Meet the Team
Staff
Jon Berends, Executive Director
In 2018, Jon moved to Hamilton to develop and launch Act Five. He lives here with his wife, Aimee, and their three young children, growing to love this place and be loved by the community here. Along with a background in high school education and a Master’s in Theological Studies, Jon brings to Act Five a love for young people, creative approaches to education, adventures in the wilderness and all that community life has to offer.
Seeing Act Five grow in new directions these past few years has been amazing to witness, and Jon is grateful and excited to see what God has in store for more students, residents, and other communities inspired by what is happening here at Blake St.
You can contact Jon directly at jberends@actfive.ca.
Alyssa Zilney, Program Manager
Alyssa moved to Hamilton in 2015 to complete a degree in Community Development and Environmental Studies, and quickly fell in love with the city. She joined Act Five in 2019, moving into the Act Five residence to welcome the very first cohort of students. Four years later, she oversees our gap year and residency programs.
Alyssa has seven years of experience living in various intentional Christian communities, and continues to live in Act Five’s neighbourhood with her husband, David. She is an enthusiastic lover of good food, growing vegetables, and living life in the city alongside others. Alyssa has a heart for Christian community and the place-based nature of Act Five. She loves learning alongside students and seeing them explore new perspectives while discovering their gifts.
You can contact Alyssa directly at azilney@actfive.ca.
Lena Scholman, Academic Lead
Lena Scholman first fell for Hamilton in 1997, looking out at the city from Sam Lawrence Park. She put down roots in the east end twenty years later and has been discovering the secrets of this evolving metropolis ever since. An educator, storyteller, wife and mother, Lena is committed both to the True City movement and New Hope Church, the faith community that has nurtured her faith for the past decade. Transformed by a gap year abroad years ago, she is thrilled to walk alongside young people at Act Five and bear witness to lives changed through intentional living — rooted in place and anchored in Jesus.
You can contact Lena directly at lscholman@actfive.ca.
Madison Eckert, External Initiatives Lead
Madi moved to Hamilton in January 2022 and moved into the Act Five house a few months later. As she became embedded in the rhythms of the community, she began to be formed herself as a resident and then stepped into the Resident Manager role in 2023.
Madi completed her own gap year at Bodenseehof in Germany post-university, and then completed her Masters in Theological Studies in 2022 from Tyndale Seminary. She previously worked at a church doing neighbourhood engagement, and then spent a few years with Hope Story, a global missions organization. She will never say no to a walk or chat over a cup of coffee, enjoys hiking and any outdoor activity, and is the proudest Aunt of 8 kids.
You can contact Madi directly at meckert@actfive.ca.
Erin Steckley, Residence Manager
Erin has called Hamilton home since 2014, having found herself formed by a variety of neighbourhoods, spheres of learning, and Christian communities within the city over the years. Community life—in all its ordinary and extraordinary fullness—has shaped Erin’s young adulthood, taking her to England in 2023 where she lived as a member of the ecumenical, monastic-inspired Community of St Anselm: a place committed to prayer, study, and service in the urban context of Central London.
Erin loves bearing witness to the presence and invitations of Jesus in the lives of others, particularly young people. She enjoys the rhythm of making pour-over coffee and has perfected her homemade granola recipe (which she is happy to share). In between all these things, you might find her at spin class or on a long walk.
You can contact Erin directly at esteckley@actfive.ca.
Evan Maxwell, Admissions Coordinator
Evan Moved to Hamilton in 2020, where he studied at Redeemer University finishing with a degree in Biblical and Theological Studies. Soon after, He moved in to Blake Street to jump into being a resident leader with Act Five. Amongst trips, dinners, lots of laughs and time spent with students, Evan has been shaped and moved by the beauty of this community and of Hamilton as a whole.
Evan is a proud Raptors fan, and loves to talk anything sports. He will never be stopped getting a coffee or hanging around a Cafe somewhere, probably chatting with a friend or reading a book. He is a fan of all things music, and always up for a fun adventure or just to get outdoors.
You can contact Evan directly at emaxwell@actfive.ca.
Jana Arnold, Resident Leader for 2025/2026 Gap Year
Jana completed her Bachelor of Arts in Theology & Fine Arts at Redeemer University (2023). She was born and raised in Haldimand County but has called Hamilton home for the past six years. 75 Blake St will be Jana’s seventh home in Hamilton! Jana has had many lived experiences as a disciple and a disciple maker, she is excited to see how God uses these past experiences to ignite faithful living in and amongst the 2024-25 Act Five cohort. She loves to read, spend time with her nieces and nephews, and is an avid Spikeball player. She also enjoys outdoor adventures, quality time and listening to good music. Jana is looking forward to the lessons and reflections that will come through adventuring with Act Five.
You can contact Jana directly at jarnold@actfive.ca.
Cullen VandeBurgt, Resident Leader for 2025/2026 Gap Year
Cullen moved into Hamilton about 7 years ago where he attended Redeemer University to study Youth Ministry and English. He then chose to live at the Blake house for a year, learning the rhythms and routines of the place before he decided that he couldn’t get enough and wanted to live there another year with another great group of young adults.
Cullen loves living fully in life with others and seeks to find the joy in whatever high, low, adventure, chore, etc. may be going on and seeks to see God in it all. In his free time he can often be found outdoors, spending time with the people he loves or at the piano.
You can contact Cullen directly at cvandeburgt@actfive.ca.
Arissa VandeBurgt, Program Assistant
Arissa recently completed her BA at Redeemer university in English Literature and Politics and International studies. She loves showing off Hamilton to new friends and can often be found visiting coffee shops, climbing the escarpment stairs, or exploring the places she hasn’t been to yet. Arissa is a big fan of just about every book, rock climbing, long porch conversations and a well made hot chocolate. She is also an Act Five alumni and is looking forward to re-engaging with the rhythms that shape daily life and walks with God at Act Five.
You can contact Arissa directly at avandeburgt@actfive.ca.
Act Five Board of Directors
Dave Witt – Chair of Board
Keri Tabet – Secretary
Allan Buist – Treasurer
William Groot
Anita Plat-Kuiken
Karmyn Bokma
Rosanna Soh