The Reverend Canon Rob Heard

Rob was born in the U.K., and immigrated to Canada with his family as a young boy in 1954. The family settled in Ottawa where Rob lived until completing his high school education. During this time he became involved in a variety of church- based youth programs, and most significantly as a boy chorister at St. Matthias Church in the west end, as well as the Scouting movement and the AYPA.  Before leaving Ottawa to pursue academic studies at Trent University, Rob sang in the Cathedral choir as a member of the men and boys’ choir under the direction of Godfrey Hewitt.

Rob graduated with a B.A. in history from Trent and shortly thereafter moved to Toronto to enroll in the Opera School at the University of Toronto.  While studying operatic performance Rob met Beverley who was studying at the Faculty of Music. In 1975 they were married at St. Anne’s Anglican Church in Toronto.

Rob then returned to the University of Toronto for theological studies at Trinity College, graduating in 1979 with an M.Div. He was ordained the same year at Christ Church Cathedral, and has served this diocese as a parish priest in a variety of church communities, rural, suburban and urban. Other diocesan involvements have included the Doctrine and Worship Committee, the Matrimonial Commission, serving as a Regional Dean, and as a coordinator of the Post Ordination Training program. Since his retirement from active parish ministry in 2009 Rob has undertaken a number of interim placements.

Beyond his church responsibilities, Rob has had a significant pastoral role with the Ottawa Police Service as their volunteer chaplain. His appointment as chaplain was made in 1994 by Bishop John Baycroft and the chief of police. As chaplain, Rob received training in various aspects of crisis intervention.  Rob counts it a great privilege to continue to support the members of the Ottawa Police Service.

Beverley and Rob live in Ottawa, as do the families of their three adult sons, including four grandchildren.