Canada: The Mission to Seafarers Moves into New Waters

From Newfoundland to the Northwest Passage, The Mission to Seafarers is reaching new ports in Canada. Regional Director Eric Phinney and outgoing Director Judith Alltree share exciting updates.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle once described Canada as an expanding flower – “wherever you look, you see some fresh petal protruding.” For Eric Phinney, newly appointed Regional Director of The Mission to Seafarers in Canada, those petals are ports, people, and possibilities.

Eric spent ten years as Port Chaplain in Saint John, New Brunswick, and is a founding board member of the Mission in Canada. But stepping into this new role brings a far wider horizon. “I might now have 5,000 miles between meetings,” he jokes.

A country of scale – and challenge

The Mission’s work spans 13 ports, thousands of miles and four time zones. Winters bring their own obstacles: the Great Lakes freeze from December to March, cutting off vital shipping lanes.

Yet the Mission’s reach is still growing, particularly in Newfoundland and Labrador, a province over four times the size of the UK. As Eric points out, “this is not about empire-building, but responding where seafarers’ needs are greatest.”

A community bound to the sea

The port of St John’s in Newfoundland is a prime example. Outgoing Regional Director Judith Alltree explains, “This place is like the Philippines of Canada. Everyone is connected to the ocean – through fishing, offshore rigs, or the rhythm of maritime life.”

But despite being one of Canada’s largest East Coast ports, it has no welfare services. The gap became painfully clear in February 2022, when a Spanish fishing trawler sank off its coast, taking 21 lives. “I called The Dean of the Anglican Cathedral,” remembers Judith. “Through his help we were able to provide food, clothing, accommodation, and liaise with consular officials.”

The relationships forged in tragedy – with port authorities, the local maritime institute, and the wider community – have continued to grow. “We’re now about a year away from opening a seafarers’ centre,” confirms Eric. Services will include family support programmes similar to those in the Philippines.

Adapting to change

The Mission is also building ties further north. “We can see climate change influencing shipping routes,” Eric notes. “The Northwest Passage is opening and we’re asking how we can support Inuit communities in Baffin Island as traffic increases.”

As the Mission builds connections in the region, Eric and the team are mindful that effective welfare programmes rely on trust and understanding – both of which take time.

Exciting opportunities also bring funding challenges. To help, the Mission has welcomed experienced fundraiser Marsha Clyne, who will spearhead national campaigns while supporting local port strategies.

The Mission’s future in Canada feels as vast as the country itself. Like Conan Doyle’s flower, it continues to unfold – petal by petal, port by port.