What Water First does

Water First Education & Training Inc. is a Canadian registered charity (Registration No: 83852 5269 RR0001) founded in 2009 and headquartered in Creemore, Ontario. The organization is dedicated to addressing drinking water and environmental water challenges in Indigenous communities across Canada through education, training, and collaborative partnership programs. Its work is guided by Indigenous youth participants, Indigenous staff and board members, community partners, and an Indigenous Advisory Council, though the organization explicitly does not identify as Indigenous-led. The critical need is evidenced by 16-21% of First Nations communities in Canada facing drinking water advisories and a shortage of certified water treatment operators.

Water First delivers three interconnected core programs. The Drinking Water Internship is a 15-month program (2,000 hours) certifying Indigenous water treatment operators to Level 1 with Water Quality Analyst Certification. The Environmental Water Internship is a 15-month program (2,000 hours) delivering ECO Canada-accredited certifications in Water Quality Monitoring, Environmental Data, and Fish Conservation. School Water Programming engages Indigenous youth in water science education and career pathway exploration, including printable resources on watersheds and the water cycle. Programs provide wrap-around supports including childcare, equipment, mentoring, and access to the Water First Alumni Network to remove participation barriers.

The organization's business model is entirely donation-funded; no products or services are sold. Revenue comes from individual donors, corporate supporters (Alberici, Russel Metals), and major foundations (Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies, Grundfos Foundation, McConnell Foundation, Arrell Family Foundation, Madge Hogarth Fund, Tachane Foundation). Programs are delivered through direct community partnership agreements with Indigenous communities and tribal councils. To date, Water First has trained 73 interns from 47 Indigenous communities, logged approximately 170,000 hours of training, and was rated a Top 100 Charity in Canada by Charity Intelligence in 2025.

Name

Water First

Legal name

Water First Education & Training Inc.

Website

https://waterfirst.ngo

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Water First Education & Training Inc. is a Canadian charity that delivers drinking water operator certification, environmental water technician training, and school water education programs to Indigenous communities across Canada through 15-month internship programs and community partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education & Water Treatment Operator Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Treatment, Filtration & Softening Systems (EDAOACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

EMS Training & Competency Development (EUAHAIAH)

Keywords

• Water operator training
• Drinking water certification
• Environmental water monitoring
• Indigenous community programs
• Water science education

Headquarters

HQ city

Creemore

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Water First Education & Training Inc. is a Canadian charity that delivers three interconnected training and education programs: a 15-month Drinking Water Internship that certifies Indigenous water treatment plant operators (Level 1 and Water Quality Analyst); a 15-month Environmental Water Internship delivering 2,000 hours of hands-on training in water quality monitoring, environmental data, and fish conservation; and School Water Programming that introduces Indigenous youth to water science career pathways. All programs are delivered at no cost to participants through direct partnerships with First Nations communities, with wrap-around supports including childcare, equipment, and mentoring.

Product overview

Water First is a Canadian charity offering three interconnected education and training programs focused on water challenges in Indigenous communities. The core offerings are: the Drinking Water Internship (15-month certification program training water treatment plant operators), the Environmental Water Internship (15-month program covering water quality monitoring and fish conservation), and School Water Programming (youth education and career pathways in water science). These programs are delivered through partnerships with Indigenous communities, tribal councils, and certification bodies like ECO Canada, providing wrap-around supports including childcare, equipment, and mentorship to remove barriers to participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Drinking Water Internship A 15-month internship program that certifies Indigenous water treatment plant operators (up to Level 1 and Water Quality Analyst Certification) to provide safe, clean drinking water for First Nations communities. Includes 2,000 hours of hands-on training delivered through classroom instruction, water treatment facility work, and on-the-land training. Designed for Indigenous adults from partner communities, with wrap-around supports including childcare, equipment, and mentoring to remove participation barriers.
• Environmental Water Internship A 15-month internship providing 2,000 hours of hands-on training in water quality monitoring, environmental data collection, and fish conservation. Graduates earn ECO Canada certifications in Water Quality Monitoring, Environmental Data, and Fish Conservation. Designed for Indigenous adults from partner First Nations communities, with wrap-around supports including childcare, equipment, and mentoring.
• School Water Programming

Quantifiable outcome

• 73 interns from 47 Indigenous communities trained
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Anishinaabeg of Kabapikotawangag Resource Council (AKRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Drinking Water Internship program in Kenora, Ontario. AKRC coordinates with participating First Nations communities to deliver the 15-month water treatment operator training program.
• Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First NationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner community for the Environmental Water Internship program. Eleven Indigenous adults from the association joined the second iteration of the 15-month program providing training in water quality, environmental data, and fish conservation.
• Environmental Careers Organization of Canada (ECO Canada)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides accredited certifications for Water Quality, Environmental Data, and Fish Conservation through the Environmental Water Internship program. Graduates are eligible for ECO Canada certifications upon program completion.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• DigDeep: US-based nonprofit working to ensure every American has clean water, with specific focus on Native American and marginalized communities. The most direct international analogue to Water First's Indigenous-community water training and access mission.
• WaterAid Canada: Canadian arm of the global WaterAid federation focused on clean water access in marginalized populations. Closest peer in mission (Canadian water charity) and fundraising model, though WaterAid Canada works internationally and Water First focuses domestically on Indigenous communities.

Broad incumbents

• Water.org: Global nonprofit focused on sustainable water and sanitation solutions, founded by Gary White and Matt Damon. Comparable as a major water-focused nonprofit with similar donor-driven sustainability model, though Water.org emphasizes financing solutions rather than training.
• charity: water: Large-scale global water charity with a donation-funded, project-delivery model. Comparable operating model (donor-funded water programs) and scale ambitions, but operates internationally and primarily on infrastructure rather than workforce training.

Others

• ECO Canada: Environmental Careers Organization of Canada — accreditation partner that issues the Water Quality, Environmental Data, and Fish Conservation certifications earned by Water First graduates. Closest ecosystem partner rather than a competitor.
• Indigenous Services Canada: Canadian federal department responsible for Indigenous water infrastructure and operator programs. Functions as a major funder and policy counterpart for Water First's work, and could potentially develop competing in-house training capacity.
• Engineers Without Borders Canada: Canadian nonprofit applying professional skills (engineering, training, capacity building) to international development challenges. Comparable as a mission-driven Canadian nonprofit using intensive skills-training and capacity-building programs with Indigenous and marginalized communities.
• Canadian Water Association: National industry association representing the Canadian water sector, including operators, utilities, and training bodies. Functions as an adjacent industry body that Water First graduates and partners engage with.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@waterfirstngo
• Facebookfacebook.com/waterfirstngo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/water-first-ngo
• Instagraminstagram.com/waterfirstngo
• TikToktiktok.com/@waterfirstngo
• Xx.com/waterfirstngo

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Water First