Lieutenant-Colonel the Reverend Canon C. Shawn Samson, CD

Ordained Deacon: May 2, 1993
Ordained Priest: Apr 25, 1994

Ecclesiastical Appointment

Feb 2014- Jan 2016: Diocesan Archdeacon
May 23, 2014: Installed Diocesan Archdeacon (Stall of St. Gudrid)
November 2013 – Present: Appointed Canon of the Military Ordinariate
May 25, 2014: Installed Canon of the Military Ordinariate (Stall of St. Patrick)
Oct 2012 – Feb 2014: Appointed Archdeacon Avalon
Jan 25, 2013: Installed Archdeacon of Avalon (Chair of St. Mary Magdalene)

Education:

May 2009: Master of Laws (Canon Law) Cardiff University, Wales
May 2003: Master of Sacred Theology, Nashotah House Seminary,
April 1998: Certificate in Bereavement and Grief Counseling
April 1993: Master of Divinity, Queen’s College,
July 1991: Supervised Pastoral Education Certificate
May 1990: Bachelor of Arts, Memorial
June 1985: Graduated Mount Pearl Central High School

Awards

Jun 17 2025: Canadian Decoration 1
May 6 2023: King Charles III Coronation Medal
June 2018: Coin recognition by Commander of Canadian Military Personal Command
Jul 7, 2015: Canadian Decoration
Jun 18, 2007: Chief of Land Staff Commendation

Parish Work Experience:

Feb 2014 – Jan 2015: Diocesan Archdeacon
Nov 2003 – Feb 2014: Rector Holy Innocents, Paradise
May 1998 – Nov 2003: Rector St. James, Carbonear
Sept 1995 – May 1998: Assistant Priest (Curate) Parish of St. Mary the Virgin St. John’s
Apr 1994 – Sept 1995: Assistant Priest Parish of Labrador West Aug 1993 – Apr 25, 1994  Deacon Parish of Labrador West.
June & July 1993: Deacon Hospital Chaplain
Sept – Dec 1992: Internship at St. Thomas’ Church St. John’s

Military Service & Committees

July 2021 – Present: Appointed Director Chaplain Operations 3
December 2021: Advanced Chaplain’s Officer’s Course (Ottawa)
June 2020-July 2021: Appointed 5 Div Command Chaplain
Aug 2019 – 2021: Member of the Advisory Group of Canadian Army Reserves
May 1-16 2019 Chaplain in Deployed Operations Course
Feb 2018 – July 2021: Appointed Deputy Army Command Chaplain and promoted to the rank of LCol
June 15-30 2018: Ministry in a Pluralism Environment Course
August 15- 31 2017: Military Counseling course
August 1-15 1017: Ethics Course
January 2016 – January 2020: Responsible for PRes Chaplaincy recruiting CAF wide
Jan 2015 – 2020: Member of Chaplain Recruiting Committees
Sept 2015 – Feb 2019: Deputy Division Chaplain for 5 Canadian Division,
November 2013: Appointed Canon of the Military Ordinariate
March 2013: Appointed Major
February 2013: Intermediate Chaplain’s Officer’s Course (CFB Borden)
September 2012 – 2015: Appointed Brigade Chaplain 37 CFG (Canadian Battle Group)
July 2011: Ceremony at Beaumont Hamel, France
April 2010: Trooping of Colours Ceremony 1^st BN Royal Newfoundland Regiment & Visit of Commander-in-Chief (member of steer committee for Princess Royals visit)
July 2006: Royal Newfoundland Regiment Pilgrimage to France & Flanders
May 2005: Canadian Armed Forces Basic Officer Training Course (Part II)
May 2004: Canadian Armed Forces Basic Officer Training Course (Part I)
Aug 2002 – January 2013: Chaplain 1^st Battalion Royal Newfoundland Regiment

Secular Work Experience (Non-ministry):

Summer 1992: Library Assistant at Queen’s College
August 1991: Stock Clerk, Manson Drugs
1984-1990: Employed by Grafton Fraser

Volunteer Experience

2013 – 2020: TAMMI interviewer (Tradition and Mini-Med Interviews); volunteer interviewer for potential medical students at the Memorial School of Medicine
2013: Planned Silent Auction with donations to the new Parish of St. Michael’s
July 2005 – July 2006: Chair Fund-raising France & Flanders Pilgrimage for the Royal Newfoundland Regiment
1998 – 2003: Member Kiwanis Carbonear
• July 2001 – Aug 2002: 1^st Vice President, Kiwanis Club of Carbonear
• Oct 2000 – Sept. 2001: Chair Kiwanis YCPO (Young Children Priority One)
• 1998-2003: Music Festival Volunteer
1995 – 2014: CLB Officer & Chaplain
• April 2001: Chaplain CLB W & NCO’s England Trip
• Nov 1999 – Sept 2002: Member Brigade Council of the CLB
• Sept 1995 – May 1998: Volunteer with Entertainment committee
• Oct 1999 – Sept 2002: Battalion Chaplain of CLB Avalon North Battalion
• July 1994, 1996 & 2001 Camp Chaplains

Committee Experience (Contributions to the local church, local community and wider church):

July 2013: Diocesan Representative to General Synod (Ottawa 2013)
October 2012 – Jan 2015: Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Chapter Member (Chair of St. Mary Magdalene)
May 2011 – Jan 2015: Member Diocesan Legislative Committee (Governance Restructuring)
Nov 2008 – Jan 2015: Member of Governance Committee Ecclesiastical Province of Canada
Sept 2006 – Jan 2015: Member of the Ecclesiastical Court for the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada
Sept 2006: Member of Provincial Synod
June 2006 – Sept 2006: Diocesan coordinator for Provincial Synod
Nov 2005 – April 2007: Chair Diocesan Monitoring Committee
Oct 2005 – April 2007: Member of the Diocesan Working group for Synod 2007
June 2005 – Oct 2009: Member of Diocesan Legislative Committee
June 2005 – April 2007: Member of 2007 Synod Planning Committee
May 2005 – Oct 2009: Secretary of the Diocesan Administration and Finance Committee
May 2005 – Oct 2009: Secretary of Diocesan Council
Nov 2004 – Nov 2005: Treasurer Paradise/CBS Ministerial Association
Jan 2002 – Nov 2005: Secretary Diocesan Monitoring Committee
Sept 2001 – Nov 2003: Secretary Conception Bay Deanery Chapter
Oct 2000 – Oct 2001: Chair Pastoral Care Committee Avalon Health Care Institutions Board
Feb 2000 – Sept 2002: Member of Medical Care Committee for the Carbonear General Hospital
Jan 2000 – May 2001: Member of the Diocesan Youth Commission
Oct 1999 – April 2001: Member of organizing committee CLB W & NCO’s England Trip
Oct 1999 – Aug 2002: Member Kiwanis Board of Directors
Sept 1999 – Nov 2003: Member of Diocesan Task Force Commission on Pastoral Ministry
Nov 1998 – Aug 2002: Member Kiwanis Music Festival Committee, Carbonear
May 1998 – Nov 2003: Chaplain to Carbonear General Hospital
May 1998 – Sept. 2002: Member of Avalon Health Care Institution Pastoral Care Board
May 1997: Attended Leadership Consolation on Anglican Essential’s in Ottawa
1994 – 1998: Member of St. Michael’s Diocesan Youth Conference Teaching Committee
1997: Convening Secretary of St. John’s and Area Council of Churches
1997 – 1998: Vice-president St. John’s Ministerial Association
1996 – 1998: Secretary St. John’s Mission to Seafarer’s Board of Director’s (Representing the Mission to Seamen)
1994 – 1996: Member Diocesan Program Committee
1993 – 1995: Member of Labrador Planning and Strategy Committee
Sept 1991 – Sept 1992: President of Student’s Association & Senior Student – Queen’s College
Sept 1991 – Sept 1992: Member of Queen’s College Cooperation Board