Christian Service Brigade of Canada has an amazing staff across the country who are working together to build Brigade. We invite you to get to know them, to support them with your prayers, encouragement and financial gifts. We also invite you to join them. CSB Canada is on its pathway to growth.
STAFF
It is our staff who allow us to make great strides in pursuit of our mission. Throughout our history, we’ve had many wonderful people who have served God through Christian Service Brigade of Canada. Each and every individual comes to the organization with a diverse background and an amazing array of skills and experiences. But most of all, they come with Christ’s heart, practicing servant leadership and helping to disciple the next generation of men for the Lord.
Ron and Dianne Carnahan
CSB Regional Director – Southern Ontario
Background & Experience: Ron was born into a Christian home and spent his early years on a farm in the Stayner, New Lowell area. He became a Christian during his teen years at the Stayner Missionary Church camp grounds during revival meetings. Ron studied to become an electrician and now is semi-retired and only does small jobs and installations. Ron has worked with boys his entire life. Thirty years of involvement with CSB has seen him serve as Battalion Captain, Chief Ranger, Ranger, and on the Area Committee organizing Ontario-Wide Camporees, and on the Camp Kakeka Board. Ron has also been active in the local church with various leadership rolls. When free time can be found, Ron likes to do wood working projects, golf and play Uno. Dianne enjoys gardening and collecting.
Dianne spent her early and teen years in the Wasaga Beach, Stayner area. She became a Christian as a teenager. Ron and Dianne first met at a combined youth group skating party and were married in Orillia in 1966. Dianne stayed home with the children until the youngest started school. Dianne worked in a Christian day-school as a teacher and teacher’s assistant K-12. She has also served in Pioneer Clubs, Sunday School and other areas as needed.
Family: Ron and Dianne have one son, one daughter and two grandchildren. Brian and his wife, Joanne, live in Sechelt BC. Brian is a “Herald of Christ” and serves as lead pastor. Rhonda spent five years as a missionary in East Africa and Europe. She is now living in California.
Gordon and Marie Banman
CSB Warehouse Manager, CSB Regional Director – Prairies Region
Background: Gordon was born and reared on a South-Central Manitoba farm. Marie is a city girl and has lived in Winnipeg all her life. They met through a church function and were married in Winnipeg in October of 1967.
Career Experience: Gordon came to Winnipeg in the Fall of 1965 in search of employment. After a few jobs, he joined the Winnipeg Police Force and gradu¬ated from the Academy. The responsibilities and experiences were varied and involved General Patrol, Traffic duties as well as Detectives, Youth and Child Abuse investigations. Station Duty and Community Relations completed the last of his 28 years of service.
Ministry Experience: Gordon became a Christian at the early age of eight years while attending a Bible Camp. It wasn’t until the age of 19 that Jesus Christ became real in his life. It was at this rededication that the Lord spoke to him, and his faith became real. Attending Calvary Temple in Winnipeg is where his faith began to grow. It was at this time that the Lord impressed upon him the importance of a ministry to boys. Throughout his career, he remained involved in ministry to boys, and then upon retirement in 1999, became involved full-time with Christian Service Brigade, serving the Prairies Region. In 2000, it became obvious that Christian Service Brigade Canada needed its own warehouse and distribution centre. This is a task he took on and has grown it into a successful operation.
Marie also became a Christian at an early age and has been a part of various ministries at Calvary Temple. Singing in the choir and teaching Sunday School have been her specialties. Women’s Ministries has also been an area where her talents were appreciated.
Family: Gordon and Marie have two children, the oldest is a son, Darren. Darren and Christa live in Winnipeg and have two daughters. Shaylene, lives with her husband, Dale Robertson, in Calgary; they have a son and a daughter.
Steve Grove
Regional Director – Northern Saskatchewan
Background: Steve’s 45-year history with Christian Service Brigade gives him a multi-faceted experience, a great appreciation for the history of the ministry, and a strong vision for the future of the organization’s growth. He grew up in Bramalea ON attending (Unit 2977) Stockade and Battalion and spent his summers at Camp Kakeka where he served two years as Program Director. In 1981, Steve earned the Herald of Christ at the age of 18.
Ministry: Over the years, Steve continued to volunteer in local units in Ontario, and became the Regional Director in Alberta in 2003. A few years later, Steve and his family moved to Saskatoon SK where he served as Senior Pastor of Louise Street Community Church for 15 years. At that time, Steve became Regional Director of Northern Saskatchewan. In 2010, Steve took on the additional role of team leader for the Stockade reVISION and the Battalion INNOV8 curriculum-update projects. In 2016, Steve became the President of CSB Canada and served in that capacity for five years. Today, he serves as the Northern Saskatchewan Regional Director and is working on the final draft of the Battalion Frontier Trails Achievement Guide, the follow-up volume to Steve’s Classic Adventure Trails.
Steve’s deep and lasting relationship with CSB Canada has fed his passion for leadership and education. Steve has earned his Bachelor of Theology, Master of Theological Studies, and Doctor of Ministry degrees while serving with CSB.
Family: Steve is married to Bonnie (who works in the non-profit sector and is a published author). They have two children, Ben and Heather.
Steve’s Purpose Statement: “I have a passion for discipleship, to see boys and young men being guided towards spiritual maturity by the godly men of the church. Christian Service Brigade continues to be a vital ministry of the local church in these days when statistics show again and again that our young men are losing interest in, and eventually leaving, the church.”
Howard and Kathie Pike
Interim President, CSB Regional Director – British Columbia and Alberta
Background: Howard was born and raised in Montreal. Kathie was born and raised in Vancouver. Their families moved to Coquitlam in the early 1970’s, where they met through CSB and church. They were married in 1982 and have two married children, Jim and Esther.
Career Experience: Upon graduating from BCIT in 1979, Howard began a career in design engineering. By God’s grace, he became Development Manager, then Technical Manager, and finished as Product Engineer in Toronto designing furnaces and working with various certification agencies. In 1988, Howard and family returned to Vancouver where they began a furnace repair and maintenance business. This allowed Howard the time to join CSB staff as a tentmaker missionary. In 2010, Howard answered God’s leading to trust Him completely by working for CSB alone.
Ministry Experience: Howard was raised in a Christian home and has known the reality of Christ all his life. As a teen, he joined Battalion #1085 (West Island Baptist). Thus began a life of devotion to his Saviour that has been closely tied to CSB. Since 1970, Howard has served as a Corporal, Sergeant, Ranger, Lieutenant, Captain, and Tree Climber Coordinator in four churches, one being in the Toronto Area. He was asked to chair the local CSB Area Committee in 1998 and answered God’s Call to join CSB’s staff in 2001. In 2002, Howard and his family began volunteering at CSB’s Camp Teepee Pole in Alberta. And, in late 2011, Howard was appointed as the CSB Regional Director for Alberta, as well as BC. That same year, Howard joined the international Stockade reVISION team and helps develop CSB’s current line-up of Stockade Achievement and curriculum. In 2018, he began helping with Battalion Achievement and curriculum. And in late 2021, he was asked by the CSB Canada Board to serve as the Interim President.
Family: Kathie came to Christ as a teen. After marrying Howard, she was determined to be a stay-at-home mom and worked the phones for the family business. She has served in various capacities in the church, including 10 years in the Nursery and leading in Pioneer Girls and CSB’s Girls Alive ministry. She is currently serving in CSB as a volunteer Regional Staff Assistant. Both children are married: Jim (and Brittany) in Lower Mainland BC; Esther (and Marwan) in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Howard and Kathie enjoy their five grandchildren.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Throughout Christian Service Brigade’s long history in Canada, a diversity of men and women have stepped into leadership roles by becoming members of our Board of Directors. These Christ-followers have brought their unique skills, talents, wisdom, and experience to help guide our ministry on its primary mission of “Building Godly Men of Today and Tomorrow.”
The people listed below represent our current Board of Directors. We are blessed to have their faithful and voluntary guidance and stewardship of our ministry.
Together, in partnership with our Canadian Staff and fueled by our shared faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we continue to strive for a vibrant vision and future for this ministry that was started many years ago by Brigade’s founder, Joe Coughlin.
To contact our Board of Directors, email: Board@CSBcan.ca.
Warren Hart, Chairman
Warren Hart is from Winnipeg and has been involved with CSB #590 both as a boy and as a leader. He started bringing his own son to CSB in 1997 and has served as a leader in the program since that time. His son, Chris, went on to become Herald of Christ #C204. Warren continues to serve with Calvary Temple in various leadership roles.
Professionally, Warren continues to work as an award-winning educator in the public school system.
Art Maitland
Art’s involvement with CSB started at Hillsdale Baptist in Regina, Saskatchewan. A Stockade group was running there, so when his oldest son became of age for Tree Climbers (six years old), Art started the Tree Climbers program for his church. He was involved there until his move to Edmonton in 1998. He then joined Ellerslie Road Baptist’s Tree Climber program and served there until the church cancelled the ministry in 2010.
Art is a faithful servant to CSB for decades. He was invited to serve on the CSB Canada Board by Harold Browne in 1996, and later, on the CSB USA Board as CSB Canada’s representative. Art has also served on his church’s board and on the board of the Baptist General Conference of Canada.
Art is a retired millwright living in Edmonton, Alberta.
Gordon Lovegrove
Gord is from Kelowna BC by way of Coquitlam, and was involved with CSB Battalion #3273 (Calvary Baptist, Coquitlam) both as a boy and as a leader, serving as a Corporal and Lieutenant. He helped restart CSB Unit #3445 in 2008 at Grace Baptist Church in Kelowna and went on to serve as a Ranger. He has served in church leadership and is a member of the board of Kelowna’s Gospel Mission.
Professionally, Dr Gord is the Associate Professor of Sustainable Communities at UBCO’s School of Engineering. Gord chairs the CSCE’s Committee on Sustainability, and is a co-author of several books on sustainability, including most recently the ASCE’s Engineering Sustainable Communities.
Wayne King
Wayne is man driven to help boys and men do their best in their lives, churches and communities. He is a proud Canadian. Wayne says, “I believe we all have a mission to make the world we live in a better place. Jesus would have us all come to Him as their Lord and Savior.
Wayne served with CSB in Surrey BC as a Ranger, Battalion Captain, and then Chief Ranger for Bear Creek Community Church, Unit 4093, for 30+ years. He has been involved with the local Western Fraser Valley Area/Regional Committee for decades and had chaired it for more than 10 years. He is also an avid leader of Men’s Ministry supporting CSB’s quest through Iron Sharpens Iron to build men for Christ in Canada. Wayne explains, “My experience in CSB has grown me into a man who loves the Lord my God with all my heart with all my strength and all my soul. Mark 12:30-31. Leading boys and men has grown my Christian walk with each experience, whether it be sharing life experience, speaking at a campfire, camping, canoeing, playing floor hockey, cooking, woodworking or teaching mechanics, and in so many other ways. Brigade is fun.”
Wayne is semi-retired in Sechelt, BC, after many years in parts and distribution.
Keith Hadigate
Keith writes, “I have been happily married for almost 50 years, have 3 married daughters and 7 grandchildren. I am blessed that our girls and grandchildren are following the Lord.
“I grew up as an only child in a Christian home. My dad was diagnosed with cancer when I was 10 and was unable to work. Mom worked sacrificially. Dad passed away when I was 16. During those years I was involved in CSB first in Stockade and then in Battalion. In 1967 I received my Herald of Christ. I was blessed to attend the several Non Com Conferences also. During those years I attended CSB Camp Kakeka in Haliburton and that is where I made a commitment to follow Christ. I was a camper, then volunteer staff and then a Kakeka Board member. I also had the privilege of attending Northwoods, the CSB leadership camp.
“My CSB involvement includes Captain, Lt., and Chief Ranger at the local church level. I was active on several Area Committees planning area events and assisted with the All Ontario Camporee. Also taught a number of the CSB Leadership courses.
“My work experience is varied. I ministered with YFC, my wife and I were House Parents for a number of years, I then transitioned to work for a Children’s Aid Society. Then a number of years in retail sales at Sears, several years in the insurance business and finally the past 30 plus years as Executive Director of Camp Cherith – Ontario. I semi retired just prior to COVID and have stayed on in an advisory role at camp.
“Over the years I have been blessed to fellowship with other amazing camp people through my time on the Christian Camping International Canadian Board and also my time serving on the Provincial arm of CCI Canada. I also had the privilege of serving on the Board of the North American Cherith / Cedarbrook Camps Association.
“I thank the Lord for the Brigade Ministry that provided the Biblical grounding and leadership skills that have carried me through the varied positions God has placed me in.”
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