Veolia has introduced a no-cost digital training program in Canada aimed at preparing workers for careers in water and wastewater treatment, a sector facing an aging workforce and persistent staffing gaps. The Veolia Workforce Academy North America is rolling out first in Ontario, with plans to expand to other provinces through partnerships with regional water associations.
Why the Program Was Created
Veolia, a France-based company with North American headquarters in Boston, says roughly 30 percent of Canadian water and wastewater treatment plant operators are age 50 or older, raising concerns about upcoming retirements. Municipalities and utilities across the country have reported difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified personnel for these roles, which are essential to maintaining safe drinking water and treating wastewater.
Marco Fontana-Giusti, Veolia's Canada vice president of municipal services for North America, announced the program at the 2026 National Water and Wastewater Conference in Halifax. He said the academy is intended to remove financial and accessibility obstacles that can keep people from entering the field, while helping municipalities build a skilled workforce for the years ahead.
How the Training Works
The program is fully digital and self-paced, allowing participants to study on their own schedule from any location, including smaller and remote communities where access to in-person training may be limited. In Ontario, the curriculum is designed to align with requirements set by the Ontario Water & Wastewater Certification Office (OWWCO).
- Newcomers to the field can build foundational knowledge to prepare for entry-level certification.
- Current operators can use the courses to support career advancement toward higher-level certifications.
- Municipalities and utilities gain an added resource for recruitment, onboarding and ongoing employee development.
What Comes Next
Veolia says the academy will expand beyond Ontario to other Canadian provinces through collaborations with provincial water and wastewater associations, with the goal of supporting certification pathways overseen by each province's respective regulatory office. The company has not specified a timeline for this broader rollout.
Because the program is newly launched, its longer-term effect on staffing shortages and retention has not yet been measured. The initiative represents one tool among several that municipalities may use to address workforce gaps, rather than a complete solution on its own.