Search for wharfinger on YouTube and the top three videos pertain to the word’s pronunciation: “wharf-injure,” rather than what the actual profession entails.
A wharfinger is defined as the keeper of a wharf or, as Darlene Denholm calls herself, the harbour manager.
Denholm is the wharfinger at Lund Harbour, one of the busiest small harbours on the Sunshine Coast.
“As far as the small-craft harbours are concerned, I would definitely say it’s one of the busiest,” said Denholm.
Prior to arriving in Lund four years ago, Denholm was the manager of Union Steamship Company Marina, a private moorage on Bowen Island.
“I didn’t want to raise my kids in the city so I moved to Bowen Island,” she said. “It was a good short step to see if a city girl could hack it. After 20 years on Bowen, I went further out to Lund.”
Being a wharfinger, according to Denholm, does not require a university degree, but certain skills, such as marine experience, can be an asset.
“I’m a sailor, so being a boater is a huge help,” she said.
In addition to knowing about boats, other job qualifications include first aid, VHF radio operation, holding a Pleasure Craft Operator Card and bookkeeping. Before becoming a wharfinger, Denholm was a bookkeeper. She said she starts her rounds as early as 5 am on some days.
“I do my monthly checklist, my dock walk, check off all of my nightly boats and also make note of any overnight boats that may have come in after closing,” said Denholm. “I do my rounds, open the supply room, check the washrooms, clean them, if need be, and I’ll come do a bit of admin work before it starts getting crazy.”
One of the biggest prerequisites for the job, she said, is customer service and dealing with boaters, some of whom can be demanding.
“Sometimes you’re a bit insulted because it is your profession and you are a professional at what you do; at times it can be a bit frustrating,” she said.
Denholm said she also has to deal with boaters trying to dock in a small harbour with a maximum boat length of 65 feet.
“Even for the most accomplished sailors or boaters, if they’re in a new boat, it’s a challenge. It can be very embarrassing for them,” she said.
As the gateway to Desolation Sound, Lund is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Powell River region. Impressive yachts pass through, including the million-dollar Lazee Gal out of Vancouver, which visited the harbour recently.
The youngest of seven children, Denholm grew up in a political environment.
“I was raised in a very political, active family,” she said. According to Denholm, her father nominated Gordon Gibson for the Liberal Party of Canada in the 1980s.
“Dad was his campaign manager and mom was his office manager,” she said. “I grew up in Liberal campaign offices.”
She said she remembers former prime minister Pierre Trudeau coming to BC to campaign for Gibson when she was a teenager, often with his sons Justin, Alexandre and Michel.
“I hung out with the boys and ran around taking care of them all day,” she said.
Now that Denholm has settled into the job as wharfinger in Lund, she said she has found the happy life.
“My dad always wished for us kids to be happy going to work every day,” said Denholm. “He said, ‘All I really want is for you to be happy.’”
