Mahmoud Alnassan can be found on the bustling shop floor at Cheticamp Boatbuilders. Mahmoud is a busy guy, striding around the shop with focused eyes.
Originally from Syria, Mahmoud arrived in Cape Breton from Lebanon on February 9, 2015, as Nova Scotia experienced record-setting snowfall. He stepped into the snow and his new life.
With the goal of providing a good life for his three children, he went looking for work. He had 15 years of experience as a chef, but there isn't much restaurant work in rural Cape Breton at wintertime. He went to the local fish plant first. Soon he heard about Cheticamp Boatbuilders, and after a season at the fish plant was done he walked in the shop door. It was a brave move: "when I came in here, zero English," he says.
His first year at the shop Mahmoud learned boat building and English, and some French, all at the same time. "It was really hard," he says. But working in the shop, things started to become clear. "Everybody here helped me," he says, "for language, for everything."
Mahmoud now does different kinds of work and continues to expand his skill set. "I like to learn everything in the boat shop," he says, "Now I know about fibreglass, I know about painting...and hydraulic systems, fuel systems, anything around the engine too." As for work he might do in the future, "I think I'd like to learn more about being a carpenter for a boat," he says, "make a kitchen."
Mahmoud still enjoys cooking, and now sometimes catches his own food. "So far so good here now...in the winter I go ice fishing," he says, "I went [deer] hunting last year." Mahmoud fishes trout and smelt. Last year he went crab fishing too. He plans to continue making the most of his Canadian surroundings.
Now with one more child, Mahmoud is proud to say that his four kids are doing well. Two are university students. "If the kids go to university, it's very good. I came to Canada for them, not for me."
As for working 10 more years at Cheticamp? "If I stay healthy, yeah, why not?"
He feels like Cheticamp, and Cheticamp Boatbuilders, are a new home. "Nice team here," he says, "nice people."
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