Internship

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Ogemawahj Tribal Council and Water First announce new training internship for water treatment plant operators

July 13th, 2023

Partnership supports technical skills development and community capacity for water resources management

Rama First Nation, July 13, 2023 – Water First Education & Training Inc., in partnership with Ogemawahj Tribal Council (OTC) and participating communities, is pleased to announce a new water treatment plant operator training program for local Indigenous youth and young adults. Interns from five First Nations communities will participate in the 15-month paid program to pursue valuable provincial certifications, which help trainees begin their careers in the water field.

The internship kicked off in June in Rama First Nation with eight interns from communities in the Tribal Council area. During their first week, interns began with learning about and participating in a water ceremony, and then dove into learning about watersheds, water treatment processes, and math and chemistry.

One highlight of the first week was a tour of the Rama First Nation water distribution system and the drinking water treatment plant. Chad McRae, the Overall Responsible Operator, took the interns on a tour of the distribution system where they got to see the inside of a water tower. This tour gave the interns a greater understanding of underground infrastructure and the conventional water treatment steps, which interns are required to know for their tests.

“On behalf of the OTC Board of Directors, we are thrilled to welcome this amazing opportunity to partner with Water First to train our Nation’s members in Water Treatment. This type of expertise will provide our members with opportunities to utilize their skills in our communities and also provide a pool of skilled workers that can be utilized in any community, Ontario wide.”

Mary McCue-King, Executive Director

Ogemawahj Tribal Council

During the 15-month internship program, each intern will accumulate 1,800 hours of on-the-job experience in water treatment plants, which is a part of the certification process. As part of the program, interns pursue Operator in Training (OIT), Entry Level Course (ELC), and Water Quality Analyst (WQA) certifications, which, along with additional workshops like introduction to mapping and GIS, and introduction to environmental water, can lead to work in both drinking water treatment and environmental water careers.

“Local, qualified personnel are critical to ensuring sustainable access to safe water,” said John Millar, executive director at Water First. “Through the Drinking Water Internship collaboration with Ogemawahj Tribal Council, interns gain important skills and experience towards future careers in the water sciences, as well as employability skills and access to an Alumni Network. We are excited to be embarking on this partnership with Ogemawahj Tribal Council and supporting the interns on their education and employment journeys.”

The OTC Water First Internship is partly funded through Ogemawahj Tribal Council, member First Nation resources and the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, together with the support of Water First’s donors. This collaboration will support the OTC in training future water operators and in increasing local, technical capacity and autonomy in the water management field, for today and for generations to come.

Water First has already successfully implemented four internship partnerships, with the fourth internship approaching graduation in the fall of 2023. To date, through Water First’s Drinking Water Internship Program, 48 interns from 31 Indigenous communities have passed their Operator in Training exams and logged approximately 81,000 hours working in local water plants and attending workshops.

Kyle Porter, an intern in the North Shore Tribal Council internship from Garden River First Nation, said, “I joined because I was seeking an opportunity to become involved in my community, and also to learn new skills. Personally, I find that being able to contribute to the community I belong to brings me closer to my family and friends.”

“I initially joined the internship program because it lined up with my interest in environmental science, and for the opportunity to grow in my career and have stable employment,” said Laura Mallinson, an internship graduate from Nipissing First Nation.”The training and certifications open doors to so many opportunities. In the community, having more local people trained as water operators means we can do more preventative maintenance and daily tasks, and not just react to issues. There are more trained people who can help keep the water flowing.”

Sustainable access to safe, clean water in Indigenous communities in Canada continues to be a critical issue. In Canada, 14% of First Nations communities are affected by a drinking water advisory; in Ontario, it’s 25%. The challenges are complex and layered. Communities may face issues relating to infrastructure, source water quality or people to manage water systems – or more than one of these issues at a time. Water First works with Indigenous communities that have identified education and training as part of their solution to the water crisis. Safe water needs skilled people.

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About Ogemawahj Tribal Council:

The Ogemawahj Tribal Council provides superior professional and technical services to its six member First Nations: Alderville, Beausoleil, Georgina Island, Moose Deer Point, Rama, and Scugog Island. The Board of Directors is comprised of the Chief and one Elder from each member community. The Executive Director and Board of Directors provide direction to the organization in its strategic planning, capacity and policy development. To assist in these activities, the Tribal Council maintains highly skilled technical staff to support its efforts in helping their communities to prosper. Learn more: https://www.ogemawahj.on.ca.

About Water First Education & Training Inc. (Water First)

Water First is a registered Canadian charity that works alongside Indigenous communities to address water challenges through education, training and meaningful collaboration. Since 2009, Water First has collaborated with more than 70 Indigenous communities located in the lands now known as Canada while supporting Indigenous youth and young adults to pursue careers in water science. Learn more: www.waterfirst.ngo.

For more information, please contact:

Ami Gopal
Director of Development and Communications
Water First
1-905-805-0854
ami.gopal@waterfirst.ngo

Mary McCue-King
Executive Director
Ogemawahj Tribal Council
249-385-6072
MMcCue-King@ogemawahj.on.ca

Celebrating the Graduates of the Georgian Bay Drinking Water Internship

September 23rd, 2022

In June of 2021 Water First, in partnership with Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First Nations, Gezhtoojig Employment & Training, and Anishinabek Nation, launched a new Drinking Water Internship Program in the Georgian Bay area of Ontario.

During the 15-month internship program, each intern accumulated 1,800 hours of on-the-job experience in water treatment plants, which is a part of the water operator in training (OIT) certification process. Interns also pursued additional water operator certification exams including water quality analyst and the entry-level course for drinking water operators, as well as environmental relevant training like GIS and water sampling which can lead to work in both drinking water treatment and the environmental water field. Following graduation, interns join the Water First Alumni Network to stay engaged, build local networks and access opportunities for ongoing professional development and peer support.

Each and every graduate displayed incredible dedication and skill throughout the course of their internship, facing new challenges in stride. After weeks of hands-on instruction in treatment plants, or in the environment learning monitoring and sampling techniques, there is no doubt that these impressive young adults will do great things for their communities. Congratulations graduates!

Experience in a Big City Treatment Plant

June 20th, 2022

Written by: Lori Corbiere, an intern from Wahnapitae First Nation in the Drinking Water Internship Program, and Kendra Driscoll, Water Quality Specialist at Water First.

Hello everyone, my name is Lori Corbiere. My spirit name is White Spotted Eagle Feather, I am the Eagle Clan. I’m 43 years old and I live in Wahnapitae First Nation. I used to be in the law enforcement field before I decided to change my field and work with water.

I believe water is the most important element that our bodies need in order to survive, WATER IS LIFE. I feel this was my true calling: to be a Water Warrior and make sure that our people and cities have clean water to replenish their bodies and lands, but we still need to save water for wildlife and wetlands.

Lori is currently a Water First Drinking Water Internship Program intern. The Internship is a 15-month training program where Indigenous adults complete training with Water First in topics related to drinking water treatment and are supported to write Ontario Drinking Water Certification exams. These certifications the interns achieve in the program are what all operators across Ontario must have to work in water treatment plants. When the interns aren’t in training and writing exams, they are working in water treatment plants learning the skills required to operate a plant and accumulating the on-the-job hours needed to become fully certified water treatment plant operators.

Some Indigenous communities, like Wahnapitae First Nation, do not have centralized water treatment plants, but the Internship Program can still be a valuable training program because it increases community capacity and water quality knowledge.

My Internship placement started in Wahnapitae First Nation, where I followed fellow co-workers around doing water sampling for the mines in our surrounding area, making sure that our water is safe for our people. Because our reserve does not have its own water treatment plant (all of us in Wahnapitae are on sandpoints and wells), I thought it was a great place to start my journey into becoming a water operator! Now I have the knowledge to see our surrounding watershed and where our water is coming from and where it’s flowing to. Cleaning the water at these mines is important before it’s discharged back to the waterways. That is why we test our water frequently throughout the week.

Even though I gained valuable experience sampling in and around my community, to become a certified drinking water operator, I need 1800 hours working in a water treatment plant. So, the City of Greater Sudbury agreed to take me on so I can start accumulating those hours towards my Class 1 certification!

When we approached the City of Greater Sudbury to see if they could host Lori at their plant. They agreed and were eager to support Lori to build her experience and accumulate the hours she needs to obtain her Class 1 Certification.

I am now at the Wanapitei Water Treatment Plant in Coniston, east of Sudbury, where the Plant is a Class 4 treatment plant. Sudbury isn’t the only city it takes care of: the SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system reaches and maintains wells, pumps, and analyzers of different water treatment in our Greater Sudbury area, which goes as far as Onaping, Capreol, Markstay, Copper Cliff, etc.

Doing my placement here has been insightful and exciting, and I hope to learn lots on water treatment. All of the operators here are at different levels. Some are waiting to take Class 1, like myself, while others are Class 4 operators that have years of knowledge. Every operator here has their own unique way of running the plant, so it’s nice that I’m learning from these operators along with their little tricks to keep everything flowing nicely.

Maintaining water with the group of water operators here has made me feel that much more confident and compassionate in myself to continue my journey working with water. Their stories on how they became water operators were inspiring and I hope to someday inspire water operators of the future. I hope to tell them that not only am I learning from operators older or the same age, but some are younger than me and I don’t mind it at all. There is so much yet to learn here at the Water Treatment Plant and I have the advantage to learn from other operators on how they do their daily tasks keeping the water safe for everyone around us. So when you do your steps from surface water to water coming out of your taps there’s so much more happening to your water to make it drinkable.

Every community’s experience and relationship with water is unique. Not all communities have challenges. Not all have treatment plants. Not all challenges are caused or solved by a water treatment plant. A big part of the challenge is ensuring that communities have capacity, knowledge and technical skills to manage water, and to do that, training programs that specifically support Indigenous adults to gain this experience are essential. That is why it is so valuable for interns to gain experience in the treatment plans and learn about treatment technologies while they work. Gaining knowledge and hands-on experience with treatment technologies allows interns, like Lori, to work someday in their home communities if the opportunity arises, but also opens up job opportunities in other communities, tribal council hubs, or other related industries.

How to Be the Safety Line

March 15th, 2022

How to Be the Safety Line

An Intern's Perspective on the Water First Internship Program

March 15, 2022

Written by Nick Chapman, Water First Intern from Temagami First Nation.

Young Indigenous adults in Water First’s Drinking Water Internship Program are training to get the greatest results for the environment, learning how to operate in a water treatment plant and eventually becoming a water treatment plant operators.

Water First has developed a close relationship with me and the other interns, who have joined them in the fight for clean drinking water.

Together, we’ve studied how water treatment facilities work, how to filter water in various ways, and have received general training to aid us in the future. We’ve learned about watersheds and water sources, HR policies, water treatment processes, PPE (personal protective equipment) and why it’s used, work health and safety awareness, water quality results, AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) training, community water issues, math and chemistry, and equipment/appliances during the three weeks of virtual training. But there’s way more: we have learned about pipes and valves, wells, how water treatment facilities are placed in an environment, and a whole lot more.

Everyone has their Small Systems Certification accomplished, which made us all extremely excited, and we also have the OIT (Operator-in-Training) Certification. More recently, we wrote our ELC (Entry-Level Course) exams, which happened in November 2021 – everyone passed with flying colours!

“I like Water First for all of the training and work opportunities for the First Nations communities.”

Dyami Tuskin, Intern, Shawanaga First Nation

“I feel very fortunate to have this amazing opportunity to work with Water First. To better support my community and the protection of clean water for generations to come.”

Bella McLeod, Intern, Nipissing First Nation

One of the amazing things that Water Fist has done for the interns was give us a chance to be ourselves, telling stories when we had time, making Jamboards to show our beliefs and goals. That way, even though we were all online, we could feel connected to everyone and not so alone while training. They created a Facebook page and messaging group, so everyone can post pictures, ask questions, talk about what they did at the plants, and overall, to stay connected. Water First interns and instructors have even done some travelling: we’ve gone to Killarney, Sudbury, and we’re working on our own reserves, as well.

Right now, we are working on Geographic Information System (GIS), learning how to create maps and how to use them correctly. Then, we will be studying for either our Wastewater OIT (Operator-in-Training) Exam or Class 1 Exam. We are all wishing each other good luck!

We have had community members and Elders come in to share their point of view on things, like water treatment plants and water itself. Water First is teaching in different ways, so everyone can learn the way they learn best. Our group of interns and the instructors at Water First have been showing great strength and are constantly proving that we want a better future for our environment and that safe drinking water is the way to go!

“Hello my name is Nick Chapman; I am from Temagami First Nation.

Why I joined this internship was because I just got out of high school and I had no idea what I wanted to do or be, then this internship fell onto my lap out of nowhere and I decided to sign up to give it a try.

Since then, I have loved every minute of it. Working with Water First has been a blessing. I have grown new skills and experiences I’d never thought I would get.

I have taught children at my reserve what Water Treatment Operators are and how water is tested and analyzed. It was amazing seeing my community learning about what I’m trying to be.

My favourite memory Is learning how to be the “Safety Line” as I call it, making sure that everyone gets across the water safely and setting the line-up.

I love how in Water First we are all a team and are working hard to help our First Nation communities.”

Nick Chapman, Intern, Temagami First Nation

A look into the Internship Program:

To learn more about the Drinking Water Internship Program, click here!

Taking Water Quality Testing to the Great Outdoors

October 27th, 2021

In June of 2021, the Drinking Water Internship with Waabnoong Bemjiwang Associations of First Nations began, in partnership with Gezhtoojig Employment & Training, Anishinabek Nation and all the participating communities began. Since then, the cohort of interns have been busy studying, writing provincial certification exams and working in their local water treatment plants.

The Drinking Water Internship program includes a week of training on the Introduction to Environmental Water.

Learn more about the Drinking Water Internship Program.

Bimose Drinking Water Internship Graduation

October 26th, 2021

The Drinking Water Internship interns have officially graduated. These interns endured 18 months of hard work and dedication, long hours of studying and working, and adapting to COVID along the way — and thrived. Members from Bimose Tribal Council, our partners, and Water First staff were there in Kenora to help the graduates mark the occasion.

The graduation ceremony started indoors, where interns were presented their certificates.

There was a calm sense of accomplishment in the room; faces full of achievement and excitement for the next step. For many, they will continue to support access to clean water in their home communities.

During his ceremony speech, Jon Kocis, HUB Water Treatment Services Manager of Bimose Tribal Council gave sound words of advice (adapted from Herbert V. Prochnow):

”If you want to leave footprints in the sands of time, you have to wear work boots.”

He continued with: “So, when you get out there on your first day — lace those boots tight, put that invisible cape on, stand tall and strong like the heroes that you are, and enjoy the journey.”

When the ceremony migrated outside, we were joined by Judy DaSilva, an Elder, activist and Environmental Health Coordinator from Grassy Narrows First Nation.

She led a water ceremony that was paired with a delicious feast of traditional foods.

We are all so incredibly proud of the graduates and excited for their next chapter. They are now newly minted members of the Water First Alumni Network, where they will continue to be supported to grow and have opportunities to support each other.

Press release: New Indigenous Water-Operators-in-Training Announced by Bimose Tribal Council and Water First

Concern for water challenges in Indigenous communities runs deep at Rotary

September 9th, 2021

For years, the Rotary Club of Guelph’s Indigenous Awareness (IA) Committee puzzled over how they could meaningfully support Indigenous communities in their right to access clean drinking water. “It’s ridiculous that a country like Canada has drinking water issues. It doesn’t make sense. Personally, I believe we need to help support Indigenous Peoples and clean water is where we can start,” said Dianne Dance, whose mother spearheaded the Guelph chapter’s Indigenous Awareness Committee in 2012 and inspired her to get involved.

Despite their motivation to help, the committee acknowledged that water challenges are complex. To move the needle on this challenge requires more than money and outrage.

And then they learned about Water First.

In February 2019, after a meeting with Water First and learning about the approach to building strong partnerships with Indigenous communities that create lasting results, “We finally felt that maybe this is some way we can support the water issue in Indigenous communities,” said Dianne.

The powerful Rotary wheels began to turn. Concern turned into action.

A sustainable outlook

While the IA committee was researching how to best help, the rest of the Rotary Club of Guelph, along with 30 other Ontario Rotary clubs, were working on a special fundraiser to support clean water projects in Ontario.

“My dream was that the money raised would go towards a water project in Indigenous communities within Canada, because the need here is as great or greater than a lot of Rotary’s international [water] projects,” said Helmuth Slisarenko, a retired auto mechanic and active member of the Rotary Club of Guelph.

The IA and the fundraising committees came together and decided to fund the Water First Internship Program. “One of the things that attracted us to this program was the education aspect. We could see that through training local personnel, water treatment infrastructure would be well-used, well-maintained and ultimately achieve its purpose, which is to make sure that everybody has access to clean water,” said Liz Sandals, a Rotary Club of Guelph member, former Guelph MPP and Ontario Minister of Education.

From ‘seed money’ to global grant

Inspired by the Water First Internship Program, the Rotary Club of Guelph’s “grant guru”, Ab Moore, suggested they use the funds raised to apply for a district grant to match donations for further funding. In addition, they applied to the Rotary Foundation for the possibility of securing a Global Grant. Soon, members from various Rotary clubs were convening via Zoom to discuss the program and to try to accumulate as many “club” funds as possible to maximize district and Rotary Foundation matching grant dollars.

By the summer of 2020, the Global Grant was approved by Rotary International for approximately $115,000 for Water First to use these funds for the Internship program being delivered in partnership with eight Indigenous communities in the Georgian Bay area of Ontario.

“For the Rotary International committee to match the funds that we raised for this program certainly speaks to the faith and trust we have in Water First in carrying out this program,” said Helmuth.

The impact on Water First

“We started our third internship in June 2021 and we wouldn’t have been able to do that without the support of Rotary,” said Water First Development Manager, Sam Murray. “In addition to funding this program, we have received many inquiries from Rotary clubs across Ontario and Manitoba because of the awareness raised about Water First and our work in partnership with Indigenous communities. These connections are very significant for us and our programs.”

Dianne is gratified that the work she and her fellow Rotary club members have done will have an impact on the work that Water First is dedicated to. “[The interest] speaks to how much Canadians are concerned about this, and have been wanting to help but not knowing how. Clubs are waking up to the fact that we can be involved in a meaningful way to support Indigenous communities in Canada.”

The Rotary Club of Guelph has proven that sometimes a single drop of interest in water issues can turn into a deluge.

The Georgian Bay Internship is Underway

August 4th, 2021

This past month, Water First launched the next Water First Internship Program in the Georgian Bay area in partnership with Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First Nations (WBAFN), Gezhtoojig Employment & Training, Anishinabek Nation, and all the participating communities. This program will train 16 young Indigenous adults to become certified water treatment plant operators. All partners are committed to addressing the local need for more young and qualified personnel in the water management field to help ensure safe drinking water in communities.

Below is a personal reflection from Justin McGregor, Water First Internship Coordinator & Trainer:

Aanii,

We kicked off a new Internship Program with eight participating communities at the end of June. I have to say that so far the engagement and participation has been amazing. We have a strong group of interns who are eager to learn new skills with regards to Water Treatment, as well as Environmental Monitoring.

Due to COVID restrictions, we started the program with 3 weeks of online introductory workshop sessions that included online learning and hands-on activities they could do at home or that took them outside.

After that, they started a Small Drinking Water Systems online certification course. This course is the perfect start for our interns to get introduced to their roles as future water operators and water quality analysts. It is geared to be a stepping point to learn best practices and theory on what it is like day-to-day in a typical water treatment plant and what to expect for future certification exams.

Working with the interns using online delivery has its limitations, but we were able to help them navigate the course through a week-long session where we discussed, summarized and reviewed topics that we found interesting and challenging. I feel confident that it really helped ensure that the interns retained the main topics of each section.

Upon successfully passing the exam, the interns will be considered a ‘trained person’ which means they will be able to assist in the daily routines at their local water treatment plants to ensure clean drinking water is being distributed to the community. These are exciting times for these interns. Stay tuned for more updates.

Miigwetch,
Justin

Resilient group of interns became new water treatment plant operators despite 2020 challenges

July 5th, 2021

The Water First Internship Program was featured in the May/June 2021 edition of Water Canada, a publication dedicated to covering a range of Canadian water issues. This edition of the magazine focused on topics such as communicating science in a crisis, governing the Blue Economy, and renewing water infrastructure.

Water First team members sat with members of Bimose Tribal Council’s technical services department to discuss their unique model, and the impact that the internship has had on communities. Wayne Holmstrom, overall responsible operator, Aaron Henry, operator in charge, and Adam Peacock, technical services officer, work closely together to service communities in what they call a hub model: a centralized system of support for water treatment plant operators in each of the Tribal Council’s communities. They have been working closely with our interns to train them—as well as depend on them.

Read the article here:

Launch of The Georgian Bay Drinking Water Internship

May 31st, 2021

Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First Nations (WBAFN) and Water First are proud to launch the Drinking Water Internship Program in member communities. This program trains young Indigenous adults to become certified water treatment plant operators.

WBAFN has invested $50,100 toward the Internship Program, along with staff and community resources.

Together, WBAFN and Water First are committed to addressing local needs for more young and qualified personnel in the water management field to help ensure safe drinking water in communities.

Not only for today, but for future generations.

Gearing up for the New Internship in Georgian Bay

April 6th, 2021

Training Designed to Meet a Need

Nobody understands the evolving drinking water challenges and needs of Indigenous communities more than the people who live there. Our training programs are designed to meet the needs that have been identified by our Indigenous community partners. With drinking water challenges, individuals who run treatment plants are vital to sustainable solutions.

We are very excited to share that 16 interns from 8 communities will be hired to train as drinking water operators starting June 2021:

Watch this clip where Mike Murray, project coordinator for the WBAFN Water and Wastewater Treatment Systems HUB, explains how the Water First Internship will benefit the First Nations communities in the Georgian Bay area.

Recruitment and Hiring

Water First and our community partners are gearing up for a combination of virtual and in-person recruitment aimed at building community awareness and generating excitement around the Internship. From our previous experiences, we have found this to be an area where Water First can provide valuable support. Watch for updates this summer when we introduce the new cohort of Water First interns!

Extension of the Bimose Internship and Upcoming Training

April 6th, 2021

We are excited to announce that the Bimose Internship has been extended to continue through to the end of September. This extension offers interns opportunities for more training, more preparation time to challenge exams, including Wastewater Management and Level 1 Operator, and more hands-on work experience in the treatment plants. Group training sessions, tutorials, and one on one individualized sessions will continue in full to support the interns reach their professional goals.

Through the winter months and COVID restrictions, the interns have continued working on remote learning modules related to the Water Quality Analyst (WQA) training and upcoming certification exam taking place April/May.

Most First Nation communities have smaller water treatment systems than urban cities. Depending on the source of their water (lake, wells, pump house) the community has to use one, or a combination of, treatment testing protocols to achieve potable water for their community. Without a WQA certification, tests have to be sent away to a licensed lab causing delays that could affect access to safe drinking water for the community.

A WQA certificate allows interns and operators to take a leadership role in source water protection and expand on their water sampling skills. The WQA certification is especially useful in combination with their Operator in Training (OIT) certification, as operators are often faced with unique challenges that present with the types of drinking water systems that are in their communities.

Thank You for a Good News Story

December 31st, 2020

2020 was quite a year! Despite the challenges we faced along the way, we’re proud of our successes. Among many other stories we could tell, here are a few of our accomplishments from 2020:

With clearance from the pandemic committee after postponing all visits, we revisited Long Point First Nation in Winneway, Quebec to reconnect and to scope our two community-suggested sites for restoration work.

Naskapi: The Importance of a Sustainable Fish Population 13

After postponing all community visits, we safely revisited Long Point First Nation in Winneway, Quebec to reconnect and to scope our two community-suggested sites for restoration work.

Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First Nations and Water First announced our new water training partnership beginning in the spring of 2021. Together, we will begin delivering a drinking water treatment and environmental water management training program, which will support ~12 young Indigenous adults to become certified water treatment plant operators.

We halted all visits to communities, and staff worked from home while we adjusted to a new working landscape due to COVID-19, and everything ended up alright!

In late August, interns in the drinking water program with Bimose Tribal Council wrote their Entry Level Curse and Operator in Training (OIT) exams, a significant milestone in the internship program.

Indigenous School workshops, our comprehensive, STEM-based water science programs for K-12 schools, went virtual! The programs transitioned to remote programming, and our team began delivering their first online workshops to students from Beausoleil First Nation!

We created a new, school-aged youth education pilot project, Growing Roots. Through this project, we partner with different communities to expand our youth water science education programming to maximize the involvement of Indigenous youth, leading to long-term environmental action and stewardship.

We continued our 5-year project with the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach in northern Quebec, a project that helps address the community’s concerns about possible water contamination from nearby mining activities.

As we move into the new year, we are excited to continue our work in collaboration with communities across Canada, and we're blessed to have an incredible community of friends, partners, supporters and donors to help us along the way. Happy New Year!

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Internship

Ogemawahj Tribal Council and Water First announce new training internship for water treatment plant operators

Partnership supports technical skills development and community capacity for water resources management

Celebrating the Graduates of the Georgian Bay Drinking Water Internship

Experience in a Big City Treatment Plant

Written by: Lori Corbiere, an intern from Wahnapitae First Nation in the Drinking Water Internship Program, and Kendra Driscoll, Water Quality Specialist at Water First.

How to Be the Safety Line

How to Be the Safety Line

An Intern's Perspective on the Water First Internship Program

Written by Nick Chapman, Water First Intern from Temagami First Nation.

A look into the Internship Program:

Taking Water Quality Testing to the Great Outdoors

Bimose Drinking Water Internship Graduation

Concern for water challenges in Indigenous communities runs deep at Rotary

A sustainable outlook

From ‘seed money’ to global grant

The impact on Water First

The Georgian Bay Internship is Underway

Resilient group of interns became new water treatment plant operators despite 2020 challenges

Launch of The Georgian Bay Drinking Water Internship

Gearing up for the New Internship in Georgian Bay

Training Designed to Meet a Need

Recruitment and Hiring

Extension of the Bimose Internship and Upcoming Training

Thank You for a Good News Story

2020 was quite a year! Despite the challenges we faced along the way, we’re proud of our successes. Among many other stories we could tell, here are a few of our accomplishments from 2020:

As we move into the new year, we are excited to continue our work in collaboration with communities across Canada, and we're blessed to have an incredible community of friends, partners, supporters and donors to help us along the way. Happy New Year!

Strong communities. Safe, clean water.

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