This year, J.D. Irving, Limited is celebrating receiving the Industry Champion Award from the New Brunswick Mentor Apprentice Program for creating a workplace learning culture and providing support to our journeypersons through effective mentor training.

JDI takes great pride in the learning culture that our sites have created for skilled tradespeople. 

Brenda Bosse, a Millwright Apprentice at the St. Leonard Sawmill, and a member of the 2021 StepW grad class.  
"I always wanted the opportunity to do hard work, I wanted to be tired at the end of the day. And now I work hard but I'm more excited to come back each day than anything else," says Brenda.

StepW gave her the opportunity to find work close to home, so she could see her family whenever she wanted. 

Brenda is one of nearly 1000 skilled tradespeople in our sawmill division. Join her! Apply today at jdirvinglumber.com

Dave Thompson is an NBCC graduate in Electrical and Instrumentation, who works with the Pulp and Paper Division at Lake Utopia Paper - just down the road from his home town of St. Stephen. Here's what he had to say about working in the skilled trades: "Industry is constantly adapting and overcoming new challenges using cutting edge technologies, and technical trades are a driving force at the forefront of this ever changing work environment. "

The Pulp and Paper Division is proud to have the skill of 342 skilled tradespeople, with over 4,000 combined years of experience.

Marissa Morehouse is a Heavy Equipment Mechanic Apprentice, and a 2021 graduate of the New Boots program, which she has to thank for her introduction to the skilled trades. 

"I always wanted to take a trade, but I wasn't sure which one. I found StepW, which allowed me to try multiple trades, I immediately loved the mechanics class so I stuck with it. It's been an awesome experience and I'd recommend it to any women interested in the trades."

She's currently working in the maintenance shop at Gulf Operators on large pieces of equipment such as excavators and dump trucks. Marissa is one of the 75 tradespeople currently working at Gulf, and one of over 280 currently working within the Construction and Equipment Division/

Josh Doiron is a Trailer and Reefer Mechanic with Midland Transport. Originally from Bass River, N.B, and a graduate of NBCC, Miramichi Campus, Josh's favourite part of his job is always working with his hands.

"Listen to the people more experienced than you, they can teach you so much. Always take advice and don't be afraid to get your hands dirty."

Atlantic Towing maintains close ties with educational institutions across Canada, working to provide cadets with long and short sea terms to meet program requirements. Many of seafarers today, including many of our vessel masters, began as cadets and have worked through the ranks and become long-term and tenured employees. In addition to vessel masters, Atlantic Towing hires marine engineers and navigation cadets and program graduates. 

For many young Maritimers, seafaring is an incredible way to see the world and many look to businesses like Atlantic Towing - a local business with operations across Atlantic Canada, the Canadian North, the West Coast, the North Sea, Caribbean and beyond - for some of the best life experiences.

Kelsie MacLean, a Chief Engineer with Atlantic Towing, has travelled to Baker Lake, Nunavut several times with the business's annual supply mission to the small inland community.

Learn more about current opportunities with the Transportation & Logistics Division here. We're proud to employ skilled workers across Atlantic Canada, Canada's West Coast and into the North Eastern U.S, and thank our team members for their dedication and drive.

If you're interested in joining our team of Skilled trades professionals, you can apply today at careers.jdirving.com. We're proud to have skilled employees across all of our operations in Canada and the U.S.