Why should I choose the Environmental Technician Program at Confederation College in Thunder Bay?

The Program:

• enjoys small classes with close teacher-student interactions and an emphasis on teamwork and community
• encourages critical thinking and unbiased assessment
• is broad-based, including training in assessing and managing freshwater aquatic, natural terrestrial and industrial ecosystems
• is 'clustered' with the Forest Ecosystem Management Program, so that students in either program can carry up to 80% of their first-year courses into the second diploma, should they plan to switch programs or complete a second diploma in (usually) one year
• offers hands-on, practical training that can be applied directly in the workplace
• uses current, advanced as well as current classic technology, field and laboratory equipment
• includes the option of completing one paid 4-month co-op placement in the summer
• can be a stepping stone to Natural Science, Conservation and Environmental Programs at the University level

The College:

• uses 'state-of-the-art' teaching technology as well as classic instructional techniques
• meets the needs of students with different learning styles and educational backgrounds
• offers excellent support for students as they cope with the challenges of post-secondary educatio

Thunder Bay

• is a small city set in an incredible wilderness '€“ students spend the first two weeks of each September in 'the field', and we take field trips whenever possible
• is located on the shores of the largest of the Great Lakes, Lake Superior
• is located in an area with hundreds of lakes and rivers of various size
• is located where the Prairie, Boreal Forest and Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest ecosystems merge
• has a diverse industrial sector and an changing natural resource base

Graduates of the Environmental Technician Program will be able to:   

• Collect and perform routine tests on representative environmental samples (water, air, soil, vegetation, contaminants)
• Follow standard procedures for conducting environmental projects, including the use of appropriate equipment and materials
• Employ various information technology tools to assemble and use environmental data effectively
• Apply federal, provincial and municipal environmental regulations, policies and guidelines
• Apply the basic concepts/principles of science and engineering to environmental processes
• Associate basic principles of ecosystem-based management, focusing on balancing society's needs with environmental sustainability
• Understand significant industrial processes that affect the environment and the associated emission control/management preventative technological strategies
• Practice principled and ethical environmental management
• Contribute to the management of environmental systems used to mitigate the effects of human activity on natural systems and the health of living organisms
• Communicate technical information accurately and effectively in oral,  written and visual forms
• Work independently or as a member of a team
• Work safely in adherence to occupational health and safety standards and regulations
• Perform basic project management support techniques.

Program Highlights

During the two-year program you can expect to be actively involved in various activities, including: 

• Field Sampling on land, river & lake
• Industrial Environmental management
• Chemical Laboratory Analysis
• Vegetation Analysis
• Environmental Audits
• Computer Mapping using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Surveying
• Soil Analysis
• Geomorphologic Analysis
• Hydrogeology
• Drinking Water & Wastewater Management
• Waste Management