Farewell to the Maritimes: Annual change sees eight officers say goodbye to the region
The end of June always brings the promise of summer and warmer weather ahead, but for those in The Salvation Army, it also brings farewells. This is the time of year when The Salvation Army executes its annual change of appointments, transferring officers across the country to new postings.
Typically appointments of three to five years, moving about the country has a familiar feeling for officers, now tasked with bringing their experience and skill set to different regions. Of the 900 officers serving in the country, dozens will be on the move this month.
The Maritimes will be saying goodbye to eight officers. They are:
Majors Peter and Janice Rowe, Corps Officers, Yarmouth, NS
Captains Tim and Krista Andrews, Corps Officers, Halifax Citadel
Captains Rodney and Paulette Bungay, Saint John, NB
Captain Felipe and Major Phyllis Vega, Corps Officers, Bridgewater, NS*
* – retiring
Six officers will transfer to new locations within the region. They are:
Lt. Josh and Joyce Downer, moving from Glace Bay, NS, to Kentville, NS
Majors Wilson and Darlene Sutton, moving from Miramichi, NB, to Bridgewater, NS
Majors Ross and Doreen Grandy, moving from Kentville, NS, to Halifax, NS
Three officers will continue to work with the Army in post-retirement service They are:
Majors Stan and Judy Folkins, Corps Officers, Sussex, NB
Major Winnie Perrin, adult ministries at Divisional Headquarters in Halifax
We caught up with Major Janice Rowe in her final days in Yarmouth to get her impressions as she prepared to leave the region. Together with her husband, Major Peter Rowe, she spent six years in leadership of the Yarmouth Community Church, a thriving unit on the southern tip of Nova Scotia. Natives of Newfoundland, the Rowes will experience a homecoming of sorts at their new posting in Botwood, N.L. They will be replaced in Yarmouth by Lieutenants Mike and Melissa Mailman.
Majors Janice and Peter Rowe
JR: Bitter-sweet – the sadness is matched with joy on the other side. We love Yarmouth, and we could easily see ourselves coming back to Yarmouth, not just Nova Scotia, but Yarmouth specifically. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed it here. But it’s a good time for us, in our personal lives, to be going back to Newfoundland where we’re more accessible to our children in university.
What will you miss about Yarmouth?
JR: Everything, really. We haven’t lost one night’s sleep in Yarmouth. We haven’t had any personnel issues to face, the community has been very receptive to us and we’ve been really blessed to see growth and the walls come down between the denominations as we come together. It’s been an exciting time.
What excites you about your new posting?
JR: I think getting back to my calling of being a pastor. The community aspect won’t likely be as busy as it is in Yarmouth. So while we were here it’s been multi-tasking the whole time between church and community, and I know that there will be some of that in Botwood, but not to the degree that it was here. We had so many hats to wear, and so many roles to juggle in Yarmouth, you worried that everything got a piece of you, but nothing got your best. Botwood will be more focused. I’m looking forward to getting back to the basics and having a less hurried life.
Do you have any previous experience with Botwood?
JR: We do, actually. Our second appointment was a little town just outside of Botwood. In the past 15 years or so, that church closed and amalgamated with Botwood, so some of the people that we ministered to 20 years ago are now going to be in Corps again. It makes for an interesting dynamic.
Any final words for the people of Yarmouth?
JR: Just to simply say thank you. Thank you for allowing us to share our lives with you, and I believe that’s what we’ve done. We’ve not only been leaders here, but I believe we’ve given our lives to the people, and they to us. I think everyone feels sad that we’re leaving, but at the same time, they totally understand and know where we are at this point in our lives. We’ve also been creating excitement for Lieutenants Mike and Melissa as they move in. They have two small children, and they’re really excited about coming. I believe our attitude about leaving should match their attitude about arriving, and this transition should be a small hiccup to the Corps, which is what we’d like it to be.
Stay tuned throughout the summer as we bring you our annual New Officer Roundup series, introducing you to nine new officers appointed to the Maritimes.
