Our Pastor - Father Pierre Champoux

Fr. Pierre Champoux was born in Edmonton, AB, on May 13, 1964, and is the son of Andre Champoux and Anna Cormier. He also has two older brothers, Robert and Jacques. Throughout his early childhood and late teens, Fr. Pierre’s father was in the Air Force, which resulted in various postings across the country (Lancaster Park, Edmonton, CFB St. Hubert, QC, CFB Rockcliffe, and CFB Griesbach, Edmonton).

Throughout his early life, Fr. Pierre loved to read and to see Saturday afternoon matinees at the base theatre. After graduating from Sir Wilfrid Laurier High School in 1983, he went on to study motion pictures and still photography at Algonquin College and graduated in 1986. After working in the field of Photography for a few years, the religious bug took hold.

From 1987-88, he spent a year at the Madonna House Lay Apostolate (Combermere, ON), and two years discerning a potential calling with the Companions of the Cross (Ottawa) 1987-89. After taking a three year break from discernment, Fr. Pierre was accepted by Archbishop Marcel Gervais to begin studies for the Diocesan priesthood of the Archdiocese of Ottawa. In 1995, he received his Ba.Ph from The Dominican College of Philosophy and Theology (Ottawa), and his M.Div from the University of Toronto (St. Augustine’s Seminary College) in 2001. On June 9, 2001, Fr. Pierre was ordained as a Diocesan priest for the Archdiocese of Ottawa.

Since his ordination 15 years ago, Fr. Pierre has been at three parishes before his current assignment at St. Margaret Mary parish. From 2001-2, Fr. Pierre was the Associate Pastor of Resurrection of our Lord parish under Msgr. Edward Lunney. From 2002-9, he was the Pastor at Holy Name of Mary parish in Almonte and St. Declan Mission, Brightside. From the Summer of 2009-16, he was the Pastor of Holy Redeemer parish in Kanata.

In addition to his parish assignments, Fr. Pierre served a full term as Regional Vicar of Region IV and was a member of the Personnel Committee. He is currently serving as a member of the College of Consulters for Region III and a member of the Presbyteral Council.

Fr. Pierre’s hobbies include reading, watching films at the theatre, and riding his cruiser motorcycle on the open road with some of his friends (including Bishop Scott McCaig, time permitting). An extrovert by nature, Fr. Pierre prefers spending time getting to know people and spending time with them, than he does sitting behind a desk.

As of August 1^st, 2016, Fr. Pierre has been assigned as our Pastor at St. Margaret Mary for a 6 year term. He will also be the Chaplain for Carleton University and is the new Vocations Director for the Archdiocese of Ottawa.

Parish Office Manager - Leslie VandeLaar

Leslie joined our Parish team in December 2009.  Her duties as Parish Office Manager encompasses administration, bookkeeping and building management. Her previous work experience includes service in the Canadian Armed Forces and many years of work in Medical Administration.


Leslie was born in Belleville, Ontario.  Her father's military carreer resulted in a childhood spent living in many places in Canada.  After finishing her education at the University of Winnipeg, Leslie married Bob VandeLaar in 1981.  The couple have two children, Nicole and Michael.


Leslie is a member of St. George Parish, where her husband Bob serves as the Deacon.