Jason Sewell ChatterHigh Profile

Background

I grew up in Saint John, New Brunswick, and went to Saint John High School. Growing up, I really enjoyed history and decided to pursue a business degree at the University of New Brunswick. At that stage in my life, I faced some challenges with my time management and ultimately decided to step away from my studies to gain more real-world experience.

I transitioned into the working world and had a few different jobs over the years, including a role with an industrial supplier. I worked in this position for five years before changes in the company occurred that would require a relocation to another province. I wasn’t ready for a move at the time and learned about the natural gas industry in New Brunswick through this job. I thought this might be something I would be interested in, so I applied to the New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) for the natural gas technician course.

I was excited to be accepted into the natural gas technician course because this was a newer industry for our province, and I felt there would be lots of opportunities for me.

After graduating, I got my first job in Fredericton working for Rebel Gas. I was responsible for installing heating equipment and gas lines for a new Costco in Fredericton.  

After a long summer of driving back and forth between Saint John and Fredericton, I got a job with a company in Saint John and began working on commercial and light industrial heating systems. This experience was tremendously valuable as it gave me a diverse skillset in working on a wide range of different types of equipment. I also had the opportunity to work with the oil technicians, which opened my eyes to experience other forms of heating systems.  

After five years there, I became aware of an opportunity to join Irving Oil and obtain my licence to be an oil technician. I hadn’t studied to be an oil technician in school, but I was proficient in servicing oil equipment at this point in my career. Irving hired me and indentured me into the oil apprenticeship program. Over the next 5.5 years, I earned a Red Seal Oil Burner Technician License. I am proud to say that I studied hard and put in many hours to obtain this licence.  

Career

Today, I work as a Dual Fuel Technician for Irving Oil. I primarily install propane heating equipment during business hours, as well as after-hours service calls on oil-burning equipment that fail or servicing broken electronic devices that make a heating system function. I’m installing furnaces, boilers and light commercial heating equipment that run on propane. I am also responsible for upgrading propane tanks and doing leak and pressure tests on gas piping systems, servicing cook stoves, clothing dryers and decorative fireplaces that burn gas.