Diocesan Business Administrator and St. Christopher, West Vancouver parishioner Rob Dickson will be one of five recipients of this year’s Anglican Award of Merit. The award is the Anglican Church of Canada’s highest award available to laity and is presented to those who have contributed with distinction and dedication to the work and life of the church at the national and international level.
Rob’s receipt of the award was announced at the spring meetings of the Council of General Synod held in Toronto during the second week of March, 2010.
Originally from Eastern Canada, Rob moved to Vancouver in the 1970’s. He became a member of Christ Church Cathedral. By 1980 he was in parish leadership and over the next 6 years took on the roles of; warden, trustee and treasurer. Rob's effectiveness in parish leadership did not go unnoticed by the Bishop's Office and by 1987 he was asked to bring his skills to the diocesan level where he served as Diocesan Treasurer and Executive Officer from 1987-2000.
His devotion to his faith, his eagerness to serve and his excellent business skills soon had him serving on and ultimately chairing a number of key national committees and initiatives.
He served as chair of General Synod’s financial management and development committee, chaired the task force that developed and presented the current National proportional gift formula and he was also a member of the Residential Schools Settlement Task Force.
Currently Rob works full time as the Business Administrator for the Diocese of New Westminster and continues his national church service as a member of the Anglican Journal board and also chair of the Philanthropy Committee of the financial management and development committee.
With Rob’s receipt of the award he joins two other Diocese of New Westminster recipients: Garth Walker (1998) and Cynthia Llewellyn (2001).
The other four recipients for the 2010 award are:
Canon Alice Jean (AJ) Finlay known for her social justice work is former vice-chair of Kairos, the ecumenical justice and peace organization and was the Anglican Church of Canada’s representative of the Central Committee, the World Council of Churches’ governing body.
David Jones, chancellor of the diocese of Edmonton and provincial chancellor for the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert’s Land.
 Mary Elizabeth Loweth, a passionate advocate for women’s rights and currently coordinator for the Anglican Communion’s International Anglican Women’s Network (IAWN).
Monica Patten, president and CEO of Community Foundations of Canada and chair of General Synod’s national financial management and development committee and a life-long passionate advocate for philanthropy.
Responding on the day of the announcement March 18, 2010 to Marites Sison a staff writer for the Anglican Journal, Rob Dickson said this about receiving the award: “It is my privilege to offer my service to ‘our beloved church’ and its work in forwarding the mission of God in this world.”