First Nations & Indigenous Commitment

Our Commitment

Global Water Treatment Services recognizes that meaningful reconciliation requires more than policy statements — it requires consistent, accountable action on every project. For GWTS, this means prioritizing local and Indigenous hiring from day one of project mobilization, building long-term relationships with First Nations communities before and beyond the project timeline, and being genuinely prepared to structure joint venture arrangements that create lasting economic benefit for Indigenous partners.

Our work in Northern Alberta places us directly within the traditional territories of multiple First Nations communities. We take this responsibility seriously and are committed to operating in a manner that respects, supports, and benefits the communities whose land and resources our projects touch.

Workforce & Employment

GWTS targets 60–80% local and Indigenous workforce participation on Northern Alberta projects. This commitment is embedded in our project planning from the earliest stages — not added after the fact. Where specialized technical expertise is required that cannot be sourced locally, we actively work to create mentorship, training, and knowledge transfer pathways so that skills remain in the community after the project is complete.

• Local and Indigenous hiring targeted at 60–80% of total project workforce
• Preferential contracting to Indigenous-owned businesses and suppliers where available
• Skills transfer and on-the-job training for local personnel on technical roles
• Coordination with community employment programs and band councils on hiring
• Non-local technical specialists engaged only where local capacity is not yet available

Joint Venture & Business Partnerships

GWTS recognizes that economic participation — not just employment — is a key dimension of meaningful reconciliation. We are prepared and experienced in structuring joint venture arrangements with Indigenous businesses, development corporations, and band-owned enterprises. These arrangements can take multiple forms depending on the project and community priorities:

• Joint venture project delivery with Indigenous-owned contracting or services companies
• Sub-contracting and preferred vendor arrangements for Indigenous suppliers
• Equipment ownership and leasing structures that build Indigenous asset portfolios
• Equity participation in longer-term Design-Build-Operate contracts
• Capacity-building partnerships to develop Indigenous water treatment expertise

Community Engagement

Our engagement approach goes beyond compliance with regulatory consultation requirements. GWTS proactively reaches out to First Nations communities at the earliest stages of project development — before scopes are fixed and before commitments are made — to ensure community perspectives genuinely inform project planning. We believe that authentic engagement, when it happens early enough to make a difference, leads to better project outcomes for all parties.

• Early-stage community outreach prior to project mobilization
• Transparent communication on project scope, timeline, and environmental considerations
• Formal engagement processes developed in coordination with band councils and leadership
• Environmental stewardship alignment with Indigenous land and water protection values
• Post-project relationship maintenance — not just project-duration engagement