From waste to want
Environmental technology student shines at the CRD
May 27, 2010
Danielle Bassett and Mark Harper
Danielle Bassett , a third year environmental technology student at Camosun College, happily completed two co-op work terms as an operations assistant at the Capital Regional District (CRD) in 2009, and she continues to work with the CRD on a part time basis. Basset’s goal is to work full time with the CRD after she graduates, and she has discovered many options there in the environmental field. Hiring tends to be done internally, which provides employees who are a good fit with the opportunity to move up in the organization.
The employer’s perspective
Mark Harper, operations manager for Saanich Peninsula and the Gulf Islands, is a staunch supporter of co-operative education and has hired several co-op students in the past. He finds the technology co-op students to be focused, motivated and often have practical experience. Harper sees participating in co-op as a way of giving back to the community and exposing students to work experience. He likes to create a learning environment and enjoys the enthusiasm and desire to learn that co-op students bring. “I have never had a co-op student that I would not have hired on a full time basis,” says Harper. Bassett’s position was open to the general public, and she was successful in being hired in a position that had more than 60 applicants. Harper says, “As a student in such a fast paced technology program, Danielle’s enthusiasm and her desire to learn more made her an excellent candidate. The most important thing is to find an employee who is a good fit.”
Fertilize with what?
During the first work term at Saanich Peninsula Wastewater Treatment Plant, Bassett spent much of her time at Hartland Landfill distributing biosolids as part of a waste management program. This was part of a pilot project to educate the public on effective recycling of biosolids, which are nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from the treatment of domestic sewage in a treatment facility. Biosolids are produced at the Saanich Peninsula Wastewater Treatment Plant, and when treated and processed, these residuals can be recycled and applied as fertilizer to improve and maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth. “For this project, we needed someone who could work independently and interact with the public in a non threatening way,” says Harper. Bassett also gave presentations on this pilot project to the general public during the CRD Open House.
Keeping the water pure
Bassett’s second work term as an operations assistant was in the office at the Saanich Peninsula Wastewater Treatment Plant, which also looks after 12 small domestic potable water systems on the Gulf Islands. Bassett worked with the freshwater division which maintains high quality, safe drinking water that complies with both federal and provincial requirements, and she updated and developed a manual which identifies water quality objectives and ensures the appropriate tests are carried out at the required time. Having experienced two quite different work terms, Bassett says, “Co-op opened my mind to different career possibilities and provided me with a valuable network in my field.” Harper sees himself continuing to hire co-op students. “Technical programs are very refined, and the co-op students know where they are going,” he says, “I have never had a bad one!”
The Environmental Technology program provides students with a great variety of skills ranging from plant identification to water sampling!
