March 25, 2026
Canada Bureau
MEET NATHAN COPENACE
After years without clean water, Nathan is now providing clean drinking water to his Washagamis Bay community
What is it like to finally provide your community with clean drinking water after being on a boil water advisory for more than a decade? For Nathan Copenace from Washagamis Bay First Nation, it’s a big responsibility. “I remember not being able to drink water since I was a kid,” says Nathan. Nathan is a graduate of Water First’s Drinking Water Internship Program. After graduating, Nathan began working at the local water treatment plant. After years without clean water, Nathan is now providing clean drinking water to his community, supporting them in the long journey to trusting the water once again. Today Nathan is an (OIC) Operator in Charge at the Bimose Hub.
Interview With Nathan Copenace
By Suzanne Forcese
WT: Nathan in the eyes of WATERTODAY you are a hero. Please introduce yourself to our viewers and tell us about your journey.
Copenace: Hello, my name is Nathan Copenace and I am from a First Nation called Washagamis Bay. It has been a long journey from completing my training with the Water First program. Working for my community and learning on the job the responsibilities and duties of a water treatment operator have.
Then having the opportunity to assist other First Nation communities through the Bimose Hub with Water Treatment. During this time, I have obtained my level two certification for water treatment.
This experience has been very eye-opening for me. It was my father Vernon Copenace who introduced me to the Water First Program. I will always appreciate the opportunity they both gave me.
WT: Yes, WT met your father, Vernon Copenace in 2021 when a long-term BWA had just been lifted.
How have things worked out for the Washagamis Community since we last connected with your father?
Copenace:The new Water Treatment Plant is running good for the community. During the time I worked there the quality water met the Ontario safe drinking water standard.
WT: Very often we see that water treatment plants are up and running but there is no one qualified to operate them. But you took the initiative to become certified. Tell us about that.
Copenace: During the pandemic it was hard to get certified. Travel restrictions and mandatory shots made it difficult for anyone during the pandemic. Today there are a couple more ways for operators, especially those in isolated communities to get certified.
Online training and circuit riders help as well as programs like Water First. Hubs and associations like AWWAO host some events that are beneficial to operators.
I was first introduced to Water First by my father. The community had spots for anyone interested in taking the Water First program posted on the community. I was lucky enough to have a spot when I applied.
Watch Nathan as he introduces us to WaterFirst
WT: You didn’t stop there Nathan – you have more achievements.
Copenace: I have recently obtained my level two water treatment certificate. I ran the water treatment plant mostly without any incidents during my time there.
I am now an (OIC) operator in charge at the Bimose Hub. There are seven operators including the Hub Manager. We monitor and assist the communities with their water and wastewater treatment plants. The Hubs assistance varies from hands on training, troubleshooting, and operator coverage. Help during and after emergencies, and a lot more other things related to water.
In an emailed response from the BIMOSE HUB Manager, Jon Kocis, WT learned more of the important role Nathan plays:
Nathan represents exactly what long-term success looks like in First Nations water systems. Local operators who are trained, committed, and serving their own communities. He brings a strong sense of responsibility to his work, and that shows in how he approaches operations every day. Having grown up in the community and seeing the challenges firsthand, and with the influence of his father Vernon’s years of service to the community, Nathan brings an extra level of personal experience to the role.
WT: Nathan how do you view your role moving forward?
Copenace: Having a new water treatment plant that can deliver its intended purpose and going from being on a definite BWA to not. Being able to safely consume the water, it is all a first for
the community. For the future having trained and certified operators to operate, maintain and produce is the goal. It will take time for each community to achieve and in the meantime I will continue to support them through my time here in the Bimose Hub.
About the Bimose Hub
Bimose Tribal Council supports its ten member First Nations across a range of services including education, technical services, emergency management, and economic development. The HUB is a department within Bimose focused specifically on water and wastewater operations, providing hands-on technical support, operator mentorship, and emergency response capacity to the communities we serve.
The HUB model allows smaller or remote communities to access a higher level of operational support while still maintaining local operators. It creates a network where operators can share knowledge, respond to issues more quickly, and support each other across multiple systems.
The HUB program is currently solely funded through Indigenous Services Canada. While that support has allowed us to build strong capacity, the shift from a multi-year agreement to year-by-year funding does create challenges, particularly when it comes to long-term planning and recruitment. Consistency in funding is important to ensure we can continue attracting and retaining skilled operators in these roles.
The Bimose HUB is fortunate to have a dedicated team that includes an Overall Responsible Operator, four Operators in Charge, and an Electrical Technologist. Their commitment and willingness to support communities across the region is what makes our HUB effective.
“Operating water systems in remote and northern communities comes with unique challenges, from logistics and supply timelines to access to specialized support. That’s where the HUB model becomes especially valuable, as it allows us to respond quickly and provide consistent technical support.
At the end of the day, safe drinking water depends on trained operators and consistent support. The infrastructure is important, but it’s the people behind it that ensure systems continue to operate safely for the community. “
– Jon Kocis, HUB Manager Bimose Tribal Council
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