Our Stories
Dawson MacDonald has always had a passion for ships. From a young age, having lived near the water his whole life, he quickly took an interest in ships of all different types. After beginning work in construction, Dawson discovered a love for the trades and felt it was a natural progression to combine two of his passions and begin his shipbuilding journey.
“I started at the shipyard in May 2023 and have loved it here since day one,” says Dawson. “There are still days when I just can’t get over the stunning size of everything. I have a hard time believing that I have a part in it all! I’m proud of the fact that not only am I combining two things that I’ve loved for so long, but I’m also building ships that will be used to protect our country. It is an amazing bonus to what is already a dream for me.”
During his time at Irving Shipbuilding, Dawson has worked on four Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships, building ships for both the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard. While his work on these ships is a major highlight for Dawson, it’s the day-to-day experiences with his fellow shipbuilders that leaves the biggest impact.
“My favourite part of coming to work every day is seeing the excellent group of people on my team I have the pleasure of working with. The people of this shipyard have become family to me, and I couldn’t ask for better people to work with.”
For Dawson, shipbuilding represents more than protecting Canada’s sovereignty and working with his work family, it represents an opportunity to teach and share his knowledge with apprentices across the company.
“Growing up, my parents were very pro teaching and loved to mentor others, so I feel I’ve taken a little bit of that mentality and applied it to my own life. I love to mentor and use my experiences to help others learn and strive in this trade. I have had plenty of good mentors in my career who made my transition through the apprenticeship levels easier, and I want to be that person and pay it forward for apprentices here at ISI.”
Dawson’s enthusiasm to mentor others around him has enriched the apprentice experience for many trades workers at ISI.
“Dawson has played a pivotal role in mine and many other apprenticeships around the yard,” says Daniel MacDougall, Electrician Apprentice. “Dawson’s leadership and mentoring shows in his work and dedication to helping others strive through their apprenticeship. His passion for shipbuilding is evident in his attitude, eagerness to help others, and ability to translate electrical theory to the field."
A natural mentor and teacher, Dawson now tutors fellow shipbuilders through Irving Shipbuilding’s partnership with VLS Canada, a virtual learning strategy program for apprentices. James Briand, an Electrician Apprentice, is one of the many shipbuilders who have worked with Dawson.
“Having Dawson as a tutor was a big help in learning electrical theory in a way that was quick and easy to understand,” says James. “You can tell he takes pride in being able to teach apprentices the knowledge needed to progress through the trade as well as the patience to make sure we all understand the content. It’s always a pleasure to be able to work with or around Dawson. He is always willing to lend a helping hand or walk you through a process you may not be familiar with.”
Dawson’s impact through his mentorship has been felt by fellow crew members and across our production team alike.
“Dawson has a unique ability to connect with people and explain technical concepts in a way that truly resonates with them,” says Grant Fitzgerald, Senior Quality Control Inspector. “His calm, approachable manner creates a positive learning environment where questions are encouraged and confidence can grow. It’s rare to find someone so willing to teach, support, and guide others through their most challenging knowledge gaps, often at moments when confidence is low or frustration is high, and Dawson does so with genuine patience and skill.”
Moving forward, Dawson intends on continuing to build quality ships for Canada, share his expertise with others, and eventually mentor and teach full-time.
“I want to continue to pass my knowledge onto the next generation of not only shipbuilders, but electricians. My aspiration for the future is to continue my passion for teaching and mentoring future generations of tradespeople while trying to fill the shoes of the great mentors who shaped me.”