Meet the interns and community mentors, both current and past, who have worked with Water First. Click on an individual for a brief biography.
Davidson Clarke
“The internship has been amazing. It’s been eye-opening, to say the least. A lot of people don’t think of water as they should; they take it for granted. The environmental side of it is what I was most excited about.
I had my second kid right before ELC (Entry-Level Course) started. Working in the community and starting a career has really helped me feel like I’m doing what’s right for my family, my community and myself.”
Davidson graduated from the Internship Program with his Small Systems, ELC and OIT (Operator-in-Training) certifications. Listen to Davidson’s reflection on the Internship Program here.
Davidson Clarke
Shoal Lake 39 First Nation
Destiny Geroux
“Before joining the Internship Program, I was working at a fish hatchery and with the Species-at-Risk Program, which involved a lot of wildlife training and surveys on aquatic animals and reptiles. I also like to play guitar and game!
Water in Shawanaga First Nation hasn’t had any problems with its quality, but more with quantity: we don’t have enough water supply to be able to safely do the flushing. If there is a wildfire, it is really unfortunate because there isn’t much we can do.
Water First staff have been incredibly understandable – not like how my teachers in high school said that the workplace was going to be. I feel like I am learning more from Water First than I did at my actual school; I feel like they are really taking the time to understand the interns. After graduating from the Internship Program, I’m hoping to land a position at the new plant and be able to help out my community.”
Destiny Geroux
Shawanaga First Nation
Dyami Tuskin
Before Dyami started the Internship Program, he didn’t know a whole lot about water quality. Dyami was working as a mechanic, but was searching for other meaningful work. After being sent the Internship job posting from the Shawanaga First Nation HR Manager, he decided to apply.
“At first, I was just doing this for myself but then realized that providing clean water to the community is one of the most important things someone could do for the community.”
After graduating from the Internship, Dyami hopes to pursue a career in the water or wastewater service field.
“My favourite thing about the Internship is that I am in a career that myself, nor anybody, had thought I would be in.”