Designing a New Future: Daniel Kim's Journey to Boatbuilding in Nova Scotia

Daniel Kim moved to Nova Scotia with his family in 2021 and got an entry-level job at a local boat building company. He is now working through professional Boatbuilder certification and is using his extensive education to help design Nova Scotian boats. The NSBA caught up with Daniel recently to learn more about his fascinating story. In his words:

Hello! My Korean name is Sung Sik Kim, and my English name is Daniel. My family and I immigrated to Nova Scotia, Canada, in December 2021 from South Korea.

We entered Canada through the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) on work permits, and while working at A.F. Theriault & Son Ltd., our entire family received permanent resident status in April 2022.

I graduated with a degree in Architectural Engineering in South Korea and worked as a construction technician at a Korean construction company before immigrating to Canada. After getting married, my wife and I were blessed with three sons. While raising children can be challenging anywhere in the world, the educational and financial pressures of raising three boys in South Korea were particularly demanding. As we carefully considered how to provide our children with the best possible education and future, a close friend of my wife’s family decided to immigrate to Australia. This became a turning point for us.

While researching immigration options online, my wife discovered information about the Canadian AIP. After consulting with a Canadian immigration agency, we decided to prepare for our move to Canada—and that decision brought us to where we are today.

At A.F. Theriault & Son Ltd., I began my first Canadian career working as a laminator in the fiberglass shop. Fiberglass is widely used in many industries in Korea, including construction, and I had prior experience with fiberglass design and installation while working in construction. However, working with fiberglass in boatbuilding was completely new to me. In fact, boatbuilding itself is not common in Korea, and my only previous experience was building a small wooden model boat as an elementary school project.

When I first started at A.F. Theriault & Son Ltd., I was trained by Joy, the shop master. At the time, there were many laminators in the fiberglass shop, all of whom she trained and managed. Although I occasionally made mistakes due to my limited English, Joy trusted me and taught me patiently. I would like to express my sincere gratitude and respect to her for her guidance and support.

After nearly a year of participating in the construction of several lobster boats, I had a conversation with Joy. She asked me, “What do you want to do in the future?” 

I explained that I had previously worked with AutoCAD in Korea and hoped to work in drafting again if there was an opportunity. Joy told me that if I could draw a boat plan and show it to her, she would introduce me to the office.

After that conversation, I went home after work and drew the general arrangement plan of the lobster boat I was currently laminating. A few days later, I showed it to Joy. She told me it was well done, shared it with the office, and arranged an interview for me with the company owner. After interviewing with the President and Vice President, I began working in the office as a Draft Technician in the design department.

Not long after I started working in the office, Joy recommended that I take the Boat Builder course. I believed it was essential for boat design, so I applied immediately. Later, I learned that all of the designers in the office had completed this course as well. I have now completed Section 2 and have started Section 3, with the goal of completing the program next year.

While I gained hands-on technical skills as a laminator and draft technician, the Boat Builder course has helped me organize and strengthen the theoretical foundation behind those skills. For example, in Section 3, I study the pre-preg construction method, which A.F. Theriault & Son uses when building small boats. Recently, I had the opportunity to participate directly in a boatbuilding process using pre-preg construction. Experiencing the process—from preparation to production—made the theory I had learned much clearer and more concrete.

Through boat design, I have come to realize that a boat is essentially a house. Just as we live in houses on land, boats are homes on the sea or rivers. While the size and quantity may differ, everything necessary for daily living is installed inside a boat. Modifications and customizations based on the owner’s needs are also very similar to designing or building a house. Discovering that boat design is closely connected to my academic background and professional experience in Korea has been a truly fascinating experience.

I am deeply grateful to Joy, A.F. Theriault & Son Ltd., the Nova Scotia Boatbuilders Association, and Apprenticeship Nova Scotia for providing me with these valuable opportunities. My journey in boatbuilding continues, and this exciting voyage is still underway.