Music to his ears

A conductor lifts his baton prompting the pulse of percussion. Well-tuned instruments warm up in synchronicity, sustaining a perfect harmony.

To some, these are the sounds of an orchestra. To Tyler Surette, who wields a wrench rather than a baton, they’re the satisfying sounds of a well-running diesel engine – music to his ears.

“I love listening to a smooth running engine,” he says. “There are certain sounds that even give me goose bumps. I don’t just hear noise, I hear music, like a language.”

A lifelong passion

Tyler’s love of engines began when he was 7 year old, spending time in his grandfather’s shop. Almost every night, the two could be found working on projects until dark.

“He taught me how an engine is supposed to sound,” he explains. “He loves hearing that as much as I do.”

After high school, Tyler took on various jobs driving trucks and working on equipment before realizing he wanted more. When he came across the Diesel Repair – Industrial & Marine program at Lunenburg Campus, he knew he’d found his calling.

“The course spoke to me perfectly. It was all about engines and that’s what I wanted to do.”

Lasting legacy

Tyler graduated in June, was class valedictorian at Lunenburg Campus, and is now working for DAC Industrial. He’s eager to expand his skills – he has already completed offshore training – and is focused on continuously learning more about his field. He hopes all of this helps him create the life he wants to live in the South Shore of Nova Scotia, where the love for his craft first began.

But the greatest aspect of his success is the continued connection to family.

“Every time I get an engine running well, I think of my grandfather,” he says. “I didn’t expect it, but it helps me stay connected to him. I think that’s why the work calls to me.”

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