Gary Johnson | State Deputy Profile

Gary was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan on July 6, 1946. In 1953 Gary, with his parents and brother left Saskatchewan and moved to Edmonton, Alberta. During his first stay in Alberta, Gary met his future wife Evelyn and they were married in 1972. Gary and his late wife Evelyn raised three children: Michelle, Ann-Marit and Kristoffer. In addition to his three children, Gary now has three grand children: Cameron, Bennett and Griffen.

In 1988, Gary joined the Knights of Columbus and became a member of Archbishop O’Leary Council #4570 in Edmonton. By 1989, Gary and Evelyn had moved to Oshawa, Ontario, where they became active in their new council St. Mary of the People #8611. In 1991, the Johnson family returned to Alberta where Gary became a member of Brother Anthony Council #10014 in St. Albert. After their return to Alberta, Gary and his late wife Evelyn were actively involved with Brother Anthony Council #10014 as well as Holy Family Parish.

Gary married Cheryl Dimos also of St. Albert in July of 2011 and they presently reside in St. Albert.

Gary has been a member of Brother Anthony Council # 10014 for eighteen years and is currently a member of the council’s First Degree Team and Holy Family Parish choir. He is also a Fourth Degree Knight. Gary has served the Knights of Columbus as Grand Knight, District Deputy, State Warden, State Advocate, State Secretary and was elected State Deputy at the 2011 State Convention.

As an Advisor and Trainer, Gary is currently employed by the Alberta Construction Safety Association.

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Fr. Henry Rosenbaum | State Chaplain Profile

I was born on St. Nicholas Day, Dec. 6, 1934 in Dortmund, an industrial city that produced coal, steel and beer, in WestPhalia, Germany. My parents were Heinrich Rosenbaum, a steel worker and Anna Rosenbaum nee Nerlich, a housewife. I was baptized Dec. 9, 1934 and was named Heinrich Heribert at our parish church, St. Joseph. I had two sisters’ one older Elisabeth and one younger Maria-Theresia. During my early childhood it was not easy for a committed Catholic family to live a normal life. I started Elementary School in 1941 and received First Communion on May 2nd, 1943. A few days later we lost our home and all our possessions in an Air Raid. All the children were evacuated from the city into the country-side and I spent the rest of the war in an evacuated Catholic orphanage. in Brakel near Höxter. I went back home in the fall of 1945 when the schools reopened. I was confirmed Nov. 14, 1946 by the Archbishop of Palderborn Lorenz, Cardinal Jäger.

I had already felt early in life that God was calling me to the priesthood. So 60 years ago on April 26, 1948, through the mediation of my parish priest I entered the Minor Seminary of the Pallottine Fathers, in Rheinbach near Bonn. After graduation in 1956 I entered the Novitiate and made my First Profession on April 25, 1958. After I completed my Philosophical and Theological studies at the Pallottine Seminary in Vallendar near Koblenz, I was ordained to the Priesthood on July 17, 1962 by Bishop Dr. Stein, Auxiliary of Trier and in January of 1963 I was happy to attend the canonization of our Founder, St. Vincent Pallotti in Rome. After I finished my Theological studies with a Lec.Theol, I was sent to Canada with Fr. Wolfgang Weiss. We spent 3 months in Hamilton, ON. learning English and being introduced to the Canadian way of life. In September we began our studies at the University of Alberta and I received a Bachelor of Arts and Science Degreein 1966 and finished off my schooling at theUniversity of Calgary receiving a Bachelor of Education Degree in 1967. In the fall of 1967 I began teaching at St. Francis High School in Calgary where I taught Latin, English and Religious Studies until 1982. During that time I also helped with different pastoral assignments. Since my High School days I had been involved with music and continued to conduct choirs particularly with those of German background. One should always use the gifts God has given us. After 15 years of teaching and a Sabbatical leave I was asked to shepherd the Parish of St. Columba’s in Swan River, MB. along with Father Frank Feldmann who was the Associate Priest and looked after the Northern part of the Parish. We had 9 Missions and 2 Native Reserves.

After I was appointed Provincial Delegate in 1987 I returned to Calgary in 1988 just after the Winter Olympics. Bishop Paul O’Bryne asked me to re-establish the then defunct DiocesanReligious Education Department where I worked for ten years. As this was only a parttime position I helped at St. Cecilia’s Parish with the R.C.I.A. program and later as Dominical Vicar at St. Boniface. After the resignation of Ludwig Hens in 2001 I was called to be Pastor of St. Cecilia’s Parish and held that position until 2005. I was also then appointed Provincial Delegate, a position I held until 2008.

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Neil Gannon | Immediate Past State Deputy Profile

Neil, who was initiated as a charter member of the Fort Saskatchewan Council, has been an active member of the Knights of Columbus for over 35 years. Over the years Neil has held all of the positions at the council level and has served as District Deputy, State Public Relations Director, State Warden, State Advocate, and State Secretary and State Deputy. Neil has been married to his lovely wife, Cecile, for 48 years and they have four married children and ten delightful grandchildren all living in Edmonton. Neil has four university degrees including a Doctor of Education degree and has held senior positions in Educational Administration, including School Superintendent for fourteen years and Executive Director of the College of Alberta School Superintendents for six years. Neil and Cecile are active members of Good Shepherd Parish in Edmonton.

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William Smith | State Secretary Profile

Bill is a Maritimer from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Bill is a university graduate with BComm, BA, BEd, degrees from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax and a MEd Admin from the University of Alberta. He currently works as a Corporate Accountant in the Head Office of CEDA International Corporation in Calgary. Bill worked in the education field, teaching in Halifax and Fort McMurray before venturing into the Oil & Gas industry.

Bill began his career in the Knights of Columbus in Fort McMurray with Bishop Breynant Council 6166 where he held several positions, moving up to Grand Knight before migrating to Calgary. He settled into Steve Mackevic Council 7938 as trustee before moving to Father Jan Otlowski, S.Ch Council 14497 as the Charter Financial Secretary. Bill plays an active role on the State Executive and has been State Treasurer, State Advocate, Membership Director and Youth Director. He has always been available to lend a hand and will continue to be there for the members and their families.

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Charles Russell | State Treasurer Profile

Charles joined the Knights of Columbus on April 29, 1979 in Bradford, Ontario. (Council 4915). He became part of the First Degree team but was transferred to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia before the team was certified.

Charles transferred into Council 7302 in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia and became active and was a member of the First Degree team. Charles has served in all the Council’s executive chairs, from Outside Guard to Grand Knight. Charles was selected as Grand Knight of the Year in his first year and the Council was selected as Council of the Year in his second year as Grand Knight.

Charles was then transferred to Calgary and immediately joined Father Albert Newman Council 8470 where again he helped form a First Degree team and is still active on the team. He again went through all the chairs in the Council. Charles was appointed District Deputy in 1995 and was Star District two years running.

He served as Assistant State Treasurer from 2005 until June 2011.

Charles and his late wife, Claudia, raised four children who are spread all over Canada and the USA.

Charles retired from his own small company in 2006 and now spends his time volunteering with the Knights of Columbus and with the Father Lacombe Care Centre in Calgary. He is actively involved, as Chair of the Board of Directors, in the building of a new fifty million-dollar Care Centre.

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Ron Schuster | State Advocate Profile

Ron was born in Grimshaw AB, then moved to Rimbey AB at an early age. There, he was raised by his loving Grandparents on a farm near Rimbey until the age of 15. At that time he moved to Edmonton to live with his Mother and younger Brother. Ron still resides in and calls Edmonton home.

Ron became a member of the City of Edmonton Police Department at the age of 20 and remained with the City of Edmonton Police Department for 15 years. He then moved in the Fraud Section of the Province of Alberta for 7 years. Ron then proceeded to own and operate an Alarm Business for many years. At the present time Ron is in Real Estate with Re/Max Real Estate and has been for the past 10 years.

Ron his wife Kathy, have been married for 43 years. Both enjoy their Family of 3 children, son (In-Law) 5 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild who all reside close by in Edmonton.

In 1983 Ron began his journey as a Knight of Columbus, becoming a Charter Member of St. Nicholas Council 8314.Over the years Ron has had the pleasure to act as Grand Knight for St. John Bosco Council #10986, DD for District 10, Knights of Columbus Convention Chairman, Padre Knight Chairman, Membership Director for State and State Warden.

As a Member of St. John Bosco Council #10986 for the last 10 years, Ron is very active in both Council and Parish, offering service as a Eucharistic Minister, Usher and Reader within the Parish. Ron is a 4^th Degree member of St. John Paul 1 Assembly.

Ron is extremely honored to have been elected as State Advocate for the next Columbian year and looks forward to providing positive leadership to the Members of the Order in this capacity.

Ron will continue to provide an open door policy to any Brothers requiring this assistance.

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Vince Reyes | State Warden Profile

Born and raised in the Philippines, Vicente (Vince), moved to Canada in 1982 to be with his lovely wife, Ruby. They are the proud parents of two wonderful children, Stephanie Jean and Richard Vince Joseph. Stephanie graduated from the University of Alberta with degrees in Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with Psychology Minor and Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education with distinction. She is presently teaching at St. Mary’s Catholic School. Richard has an Emergency Medical Responder certificate and is undergoing studies at NAIT to be a paramedic.

Vince obtained his Bachelor of Journalism degree from the Lyceum of the Philippines; Management Development certificate and Fellow Credit Institute (FCI), now CCP, designation from the University of Alberta Faculty of Extension. After working in the credit industry for over 25 years, he is now working as a supervisor at Dufry Duty Free Shop. Ruby works at the Department of Medicine Clinic at the University of Alberta Hospitals.

Following the footsteps of his late father, a former Superintendent of Schools, he joined the Knights of Columbus in 1976. He was instrumental in the formation of St. Vincent Ferrer Council No. 6838 in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. He was a Charter member, Charter Deputy Grand Knight and Grand Knight for two years with that Council.

A few years after coming to Canada, he transferred to St. Peter Council No. 7070. In 2001, together with three Filipino Knights, formed the Nazareno Council No. 12904, the first Filipino Council in Alberta-Northwest Territories.

Vince has the distinction of the only Grand Knight of Nazareno Council who served for two terms, from 2002-2004. He was awarded the State Council’s “Grand Knight of the Year” for 2002-2003. Two years in a row, he led the council in winning some prestigious awards, notably, “Council of the Year,” “Best Bulletin of the Year,” “ State Deputy’s Club” 200 Membership Net Gain, and Supreme Council’s “Star Council Award.”

He was a delegate to the 2002 Supreme Convention in Anaheim, California.

From 2005-2007, he served as District Deputy for District No. 14, composed of St. Peter Council No. 7070, Father Bonner Council No. 7599, St. Joseph’s College No. 10060, Holy Trinity Council No. 12353 and Nazareno Council No. 12904. In 2005-2006, he was awarded the “District Deputy of the Year” and “Best All Around District Deputy.” In 2006-2007, he was recognized as “Best All Around District Deputy,” “State Deputy’s District Membership Award” and Supreme Council’s “All Star District Deputy.” Two years in a row, he received the Supreme Council’s “Star District Award.”

Vince joined the Fourth Degree in 1977 in the Philippines, a Charter member and Faithful Navigator of St. Michael Assembly No. 2795 from 2008-2010, was the recipient of the “Largest Membership Gain” in 2008-2009 and currently serving as Faithful Admiral.

He is a certified First and Second Degree team member performing the roles of Ceremonial Grand Knight and Ceremonial District Deputy, respectively.

Together with his wife and daughter, they are active Adult Servers and Eucharistic Ministers at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church.

Vince served as State Family Director from 2007-2011.

At the present, he is a proud Charter member and Chancellor of Father Michael J. Troy Council No. 15290, the newest Council in the jurisdiction.

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