Environmental Technician - Water Resource Management Courses

This is an introductory chemistry course that allows the student to become familiar with the terms, tools and calculations that are a part of chemistry. Topics covered include matter, the use of the periodic table, bonding, nomenclature, mole calculations and concentration of solutions.

Applied Math for Technology I provides a foundation in mathematics for students in engineering technology and technician programs. Students will work with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios, systems of measurements, units, and introductory algebra while solving applied problems involving variation, geometry, and right trigonometry. 

This course introduces students to the use of Office 365 applications and Windows 10. Specifically, students will use introductory features of Windows 10, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint to perform tasks commonly expected in the workplace. The lectures are delivered in a laboratory environment using textbook exercises and assignments. Home assignments will require the learner to acquire the MS Office suite of programs in order to complete and submit their assignments.

Students will examine the characteristics of the growth and yield of forest stands and gain a thorough understanding of forest measurement sampling techniques and navigation/orientation.  Students will also be introduced to surface water grab sampling and groundwater level measurements.  Sampling design, sampling intensity, data collection, compilation, and analysis are emphasized. 

Students learn first about scientific classification and how it applies to forest trees. The organization of tree species in Canada by morphology (external appearance) is emphasized in both lectures and laboratory sessions. The use of dichotomous keys for identification of unknown samples is practiced. In lectures, an overview of the Forest Regions in Canada is included. Silvics ('how trees grow') and some basic ecology of the major Boreal and Great Lakes - St. Lawrence forest regions follow. Traditional uses of local forest plants and trees are highlighted. Laboratory sessions use live, frozen and pressed tree foliage, twigs and fruit to help students learn to identify and name (common and scientific names) the most important species of trees in Canada, as well as local woody shrubs. An herbarium-standard plant collection, started in field school, is a major component of out-of-class work. It will include samples of Ontario Land Classification (ELC) plant species that will be reviewed in NR216 Introductory Ecology.

The student will gain the skills to identify fundamental characteristics of forest soils and sites and to classify forest ecosystems and ecosites using standard terminologies. The student will then discover how soils and site parameters affect the structure and function of forest ecosystems and how they influence forest operations including road construction, forest harvesting and silviculture. Other topics include hydrology, landform origin, description and identification.

Students will participate in a two-week field school designed to introduce them to the science of terrestrial ecosystems. Field safety, plant identification, orienteering, field soil assessment, and forest measurement concepts will be covered.

In this course, students will be introduced to academic writing styles with a thematic focus on current issues. This course will help students to express themselves clearly and correctly in written form. Students will critically analyse assigned readings and express their thoughts. The course will also focus on the development of an academic paper utilizing the APA style of documentation.

This course in basic ecology explores the biotic and abiotic elements of ecosystems, along with the chemical, geological, and biological processes that impact how an ecosystem functions. Terrestrial, freshwater, and wetland ecosystems are highlighted.  Students will research and write a technical report on an environmental issue of interest to the student.  Laboratory activities will include a foundational number of Ontario Ecological Land Classification plants of various forms to be learned.  Winter twig identification of local native woody deciduous shrub and tree species will also be explored.

Basic biology of plants from the cellular level to a whole forest. Students will gain an elementary understanding of metabolic process in plants such as photosynthesis and respiration. Plant diversity and the life cycles of conifers (gymnosperms) and hardwoods (angiosperms) will be explored. The structure and function of non-woody and woody plant tissues and organs will be examined along with plant growth and genetics.

Applied Math for Technology II is a continuation of its pre-requisite course MA115. Students will further develop mathematical problem-solving techniques as applied to the different technical areas. After successful completion of this course, the student will be able to solve applications involving factoring, algebraic fractions, functions, graphing, geometry, trigonometry, and vectors. 

This course is designed to broaden the participant’s perspective on contemporary natural resource issues in Canada, with an emphasis on the history and culture of Indigenous peoples. Forested lands are an essential part of life and economy in Canada. While First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities are vastly different from each other, a close connection to the land is a commonality. They have lived on and managed the land and its forests for generations. Understanding of the past, present, and future roles of Indigenous governments in the management of their land and forests is essential for anyone planning on working on the land. The key topics of Indigenous views of land use, land claims, and the braiding of sustainable industrial development with Indigenous Knowledge into forest management are explored. Non-wood forest products and ethno-ecology are also examined.

The course will provide the student with knowledge of fundamental chemistry, chemical calculations and laboratory procedures commonly applied to environmental testing and monitoring. Introduction to organic chemistry will cover principles of structure, reactions and applications common to organic chemistry.

This course will provide students with an introduction to the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and build basic skills required by the entry level Natural Resource Technician. Topics explored will include the fundamentals of creating and managing information in a digital environment, performing common queries and analysis, and presenting information in the format of maps and reports in a professional manner. Additional topics covered in the course will include the use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and an introduction to the science of Remote Sensing.

This course will provide the learner with the ability to initiate and complete environmental audits, which have become an increasingly important part of efforts to improve and protect our environment. Emphasis will be placed on environmental site assessments, regulatory compliance audits, environmental management systems, waste reduction and energy audits, risk assessment and due diligence.

Effective supervisors are able to organize and motivate their staff to successfully and productively accomplish tasks and goals. Valuable employees are able to take direction and responsibility for assigned tasks as individuals and as team members. In this class, students will learn about and practice 'people management' skills, including empathic listening and self-awareness (personal assessment and development). The art of conflict resolution in the workplace will be learned and practiced (leaders and 'team players').

This course will familiarize the student with current and developing practices for the disposal of municipal solid wastes.

Water is a major constituent of all living matter and is therefore considered the 'molecule of life'. Water quality is the degree to which water is pure enough to fulfill the requirements of various uses. The water quality course involves the analysis of the water molecule, its capacities and limitations, limnology and sampling. Emphasis will be placed on the application of regulatory sampling and laboratory procedures for analyzing common physical, chemical, microbiological and toxicological parameters of water quality.

This course introduces the students to the basic principles of groundwater occurrence, flow, exploration and monitoring. Students will study the basic theory of soil mechanics, water flow in the natural ground and procedures of basic soil testing in the laboratory. Students will work individually and in groups to complete laboratory experiments.

This course introduces students to environmental sampling, monitoring, and evaluation through hands-on field and lab exercises. Topics include environmental monitoring, site rehabilitation of decommissioned mine site(s), lake and stream assessments for chemical and biological indicators of water quality, streamflow assessment, urban storm-water impacts and mitigation through Low Impact Developments, and water/wastewater treatment. An overnight field camp may be included.”

This course is designed to introduce the students to the tools, calculations, and methods of surveying as related to civil and environmental engineering. Students will use steel tape, automatic level, laser level, electronic theodolite, and the total station to measure and layout design features.

This course is designed as a practical introduction to the study of fluid mechanics as it applies to Environmental Engineering Technology. Surface water hydrology including watershed delineation, storm-water assessment and storm-water management practices including Low Impact Development designs will also be emphasized during the course. The student will also gain fundamental knowledge of the properties of fluids, hydrostatics and gravity flow in pipes, open channels, pressure flow, pressure piping, flumes and weirs.

In this course, students will acquire a working understanding of federal and provincial environmental legislation in Canada. This course will examine key legislation dealing with environmental protection, remediation and conservation for all aspects of our environment. As these laws affect all aspects of the environment, and violations can bring stiff penalties, all environmental practitioners must be conversant with them and the court systems. The course will also examine the evolution of the Canadian court system to gain an understanding of the basis of environmental legislation applicable in today's society.

This course will assist the student in understanding fundamental concepts of environmental ethics and sustainable development. The importance of sustainable development in the management of our environment and natural resources will be emphasized through discussions of current resource and environmental issues occurring regionally and globally.

The course will provide students with an understanding of the industrial processes that generate and control air pollutants. An emphasis is placed on processes that are important for the industries of Northwestern Ontario.

This course will introduce the learner to the fundamental concepts of statistics used in natural resource applications. Emphasis will be placed on fundamental terminology, descriptive statistics, basic probability and an introduction to inferential statistics. Actual environmental data will be used to perform basic summary statistics, correlations, linear regressions, and hypothesis tests comparing means and proportions using z-tests, t-tests, ANOVA and goodness-of-fit. An introduction to non-parametric data and tests will also be conducted.