Mother's Day is extra special for this boat building team
'We never get tired of seeing each other,' says mother who works with her daughter
Joyce and Anita Cottreau spend every day working side by side on the floor of the bustling Wedgeport Boats yard in southwest Nova Scotia.
A female fibreglass team is a rarity in itself, but this duo is also mother and daughter.
"Working together has brought us closer together," Joyce, 59, said.
The two plan to spend Mother's Day together, which they say will be no less special for being workmates.
"Mom has always been there for me, even though she has worked full time since I was a baby," Anita said.
"Anything I needed or wanted, she's bent over backwards for me, so I definitely have to appreciate that — and still do."
'I love my daughter'
Joyce started working at Wedgeport Boats 30 years ago when Anita was just three months old. Joyce has been the bread winner in her family since a disability sidelined her husband.
"I love my daughter. I love my son. I love my husband," she said.
Daughter joins mom
Tired of part time and seasonal work, Anita submitted a resume to the boatyard three years ago after her mother mentioned the yard had recently hired a new employee. Anita was hired before Joyce knew she had applied.
"When I first started, they didn't want to put us together because they didn't know how we would work. They didn't think we would get along," said Anita, who is also trained cosmetologist.
Share 'heavy lifting'
Those fears proved ill-founded. Mom and daughter share the burdens in the mostly male yard that employs around 35.
"It's definitely a man's world here, but we help each other — especially when it comes to the heavy lifting," said Anita.
"The guys help out," Joyce said.
"We are treated pretty much like one of the guys and that's pretty much the way that we like it."
'Inspiring work'
Both are proud of the boat yard, which has a full order book for the ever-larger fishing vessels dominating the area's lucrative lobster fishery, as well as a variety of smaller boats which are sold across Canada.
Clad in overalls and steel toed boots, the two move easily among the air pumps, spools, hoses and nozzles that spray the fibreglass used to build the hulls.
"It's really inspiring the work that we do," said Anita.
Never tire of each other
Working in close quarters might not work for some family members, but the Cottreaus shrug that off, saying they have always had a strong mother-daughter relationship. They are neighbours in the tiny Acadian coastal community.
"We never get tired of seeing each other," said Joyce.
"Some people will probably get tired seeing their parents every day and working with them everyday, but we don't," Anita added.
They're not the only family members in the business. Joyce's sister and brother-in-law also work at Wedgeport Boats.
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