Celebrating 60 Years: Honouring Our Roots and the Legacy of Gerald Hay
by Heather Reynolds
As we mark 60 years of dedication to water and wastewater excellence, we take a moment to reflect on the pioneers who laid the foundation for our industry. Among them is Gerald Hay, whose story exemplifies the spirit of service, innovation, and foresight that continues to shape our work today.
Gerald (Gerry) Hay served with the Canadian Navy from 1940 to 1947, where he trained and worked as an engineer. Following his military service, he brought his expertise to Langley Hospital, eventually retiring as Chief Engineer in 1986. His commitment to public service and engineering excellence spanned decades and left a lasting impact on those around him.
In the mid-1960s, Gerry took the initiative to attend the 5th and 6th annual training schools for Sewage Waste Operators at UBC—some of the earliest organized efforts to professionalize water and wastewater operations in British Columbia. These schools were supported by the American Water Works Association and the Water Pollution Control Federation (later WEF), and they laid the groundwork for what would become the Environmental Operators Certification Program (EOCP).
It’s important to note that Gerry likely enrolled in these schools on his own initiative, at a time when legislation around wastewater treatment was still developing. Langley Hospital, where he worked, likely managed its own wastewater treatment independently, before the Township and City of Langley grew large enough for the Hospital to be connected to centralized municipal services. This speaks volumes about the foresight and diligence of operators like Gerry, who recognized the importance of proper wastewater management long before it was mandated.
A particularly special artifact from this era is Gerry’s 1967 certificate, signed by Bert D. Caine, the long-serving Secretary of the Certification Program, & Victor M. Terry, an early Chairman in what would become the BCWWA. Both individuals were pivotal contributors to training and certification in the early days of EOCP and BCWWA. These signatures represent a key moment in the evolution of operator certification and the formalization of standards that continue to guide our work today and both organizations give out awards to long-standing supports in honour of these gentlemen.
- EOCP – Bert D. Caine Award – https://eocp.ca/about-us/operator-awards/
- BCWWA – Victor M. Terry Award – https://bcwwa.org/site/awards/BCWWA/overview?nav=sidebar#Operator
We extend our heartfelt thanks to EOCP Operator Griffin Becker for sharing these certificates and the stories from his family’s history. These glimpses into the past remind us of the diligence and vision of operators, engineers, and supervisors in the 1960s—working with purpose even before legislation mandated it.
As the EOCP celebrates 60 years, we honour the legacy of individuals like Gerry Hay and the early schools that helped shape our industry. Their contributions continue to inspire us as we look toward the future with the same commitment to excellence and community service.