Introducing Our 2024 Women in Defence & Security (WiDS) Emerging Leaders Nominees, Jess and Dalyce

March 01, 2024

Seaspan is proud to announce that two women from Seaspan Shipyards have been nominated as part of the 2024 Women in Defence & Security (WiDS) emerging leaders. Every year, the WiDS campaign celebrates and recognizes women who demonstrate leadership and bring value to Canada’s Defence and Security community.

Dalyce Temple is a Welding Chargehand at Seaspan Shipyards and leads a team of 20 welders working to build ships for the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. But she didn’t always have her sights set on a career in welding. Initially, Dalyce wanted to be a teacher but decided to follow a different career path that led her to welding school at the UA Piping Industry College on Annacis Island.

In 2016, she joined the Seaspan team as a welder, and gradually moved her way up to becoming a chargehand. Since then, Dalyce has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills by constantly challenging both herself as a leader and her team to grow their skills. 

“Just go for it and don’t be afraid to try something new and get out of your comfort zone. There are always people out there that are willing to support you in the trades industry. You can get a lot of support behind you but you have to go for it and put yourself out there first,” says Dalyce on giving advice to women thinking about going into trades.  

Jess Fetterman is the Chief Engineer for the Polar Icebreaker project at Seaspan Shipyards.

Leading the design and engineering for the Canadian Coast Guard’s flagship heavy icebreaker is something Jess calls a once in a lifetime career opportunity, as it’s the first heavy icebreaker to be built in Canada in at least 60 years and the first one ever built by Seaspan.

“It’s like conducting a symphony except you’re not really sure where all the musicians are” says Jess in describing her role at Seaspan as Chief Engineer.

Jess brings over 20+ years of maritime engineering experience spanning design, construction, and in-service support. She holds a BSE in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan and is a registered Professional Engineer in British Columbia.

Jess hopes to see more women enter the engineering industry and to take on more executive roles.

“Everyone gets really intimidated, especially when you’re going into smaller industries like shipbuilding. This industry has historically been very male dominated, which makes it really tough to stand up for yourself, even when you’re right. But don’t be afraid to stand up and say ‘yes I know that this is correct, I have done my work, and I am confident in my work,’” says Jess.

Congratulations to both nominees and all of this year’s talented WiDs Emerging Leader nominees! Your nominations are a testament to your outstanding efforts in your fields.