VICTORIA, BC, April 10, 2024 – The Mercy Ships Canada Board of Directors and staff are pleased that Mercy Ships Canada has been chosen as The Most Dedicated International Healthcare Organization in the Canadian Business Awards 2024.

Darryl Anderson, Executive Director for Mercy Ships Canada, stated,” Without dedicated volunteers onboard the Global Mercy and the Africa Mercy, the two largest Civilian Hospital Ships in the world, this award would not be possible. Anderson continued, “The wide range of skilled individuals speaks to the generosity of spirit that characterizes the work of Mercy Ships Canada volunteers. Annually, several dozen Canadians serve alongside volunteers from more than 60 countries on these amazing ships.”

As the hospital ship Africa Mercy prepares for surgical patients in Madagascar, Oliver Etcu (and family), the Operating Room Sterile Processing Team Leader; Lan Nguyen, Operating Room Sterile Processing Technician; Heather-Ann Heyd, Ward Clinical Supervisor, are hard at work. Other volunteers such as Joshua Chau, Photographer; Sherry Larose, Housekeeping Staff; Hoang Nguyen and Bob Gellatly, Endpoint Analysts; Steph Bauman, Physical Education & Technology Teacher; and Chris Attwater (and family), Maintenance Manager, are all essential non-medical volunteers who support the vital work of Africa Mercy.

The Global Mercy in Sierra Leone is where dedicated healthcare professionals Krystal Remers, Low Care Unit Team Leader; Olga Ahmad, PACU Nurse; Dr. Gary Morris and Dr. Vanessa Sweet, Anesthesia Providers; Carly Morris, Pediatric Nurse; and Breanna Charleson, Medical Lab Technician, Sandy Tait and  Tara McHardy, Operating Room Nurses, serve along with Dr. Louise Caouette-Laberge, Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon and Dr. Jean-Martin Laberge, Pediatric Surgeon.

Riley Chow, People and Culture Facilitator; Stephan Kliewer (and family), Chaplain/Counselor; Michael Dykstra, Audiovisual Technician; Braiden Kononoff, Sales Staff; and Glenda Willcock, Grade 4 & 5 Teacher, are all vital crew members who help deliver Mercy Ships’ vision and mission and are an essential part of life onboard the hospital ship.

These volunteers are just some of the many skilled professionals who volunteer to serve on our ships each year.

Mercy Ships is committed to providing life-transforming surgical services to children and adults in low-resource African settings. The efforts of the Canadian volunteer crew have been recognized as the most dedicated international healthcare organization in the 2024 Canadian Business Awards.

The Canadian Business Awards annually acknowledge outstanding achievements and contributions made by organizations across various sectors in Canada. Mercy Ships Canada’s selection highlights the organization’s unwavering commitment to improving access to surgical care. Mercy Ships operates hospital ships that provide free surgical care in low-resource settings with limited access to healthcare. A dedicated team of medical and other professionals work tirelessly to offer life-transforming surgeries and support the education and training of local healthcare professionals.

“We are pleased that the Canadian Business Awards recognize the humanitarian contribution of Mercy Ships Canada volunteers,” said Darryl Anderson. “The award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our incredible team and the impact we have collectively made in the lives of people in need.”

Mercy Ships is a beacon of humanitarian work and an innovator in surgical healthcare delivery. Our mobile hospital platform reaches remote and underserved communities, demonstrating our commitment to accessibility. We also prioritize sustainability and capacity building, empowering local healthcare professionals and contributing to transforming thousands of lives.

This award reflects honour on Mercy Ships Canada and the many Canadian volunteers onboard our two hospital ships. Their selfless dedication and diverse roles are crucial to our operations.

For More Information Contact: Darryl Anderson, Executive Director, Mercy Ships Canada (250) 381-2160 or darryl.anderson@mercyships.ca.  www.mercyships.ca 

About Mercy Ships:  Mercy Ships is an international faith-based organization that operates hospital ships that deliver free surgeries and other healthcare services to those with little access to safe medical care. Mercy Ships has focused entirely on partnering with African nations for the past three decades. Working with international and in-country partners, Mercy Ships also provides training to local healthcare professionals and supports the construction of in-country medical infrastructure to leave a lasting impact.

For more than 40 years Mercy Ships has mobilized people and resources worldwide to promote access to safe surgical care and sustainable development within Africa. Each year, more than 3,000 volunteer professionals from over 60 countries serve on board the world’s two largest non-governmental hospital ships, the Africa Mercy, and the Global Mercy. Professionals such as surgeons, dentists, nurses, health trainers, cooks, mariners, and engineers dedicate their time and skills to accelerate access to safe surgical, obstetric, and anesthetic care.

Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 and has offices in 16 countries as well as an Africa Service Center in Dakar, Senegal. For more information, visit www.mercyships.ca and follow @MercyShips on social media.