Advisory council ensures Indigenous voices are heard
Water is plentiful at the Canadore College campus in North Bay, Ontario. The natural resource is about to become even more central to students’ studies as Canadore looks to develop new solutions for safe and reliable drinking water in Indigenous communities. supplied
Canadore College, headquartered in North Bay, Ontario, has a proven track record with innovative applied research specifically designed to meet the needs of industry. Now it’s about to expand on that reputation and move into the realm of delivering reliable and safe drinking water systems to Indigenous communities. As part of its Clean Water Initiative, Canadore is creating a Clean Water Learning Lodge on its College Drive Campus to develop a comprehensive platform of products, services and education programs. The outcomes will include programs tailored to the needs and values of First Nations, and will inspire Indigenous learners to take on fulfilling careers in water management.
“The significance of this initiative is that we have an opportunity to address the concerns that surround clean water as well as prioritize the needs of First Nations communities,” says Sarah Julian, First Peoples’ Centre manager of community based and contract training. “Water is a vital resource to our entire planet. Everything exists around water, and it is essential to the health of our families and to the well-being of our communities.”
“We have an obligation to be a centre for teaching and learning that ensures our students are connected with issues in the real world,” says Shawn Chorney, vice president, strategic infrastructure, Indigenous and learner services.
The lodge is a collaboration between Canadore and the private sector to be a catalyst for change in addressing the systemic issues faced by Indigenous communities to deliver clean drinking water to their citizens.
“We need to offer new, custom solutions for water so we’re not perpetuating existing challenges faced by Indigenous communities to deliver reliable and sustainable clean drinking water to their communities,” Mr. Chorney adds.
“This project will innovate past attempts at water treatment, and it will work directly with Indigenous communities to identify needs and formulate plans, while also bringing new education and employment opportunities to the communities that we will work with,” says Carly Renaud, manager, research and development for the First Peoples’ Centre. “That is why I am incredibly proud to be a part of this project.
“As an Anishinaabe woman, I am also very pleased that this project looks at the diverse needs of communities, and that there is an advisory council of Indigenous peoples who will be able to guide the project and ensure that community voices continue to be an integral part of it,” says Ms. Renaud.
In February 2022, Canadore College signed onto the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and dedicated itself to embedding the 17 SDGs in its operations.
“This project supports SDG #6, which seeks to improve clean water and sanitation around the world,” says Jesse Russell, Canadore’s project leader for sustainable development. “Our Clean Water Initiative aims to address the long overdue need to supply clean water to Indigenous communities. Having the project guided by an advisory council will ensure that it remains rooted in the needs of First Nations communities, and our demonstration lab will showcase innovative water treatment technologies in support of creating a long-lasting solution.”
Once construction of the lodge is complete, it will feature a fully operational water treatment facility on campus.
“The infrastructure being added to the college for this initiative will support Canadore’s mandate for applied research in a variety of ways,” says Christina DeRoche,
PhD, director of Canadore’s research centre. “It supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop and sustain their businesses in supporting clean water initiatives and products. It allows our faculty, who are experts in environmental sciences, health sciences and genomics, to develop cutting-edge research and design that is practical for our partners and communities to implement. And, lastly, it helps our communities with the practical solutions they need while also allowing them to be involved in the development of those solutions.”
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