Graeme
Faris
OUR POOL OF
PEOPLE &
POSSIBILITIES -
Faris Consulting Services
Wastewater Treatment IV; Wastewater Collection II; Water &
Wastewater Treatment Operator Diploma Malaspina College.
(Along the way: UBC, BCIT, MATI, Banff School of Management)
OPERATOR
PROFILE
Why do it?
Caring for the environment can take many forms –
while many talk about ways to protect the earth
Treatment Plant Operators go about quietly doing
it 24/7/365. It is important work unseen by many.
Career Sample: Wastewater Treatment Operator, Chief Operator, Director of Environmental Services, General
Manager of Operational Services, Chief Administrative Officer.
Graeme’s path towards the Water & Wastewater Industry began literally in the water, canoeing. At the end of high
school, forestry and other outdoor industries held all the attraction that a love of camping and canoeing could bring.
He first went to University of BC (UBC) to study Geology and then to BCIT for a diploma in Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Graeme’s first career took him from a uranium exploration project in Nunavut to a molybdenum play on St. Lawrence
Island in the Bering Sea to oil and gas exploration on Canada’s arctic islands and always, it seemed, in the winter. The
summer of 1975 found him in Ottawa attending Environment Canada’s weather observer course when a chance canoe
trip on the Ottawa River changed everything.
Graeme remembers enjoying the incredible pristine northern wilderness! He also recollects how he thought of the
contrast with that experience when he canoed down the Ottawa River only to see “numerous things floating in it”. That
had such an impact on him Graeme enrolled in Malaspina College’s Water & Wastewater Treatment Operator Program.
Ready for some action, Graeme appeared for his new job at Tahsis on the west coast of Vancouver Island with a
population of about 1,500, 2 saw mills, 2 Wastewater Treatment Plants and a water supply system in the mid 70’s. He
was highly welcomed – “We’re glad you’re here!” and then handed the keys. It was fully equipped and he had the
manuals, so Graeme rolled up his sleeves and operated it.
Graeme was about to experience another contrast in situation when he went from that job to being an Operator I with
the Greater Vancouver Regional District, GVRD (now called Metro Vancouver) in the Iona Sewage Plant. It was no longer
a solo job and the treatment process was more complex. This was not to be the end of contrasting situations for him.
Graeme was hired as Chief Operator for Sechelt’s WWT Plant. As Graeme describes it, “My job was a hole in the ground!
I acted as a representative while the Plant was being built. I had the enormous benefit of working through the whole
process, not only from the ground up – but below it! I started it up on my own and operated it. Then I began working at
both Gibson and Sechelt doing the Water Systems on the weekend. This was a shared job with 4 days on and 4 days off.”
In the midst of his diverse career experience, Graeme was making sure to write the exams and obtained his certifications
as soon as he had sufficient time in. He was approached to join the BC Operators Certification Board (now called the
EOCP), became part of the Executive and then Editor of the Newsletter. He also joined BC Water & Waste Association
(BCWWA) and was Editor of that Newsletter as well! Eventually, this would lead to being the first Zone VII (BC, WA. ID,
OR, AK) representative for the Water Environment Federation’s Professional Wastewater Operator Division.
Meanwhile, Graeme reflects, “I caught the bug after helping build one Treatment Plant. I also discovered after 3 years I
liked moving!” So off he went to Comox Strathcona Regional District to oversee building the WWT Plant there. The
project was forward thinking and innovative in its efforts to be the first designed for compost in the Province.
In addition to his other administrative tasks, such as hiring Operators and overseeing the running of the Plant, Graeme
soon found himself embroiled in an odour lawsuit where he discovered that his change management/communication
skills were of huge benefit, addressing the Board and doing public presentations. A number of years later when all
regional districts were tasked with preparing solid waste management plans his administrator decided that wet or dry
was all the same and Graeme found himself charged with the development and implementation of a solid waste
management plan. As a newly minted Director of Environmental Services, Graeme found himself delivering solid waste
services to a territory that encompassed 7,728 square miles (20,000 square kilometres), 8 electoral areas, and 8
municipalities. It stretched from the west coast of Vancouver Island to the western boundary of the Cariboo Regional
District on the BC mainland.
Graeme’s job was all about policy and communications. When concerns were raised, he went about finding another
community that had a successful initiative and bringing in a representative so that, as Graeme puts it, “They could hear
from one of their own that it could work. I took the show on the road because it was important to go to every
community.” Despite one person humorously suggesting before a public meeting that “he keep the truck running” the
lessons learned proved helpful when a few years later he found himself tasked with preparing liquid waste management
plans and a Watershed Assessment.
As General Manager of Operational Services he was often required to fill in as an acting Chief Administrative Officer
(CAO) and when the Regional District was restructured into 2 new Regional Districts the Board named Graeme as the first
CAO of the Strathcona Regional District. He accepted on the understanding that a replacement would be found within a
few months as Graeme had decided that after 33 years the time had come to retire from local government and pursue
opportunities as a consultant and trainer. Graeme enjoyed this time. He says, “In contrast with previous jobs, I knew I
would be leaving in 3 months and I was starting with a clean page. So I could use that to think about what was most
important.” With the restructuring that seemed to be about team-building – creating a sense of identity as a new group.
Graeme’s contributions have not been limited to being an employee in the service of so many communities. He decided
that it was important to give back to the profession. So in addition to his commitments with BCWWA and EOCP Boards,
he has been teaching and mentoring. He notes, “Someone taught me. It’s been my turn to give back. That’s what
people in this Industry do.” Graeme’s contributions stretch over many years from Kimberley and Smithers Schools to the
2009 BCWWA UBC Operators School. He’s also had a chance to mentor by helping troubleshoot Plants.
Graeme reflects the sense of humour and creativity he has brought to his work when he remarks, “Tell me about any
other Industry where there is no control over the quantity, quality or delivery of the raw material, where the process
control data is not available for 5 days after the finished product has been shipped, and where you have to be perfect
every time. Wastewater Treatment is unique in that regard and so are the Operators who make it work.” Now that is a
sense of contrast!
Graeme’s Insights/Tips: Ask yourself, ‘What will there always be a need for? – Water to drink and bathrooms! Consider
that Operators, just like the population are aging. A large number are retiring - with a pension…
#201 3833 Henning Drive, Burnaby, BC V5C 6N5
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