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Earl and Yara Canson
The Vallejo Drive Church family celebrates the unique contributions of each member, and today, we highlight the inspiring story of Dr. Earl and Yara Canson.
Earl III, a pastor's kid born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1981, grew up immersed in faith. His father, Earl Jr., was a lifelong Seventh-day Adventist pastor, and his mother, Vivian, a NICU nurse. Earl, the eldest of four, began his education at Tucson Adventist Junior Academy, where he was baptized at the age of nine. Later, the family moved to Bakersfield, California, where he graduated from Bakersfield Adventist Academy in 1999. Earl's deep love for music was evident early on, when he participated in the school choir, band, and the student octet “Witness."
A pivotal moment occurred during a school game when Earl, demonstrating his inherent kindness, defended a fellow student, Yara, from hurtful treatment by other students. This simple act of chivalry left a lasting impression on Yara and eventually changed the trajectory of both lives.
Yara, born in Rock Springs, Wyoming to parents of Mexican origin, moved to Bakersfield at the age of two. She attended Bakersfield Adventist Academy and was baptized there at ten. That life-altering encounter with Earl, the kind student who defended her, sparked an unspoken admiration.
A mutual friend prompted Earl to express his interest in Yara, but her initial playful reluctance to reciprocate led to a summer of separation. Upon their return to school, Yara's feelings became clear with a spontaneous kiss on the cheek, witnessed and approved by Earl's father. Despite this, their relationship unfolded in a series of "on again and off again" phases through a number of years.
Both Earl and Yara attended Oakwood College (now University), where their paths continued to intertwine. Earl pursued biochemistry, initially aspiring to become a pharmacist, while Yara majored in Spanish. Both shared a passion for music, singing with the Aeolians, and Earl also joined the gospel choir, Dynamic Praise. Yara spent a year abroad at River Plate University in Argentina, later earning her Master’s degree in Speech Pathology from La Sierra and Loma Linda Universities. Earl, meanwhile, completed his Bachelor's at Oakwood and pursued a Master's in Public Health at Loma Linda, where they reconnected.
They ended up renting their respective apartments in the same building, and a shared meal of Yara's sandwiches reignited their dormant connection. Despite differing recollections of how the sandwiches were offered, the result was certain: rekindled love.
Graduating in 2005, they faced another separation. Earl moved to Nashville, TN to study medicine at Meharry Medical College, while Yara worked as a speech pathologist in San Gabriel, California. Their long-distance relationship culminated in a romantic beach proposal in San Diego, which Yara eagerly accepted. They married in 2007, and Earl graduated with his MD in 2010, the same year their son, Earl IV, was born.
The family moved to Long Beach, California, where Earl completed his residency and their daughter, Zaira, was born in 2013. They settled in Bakersfield, with Earl serving as assistant chief of Urgent Care at Kaiser Health, and Yara dedicating herself to raising their children.
In 2023, seeking enhanced educational opportunities, the Canson family relocated to Glendale and joined Vallejo Drive Church. They were immediately drawn to the church's warm, diverse, and welcoming atmosphere. Their children thrived in the available programs, and Earl and Yara soon became integral members of the worship team, enriching the church's spiritual experience. The Vallejo Drive Church community is grateful for the presence and varied contributions of the Canson family.
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