Aug
29
The crews of the cruise
Aug 2014
By Jack Krayenhoff
A lot of attention is being paid these days to the passengers of the cruise ships: how much money they contribute to Victoria's economy, and how much air and noise pollution they bring to James Bay. But there are other people on board those ships who contribute neither money nor pollution, so you don't hear much about them. I am talking about the crews. Have you ever wondered what those sailors do during the times their ship lies moored?
Oh, some may make their way to a pub, others might go to a movie theatre in town, but many feel bored. Bored, and even more: lonely. They are not a homogeneous group of people; they come from many different countries. Many have families, parents or wives (or husbands!) at home, and they miss them, they miss their home.
Now that is where those tents on Pier A come in that you see in the picture. They house the work of Victoria Lighthouse Ministries, and they are run by Cecil Kleu (pronounce 'clue'). He was once a mariner himself, so he has a feel for these crew people. His aim is to provide a home away from home for them, with a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere, with armchairs, coffee and cookies, and above all: wifi! Wifi enables them to talk to the people at home, the ones they really care for and who care for them. To watch those fellows' faces light up as they connect is by itself all the reward Cecil needs. But besides getting them on the wifi, he is available to listen to them or chat if that's what they want, or to just let them make themselves comfortable in a chair with a magazine and a cup of coffee. Or they can look through a rack with Christian literature, for this is a Christian organization, and Cecil himself is a Christian minister. However, he describes himself as a bush-Baptist, by which I understand him to mean he would be less comfortable pastoring a middle class church in one of the better suburbs. While not denying the value of his theological training, one gets the impression he sees his extensive experience with electronic equipment as more important in this present job, for he knows how keep the wifi operating.
To sum up what Cecil Kleu does: he makes the sailors feel welcome and acknowledged. He tries to make the place a home away from home. "They feel it is a safe place", he says. "Outside, with the other guys, it can be pretty rough at times. But here they feel a peacefulness. I think that is the presence of God, and the prayers of people."
That takes us to the next question and that is, who is behind this operation? Who makes it possible; who pays for it?
In the first place, Cecil gives a lot of credit to the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, which approved it, assigned the spot for it and even contributed one half of this double tent. The Ogden Point business community has been most helpful too, contributing much of the furnishings, as well as in other ways. At the moment the parallel service in Vancouver harbour, which took the initiative to start this work in Victoria, is still financially responsible, but a board has been formed in Victoria, under the leadership of Rev. Dennis Scott, and its aim is to turn it soon into a wholly Victorian enterprise.
No doubt the best way of getting the feel of what is going on in that tent is to come and take a look for yourself. It is a worthwhile experience, but not many people have had it because the place looks inaccessible, especially when a cruise ship is in. Then the big area between Dallas Road and Pier A is full of buses, fences, people walking hither and yon or standing in line, and even STOP signs and check points, so that you feel that somehow you have no business there. However, just walk straight ahead (staying close to the water, across from the breakwater - your presence is perfectly legal and nobody will challenge or arrest you. But you have to go when a cruise ship is in for only then will the tent be open and Cecil Kleu in attendance to show you around and answer your questions.
Do it one day! Who knows? You might meet some interesting crew member you hit it off with. Then you could make it a weekly ritual, for most ships are on a weekly schedule, and if you came back again that same day of the next week you would likely to meet the same man again. That would give you a chance of building a friendship with him, which would make both of you enjoy his visits to Victoria all the more.
Would you like to know more?