ISSC Chair, Year End Report for 2024/25
As we reflect on the last year, the International Sailors Society Canada (ISSC) continues to fulfill its mission of supporting seafarers across the country and beyond. I would like to commend this Board on being the engine behind this work; as it is because of this work, that the ISSC reinforces the importance and support of the seafarers’ well-being in the broader maritime industry.
I am pleased to report that the ISSC has successfully achieved all eight strategic initiative goals outlined in the 2024/25 Annual Achievement Report. Now in its second year of use, this reporting tool continues to effectively capture and communicate our goals, while bringing greater focus to our accomplishments.
Specifically, the Grants Committee awarded $67,000 to seven seafarer centres nationally. A thank you letter from Ms. Beverly Sullivan, Manager of the Saint John Seafarers’ Mission, New Brunswick notes that it is with the ISSC’s continued support of the seafarer’s centres that they can “help seafarers to have an attitude of relief and happiness that shows in their faces.” The Peter G. Bernard Volunteer Award recognized two deserving recipients; Mr. Don MacInnes, Mission to Seafarers Vancouver and Mr. John Attersley, Mission to Seafarers Halifax. The Sue Hanby Bursary, which supports students pursuing maritime-focused education, received four deserving applicants this year, each awarded $2,000 to support their studies. And the 2024 Peak Challenge held on June 24 th once again hit milestone numbers; 40 teams, 140 participants and six generous sponsors supported the Grouse Grind hike to help raise awareness for the essential work that international seafarers do to support our economy and our livelihoods.
Alongside these strategic initiatives, the Board has continued to improve the website’s interface and content. Thank you to Capt. Kevin Obermeyer for documenting the history of the International Sailors’ Society Canada and Mr. Richard Smith for assisting to keep the ISSC news up-to-date. We remain committed to developing a bilingual website to better reflect our national representation, so stay tuned.
Finally, I wanted to take a moment to make note of several changes to the ISSC Board. This year, we bid farewell to two long-serving and dedicated board members: Mr. Thomas Gregoire and Mr. David Charlston. Both individuals have made significant contributions during their tenure, offering their time, expertise, and unwavering commitment to the organization’s mission. With these departures, I would like to welcome three new members to the Board: Ms. Paula Copeland, Mr. David Vanderstelt, and Ms. Mariana Gunter. Each brings a unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives that will greatly enrich our work and help guide the organization forward. We are excited to have them join us and look forward to their contributions as we continue to pursue our mission. Please join us in welcoming them to the team.
Once again, thank you to the Board for all of their support as I look forward to another eventful year.
Dena Rantz
International Sailors Society Canada, Chair