Fonds F3706 - John M. Metson fonds

John Murray Metson (1933-2018) was born in Brandon, Manitoba. He attended Waterloo Lutheran University, 1954-1957, then graduated from Mt. Allison University with a B.A. in Theology in 1960, and a B.D. from Queen’s University in 1961 (he later graduated with an M.A. Theology and Psychology). He was ordained in 1961 and initially served small towns in Alberta. In 1964 he moved to Toronto, and established the first non-congregational, community outreach ministry in the United Church; The Christian Resource Centre (CRC). He was actively engaged as a consultant in the development of social and public policy in the housing field within Canada and Internationally.

Dr. Metson operated a joint practice in forensic Psychology, family counseling, community development and mediation. He was a member of the board of Habitat for Humanity Northumberland and served on their HR Committee. He also served for 8 years on the Board of Habitat for Humanity Canada, and chaired their HR and Governance Committee and was Corporate Secretary. He was a founder of and served as Executive Director of the Toronto Christian Resource Centre. He served as President of both the Ontario Non Profit Housing Association (O.N.P.H.A.) and of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (C.H.R.A.) and was a member of the C.H.R.A. International Committee. He was President of the Tri Presbytery Investment Corporation; Treasurer of the Bathurst Street Corporation as well as the Past Treasurer of Northumberland Hills Hospital Foundation. Metson was the founding President of the Toronto Housing Company and was appointed to the Board of the Toronto Community Housing Corporate where he served as chair of the Finance and Audit Committee, and was a member of the Governance and Human Relations Committees. He held a certificate in Administration from York University and was a Certified Mediation Counselor. He served as presiding chaplain of Victoria University at the University of Toronto and taught social policy and community development at the University of Toronto. At the time of his death, he was the CEO/General Manager of CRC Self-Help Inc., a Non-Profit Housing Corporation.