All Are Invited: Annual Bishop’s Company Dinner Opens to the Wider Community 

For the first time, Bishop Susan is extending an open invitation to all for the Annual Bishop’s Company Dinner. This is an evening that has long been a cherished gathering for members, and now welcomes the wider diocesan community to share in its spirit of fellowship, generosity, and celebration. 

This year’s dinner will take place on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at Carmen’s Event Centre in Hamilton. The evening will feature a reception with entertainment, a silent auction in support of the Bishop’s Company Endowment Fund, and a special conversation between Archbishop Shane Parker, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, and Bishop Susan Bell. 

While the dinner has traditionally been reserved for members of the Bishop’s Company and their guests, this new approach reflects a growing desire to broaden participation and invite more people into the life and mission this ministry supports. Tickets for non-members will be available beginning May 1 at a cost of $175. 

Parishes are also invited to reserve a table for the evening at a cost of $1,000, seating eight people. This provides a wonderful way for parish communities to gather, support the Bishop’s Company, and enjoy the evening together. 

The Bishop’s Company plays a vital role in supporting the bishop’s pastoral ministry, enabling compassionate and confidential responses to urgent needs within the diocese and beyond. Through its endowment fund, the Bishop can assist clergy, licensed lay workers, and others facing extraordinary circumstances, ranging from medical needs to times of financial crisis or personal hardship. 

Becoming a member of the Bishop’s Company offers both a deeper connection to this work and several unique benefits. For $275 ($500 for couples), members receive a complimentary ticket(s) with premium seating at the annual dinner, early access to reserve additional tickets for guests, and recognition at the event. Membership also includes a charitable tax receipt, a copy of the bishop’s annual address, an annual snapshot of how your contributions have helped, and a special prayer card. 

Those attending the dinner as non-members will experience the same elegant evening, complete with fine dining, engaging conversation, and opportunities to support the silent auction, while also learning more about how they might become more involved in the future. 

Rooted in a history that stretches back to 1951, the Bishop’s Company continues to embody the Church’s call to care for one another as a family in Christ. This year’s dinner offers a meaningful opportunity not only to gather in community but also to participate in a shared ministry of compassion and support. 

All are warmly invited.