Our story begins in early 1976 when Mountain View Seventh-day Adventist Church, under the leadership of Pastor George Emm, hosted a Revelation Seminar conducted by Elder Verne Snow at Henry Wisewood School in Calgary. The meetings resulted in numerous baptisms and new believers from across the city, particularly from Calgary’s northeast communities.

Among those touched by the ministry were Jack and Liz Birkett and their three sons, who lived in the northeast and regularly attended Mountain View Church. Recognizing the distance many families were travelling to worship, Pastor Emm began holding Wednesday evening prayer meetings in the Birkett home during the summer of 1976.

These gatherings quickly became a place of fellowship and vision. As Adventist families from the area joined together, discussions emerged about establishing a church in northeast Calgary. In September 1976, interested members met at Central Seventh-day Adventist Church, where the name “Pineridge” was chosen for the proposed congregation. It was also discovered that the Alberta Conference had already purchased property in the rapidly growing Pineridge community.

A small group of approximately fifteen adults began searching for a place to worship. After much prayer and effort, a small Anglican church in Forest Lawn was rented in November 1976. The group grew rapidly, and following another successful Revelation Seminar in early 1977, the congregation expanded significantly.

In March 1977, Alberta Conference President Elder Jim Wilson officially organized the Pineridge Seventh-day Adventist Church with 35 charter members. He challenged the young congregation to think boldly and prepare for future growth, even symbolically launching the building fund by emptying his own piggy bank into it.

Shortly after the church’s formation, Pastor Emm suffered a severe illness that nearly claimed his life. Though this was a difficult time, God sustained the congregation through the support of sister churches, the Alberta Conference, Canadian Union College, and many dedicated members who stepped forward to serve.

The congregation continued to develop under the leadership of several pastors, including Pastor Terry McComb, followed by Pastor Wayne Culmore. During these formative years, membership steadily increased, and by 1979 the church had outgrown its rented facilities.

As a result, plans for a permanent church home moved forward, and construction began on what would become the congregation’s first church building. Under the guidance of dedicated members and volunteers, including master builder Karl Kunze, the project progressed despite many challenges.

When Pastor Culmore accepted a call to Africa, Pastor Ron Johnson arrived to continue the work. Under his leadership, the church celebrated a major milestone. In February 1982, the congregation moved into its newly completed church building at 123 Pinetown Place.

The new facility became a centre for evangelism and community outreach. Through meetings led by evangelists such as Verne Snow, Dan Collins of Amazing Facts, and Wadia Farag, many individuals accepted Christ and joined the church family.

In December 1985, Pastor Glen Corkum and his family arrived from the Maritimes and inspired the congregation to deepen its commitment to prayer, Bible study, fasting, and personal witnessing.

The church experienced renewed spiritual vitality as members embraced both outreach and discipleship ministries. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, new ministries emerged, strengthening both the church and the wider community.

In 1990, Pastor Will James became the congregation’s pastor. During his ministry, a major city-wide evangelistic series conducted by Leo Schreven resulted in many new members joining the church.

In October 1992, the church launched a Van Ministry to serve Calgary’s homeless population. Through God’s providence and support from the Alberta Conference, a specially equipped ministry van was acquired, enabling members to provide practical assistance, compassion, and hope to those in need.

The 2000s brought new leadership through Pastor André Beydé who brought with him a strong passion for Christian education. Under his leadership, Garden Road established the Pineridge SDA School in partnership with Bridgeland Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Just one year later, in 2001, God called Pastor Bullock to be the next pastor for the Pineridge congregation. A new vision soon emerged for a larger ministry facility that could accommodate both a church and school, as well as support broader community outreach initiatives. Under the leadership of Pastor Bullock and a dedicated team of faithful volunteers, plans for a new church home became reality.

The Lord divinely led us to seven acres of land that was already pre-zoned for a multipurpose facility, church and school inclusive.

The challenges were enormous but like Nehemiah, Pastor Bullock, his Associate Pastor Andrew Chin and their dedicated team of volunteers – Sell, Campbell, Marshall, Bishop, Lewis, Robin, Satnik, Haines, Birkett, Seme, to name a few – and many others, worked constantly. Satan did everything possible to stop the work and to discourage them, but they would not give up.

In March 2002, the Garden Road Church family took up home at this present location. This move marked a new chapter in the congregation’s history and led to a new identity: Garden Road Seventh-day Adventist Church. The church experienced growing pains; however, the pain did not hinder our spiritual or physical growth.

In 2003, Pastor Ishmael Ali and his family accepted the call to serve the Garden Road Seventh-day Adventist Church. From the outset, Pastor Ali’s passion for people, prayer, and evangelism helped foster a culture of spiritual renewal, discipleship, and community engagement.

One of the most significant developments during this period was the transformation of the Wednesday evening prayer meeting into a dedicated Prayer and Healing Ministry. These gatherings became a source of encouragement, restoration, and spiritual growth for both members and visitors, serving as a place where lives were strengthened through prayer and faith.

Pastor Ali also placed a strong emphasis on leadership development and mentorship, empowering members from diverse cultural backgrounds to use their God-given gifts in ministry. Under his leadership, Garden Road became known for its welcoming spirit, vibrant lay leadership, and commitment to nurturing future pastors, elders, and ministry leaders.

As the church embraced a renewed focus on prayer, evangelism, and discipleship, many individuals were drawn to Christ through Bible studies, Revelation Seminars, family-life programs, youth initiatives, and community outreach efforts. Through these ministries, God continued to bless the congregation with spiritual growth and new members joining the church family.

During this time, Garden Road was further strengthened by the dedicated service of several youth and associate pastors, including Pastor CJ O’Connor, Pastor Paul Smith, Pastor Richard Means, Pastor Bryan Saint-Louis, and Pastor Camoy Williams. Together, they helped cultivate a thriving ministry for children, youth, and young adults through innovative programs, Bible studies, worship experiences, mentorship, community service, and meaningful fellowship opportunities.

As a result, generations of young people were encouraged to deepen their relationship with Christ, discover their purpose in ministry, and actively participate in the life and mission of the church. Through the faithful leadership of Pastor Ali and his ministry team, Garden Road continued to grow as a diverse, Christ-centred congregation committed to sharing God’s love within the church and throughout the surrounding community.

In 2024, Garden Road Seventh-day Adventist Church entered a new season of ministry with the arrival of Pastor Wayne Williams as Lead Pastor and Pastor Jacques Moïse Alexandre as Associate and Youth Pastor. Together, they have brought renewed energy, vision, and a deep commitment to spiritual growth, community engagement, and Christ-centred discipleship.

Recognizing the rapid growth of Calgary and the surrounding communities, the church has embraced a renewed vision for the future. This vision seeks to maximize the potential of the Garden Road campus as a centre for worship, fellowship, education, and community service. Building upon the foundation laid by previous generations, church leadership and members have begun exploring new opportunities to expand ministry outreach beyond the church walls while strengthening relationships within the congregation.

A renewed emphasis has been placed on both outreach and in-reach. Outreach initiatives are focused on engaging the growing and increasingly diverse communities surrounding the church, while in-reach ministries are designed to strengthen spiritual connections, fellowship, and discipleship among members. Together, these efforts reflect the church’s desire to be a place where people encounter Christ, build meaningful relationships, and discover opportunities to serve.

One of the most visible signs of this renewed ministry focus has been the resurgence of community-centred programming. Vacation Bible School (VBS) has experienced significant growth, welcoming children and families from both the church and neighbouring communities. Community events, seasonal celebrations, family activities, and outreach programs have opened the church’s doors to new residents and created meaningful opportunities for connection. These initiatives reflect Garden Road’s commitment to serving as a welcoming and relevant presence within an expanding city.

Garden Road has also seen the growth of youth and young adult ministry under the leadership of Pastor Jacques Moïse Alexandre. Through innovative programming and intentional mentorship, the church has created spaces where young people can explore faith, ask difficult questions, and develop authentic relationships with Christ and one another.

Among these initiatives is Anchor Point, a dynamic Young Adult ministry designed to foster thoughtful dialogue, spiritual growth, and biblical understanding. Through insightful and in-depth conversations, Anchor Point encourages young adults to engage with contemporary issues through a faith-based lens while building a strong sense of community and belonging. The ministry has become a place where participants can openly discuss life’s challenges, strengthen their faith, and develop as leaders within the church and beyond.