A Parish Story from Parkdale | Toronto

The Dale Ministries is a community organization and church without its own walls. They have been faithfully collaborating for renewal with God for over ten years in their neighborhood of Parkdale in Toronto, Canada. 

The Dale welcomes all people while making intentional space for those kept in the margins. They call themselves “Nomads with a Schedule” as they function through partnerships with other organizations and churches that allow them to use their space throughout the week for their Sunday gathering, share meals, provide supplies and meals to those living outside, nurture friendships, gather to explore spirituality, and practice presence in their neighborhood.

As with all of us, the pandemic brought a new series of challenges for the Dale, yet they’ve continued to creatively weave new relationships and projects for the common good in their shared common ground, working to create interdependence with as many of their neighbors as possible. 

Erinn Oxford

“The Church has never been a building. We are the Body of Christ on earth and the temple of the Holy Spirit, actual living and breathing sanctuaries.”

At the Inhabit Conference in April 2022, Erinn Oxford, Executive Director & Pastor of the Dale, shared the story of the death of one of her beloved houseless neighbors and how it touched her life as well as the entire community. Click to watch her story on Youtube.

Visit the Dale’s website to learn more about their ministry or to connect with Erinn.