Mariner's Rest

Services

Mariners’ Rest is an official site within the lower coastal waters of British Columbia where the ashes of a deceased person may be scattered and memorialized in a Record book kept on display at The Mission to Seafarers Flying Angel Club.

Arranging the Mariner's Rest Service

• Families should make their own arrangements for the committal or burial service according to their own religious traditions or customs, The Mission Chaplains are willing to assist if required
• Travel to the Mariners’ Rest by private vessel of any kind, water taxi from Horseshoe Bay (Mercury Launch & Tug) or water taxi from Gibsons.

Entering a Name in the Memorial Book

• Write a request to The Mission to Seafarers at 401 East Waterfront Road, Vancouver, B.C. V6A 4G9 or by email missionvanc@flyingangel.ca
• Send a $50.00 cheque payable to The Mission to Seafarers
• State the full given and family names of deceased as well as city or place of residence
• State date committal took place at Mariners’ Rest

A Brief History of the Mariners' Rest

Through the efforts of Captain William York Higgs of Gibsons, B.C. and by his personal negotiations with the British Columbia Provincial Secretary and various governmental departments, and assisted by the Company of Master Mariners of Canada and the Canadian Merchant Service Guild, the Government of British Columbia set aside as a heritage reserve the unsurveyed islet in front of Lot 6169, Group 1, New Westminster District, formerly referred to as “Steamboat Rock” situated in Thornborough Channel off the west coast of Gambier Island iin Howe Sound, British Columbia, and renamed it “Mariners’s Rest.”

On Sunday, August 26, 1979, at the request of The Company of Master Mariners of Canada, the Rev. J.D. Parker, Senior Chaplain of The Mission to Seafarers in the Diocese of New Westminster, officiated at the ceremony that dedicated “The Mariners’ Rest” as an official marker for the committal of ashes at sea.

A stainless steel cross donated by the Higgs family now marks the islet as consecrated ground.  All services must be conducted off-shore and only ashes will be accepted; No one may go ashore there, add or secure anything to the islet.

January

For the Worldwide Ministry to Seafarers R.I.P.

• Chi Mo Chan. SS. Nego Anne - 1968 (MB)
• Adezaide, Australia: John Cunningham (Secretary-Treasurer)
• Aden-Yemen: Peter Crooks (Honorary Chaplain)
• Albany, Australia: Alan Taylor (Chaplain)
• George Edward Robertson, M.M., SS. Prince George - 1936 (MB)
• Donald William Farmer, Capt. - 1972 (MB)
• Edward Warner Hamilton - 1979 (MB)
• France: Orhan Bruner: MV Getro Corona - 1989 (MB)
• Anchorage, U.S.: Norman Elliot (Honorary Chaplain)
• Antwerp, Belgium: John Attenborough & Elumenical Team (Aus, Biss, Des)
• Aqaba, Jordan: Cameron MacDonald (Chaplain)
• W.T. Mckinly, Empress of Canada - 1943 (MB)
• Arklow, Eire: Nigel Sherwood (Honorary Chaplain)
• Harold Langhorn Robertson-Pilot - 1935 (MB)
• Auckland New Zealand: John Marcon (Chaplain)
• Major David Millar S.A. CRTD
• Robert Bachelor