Myles Vanni is retiring as the leader of the Inn of the Good Shepherd in Sarnia, Ontario. He has spent 20 years with the local charity and will officially step down in mid-January 2026, marking the end of a long career focused on helping people find food and housing.
Since he started in 2005, Vanni helped grow the group from a small soup kitchen and food bank into a larger support centre. He oversaw the opening of the Good Shepherd’s Lodge (commonly called The Lodge), a 25-bed emergency shelter, and helped establish a seasonal Mobile Market that brings fresh vegetables to neighbourhoods across Sarnia-Lambton each summer.
The board of directors conducted a global search and has named Jack Christine as Vanni’s successor. According to Sarnia News Today, Christine previously led River Kids, a charity in Scotland, and has been working with Vanni during a handover period to learn how the local organization operates.
Board chair Sherri Crowley told The Sarnia Observer that “With his boundless energy, compassion, integrity and passion, Myles has fostered many valued relationships which have enabled The Inn to impact countless lives and become the caring hands of the community.” The organization currently helps more than 2,000 people with food every month and also provides programs such as income tax clinics and rent/utility assistance.
In April 2025, Vanni was recognized with the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers for his long record of community service, including many overseas Scout projects and leadership of the Inn’s volunteer income tax program.
