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Water First

What does safe water mean to you?

A man working in his home water treatment plant.
“To me, safe water means that everybody in my community can turn on their tap, fill a glass of water, and drink it and if any problems arise within the community they can be addressed and resolved within a timely manner with my team.”

Hunter Edison is a graduate of the Drinking Water Internship Program and is now employed as the lead operator at his community’s water treatment plant.

Safe water means a safe community

My name is Hunter Edison and I’m from Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation. I got interested in the Water First training right away, especially with the potential to work close to home in my community – for my community.

You couldn’t get any better than this training. Water First gives you the knowledge and preparation you need to pass the certification tests, but it’s so much more than that. It’s knowing that my people are safe. They have clean drinking water. And they can turn their tap on every morning and have water. That’s my biggest accomplishment at the end of the day – making sure my people are safe. 

The challenge is that there are not enough water operators across Canada, but especially in our small communities. I’m working to further my skills and credentials, but there just isn’t anybody else in our area who is trained to do this work.

If anybody gets the opportunity to be with Water First and get trained, I would totally recommend it. Water First built me up to where I am today. It’s a big role in life… you’re providing clean, safe drinking water – and it is by far the best job I’ve ever had.

Join Water First in 2024 as we work to create meaningful, collaborative programming to address complex water challenges – because to us, safe water means finding solutions, together.

With a monthly donation to Water First, you can:

  • Support collaborative solutions to the critical and complex water challenges facing Indigenous communities across Canada
  • Ensure that more Indigenous people have access to the skills training needed to pursue meaningful employment as water science professionals 
  • Bring fun and engaging water science school programming for Indigenous students
  • Help to ensure safe water and strengthened communities across Canada for generations to come!

Your gift will DOUBLE!

Donate now and your gift will be doubled! The D.H. Gordon Foundation is matching donations up to $20,000.

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Alumni graduate Amy Waboose working in her community drinking water treatment plant.