Ottawa airport chaplains prepare for the March break rush

Jenny Burr
Spur Ottawa Correspondent

Airports aren’t known as beacons of tranquility. Between holiday crowds, piles of luggage, and invasive security, they’re usually seen as hurdles to cross before your vacation really begins. One place in the Ottawa airport, however, has a radically different image. Comments in the Ottawa Airport Chapel guest book refer to it as “a place of peace,” “a haven for the emotionally weary,” and “a comfort for troubled souls.”

Much of that comfort is thanks to Tom Kartzmark and his recently retired colleague, Larry McConnell. Kartzmark has served as the airport chaplain since 1993.

“I was overwhelmed with the conviction to resign from my lucrative career,” says Kartzmark, explaining how he first entered ministry.

“God was training my wife, Vivian, and me to step out in faith and further trust in His promise of provision. I finally did resign. In 1986, with only $200.00 plus a month in promised support, we moved to Winnipeg and I became the airport chaplain. We moved here, to Ottawa’s airport, in 1993.”

Kartzmark was Ottawa’s first airport chaplain and he’s seen God provide in amazing ways.

Visibility is crucial for chaplains. But that was a challenge for Kartzmark’s co-worker McConnell, leading up to his retirement. He started struggling with mobility, which made it hard to network. But when he suggested to his board that might retiring, God intervened.

Kartzmark says a man who used to pick up relief supplies knocked on the chapel door and asked, “Tom, do you know anybody who could use a free electric wheelchair? It is in good shape and is worth over $900.00.”

The gift allowed McConnell to continue serving for several years, networking with travellers and airport staff.

A key role for airport chaplains is being approachable and fostering trusting relationships with the people they meet. Kartzmark says airport chaplains also offer counselling in everyday life issues and for individuals traumatized by any form of aviation emergency or disaster.

“Chaplaincy is an opportunity for people to see an official Christian in their midst as a caring human,” explains Kartzmark.

Having genuine compassion is vital in ministry. It’s something Kartzmark says he didn’t always have. But God taught him empathy and how to connect with busy travellers.

“This ministry comes in waves. December to March have the highest demand,” he says. “If you view people as targets for conversion or you are friendly [so you can] manipulate them to the Lord, they sense it and resent you. I have learned to become sensitive to a person’s spirit, by relating to their heart.”