Following this year’s International Day of the Seafarer, maritime organizations across Canada are reflecting on the vital role seafarers play in keeping global trade and supply chains moving.
The annual observance, recognized globally on June 25, provides an opportunity to celebrate the vital contributions of seafarers while raising awareness of the challenges they often face working far from home. It also highlights the growing efforts of organizations such as Mission to Seafarers Canada, which continues to expand support services, strengthen community partnerships, and advocate for seafarer welfare across Canadian ports.
“Every ship that enters our ports carries more than cargo, it carries people, families, sacrifices, and stories,” said Marsha Clyne, Regional Fundraising & Partnership Development Manager for Mission to Seafarers Canada. “The International Day of the Seafarer is an opportunity to recognize their contributions, thank them for their service, and remind them that they are welcomed, valued, and supported in Canada.”
One of the most significant developments this year was the reopening of Mission to Seafarers Canada’s Toronto station at the Port of Toronto on May 20, 2026, restoring an important resource for visiting crews after several years of closure.
For more than 160 years, Mission to Seafarers Canada has served seafarers visiting Canadian ports as part of a global network dedicated to supporting the welfare of crews around the world. Today, the organization is experiencing renewed momentum as it expands partnerships, increases public awareness, and strengthens its presence across Canada’s maritime sector.
Located within the Port of Toronto, the Toronto station provides a welcoming space where seafarers can access support services, connect with family and friends, receive practical assistance, find a brief respite from life at sea while in port, and more.
For many international seafarers playing a key role in moving international goods into Canadian markets, port calls are brief and opportunities to come ashore can be limited. Crews often spend weeks or months away from home while working demanding schedules aboard vessels operating throughout the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway, coastal waters, and international trade routes. Access to shore-based support services can provide meaningful assistance during their time in port.
“The reopening of our Toronto station represents a significant milestone not only for Mission to Seafarers but for the seafarers who visit one of Canada’s busiest urban ports,” said Judith Alltree, Station Manager at the Mission to Seafarers Canada’s Toronto station. “Whether it’s providing access to Wi-Fi or communications tools, assistance with personal needs or access to healthcare, a P.O box, or simply a welcoming place ashore, our goal is to ensure seafarers know they are valued and supported while they are far from home.”
The Toronto station’s return also highlights the collaborative nature of Canada’s maritime community. Located at the Port of Toronto, the station serves as an example of how ports, industry organizations, volunteers, and community groups can work together to support the people who power marine transportation.
The Port of Toronto, operated by the Toronto Port Authority, is a member of the Chamber of Marine Commerce and an important gateway within the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence marine transportation network. Each year, the port moves essential commodities such as salt, sugar, cement, aggregates, steel, and other cargoes that help support construction, manufacturing, infrastructure projects, and economic activity across the region.
“The Port of Toronto is proud to welcome the return of Mission to Seafarers to the port,” said RJ Steenstra, President and CEO of the Toronto Port Authority. “Seafarers are essential to the movement of goods through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region, and having dedicated support services available for visiting crews reflects the port’s commitment to recognizing their contribution and promoting their well-being.”
As Canada’s marine industry continues to evolve, the welfare of seafarers remains a shared responsibility across the maritime community. Ports, terminals, ship owners and operators, labour organizations, and industry associations all play a role in ensuring crews receive the support they need while serving one of the world’s most critical industries.
The reopening of Mission to Seafarers Canada’s Toronto station serves as a reminder that behind every cargo movement is a crew of dedicated professionals whose work enables trade, supports economic growth, and keeps supply chains moving. By strengthening support services and increasing awareness of seafarers’ contributions, Canada’s maritime community is helping ensure that those who keep global commerce moving receive the recognition and support they deserve. The Chamber of Marine Commerce celebrates efforts by member organization Toronto Port Authority to create a home base for this work and applauds Mission to Seafarers for its vital work.
The Chamber of Marine Commerce (CMC) is a bi-national association that represents diverse marine industry stakeholders including major Canadian and American shippers, ports, terminals and marine service providers, as well as Canadian domestic and international ship owners. The Chamber advocates for safe, sustainable, harmonized and competitive policy and regulation that recognizes the marine transportation system's significant advantages in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence, Coastal and Arctic regions.
Media Contact:
Jason Card
Chamber of Marine Commerce
jcard@cmc-ccm.com
(613) 447 5401