Chief Engineer Steve Elrick
Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2018 1:10 pm
I am profoundly sorry to share the news of Steve Elrick’s passing. Steve, Chief Engineer on the Coastal Celebration, passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning in the Palliative Care Unit of the Saanich Peninsula Hospital after a long and brave battle with cancer. Steve was a highly valued and respected member of the Coastal Celebration team and his absence has been keenly felt by his shipmates since the diagnosis of his condition in 2016.
Steve was a graduate of the Marine Engineering program at Georgian College in Owen Sound. After graduation, he sailed on the Great Lakes and then deep sea before joining BC Ferries in 1998 as a First/Relief Chief Engineer in the Swartz Bay Staffing Pool. In this position, Steve shared his expertise and skills with the crews of various vessels based in Swartz Bay, leaving his indelible professional mark on all sizes of vessels, spanning from the smallest vessel in the fleet, the Mill Bay, to one of the largest vessels, the Spirit of Vancouver Island. His final position with BC Ferries was as regular Chief Engineer aboard the Coastal Celebration.
Steve was a wonderful shipmate who inherently understood the meaning of the word "team." He was always focused on ensuring he and the team worked safely and efficiently. He made numerous significant contributions to the Company and helped it move forward in various ways. Foremost of these was his adept mentoring of new engineers and the sharing of his extensive knowledge and experience. His work here will not soon be forgotten.
Steve was a remarkable man; he will be greatly missed and everyone here is saddened by his death. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”
Details regarding a celebration of Steve’s life are not yet known and will be communicated at a later time.
Steve was a graduate of the Marine Engineering program at Georgian College in Owen Sound. After graduation, he sailed on the Great Lakes and then deep sea before joining BC Ferries in 1998 as a First/Relief Chief Engineer in the Swartz Bay Staffing Pool. In this position, Steve shared his expertise and skills with the crews of various vessels based in Swartz Bay, leaving his indelible professional mark on all sizes of vessels, spanning from the smallest vessel in the fleet, the Mill Bay, to one of the largest vessels, the Spirit of Vancouver Island. His final position with BC Ferries was as regular Chief Engineer aboard the Coastal Celebration.
Steve was a wonderful shipmate who inherently understood the meaning of the word "team." He was always focused on ensuring he and the team worked safely and efficiently. He made numerous significant contributions to the Company and helped it move forward in various ways. Foremost of these was his adept mentoring of new engineers and the sharing of his extensive knowledge and experience. His work here will not soon be forgotten.
Steve was a remarkable man; he will be greatly missed and everyone here is saddened by his death. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”
Details regarding a celebration of Steve’s life are not yet known and will be communicated at a later time.