Celebrated on May 15, International Day of Families is all about celebrating the value of families. This occasion provides an excellent opportunity to shine a light on families, like the Estupinan family, who contribute so much to the success of J.D. Irving, Limited. 

Originally from Colombia, Carlos Estupinan and his family relocated to Saint John, New Brunswick in September of 2022 after living in Panama for the last three and a half years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Carlos and his family knew they wanted a change. With Carlos having a degree in International Trade and 14 years of experience in the shipping industry and vessel operations, a port city was the perfect spot for their family.

Carlos is a part of the Atlantic Towing team and works as a Sales and Marketing Specialist. Some of the tasks he is involved in are bidding processes, managing contracts, and sourcing new leads for the company. For him, one thing that is new and interesting is having the opportunity to work in offshore operations. Carlos says he loves the office environment, the camaraderie, and the people around him at J.D. Irving.

For newcomers looking to come to Canada, Carlos mentioned that the Canadian government websites have reliable and useful resources to find out more information on the process of moving to Canada. Carlos found his role through a post on LinkedIn. After connecting with the recruiter, Carlos was interviewed, received support from his team at Atlantic Towing, and brought his family to Saint John.

Since moving, Carlos and his family have been embracing the city and the seasons. One of his favorite memories so far is sledding with his wife and two children at Rockwood Golf Course. He and his son have even made shoveling a fun activity to do together. His son, who is seven years old, started learning French when they lived in Panama. He is happy to have the opportunity to continue learning the language in New Brunswick, a bilingual province.

Thinking ahead in his career, Carlos is looking forward to growing within his role and continuing to develop his skills. He finds great value in being a part of a company that has so many opportunities available as well as being surrounded by a wonderful team!

If you are looking for more information on the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), please visit the Government of Canada website here.

If you are interested in the recently announced New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot Program, more details are available on the New Brunswick Government website here.