community who have converted to the Coptic faith in recent years, supporting them as they continue their Christian journey.
I am also passionate about ministry for young parents. Today’s society presents many challenges to raising children with Christian values. Through my interactions with parents at SMSV, I have gained insight into some of their concerns and hope to support them.
I wish to dedicate additional outreach resources to vulnerable groups such as seniors, individuals with disabilities, and those without family nearby. It is easy to forget those we do not see often at church, but they remain an important part of the SMSV family and deserve our care and support.
Current SMSV Ministries: Hospitality Ministry, Laundry Ministry, and the Arabic Meeting (as needed).
Chris Soleman
Biography
Chris was born and raised in the Coptic Orthodox Church in Toronto. He studied Pharmacy in the United Kingdom and currently works in the pharmaceutical industry.
Chris has been an active member of the SMSV community for more than ten years, serving in a variety of ministries and capacities throughout the life of the church.
He is happily married to his wife Marina and is the father of Sophia. Chris is passionate about serving the church and hopes to continue contributing in new ways through service on the Church Board.
Vision Statement
Chris hopes to serve as an approachable representative of the congregation, helping ensure that the voices, concerns, and ideas of church members are heard and communicated effectively to the Board.
Drawing on his experience in program management, he hopes to contribute to sound stewardship, financial stability, and strategic allocation of resources to support ministries and outreach initiatives.
Chris would like to strengthen support for newcomers and those new to the faith through enhanced programs, resources, and follow-up initiatives that encourage integration and spiritual growth.
He is passionate about helping SMSV remain focused on Christ, ministry, and service, while encouraging members to live out the Church’s values of love, integration, outreach, and abiding in Christ.
Chris also hopes to expand community outreach efforts, increase collaboration with neighboring churches, and ensure every member finds meaningful opportunities to belong and serve.
Current SMSV Ministries: Youth Group (Grades 7–8), Upper Room Bible Study & Prayer Meeting, Blueprint, Deaconate, Church Cleaning, and Seasonal Event Setup.