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Introducing the Rev. Tom Billard
The induction of Tom Billard as the minister at Kirkwall Presbyterian Church (November 4, 2007) was another important step in Tom’s faith journey that began as a young boy in Nova Scotia. Tom was born in Glace Bay on the island of Cape Breton and his Reformed church roots go back hundreds of years to Huguenots on his father’s side and Scottish Presbyterians on his mother’s side (Caldwell). As an “army brat”, Tom grew up in small communities in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and as a teenager landed in St. Lambert on the south shore of Montreal. After finishing his B.Sc. in chemistry at McGill, Tom moved on to Toronto to get a Ph.D. in physical chemistry at the University of Toronto. His research included the study of the degradation of Egyptian antiquities and included a field trip to the temples and tombs of Luxor.
While in graduate school, Tom met and romanced Laura Hunt. Laura and Tom were both working on their Ph.D.’s in chemistry and were both dons at Victoria College. They were married a few years later and over the next few years had two children, James and Katie. During this time, the family attended church at St. James PC now Faith PC in the east end of Toronto. It was here that Tom was first elected an elder.
With degree in hand, Tom joined the aerospace industry making holographic optical elements for head-up displays for aircraft pilots and then working on LCD displays for cockpits. The family moved to north-west Mississauga and became members of White Oak PC. Tom was also elected an elder at White Oak.
Later Tom took a job as Process Engineering Manager with a company making products from Teflon-coated woven fibreglass. It was here that Tom felt a pull to do something different with his life. After much prayer and searching, Tom had a strong sense of being called to ordained ministry. While working at these former jobs, Tom was also active in the community as an education activist. His activities included School Councils, serving a term as Public School Trustee on the Peel Board of Education, and sharing the leadership of an education advocacy group know as the “Parents of Peel”. This latter group was responsible for publicizing the dangers of mould in schools and portable classrooms. Tom was also Board member and volunteer youth worker with The Dam Youth Ministry in Mississauga.
Tom greatly enjoyed his three years of study at Knox College. During this time, he worked part time for Rosedale PC as their “Outreach Coordinator” and spent three summers as student minister at Knox PC, Stokes Bay, on the Bruce Peninsula. Tom also enjoyed volunteering at Evangel Hall. Tom and Laura are very excited about moving into the community of Kirkwall and beginning a new phase of their lives in Christian ministry. The congregation has warmly welcomed them and they feel very much at home.