Introducing Our New Executive Director

The Board of Directors of Silver Lake Mennonite Camp are delighted to announce that after a long and exhaustive search, Alissa Bender has been appointed the new Executive Director of SLMC. We are so pleased that Alissa, who has been an active and engaged member of the Silver Lake community, has joined us in this new capacity. She will start October 15.

Alissa brings extensive camp leadership experience to SLMC. She spent the past two summers at Silver Lake as Camp Pastor, and has also served as Spiritual Life Director at Fraser Lake Camp and Camp Pastor at Camp Valaqua in Alberta.

Her other SLMC summers have included volunteering in the kitchen and leading specialized camp sessions. She even officiated the iconic chicken wedding that many remember from when the Silver Lake chickens were around!

Outside the camp setting, Alissa was the pastor of Hamilton Mennonite Church for 12 years and associate pastor of Calgary First Mennonite Church for three years. Her name is well known in the constituency having led MCEC committees around youth and capacity building. Young adult ministry has always energized her, especially accompanying young leaders.

Alissa brings collaborative leadership skills and leads with warmth and grace. A person of deep personal integrity, she is a strong communicator who engages well with all ages and brings everyone into conversation.

We are confident that with Alissa Bender’s strength and purpose, we are on an exciting new path to a continued bright and successful future at SLMC. We feel blessed and wish Alissa our very best at this new beginning.

Margaret Nally, SLMC Board Chair