Mission to Seafarers in Thunder Bay ready to roll with new van

An organization that welcomes sailors to Thunder Bay will have an easier time doing its job, now that it has some new wheels.

The Mission to Seafarers offers a place where the crews of ocean vessels can relax and connect with people back home.

Volunteers also drive them where they need to go in the city.

One of those volunteers, Brad Yeo, said the group's former vehicle died last year, and finally having a new van is "fantastic."

"One of the guys who's been volunteering for a long time, I was getting notes from him or texts from him every time he drove it , [saying]: 'it's beautiful, it's lovely, I love it!' "

The new vehicle was purchased with help from The ITF Seafarers' Trust.

Supporting sailors

The Mission to Seafarers is a ministry of the Anglican church, originally founded in 1856 in England . They welcome and support sailors who arrive in ports around the world. Thunder Bay's chapter started work in 1962.

When ocean vessels come into port in Thunder Bay, they help the crews to connect with family back home, and drive them to do shopping or other activities in the city. They have a headquarters located at the gate to Keefer terminal with internet connections, a recreation space and a small chapel.

Yeo once served in the navy. As a former sailor, he said he can really appreciate what it means for ship crews to have an organization like this to welcome them after months at sea.

He recalled one young man who'd been at sea for seven months. During that time his baby daughter had been born. Yeo said he was able to help the man access some photos of the baby, using the computer. It was the first time the man he saw his daughter.

"We ended up printing enough copies [to] take one back for everybody on the ship," Yeo said.

"He was pretty excited."

Volunteers are also pretty excited about the group's new van, which they say was a long time coming.

"Our old van was over 30 years old ... and it died last year on us and we spent a year renting vehicles which was very expensive," Yeo said.

"This is a day to celebrate."

The group modified a ship's blessing to bless the new vehicle.