Grad Success Stories
Our Environmental Technician graduates have gone on to achieve success in many areas of the Environmental Sector. Here are just a few of their success stories.
Emily Krutzelmann graduated from our Environmental Technician program in 2016 and has been working for Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) since. “Up until earlier this year, I was working as a field/lab technologist in Burlington at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters, but just recently changed positions and am now a Water Quality Technologist with ECCC’s Hudson Bay Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance Division in Winnipeg!” shares Krutzelmann.
“I’ve always loved water, so it seems natural that I would end up working with it!” Before joining our AC community, Krutzelmann attended university, “I did a research practicum and undergraduate thesis on how wastewater exposure affects fish behaviour, which kind of kickstarted my interest in the environmental sciences and made me realize I really enjoyed fieldwork.” Read more about Emily’s journey.
-Emily Krutzelmann, 2016, Water Quality Technologist
“Get ready to have some fun classes and meet some amazing people” shares Veronica Valdron. Veronica works for two environmental consultation companies, Setetkwe Environmental and BWP Consulting Inc in Clearwater, British Columbia where she uses her ability to adapt which she learned during the program to work in different environments. “I enjoy being outside and exploring new areas. Working alone in remote areas has taught me how to be more self-sufficient and prepared for any situation that may arise. Being able to navigate through the bush using a compass and mapping technologies feels more like a hobby rather than work sometimes.”
-Veronica Valdron, 2016, Environmental Monitor
“The Environmental Technician Program in Pembroke is one of the only programs that I know of that offers courses in relation to what I deal with every day from sampling techniques, to toxicology, to soils and contaminated site assessments. The great hands-on experience in this program and the passion the professors have for the betterment of the environment was so motivational for me. All the staff at Algonquin have given me a memorable experience I will never forget. I learned to follow my dreams… find something you can’t get enough of, and pursue it!! “
-Kat Pavlica, 2014, Assistant Site Manager, GFL Environmental Inc.
“After leaving Pembroke, I was hired full time by the Ontario Clean Water Agency as an Operator and have just recently accepted a new position within the agency as a Process and Compliance Technician. In both my interviews I used many experiences from my days as an Environmental Technician student and for that, I can’t thank you [the faculty] enough! Thank you for the practical and hands-on experience I needed to be successful in the workforce! I am proud to be an Algonquin College alumni.”
-Maegan Garber, 2014
“I came to Canada from Nigeria with a background in Geology and Mineral Sciences. This program gave me the opportunity to kick start a career in the Environmental Industry with numerous fields to choose from at the end of the program. I’m now in Picton, ON working as a Compliance Technician for The Corporation of the County of Prince Edward. I enjoyed having outdoor classes, lab exercises and the courses in the program really addressed the skills I needed to prepare me for my career experience. Now, I look back and appreciate having those skills.”
-Bamidele Atteh, 2013
“Before the Environmental Technician program, I spent many years in Banff National Park as a river guide, ski bum and carpenter. My passion for the outdoors led me to discover the program when I decided it was time to “grow up”. I actually landed my job through a project I was involved with during my last semester of the program. I’m currently the Senior Waste Water Remediation Technician for Geo-Dredging and Dewatering Solutions based out of the Ottawa Valley. My work is very rewarding and has taken me across Canada. I have worked in BC treating arsenic in a gold mine, cleaned contaminated sediment from a river near Lac Megantic, QC, and cleaned tailings ponds from an oil refinery in Southern Ontario- just to name a few. The program prepared me extremely well for all aspects of my position; from sampling water in the field, performing chemical analysis on samples in our lab, or even keeping a logbook and writing reports. The Environmental Technician program gave me all the tools and knowledge I needed to get me started in an amazing and dynamic career. The program was very “hands-on” and there was plenty of time spent outside as well as in the lab learning about equipment and procedures. I can’t thank the instructors enough for all the skills I acquired and use daily.”
-Cale Jackson, 2013
Labour Market Info
Why you should consider a career in the environment! Careers in Environmental Science are so varied it is difficult to consider them as one category. You could end up working from home most of the time or travelling around the world on an annual basis. You could be doing desk work, fieldwork, or some combination thereof. Your focus could be mathematical, physical, or written. Of course, the majority of careers in Environmental Science are some blend in-between. Some examples include:
Biological technologist or technician: Biological technologists and technicians provide technical support and services to scientists, engineers and other professionals working in fields such as agriculture, resource management, environmental protection, plant and animal biology, microbiology, cell and molecular biology and health sciences, or may work independently in these fields. Normal pay for Biological technologists and technicians is $41,469 per year. That is about $3,455 per month or $19.94 per hour. New workers generally start around $29,842, while highly experienced workers can earn as much as $76,595.
Natural or applied science policy researcher, consultant or program officer: Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers conduct research, prepare reports, provide consultation and advice and administer programs in a variety of areas related to the natural and applied sciences. Normal pay for Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants, and program officers is $84,403 per year. That is about $7,033 per month or $40.58 per hour. New workers generally start around $45,511, while highly experienced workers can earn as much as $129,499.
Water or waste plant operator: Water plant operators monitor and operate computerized control systems and related equipment in water filtration and treatment plants to regulate the treatment and distribution of water. Normal pay for Water and waste plant operators is $61,697 per year. That is about $5,141 per month or $29.66 per hour. New workers generally start around $42,297, while highly experienced workers can earn as much as $82,445.
Inspector in public or environmental health or occupational health or safety: Inspectors in this unit group evaluate and monitor health and safety hazards and develop strategies to control risks in the workplace. Normal pay for Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety is $66,975 per year. That is about $5,581 per month or $32.2 per hour. New workers generally start around $40,179, while highly experienced workers can earn as much as $97,922.