Toronto International Boat Show

Toronto International Boat Show

The Toronto International Boat Show began this weekend and not only did the show start off with a bang, but so did Mercy Ships Canada’s Buy a Boat Save a Life campaign! 

The idea…

She’s 498 feet long, weighs 16,572 tons, and sleeps 474 people. Features include a pool, a café, 5 state-of-the-art operating rooms and on-call medical teams. And she’s yours for just $20 or best offer. The catch? She’s not actually a boat, she’s a ship—and not just any ship, either. Mercy Ships operates the world’s largest volunteer-run floating hospital ship, delivering free life-saving surgical care to the world’s most impoverished communities.

So how can you support this incredible ship? Come by Booth A1 and buy a boat—that is, name it, pose with it, and instantly boast to your friends on social media that you just bought a boat at the Toronto International Boat Show.

Boat-loving celebrity and philanthropist Joan Kelley Walker (star of the Real Housewives of Toronto) gave her support and helped raise awareness and donations as an ambassador for Mercy Ships Canada.

After giving a great interview with Global News in the morning, Joan surprised Mercy Ships Canada with a $50,000 donation!

We are so grateful for Joan’s generosity, and the support of everyone at the Toronto International Boat Show who came by our booth!

volunteer Florence Bangura

The Woman Who Forged Her Way Through Walls: Florence Bangura’s Story

Florence’s journey from oldest to newest Mercy Ship came full circle when she met the Global Mercy™ in 2023, the same year that the purpose-built hospital ship began welcoming its patients on board. Today, you can find Florence, now 49 years old, down in the engine room as a hotel engineering assistant.

Dr Austin Demby

Transforming Sierra Leone’s Healthcare: A Vision for Safe and Affordable Surgery

As experts from the surgical and healthcare world gather for the 64th Annual Conference and Scientific Meeting of the West African College of Surgeons in Sierra Leone this week, a profound dedication to advancing surgical knowledge and practice in the region is palpable. At the forefront of discussions lies the conference’s pivotal theme: access to safe and affordable surgical and anesthetic care in West Africa. This theme highlights the pressing need to address disparities in healthcare capabilities and capacities across the region, especially the critical importance of equitable access to quality surgical interventions.

Mission Madagascar

The Africa Mercy Arrives in Madagascar to Bring Hope and Healing Anew

Freshly refitted hospital ship, the upgraded Africa Mercy® has arrived at the island nation to build on the charity’s longstanding collaboration and will provide specialized surgeries in various fields, including maxillofacial and ear nose and throat, general, pediatric specialized general, pediatric orthopedic, cataract surgery, and reconstructive plastics. 

Patient Vanya

Reuniting with Vanya, Years After Surgery

In 2015, in an operating room on board the Africa Mercy while docked in Madagascar, the course of Vanya’s life changed.
Years have now passed since Vanya’s journey toward healing. In the time since, her improved ability to walk allowed her to return to school, where she loved studying environmental science and learning about the world around her.

Kadidja

Kadidja: A Future as Bright as her Smile

At Mercy Ships Canada, we serve those who have lost hope, bringing healing and transformation. Our volunteers, inspired by their faith, work selflessly to perform surgeries that renew not only bodies but also faith and hope. This Christmas, be a part of the miracle by making a donation to Mercy Ships Canada. Your contribution will help renew faith and offer a second chance at life. Together, we can make a significant impact on those who have suffered for too long.

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