Instructors
Meet the Instructors for Arcadis IBI Group Training & Operations.
Bob Turnbull (Toby)
Senior Training Specialist
Bob has over 35 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry. He has worked in all parts of the distribution system, having considerable experience with wastewater collection systems. Bob's areas of specialization include water distribution systems, municipal operations, and maintenance. He has delivered classroom and hands-on training courses to operators all across Ontario.
Licenses:Water Distribution & Supply Class 3
Water Treatment Class 3
Wastewater Collection Class 2
Licenses:
Dennis Buckley
Senior Training Specialist
Dennis has over 20 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry and a diploma in Environmental Technology from Fleming College. Having worked throughout his career as a Water/Wastewater Plant Operator for different municipalities, he brings considerable hands-on experience in troubleshooting and maintenance. He is knowledgeable and considered a “jack of all trades” after being exposed to many situations throughout his professional career with little information and being tasked with fixing or identifying the problem and a fix.
He also has experience training new plant operators and summer students as well as experience tutoring in various topics such as AutoCAD, Arc View, Math, Statistics, Chemistry, and Natural Resources Law.
Licenses: Wastewater Treatment Class 4
Wastewater Collection Class 4
Water Distribution & Supply Class 4
Water Treatment Class 3
Water Quality Analyst
Water Meter Installer License
He also has experience training new plant operators and summer students as well as experience tutoring in various topics such as AutoCAD, Arc View, Math, Statistics, Chemistry, and Natural Resources Law.
Licenses:
Julie Friel
Senior Training Specialist
Julie has over 19 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry, working for both private and municipal sector clients. She brings extensive on-the-job experience working in roles at water and wastewater treatment plants in Northern Ontario. As an instructor, she has taught water treatment and water remediation courses, she has also worked within regulatory legislation, ensuring compliance, and conducting impact assessments. As an Environmental Technologist, she had the opportunity to work in remote sites sampling and testing in adverse conditions. Julie was also an advisory committee member for the MOECC – Entry Level Drinking Water Operator Course.
Licenses: Water Treatment Class 4
Water Distribution & Supply Class 4
Wastewater Treatment Class 1
Licenses:
Ian Smith
Advisor and Senior Training Specialist
Visit the Training Advisory Board page for full details of Ian's credentials:
Licenses:
Wastewater Treatment Class 4
Wastewater Collection Class 4
Licenses:
Kelly Stewart
Senior Training Specialist
Kelly has over 30 years of experience in both areas of the water and wastewater industry. His experience ranges from working for Correctional Service Canada, Ontario Clean Water Agency and the Water Treatment for the City of Belleville as an Operations Supervisor. Prior to shifting into this field, he was also an engineer in the private sector.
Kelly also has considerable experience in groundwater, wells, lagoons and water and wastewater treatment in all three levels of government. He is proud to be a part of the team responsible for reviewing the “Operator Need to Know” Guide for Water Treatment for the Province of Ontario. He has delivered specialized training for the key officials investigating the Walkerton tragedy.
Licenses:Water Treatment Class 4
Water Distribution & Supply Class 3
Wastewater Treatment Class 3
Wastewater Collection Class 3
Achievements, Special Interests:
Writer, Creator and Published Author of 3 Books:
When It All Finally Started to Make Sense
On The Days I Act Up
Retirement - Living, Laughing and Learning
Stand Up Comedian
Kelly also has considerable experience in groundwater, wells, lagoons and water and wastewater treatment in all three levels of government. He is proud to be a part of the team responsible for reviewing the “Operator Need to Know” Guide for Water Treatment for the Province of Ontario. He has delivered specialized training for the key officials investigating the Walkerton tragedy.
Licenses:
Achievements, Special Interests:
Scott Craggs
Senior Training Specialist
Scott has over 30 years of experience in environmental services in both the private and public sectors. He has been responsible for the O&M budgets for 16 municipal or non-municipal water/wastewater facilities and 9 clients. He has extensive experience and knowledge of water treatment processes which includes operating and maintaining all process control equipment related to the operation of water treatment and water distribution systems and ensuring compliance with regulated standards and Certificates of Approval at various facilities throughout Ontario.
Scott’s previous training experience includes being a trainer/facilitator for the MOE – Safeguarding Drinking Water Quality renewal course throughout Ontario and co-facilitator of a pilot course “Operator in Training” for First Nations.
Licenses:Water Treatment Class 2
Water Distribution & Supply Class 3
Wastewater Treatment Class 1
Wastewater Collection Class 1
Well Technician Class 4
Water Quality Analyst
Scott’s previous training experience includes being a trainer/facilitator for the MOE – Safeguarding Drinking Water Quality renewal course throughout Ontario and co-facilitator of a pilot course “Operator in Training” for First Nations.
Licenses:
Scott Ward
Senior Training Specialist
Scott has over 25 years of experience in the water industry with the City of Greater Sudbury and Vale, Sudbury Operations. Scott is currently a Water/Wastewater Treatment Supervisor with Vale and acts as Overall Responsible Operator (ORO). He has worked with municipal groundwater wells, a Class IV coagulation/sedimentation/filtration plant, a Class III Ultrafiltration membrane plant, along with the UV applications in all three areas.
He has held the title of Quality Compliance Officer for the City of Greater Sudbury, managing several programs, including the Community Lead Testing Initiative and Acute Lethality Testing (WW). Scott also serves as a member of the executive for the Northeastern Ontario Water Works Conference (NEOWWC). Scott’s extensive experience, both operating and teaching, makes him a valuable member of our team of dedicated professionals, committed to passing on his industry knowledge to beginning and experienced operators. Scott has been an integral part of our training team since 2013.
Licenses: Water Distribution & Supply Class 4
Water Treatment Class 4
He has held the title of Quality Compliance Officer for the City of Greater Sudbury, managing several programs, including the Community Lead Testing Initiative and Acute Lethality Testing (WW). Scott also serves as a member of the executive for the Northeastern Ontario Water Works Conference (NEOWWC). Scott’s extensive experience, both operating and teaching, makes him a valuable member of our team of dedicated professionals, committed to passing on his industry knowledge to beginning and experienced operators. Scott has been an integral part of our training team since 2013.
Licenses:
Tim Toole
Senior Training Specialist
Tim has over 40 years of experience in both areas of water and wastewater. His extensive experience includes working with the Ministry of the Environment as a plant operator, working as a Chief Operator and Area Superintendent, as well as managing various water and wastewater systems. Tim is currently the Water and Wastewater Operations Manager with the Town of Midland, and is an occasional instructor for Georgian College.
Licenses:Water Treatment Class 2
Water Distribution & Supply Class 3
Wastewater Collection Class 2
Wastewater Treatment Class 4
Licenses:
Rick Niesink
Course Curriculum Developer
Rick has nearly 30 years of experience working in Wastewater Treatment and Collection for the Region of Niagara. He has worked as a wastewater operator and an operations manager for Niagara's 11 wastewater treatment facilities. Rick's experience extends beyond wastewater treatment, with knowledge in maintenance, industrial waste inspection, biosolids management, and health and safety.
Rick has been active in the Water Environment Association of Ontario (WEAO) since 1997 as a competitor and judge for the Operations Challenge, and has served as a Director for the past 10 years. He also volunteers for Water Environment Federation (WEF) as a judge for the Operations Challenge at WEFTEC, and a participant in the Operators of the Future Working Group.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS:
Rick has been active in the Water Environment Association of Ontario (WEAO) since 1997 as a competitor and judge for the Operations Challenge, and has served as a Director for the past 10 years. He also volunteers for Water Environment Federation (WEF) as a judge for the Operations Challenge at WEFTEC, and a participant in the Operators of the Future Working Group.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
- Water Environment Federation (WEF)
- Water Environment Association of Ontario (WEAO)
- Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT)
AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS:
- 2009: Awarded the Water Environment Federation's William D. Hatfield Award "In Recognition of Outstanding Performance" on works, operations, management and advancement of knowledge in the field of water pollution control.
- 2005: Chaired WEAO's Operations Challenge Committee
- 2006-2009: Director for the WEAO
- 2009-2016: Chair of the Professional Wastewater Operators Committee (PWO) and representative on WEAO's Board of Directors
- 2009-Present: Member of the Ministry of Environment & Climate Change (MOECC) Operator Certification Working Group