Pastor Leslie Poulin was born and raised in Ottawa.  She completed one year of study at the University of Ottawa before moving to Calgary to complete her Bachelor of Fine Arts (Drama) degree.  Following her graduation, Leslie moved to Saskatoon to attend the Lutheran Theological Seminary.  She graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1992.  Leslie was ordained into Word and Sacrament Ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada on December 4, 1992.  She has three teenaged daughters.