Mechanic finds cool way to make a living
A typical workday for Sean Donnan involves travelling around the city to various locations to install, maintain, repair and overhaul refrigeration systems.
“It’s something new every day. I get to go all over the city and see different people,” said Donnan.
The 23-year-old credits welding classes at Leduc Composite High School with his eventual career in the trades.
Donnan said he enjoyed the handson work in those classes and knew he wanted to continue such work.
“I’ve always been a hands-on person and I enjoy fixing things. If I see an issue or problem, I like going in there and fixing it and getting the problem solved,” he said.
“My marks were always good through school, but I didn’t want to go to university just for the sake of going to university. Trades are another option. You can be successful, it’s a great career to get into.”
As for the trade he chose — refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic — Donnan said his father, who is in the same trade, was a big influence.
Donnan entered the refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) after high school. He’s awaiting his papers that will certify him as a journey-person and he now works for Leduc-based Millennium Mechanical Services.
On the job, Donnan said he enjoys the challenge of fixing bigger refrigeration systems. “I don’t have a ton of experience on them, so to walk into something that I’m really not confident in and be able to figure it out is a good feeling,” he said.
Todd Matsuba, chair of the refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic program at NAIT, describes the trade as one “with little aspects of just about every other trade built in. You’re guaranteed to see something different every other day. It keeps you interested because you never know what you’re going to come up against,” said Matsuba, who has been in the trade for 17 years.
In addition to instructing Donnan during his time at NAIT, Matsuba also coached him for Skills Canada, which hosts Olympic-style competitions for trades students and apprentices.
Donnan won a gold medal at the Canadian Skills competition in 2010, where he built a working freezer in less than 11 hours using parts provided. He went on to compete at the 2011 WorldSkills event in London, England.
“He’s an extremely dedicated refrigeration mechanic. He’s hungry for knowledge and seems to have a natural talent for the trades in general,” Matsuba said.
The travel opportunities have been an unexpected benefit to working in the trades, Donnan said. He has been to Quebec, Australia and London to compete.
“I’m a very competitive person, so it was nice to compete,” Donnan said.
While Donnan is no longer competing for Skills Canada, he has recently taken on a mentorship role and is coaching the current competitor for an upcoming Skills competition in Germany.
“It’s the perfect fit, as he excels in his ability to transfer knowledge to someone else,” Matsuba said.