STORIES

"Imagine yourself on a boat out at sea. Suddenly, the water can take a turn for the worse," says Geir Karlsen, gazing seriously at his TED talk audience, "A strong gale can pick up and fill your boat with dark and ice-cold water from the North Atlantic. You're not prepared for the shock that comes when your body hits the icy-cold water." Karlsen says the idea for a device to prevent vessels sinking came from a tragic experience in his youth when five people went out for a da

Rob McCullough of Riverdale first to complete NSBA MST apprenticeship McCullough aboard a memorable build, Theodore Tugboat (contributed) At A.F. Theriault & Son Ltd. in Meteghan River, craftsmanship is measured both in vessels launched and in the skill of the people who build and maintain them. Rob McCullough has long been one of those steady hands in the yard. Now he holds a distinction that marks both personal achievement and a milestone for the province: he is the first

Cheticamp Boatbuilders, seen from the sky When Brett Robinson and partner Peter Lewin purchased Cheticamp Boatbuilders , they were careful in how they approached the 45-year community fixture. Over three years later, Cheticamp has stabilized operations, expanded services and formalized workforce development while preserving the shop’s culture. Robinson credits Cheticamp’s core — employees with decades of experience — for easing the transition. “It’s really the crew,” he says.