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The Rev. Dr. Paula Sampson passed away on July 10, 2026.

Paula served as Director of Indigenous Studies and Assistant Professor of Ethics and First Nations Studies at VST from 2009 to 2015. She had been a valued member of the VST community for many years before assuming these roles. She served as a Native Ministries Program (NMP) tutor, sessional lecturer, and member of the Board of Governors.

Paula was deeply loved by students and faculty colleagues alike. She brought wisdom and calm to meetings, encouraged those around her, and was known for her infectious laugh. Her locating interviews for students entering the Indigenous M.Div. program often involved travelling to meet them personally, demonstrating her genuine interest in and commitment to every student.

Paula helped her colleagues develop a deeper appreciation for the significance of the Indigenous Studies Program. In 2013, she presented a gift—a ceramic canoe—to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission gathering held in Vancouver as an expression of reconciliation. This gift was offered alongside a verbal commitment by VST to Truth and Reconciliation. It was subsequently placed in the beautiful Bentwood Box created by Coast Salish carver Luke Marston and is now held by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Paula served extensively as an Anglican priest in both Alaska and northern British Columbia. She also taught at the University of Northern British Columbia, Vancouver School of Theology, and Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a. She was adopted into the Nisga’a Nation (Wolf Clan) and held degrees from the Graduate Theological Union (Ph.D. in Environmental Ethics), Pacific School of Religion (M.Div.), the University of Washington (M.A. in Spirituality and Culture), and a B.A. from the same institution.

She served on the Theological Education Commission of the Anglican Church, helping to develop principles, competencies, and standards for candidates for priesthood. Paula also served as a thesis reader for students at Oxford University, the University of Victoria, and the University of British Columbia. She completed an important project entitled Talking to the Other: The Interface Between Orality and Literacy in Indigenous Theological Education.

Paula was married for 30 years to the late The Rev. Archdeacon John (Ian) MacKenzie (1934–2025), whom she described as “the love of her life.” 

We offer our prayers for Paula’s family and friends and give thanks to God for her life, witness and unfailing advocacy.

Blessed are those who die in the Lord, they may rest from their labours, for their deeds follow them