Our Team
Our Bishop
Diocesan Bishop, The Right Reverend Sandra Fyfe
The Right Rev. Sandra Fyfe was elected Diocesan Bishop on September 12, 2020, and consecrated on November 30, 2020; the 17th person to hold the post. A graduate of Queen’s Theological College, St. John’s, NL with her Master of Divinity, Sandra was ordained deacon in 2000 and priest in 2001. She has served in the diocese of Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador as well as Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. She was Archdeacon of the South Shore Region until 2009 and Archdeacon of the Valley Region until 2017.
Rector and Dean, The Very Reverend Paul Smith
Paul grew up in Tilton, New Hampshire, where he and his family were active members of Trinity Episcopal Church. After completing a degree in Electronic Engineering, he discerned a call to ordained ministry which led him to pursue a degree in Psychology at Plymouth State University, in New Hampshire, before moving on to Huron College, London, ON where he graduated with a Master of Divinity. Ordained in the Diocese of Quebec, Paul served in Quebec and then in the Diocese of Western Newfoundland and Labrador. He then moved to Dartmouth, NS to serve as Rector of Christ Church until beginning his ministry at All Saints Cathedral in the fall of 2008. Among his interests are ministry with children, preaching, music, and pastoral care. Paul is married to the Rev. Frances Drolet-Smith and they have two adult children. Dean Paul can be reached by email here.
Assistant Priest for Congregational Life and Community Engagement, The Reverend Dr. Kate Heichler
The Reverend Dr. Kate Heichler is a graduate of Yale Divinity School in New Haven Connecticut and received her Doctor of Ministry from the Hartford International University for Religion and Peace with a focus on Missional Church Studies and Church growth. Ordained in the U.S. Episcopal Church in 2003, much of her ordained ministry has been spent in Connecticut, where she also led a regional interfaith council and was deeply involved in ministries among people who are homeless — including efforts to end homelessness. Kate coordinated Evangelism Training for the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, while developing an experimental missional initiative in Stamford. Since 2018 she has been the Rector of Christ Church, La Plata and Christ Church, Wayside in Maryland. Her skills include innovative worship and getting congregations more engaged in their surrounding communities. Rev. Kate also holds a degree in Drama and is a writer, maintains an online podcast; Water Daily, and is a singer, guitar-player and composer of songs and liturgical music. “I believe we are most fully the church when we’re outside our buildings. What we do inside is celebrate and recharge — our real life as a church happens beyond our walls.” Kate can be reached here
Deacons of the Cathedral Church
Deacon, The Reverend Ray Carter, TSSF
Reverend Ray Carter is a lifelong member of the Cathedral Congregation. He was baptized, confirmed and married at the Cathedral Church. Ray has been a server, a lay reader and a Sunday school teacher. He has served as a member of Council several times and spent five years as the Dean’s Warden. In 2001 he was awarded a Diploma in Theology and Ministry from the Atlantic School of Theology and was Ordained Deacon in 2007. In 2006 Ray made vows of Life Profession as a Tertiary in the Third Order Society of Saint Francis.
Cathedral Church Music Staff
Caitlin Strong, Director of Music Ministry for the 9:30 a.m. Service
Caitlin Strong is a pianist from the Annapolis Valley in Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia). She received her Bachelor of Music in May 2022 from Mount Allison University, where she studied with David Rogosin. In June 2024, she received her Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Ottawa, where she studied with David Jalbert. While in Ottawa, Caitlin played for the uOttawa Choral Ensemble, taught at the École de musique Lachance, and played at the NAC Fourth Stage with cellist Vinci Chen and flutist Amanda Jansen. Now based in Kjipuktuk (Halifax), Caitlin is a collaborative pianist for the woodwind department at Dalhousie University and teaches piano and voice at Andrea's Music Studio. This summer, Caitlin joined PEI-based tenor Ian Soloman on tour in Charlottetown and Halifax performing the famous song cycle Die schöne Müllerin (“The Fair Miller’s Daughter”) by German composer Franz Schubert, took part in an evening of music with the Wyndrock Quintet at Halifax Central Library, and gave a concert in Caraquet, NB alongside three other skilled pianists as part of an artist workshop with Musique sur mer en Acadie. Caitlin loves exploring music old and new, and relishes in the joy and community that comes from sharing music with others. She is thrilled to be joining the music team at All Saints Cathedral this fall. In her spare time, Caitlin enjoys reading, drawing, video games, tending to her plants, and spending time with her cats, Rhubarb and Boomer.
Paul Halley, MA, Music Director
Paul Halley is a Grammy Award-winning composer, choral conductor, and organist. He received his early musical training in Ottawa, and at sixteen became an Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto. He received his MA from Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was Organ Scholar, and was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists. He served as Organist and Choirmaster at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC from 1977-1989. Paul later settled in Connecticut and in 1991 founded the choirs, Chorus Angelicus and Gaudeamus, which are still active today. He relocated to Halifax and in the summer of 2015, Paul was appointed Organist and Director of Music at the Cathedral Church. Paul and his wife Meg live on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. To learn more about Paul click here. Paul can be reached by email here.
Nick Halley, Assistant Music Director
Nick Halley is a drummer/percussionist, keyboardist, composer, and conductor. Along with being the Assistant Director of Music at the Cathedral Church, he is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Capella Regalis Men and Boys Choir. Nick founded and for 11 years (to 2021) directed The King’s Chorus, a choral society for members of the King’s and Dalhousie University communities in Halifax. For the 2013-14 season, Nick was the Host of CBC’s national radio program, Choral Concert. As a drummer and world percussionist, Nick performs and records internationally with a wide range of musicians and has taught in workshop venues around the world.
