Safe Water Needs Skilled People
Issue 136 · Cover Story · Training & Career Development · Spring 2026 Safe Water Needs Skilled People Across Canada, conversations about clean water often focus on infrastructure. New plants. New systems. New investments. But behind every system is something even more critical. People. SAY Magazine · Spring 2026 75% Graduates remain employed or in school after 12 months 2,000+ Hours of hands-on training in the operator internship 15 Month internship for certified water operators At the heart of lasting change are the individuals — the water guardians — who operate, maintain, and protect these systems every day. Without them, even the most advanced infrastructure cannot deliver safe, reliable water. That is where Water First's work begins. Caring for water is caring for community, culture, and future generations. For more than a decade, the organization has partnered exclusively with Indigenous communities, building local capacity through training, mentorship, and long-term relationships. Their approach is grounded in a simple but powerful belief: safe water needs skilled people. Through hands-on training, community-driven partnerships, and a strong emphasis on trust, Water First is helping train the next generation of water operators, environmental technicians, and leaders. The result is not only safer water systems, but stronger, more self-sufficient communities. SAY Magazine spoke with Sarah Jane Kendall, Director of Indigenous Community Engagement, and Desiree Woodcock, Communications Coordinator at Water First. "Safe water needs skilled people. Infrastructure alone cannot solve boil water advisories." In Conversation SAY Can you introduce Water First and the work you do with communities? Our vision is to partner with any Indigenous community in Canada that sees value in our work. Everything we do is rooted in building trust, meaningful relationships, and lasting results. We focus on building capacity so communities can manage and sustain their own water systems. Infrastructure alone cannot solve boil water advisories. There needs to be skilled people in place to operate and maintain those systems safely. We work through three main program areas. Our school water program engages students from kindergarten to Grade 12. Our environmental water program supports land-based monitoring and data collection, as well as a new internship. And our drinking water program trains and certifies water operators through a 15-month internship. Three Program Areas ???? School Water Program (K–12) ???? Environmental Water Program ???? Drinking Water Operator Internship SAY What does that training actually look like? The programs are full-time, hands-on, and community-based. Interns receive over 2,000 hours of training and experience. They learn in the classroom, but also directly at their local water treatment plant or on local waterways. They are mentored by experienced operators and local experts, and are supported through exam preparation and technical training. The key is that this training happens in community, for community. Many people cannot leave home for education, so we bring the training to them. SAY Is there a real demand for this kind of training? Absolutely. Many communities are facing a shortage of trained operators. In some cases, there is only one person running an entire plant. The Drinking Water Internship helps build this local capacity. There are also communities that are looking for increased, long-term water and resource management. Without skilled people to run them, those systems and projects cannot reach their full potential. That is why we say safe water needs skilled people. SAY What motivates participants to enter these programs? Many are young adults looking for a meaningful career. Others are returning to their communities and want to contribute in a tangible way. Water is deeply connected to culture, responsibility, and identity. People see this as more than a job. It is a way to protect their community and their land. What we often hear is that participants had seen these jobs posted before, but did not know how to get there. Our programs provide that pathway. SAY How do you measure success? We follow our graduates for at least 12 months after completion. Around 75 per cent remain employed or continue their education. But success is more than numbers. It is seeing someone step into a role they did not think was possible. It is s
Black News 
Issue 136 · Cover Story · Training & Career Development · Spring 2026
Safe Water Needs Skilled People
Across Canada, conversations about clean water often focus on infrastructure. New plants. New systems. New investments. But behind every system is something even more critical. People.
At the heart of lasting change are the individuals — the water guardians — who operate, maintain, and protect these systems every day. Without them, even the most advanced infrastructure cannot deliver safe, reliable water. That is where Water First's work begins.
Caring for water is caring for community, culture, and future generations. For more than a decade, the organization has partnered exclusively with Indigenous communities, building local capacity through training, mentorship, and long-term relationships. Their approach is grounded in a simple but powerful belief: safe water needs skilled people.
Through hands-on training, community-driven partnerships, and a strong emphasis on trust, Water First is helping train the next generation of water operators, environmental technicians, and leaders. The result is not only safer water systems, but stronger, more self-sufficient communities.
SAY Magazine spoke with Sarah Jane Kendall, Director of Indigenous Community Engagement, and Desiree Woodcock, Communications Coordinator at Water First.
"Safe water needs skilled people. Infrastructure alone cannot solve boil water advisories."
In Conversation
Our vision is to partner with any Indigenous community in Canada that sees value in our work. Everything we do is rooted in building trust, meaningful relationships, and lasting results.
We focus on building capacity so communities can manage and sustain their own water systems. Infrastructure alone cannot solve boil water advisories. There needs to be skilled people in place to operate and maintain those systems safely.
We work through three main program areas. Our school water program engages students from kindergarten to Grade 12. Our environmental water program supports land-based monitoring and data collection, as well as a new internship. And our drinking water program trains and certifies water operators through a 15-month internship.
Three Program Areas
School Water Program (K–12)
Environmental Water Program
Drinking Water Operator Internship
The programs are full-time, hands-on, and community-based. Interns receive over 2,000 hours of training and experience. They learn in the classroom, but also directly at their local water treatment plant or on local waterways. They are mentored by experienced operators and local experts, and are supported through exam preparation and technical training.
The key is that this training happens in community, for community. Many people cannot leave home for education, so we bring the training to them.
Absolutely. Many communities are facing a shortage of trained operators. In some cases, there is only one person running an entire plant. The Drinking Water Internship helps build this local capacity.
There are also communities that are looking for increased, long-term water and resource management. Without skilled people to run them, those systems and projects cannot reach their full potential. That is why we say safe water needs skilled people.
Many are young adults looking for a meaningful career. Others are returning to their communities and want to contribute in a tangible way. Water is deeply connected to culture, responsibility, and identity. People see this as more than a job. It is a way to protect their community and their land.
What we often hear is that participants had seen these jobs posted before, but did not know how to get there. Our programs provide that pathway.
We follow our graduates for at least 12 months after completion. Around 75 per cent remain employed or continue their education.
But success is more than numbers. It is seeing someone step into a role they did not think was possible. It is seeing communities build their own capacity to ensure safe, clean water for generations to come, and it is watching graduates become mentors and leaders.
We also maintain a strong alumni network, offering continued training, mentorship, and even opportunities to share their stories publicly.
We have graduates who return to their communities, take on leadership roles, and begin mentoring the next generation of operators. And there are communities that now have people with the training and technical knowledge to continue work like data collection and fish shoal management once Water First collaborative projects are wrapped up.
That is the ripple effect. One person can represent so much more than themselves. They carry forward knowledge, confidence, and opportunity.
"One person can represent so much more than themselves. They carry forward knowledge, confidence, and opportunity."
We work to weave Indigenous knowledge and Western science together. Our programs create space for Elders and knowledge keepers to share teachings about the land and water. At the same time, participants gain the technical skills needed to operate modern systems. It is not about choosing one over the other. It is about bringing both together in a way that serves communities.
There are multiple factors. Infrastructure, seasonal changes, and environmental conditions all play a role. You can build a state-of-the-art facility, but without trained people to run it, the impact is limited.
At the same time, Indigenous communities are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation from outside sources. Long-term, local resource management is critical for empowering communities.
We want to continue expanding our reach while staying true to our values. That means growing in a way that maintains strong relationships and responds directly to community needs. It also means continuing to inspire young people through our school programs and creating clear pathways into water-related careers.
Ultimately, we want every community that wants to work with us to have that opportunity.
Across the country, the conversation around water is changing. It is no longer only about pipes, plants, and policy. It is about people.
It is about adults stepping into a new career. The operator mentoring the next generation. The community building its own capacity, knowledge, and confidence.
The path to safe water is not built overnight. It is built through training, relationships, and long-term commitment. And at its core, it is built on a truth that continues to guide this work forward.
Safe water needs skilled people.
Sarah Jane Kendall
Director of Indigenous Community Engagement, Water First
Desiree Woodcock
Communications Coordinator, Water First
