Story | Sailors’ Santa Claus

David Rozeboom is chaplain at the Sailors’ House. He listens, informs and transports sailors who dock in the port of Montreal. But in December, to these tasks is added another: Santa Claus. Throughout the month, the 39-year-old chaplain distributes gifts from ship to ship: 1,500 in all. Donations collected and assembled by volunteers.

That day, he carried 18 in two large transparent plastic bags. Each gift is packaged in a fabric bag hand-sewn by volunteers. Safety requires, David Rozeboom is a Santa Claus in a safety jacket, yellow helmet on his head. “There are three levels of security in the port,” he explains, behind the wheel of his minibus. The port has its security system. Then, each terminal has its own system. And there is a security system on every boat. »

Direction: section 36. The 12,700 ton ship from the Desgagnés group has been docked since the day before. On board, 18 sailors. Filipinos and Ukrainians.

“Can you open the presents?” Would the captain prefer that you wait until Christmas? “, the chaplain asks the sailors seated in the ship’s dining room. Chef Carlo Lumacad prepared duck legs and white rice. On the counter, fruit, brioches and coffee. The kitchen separates the sailors’ dining room from that reserved for officers.

“We prefer to wait,” replies John Eguia, agreeing to pose for the photographer.

What’s in these gift bags? An accessory to keep warm like a hat or scarf, a snack, a toiletry product and a game. “You see, this person put on a scarf, a hat, warm socks, deodorant, a 2024 calendar and two bars of chocolate,” lists Patty Sarazen, administrator of the Foyer maritime.

Sailors’ House

The Maison des mariners de Montréal is a non-profit organization founded in 1961 and financed in part by shipping companies. Its mission is to “materially, socially and spiritually support the world’s sailors temporarily docked at the port of Montreal”.

Until the 1970s, this organization housed sailors who arrived in Montreal to work on ships. But for more than 50 years, workers have flown in the day they board the ship. Everything is planned. No need for accommodation anymore.

The Sailors’ House has become a place where sailors can clear their minds, play billiards or ping-pong, drink a beer and buy souvenirs. A small chapel also allows them to pray.

Those who dock at the port of Montreal have mainly come from the Philippines, India and Indonesia for several years. They generally spend nine months at sea, and three months at home. The women ? They are practically non-existent on boats.

In addition to providing transportation, David Rozeboom visits the sailors.

The area it serves extends over 26 km, along the St. Lawrence River.

“The furthest dock is 16 km from here,” says David Rozeboom, who can make three or four trips a day to pick up sailors, drive them to town and bring them back a few hours later. “It’s $40 in a taxi. For a sailor, who earns $1,200 per month, spending $80 on a taxi round trip is too expensive. So, we offer free transportation. »

Social life

The Maison des mariners has occupied premises at the Grand Quai de Montréal since 2017. Before the pandemic, it received visits from around 12,000 sailors per year. But since then, this number has been decreasing. “I have the impression that sailors have gotten used to staying on ships since the pandemic because the shipping companies wouldn’t let them go out,” explains the chaplain. Sometimes they couldn’t set foot on land for 14 months straight,” says David Rozeboom.

“Social life has changed on the ship,” he adds. In the old days, sailors worked hard, but by 5 p.m. they were sitting on deck, having a beer, looking out to sea and relaxing. Today, with the Internet, everyone is in their cabin, watching a movie, talking to their family on the phone, that kind of thing. »