Darcy Dragonetti

My interests with respect to joining the EOCP Board of Directors stems from much involvement in water and wastewater operator education and EOCP certification throughout BC and the Yukon Territories since 1992 or over the past 3 decades.

I firmly believe it is of primary importance to support the water and wastewater industry by ensuring top quality services are provided to the various communities throughout BC and the Yukon.  A very important part to meeting this objective is to ensure repairs and maintenance in the field are performed in a manner that reflects a professional and knowledgeable approach to the work.  In this regard, EOCP’s role in operator certification along with facility classifications, as mandated by the BC Safe Drinking Water Regulations, plays a core and essential part in establishing acceptable work standards and practices in our industry, ensuring operators are well qualified to better safeguard public health and the environment.

I believe the main role of the EOCP Board of Directors is to uphold the constitution and bylaws that outline the mode of operation of the organization including the EOCP governance structure.

To this end I would anticipate that some of the many functions of the Board is to provide direction toward:

• strong leadership in the area of operator certification throughout BC and the Yukon
• ongoing policies as well as news initiatives affecting water and wastewater operators’
• upholding regulatory requirements as per the provincial statute
• acting as a strong industry advocate supporting certification and continuing educational credits for water and wastewater operators.
• keeping current and up-to-date by liaising with other provincial certifying bodies and the Association of Boards of Certification (ABC)
• address matters related to operator certification and facility classifications as they arise

My work experience in our industry is extensive as I have been directly involved with water and wastewater operations over the past 32 years.  Initially working in the field as a water and wastewater operator (previously certified by BCWWCP), I then progressed to various field supervisory positions eventually managing work groups in the water, sewer and drainage departments. Over the past 3 decades, my work experience has spanned across both BC and Alberta holding several senior operations management positions in local government including the District of West Vancouver, the City of Vancouver and the City of Fort McMurray, culminating as the Director of Environmental Services at the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo overseeing all 4 categories of certification in my portfolio including water treatment and distribution along with wastewater collection and treatment.

Further, I have been engaged in operator education as a course developer and instructor since the early 1990s filling the role of BCWWA Operator Education Committee Chair for approximately 5 years in the early 2000s.  I have been employed by many learning institutions developing and delivering operator training for BCWWA, BCIT, MTS, Yukon College and most recently KPU.