A7: Career Opportunities in the Water/Wastewater Industry
This session will offer information that will be helpful to immigrants who have worked or wish to work in the water industry and will support the development of a diverse, competent water industry labour force in Ontario.
Participants will learn about Ontario’s drinking water and the Ministry of the Environment’s Drinking Water and Wastewater Certification Program. The session will cover exciting career development opportunities for both internationally trained professionals and those who are interested in pursuing a career in the water industry. It will also explain how individuals from other countries with previous experience, skills and training can be assessed to become a water/wastewater operator in Ontario.
The session will include presentations from one or two individuals speaking from personal experience as newcomers to Ontario and who are now using their skills from their originating country to advance their career in drinking water, or who are looking for a new career opportunity. Those who are front line workers offering employment counselling to newcomer professionals and others working with immigrants will benefit from this session.
Brian Gildner is the manager of Certification, Training and Client Services within the Ministry of the Environment’s Drinking Water Programs Branch. He has been working within the drinking water and wastewater operator certification program since its inception in 1993, and managed the transition of the program when new regulations were introduced based on the recommendations from the Walkerton Inquiry in 2004.
Kewal Kharbanda immigrated to Canada in 2001 with his family. Previously an engineer in India, he brought his skills and knowledge to Ontario, and has applied them by first working with OETC (Ontario Environmental Training Consortium) as an application reviewer for water and wastewater operators and currently he is managing the certification office at OWWCO.
Ranee Mahalingam, M.Eng., P.Eng., O.M.C. brings over 40 years of engineering experience to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. She joined the ministry some 22 years ago, held several progressive positions and currently working as an Engineering Specialist for the Drinking Water Management Division. Prior to joining the ministry she worked in consulting industry and before, for the government of Sri Lanka.
Ranee volunteers her time in many committees and engaged in several community activities including helping internationally trained engineers in getting licence. In recognition she received an award from Professional Engineers Ontario and a Good Citizen Medal from David Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario last year.
If you are interested in this topic, please contact Brian Gildner at Brian.Gildner@ontario.ca or 416-212-7457 or Kewal Kharbanda at Kewal.Kharbanda@owwco.ca or 416-231-2100 ext. 291.
