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Drinking Water

Home / Tap into all the news from the Water First Drinking Water Program

Tap into all the news from the Water First Drinking Water Program

Tap into all the news from the Water First Drinking Water Program

Spring 2026

We’re Getting Outside! 😎

Spring and summer are the busiest times for Water First, as we get into the water and out on the land to deliver clean water programming across the country.  Be sure to stay connected and up-to-date on all the exciting work Water First is doing through updates like these – and don’t forget to follow along on social media!

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Water First Drinking Water Interns from AKRC and Big Island First Nation celebrate their graduation as Class 1 Water Operators

Celebrating AKRC Internship Graduation 🎓

There are eight new Indigenous Water Operators embarking on a future in water protection, after The Anishinaabeg of Kabapikotawangag Resource Council (AKRC) Interns celebrated their recent graduation from the program! 

Graduates completed more than 2,000 hours of hands-on training since the internship began in February, 2025. Each participant challenged an Entry Level Course exam, mapping and GIS, Water Quality Assessment 1, and Water Quality Assessment 2 exams, which are cornerstones of their future Water Operator certifications. 

The Drinking Water Internship can lead to work in both drinking water treatment, and environmental water careers. Graduates of the program become part of the Water First Alumni Network, with access to continuing career development and education opportunities, as well as an ever-expanding professional network.

“The Water First winning formula continues to graduate First Nation Water Operators at an unprecedented rate of return and has proven to be worth its weight in water, which in this day and age is worth far more than gold.”

Phil Tangie, Hub Manager and Overall Responsible Operator for AKRC, and member of the Water First Board of Directors

Current Water Advisories

(short term and long term)

Statistic: Current Water Advisories (short term and long term) 16% of First Nations across Canada are affected by a current drinking water advisory, a number that rises to 32% of First Nations in Ontario. Source

The Drinking Water Program by the Numbers #️⃣

Water First is also celebrating two big milestones this year: it’s the tenth anniversary of working exclusively with Indigenous communities in Canada, and as of this spring, we have delivered clean water programming to more than 100 communities! Whether you’ve been with us from the start or have joined us recently, we are so very grateful you’re here and supporting this work together!

Statistic: 73 Interns have become graduates
Statistic: 58 Communities have participated in the internships
Statistic: 190,000 Hours of training have been completed during Drinking Water Internships

Catching up in Southern Ontario 👋

With nearly a year under their belt, the participants of the Southern Ontario Internship (SOI) are well on their way to becoming Water Operators.

The internship, unique in its model that includes individual First Nations across a broad region, launched in July 2025. So far, all 11 interns have successfully challenged the first three required exams. This summer, interns will be tackling their Class 1 exam, Mapping and GIS, Enviro Week and Careers Week before preparing for graduation in the fall.
 
We’d also like to recognize SOI interns, Brooklin Sword and Brayden Sands as part of the group from Walpole Island First Nation that have received the 2026 Team Water Leader Award from Indigenous Services Canada – what an accomplishment!
 
Congratulations to all of the SOI interns on their hard work, dedication and success so far!
3 interns sit at a table and use science equipment to perform water titration tests.

"Being a part of the team that won makes me feel a part of something bigger than just my role … I have great mentors all around and feel constantly inspired."

Brooklin Sword, Water First Intern, Walpole Island First Nation

Alumni Update 💙

It was a “family reunion” at this year’s Aboriginal Water and Wastewater Association of Ontario conference, as past and present Water First Interns attended with staff in April. Water First hosted a table at the annual Training Conference and Tradeshow, and enjoyed the opportunity to share news, success stories, and knowledge with other Water and Wastewater Operators from across Ontario.

A group of Water First Staff and Alumni post for a picture on a walkway next to the water

The Water First Alumni Network offers internship grads ongoing support, career development, and further certification opportunities. It’s also a great way to keep in touch and hear about the great work grads are doing in the clean water community!

Water First graduate, Dyami Tuskin, working in a water treatment plant.

Dyami Tuskin, Graduate of the 2021-2022 Wabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First Nations, recently wrote his Class 2 Water Operator and has become the Overall Responsible Water Operator in Shawanaga First Nation. Congrats, Dyami! Learn more about Dyami’s journey here. 

A water first intern poses for the camera in front of a lake wearing a Water First sweater

Austin Waboose was recently featured in Say Magazine, talking about his journey from Water First Intern to Class 2 Water Operator providing clean drinking water to over 200 community members! Austin is a graduate of the 2022-2023 North Shore Tribal Council Internship.

A water operator smiles at the camera while adjusting settings on water treatment equipment in the plant.

Nathan Copenace participated in the second internship with Water First back in 2020-2021, and is now a Class 2 Water Operator working in the Bimose Tribal Council Hub. We recently met with Nathan to talk about his journey as a water protector, mentor, and as an active Water First Alumni.

“I’m grateful for it (Water First), and I’m glad it’s still going strong. I’m glad to be a part of it.”

A woman poses for the camera in front of water treatment equipment in a plant

Jo-Dee Parenteau was the featured Water Operator in Water First’s Spring Campaign, giving us a chance to highlight the amazing work Jo-Dee and her brother are doing as the water operators in their community. We love it when clean water is the family business! Jo-Dee graduated from the Interlake Reserves Tribal Council Internship in 2025. Learn more about Jo-Dee’s journey here. 

None of this would be possible without the generosity of donors like you.

Your support helps Indigenous adults gain the skills, training, and hands-on experience needed to pursue careers in water treatment and safeguard their communities’ drinking water. Thank you for being part of this important work — we look forward to sharing more of these powerful stories and milestones with you in the year ahead.

Thank you!

IRTC Environmental Water Week

Drinking water advisory statistics are for federally maintained systems on First Nations reserve lands only. These numbers do not include private systems or systems in Inuit communities.

Drinking water advisories include short-term (under 1 year) and long-term (more than 1 year) boil water advisories, do not consume advisories, and do not use advisories for First Nation communities in Canada.

Calculating the number of drinking water advisories is a complex process. Water First relies on information from several different sources. 

Sources: www.watertoday.ca, www.sac-isc.gc.ca, www.fnha.ca.

Last Updated: July 2026