Executive Director Update, 2025 AGM
Thank you for your attendance at the Saint John Seafarers’ Mission Inc.’s Annual General Meeting and for your support of our organization.
The following report details happenings in the last year at the Saint John Seafarers’ Mission Inc., including thoughts from the new Executive Director, relevant statistics, particular organizational accomplishments in 2024, and aspirations for the future. This report was prepared and submitted by the Executive Director, Anthony J. Dickinson.
Opening Reflection
I began in the role of Executive Director for the Saint John Seafarers’ Mission on July 2, 2024. During my first months at the Mission five things have stood out to me.
First, the local port community in Saint John is wonderful. The community is consistent and constant in showing its genuine commitment to seafarer welfare. Coming into the Mission, I knew that such commitment from the port community to seafarers would be crucial to our success as an organization. I am pleased and encouraged that it is present.
This commitment starts with Port Saint John itself. Port Saint John supports the Saint John Seafarers Mission through having its staff on our board, contributing staff to help organize the golf tournament fundraiser, assisting with Mission finances, and financially. Beyond these administrative assists, Port Saint John also provides help with building related tasks, such as snow removal and lawn-care.
Seafarers from the MSC Aldebaran III
Others connected to the port – the ILA, DP World, Hapag-Lloyd, and FK Warren – stand out in their support of the work done at the Mission, whether by serving on our board or providing advice on particular vessels. I recall one phone call in particular. There was an issue on a ship and FK Warren and Hapag-Lloyd wanted to ensure that seafarers were taken care of. It was encouraging for me to know that others are concerned for the welfare of our seafarers.
Second, the potential that the Saint John Seafarers Mission has for growth is huge. The board of directors recognizes that the growth already underway and projected to continue for Port Saint John means that the Saint John Seafarers Mission must also grow. There is an attitude of, “Let’s figure this out” rather than, “That’s not how we do things here”. There is a recognition that the work that the Saint John Seafarers Mission does is an important part of being a Port City. There is an equal recognition of the importance of seafarers themselves to what makes this city and entire region what it is.
Seafarers posting their photos on one of our bulletin boards
I am appreciative of three things the board has done and is doing. Each make leading the Saint John Seafarers Mission through a growth period both practical and exciting. One is taking the organization through a strategic plan and continuing to show interest in what the plan is after its completion. The plan will receive some focus below, but for now suffice it to say that this is a growth document and initiative. Two is allowing me the freedom to work on and explore ideas for Mission growth, while still being present to answer questions, advise, and support when necessary. Three is respecting the history of the Saint John Seafarers Mission, while focusing on growth. I am given opportunities to learn and develop, to ask questions, and to try new things. We are deeply committed to the “why” we are here – to serve seafarers – but very flexible about how to do that. This is a growth mindset.
Participating in the North American Maritime Ministry Training Program in Houston, TX
Third, the network of seafarer welfare centres outside of Saint John has been a real asset. As a Canadian centre, I naturally gravitate to other Canadian outposts to learn. Halifax, Montreal, Vancouver, and Thunder Bay have all been helpful to me, especially when I have “new guy” questions. Outside of Canada, I have been the fortunate recipient of kind guidance from counterparts in Baltimore and London.
Beyond individual conversations with other centres, formal networks such as Mission to Seafarers Canada, the North American Maritime Ministry Association, and the International Christian Maritime Association are all valuable groups of which to be a part. I have learned through in person conferences and training, through documentation, and through online learning. All have been useful for me as I gain a footing in this sector and work toward our own centre’s revitalization.
Fourth, the seafarers themselves are a pleasure. I was not sure what to expect. I have no personal, direct seafaring or port experience. I am by no means a world traveler having spent almost my entire life in Canada, and nearly three-quarters of it in Saint John. I am in a constant state of learning and figuring things out. I am the new person, following someone who lead this outpost for decades and is well-loved by the seafarers that visit Saint John.
Nonetheless, seafarers are a great group of people to work with, get to know, and serve. I am also being welcomed into their lives. Photos in the Mission are not exclusively me taking pictures of the crew, but sometimes include seafarers taking selfies with me. I have been introduced to families during video chats. I have been told about their hopes and dreams. It is an enjoyable privilege to do this work.
Seafarers from Santa Rosa
Fifth, given above, the trust given to lead this organization is not lost on me. We are an organization with a rich history and an important objective. I am grateful to enter into this legacy.
I entered this role at the mid-point of 2024. I would like to thank Bev Sullivan. Many seafarers referred to her as “Mom”. When we see everything she did for the Saint John Seafarers’ Mission and for seafarers, not only during the beginning of 2024 but for the more than two decades prior, their affection for her is well-placed. I know the seafarers appreciate her kindness and generosity to them. I am still being asked where she is.
Statistics
The success of a seafarers’ welfare centre rests on how well it serves seafarers. The Saint John Seafarers’ Mission is no different. This includes not only how many seafarers are served but also the quality of the service we provide.
Most of our seafarers come from the Philippines and India, which is consistent with statistics measuring national origins of seafarers. Other seafarers come from elsewhere in Asisa and some from European countries. Most of our seafarers are men. Seafarers vary in age, with no age group standing out as dominant.
Seafarers using our facility at 92 Tilley Lane participate in one or more of the following activities. The majority want access to our internet, typically to videochat with home. Seafarers also frequently ask for taxis to take them to stores for shopping (most frequently Walmart East and Best Buy). Inside our building, pool and table tennis are popular. TV is popular when sporting events are on, in particular basketball and tennis. The Summer Olympics were a big hit this year. Snacks and refreshments are popular, with special note that donated homemade baked goods are considered a special treat.
Strategic planning session
Seafarers are not obligated to come to the Saint John Seafarers Mission while they are on shore-leave. They can visit local shops and restaurants or go for walks in our local parks. In fact, many of them do these things on our recommendation. Seafarers come to our Mission because they choose to come. They come for a place to relax and unwind. They come for someone to chat with, sometimes about nothing in particular and sometimes about something important. They come to get advice about where to go and what to do in Saint John. Seafarers come to us because they expect us to provide them good customer service. It is our job to give them excellent service.
The Saint John Seafarers Mission serves seafarers primarily in two spaces – our building at 92 Tilley Lane and by visiting their ships. In 2024, 961 seafarers visited our building at 92 Tilley Lane. Our Chaplain, Rev. Eric Phinney, visited 98 ships during this same period. A breakdown for both service locations is below.
Seafarers Visiting 92 Tilley Lane, 2024
January 108
February 70
March 47
April 44
May 74
June 57
July 54
August 131
September 115
October 122
November 65
December 74
Total 961
Monthly Average 80.8
Ship Visits Conducted by Rev. Eric Phinney, Chaplain
January 5
February 11
March 8
April 10
May 12
June 8
July 10
August 6
September 11
October 5
November 4
December 8
Total 98
Monthly Average 8.17
Statistics and high-level framing of activities are important; however, they can make it difficult to see the people behind them. Three stories about individual seafarers will help us see them as people.
Playing in the snow – A young woman came to visit the Mission, her first time visiting Port Saint John. She was very excited that day, calling home on video chat and showing her parents around the building and what we offer. She even introduced our Executive Director to her parents during her video call. What stood out about that day, however, was happening on the other side of our door. Snow had begun to fall. Our Seafarer – from the Philippines – was very excited. Still on video chat with her parents, she carried her phone outside and propped it up on the ground. She grabbed our shovel off the deck, filled it with snow from the front lawn, and threw it up in the air, laughing while her parents watched it drop from the other side of the world.
Sitting still – It was a busy day at the Mission when a seafarer arrived. He looked around and, fortunately, saw an empty space on the couch. He sat, quietly. After a few minutes I asked him if he wanted a coffee or water. “No,” he replied. “I just want to sit. This is a good couch. No vibrations.”
Crew from Cape Sable
Staying up late – Giggles filled the Saint John Seafarers Mission one day. Giggles from a little girl who was up way past her bedtime. Her daddy sat in the chair on the other side of the room, held his phone up, and saw his daughter's face. It was morning in Saint John, but time zones do what time zones do. Mommy let her stay up very late to see Daddy, whose shore leave had just begun. She giggled and he laughed as he stepped outside to visit with his family on our front porch. A visit mediated through a screen but a visit nonetheless. People often talk about witnessing raw emotion. Witnessing raw emotion almost always refers to seeing something tragic. On this day, however, the emotion was raw and it was good. It was very good.
Strategic Plan
The Saint John Seafarers Mission commissioned The Chapman Group to guide us through a strategic plan for the years 2025 through 2028. Creating this plan had input from our board, our chaplain, and our executive director. It developed a consensus amongst us that the Mission should have three areas of focus during the coming three years. The three strategic priorities are, one, financial sustainability, two, community and stakeholder awareness and engagement, and three, operational excellence and service delivery.
Having this strategic plan creates an exciting time and an exciting opportunity for the Saint John Seafarers Mission. It is a pivotal piece for us as we enter a period of growth and revitalization. It will provide us with focus and a standard to measure against as we work toward this objective.
Crew MOL Experience
Fundraising
Key events in 2024 made fundraising this year both fresh and exciting.
Our annual major fundraiser is our golf tournament. It was held on September 17, 2024. 2024 was a sort of rebirth for the golf tournament. The focus of the event itself was to provide a networking opportunity for people connected to the Port and then to use this networking event to raise funds for the Saint John Seafarers Mission. This new strategy contributed to our most successful tournament to date. The tournament raised $26,000 for the Saint John Seafarers Mission, provided an opportunity to introduce our me to the community, and was an enjoyable experience for everyone.
Area 506 – Winners of the Neil McKelvey Cup
We added an additional major fundraiser in 2024. The first annual Portside Cheer was a holiday lunch held on November 28, 2024 at the Union Club. We anticipate holding this event yearly and are looking forward to its growth. Port Saint John held a tour of the Port, which raised $1,416.27 for the Saint John Seafarers Mission, in addition to being an interesting look at the a jewel in the city for participants.
Community Engagement
As part of the Saint John Seafarers’ Mission’s efforts to grow our public profile, we were intentional in 2024 to engage with our community. The fundraisers noted above all had a component of this engagement, affording me an opportunity to present the work of the Mission to different audiences. I also had the opportunity to attend my first Port Days and begin to meet people at this event.
Other efforts were made specifically to increase our profile. I spoke in three churches (Stone Church, S. Luke’s Church, and Rivercross Church) during Sunday services and an additional missionary society meeting (Harambee at Rivercross Church). The Saint John Seafarers Mission received press coverage for our Christmas Box campaign, including a front-page photo in the Telegraph Journal, a radio story on CBC, and a story on CHSJ News’ website.
We also made some connections with schools in Saint John. Both Bayside Middle School and Simonds High School held rallies to bring in donations for our Christmas Box campaign.
Bayside Middle School filling a van with Christmas goodies
Volunteers
The Saint John Seafarers Mission has a growing volunteer team. One of the consequences of COVID-19 was a dramatic decrease in our volunteer team. We began 2024 with no active volunteer roster. By the end of 2024, we had five active volunteers. This team continues to grow. All volunteers serve at our facility on 92 Tilley Lane.
Much like getting to know who our seafarers are, the best way to understand the impact of our volunteers is through stories.
One ship was here for an extended period. The same seafarers were at our building daily over several days. One day one of the seafarers asked me about the people here the day prior. I said they were volunteers. He asked if they would be back that day and I told them they would not be. “Too bad,” he said. “They were friends for me.”
One of our volunteers was packing up our Christmas gifts for seafarers. This was a large task completed almost entirely through volunteer effort. While one volunteer was packing, some seafarers arrived and saw the gifts. She told them the presents were for them and that they would be sent to the ship later that evening. When I arrived the next morning, there was a thank you note and picture of the gifts from a seafarer left for the volunteer.
NAMMA 2025 Conference in Newark, NJ
Thank you
My first year as the Executive Director for the Saint John Seafarers Mission has been an exciting and enriching experience. Thank you to the Board of Directors for the opportunity to serve in this role and for the work that you do. Thank you to Bev Sullivan for the service she gave to the Mission as my predecessor. Thank you to our volunteers for joining me in this work. Thank you to our donors for your support. Finally, thank you to our seafarers for the work that you do and for spending some of your time with us.
Respectfully submitted,
Anthony J. Dickinson, Executive Director
April 30, 2025