For one Fergus man, being out on the open water has become his happy place.
Joshua Klages-Parisotto, 22, is off to serve the community as part of the Canadian Coast Guard.
After graduating from the Canadian Coast Guard College in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia on June 1, the 22-year-old joined the crew aboard the CCGS Griffon, based in Prescott Ontario, as a marine engineering officer.
Klages-Parisottowould never have guessed this would be the path he would take after graduating from Centre Wellington District High School.
“I was fishing on Lake Ontario with my father one day. And we saw the Coast Guard vessels going in and out of Toronto. My interest was piqued, and I thought, that would be a cool career,” Klages-Parisotto said.
“I did some research, and it checked all my boxes. It has hands-on learning and opportunities to help people. So, I thought, this is what I want to do, and there’s lots more opportunities for learning in the future as well.”
Along with a bachelor’s degree in Marine Science Technology, Klages-Parisotto obtained a fourth-class marine engineering ticket issued by Transport Canada.
The four-year program also offered opportunities to learn first-hand, how to help others in need after having faced several states of emergency, including Hurricane Fiona, floods and the 2024 snowstorm.
Klages-Parisotto said these experiences helped to develop his passion to pursue a career with the Canadian Coast Guard.
“Hurricane Fiona came in, of course with super strong winds. Trees were down, and there was no power. In the community, we were without power for about a week and a half, and for some people it was longer than that,” Klages-Parisotto said.
The main goal was to open up the college, clear all of the trees and make the building accessible for anyone in need.
“We had backup emergency power, to bring in anyone from the community and offer heat, warming, refreshments, or any power that they might need. We wanted to help in any way we could. I definitely thought I would never see anything like that. But we got though it,” Klages-Parisotto said.
The snowstorm this past winter, offered a different experience.
“I remember the weekend leading up to the last snowfall. Most of our college was snowed in. But as soon as it ended, we all got together, and the whole college as a group, and we started to shovel,” Klages-Parisotto said.
“We wanted to do as much as we could so we could be accessible. We loaded up school buses and our cadets helped people in need in the area, and helped to shovel them out. We just went around and tried to help where we could.”
Once a minor hockey player with Centre Wellington Fusion, Klages-Parisotto recalls it was the teamwork and mentorship from his coaches and teammates that helped shape his drive to support others in need.
"Hockey was a big part of my life until my last season of minor midget. Then I went to Guelph to play at a higher level. But I still consider Centre Wellington my hometown hockey team,” Klages-Parisotto said.
“I made a great amount of friends. I learned that teamwork was really what you need to survive. Without hockey, I would not know how important teamwork really is. And I wouldn’t have had the support from coaches that pushed me to do better.”
Klages-Parisotto is grateful for all of the encouragement he has received over the years and throughout his four years of college.
“I just really enjoy that camaraderie and even now, just being on ship, I see a lot of relationships being built and I enjoy being part of a team. I do thank hockey for helping me get me ready for that and for teaching me everything I need to know when it comes to teamwork and any type of leadership,” he said.
As an engineering officer, Klages-Parisotto is in charge of all of the machinery on board.
“I love being able to make sure that the ship is running properly, and that the navigation operators have what they need for their operations. I love all of the hands-on work that comes with the job,” he said.
The program at the Canadian Coast Guard College offers free tuition, with room and board included.
“But you do have to give back four years after college, so you automatically graduate with a job that’s secure for at least that amount of time,” Klages-Parisotto said.
“All in all, during those four years, I met some of my best friends, probably my second family. The schooling can be tough, but at the end, It really is worth it.”
Klages-Parisotto hopes to continue to learn and build on his skills.
“I hope I can work my way up and get even higher-level tickets, maybe even a higher position on board,” he said.
“There’s really nothing better than waking up and looking out onto the water. It’s such a beautiful view.”
