Lory Jackson

Program: Water Quality Technician
Graduation year: 2011

Lory Jackson is the first to admit that his journey wasn’t an easy or direct journey to success.  He freely shares his story with current students because he believes it is important for young people to understand the real challenges of building a career and a life.

He graduated from DC’s Water Quality Technician program in 2011 after returning to school as a mature student.  His interest in water quality was peaked by peripheral experience with wastewater at a printing company and then a family business that focused on residential water treatment early in his career.  Lory had the skills and knowledge to work in the wastewater industry but lacked the credential so he returned to school at 28 years old.

A series of unfortunate events including the loss of his job and relationship unfolded while he was a student and nearly took him off course. However, drive and determination led Lory to a position as the first North American employee in a sales and technical support position for a German company. He lived and worked from his small apartment in Georgetown, commuting back and forth to Oshawa each day to complete his program with Dean’s Honours. Lory is proud of this accomplishment and the friends he made along the way.

During two years of working in an isolated environment and myriad of life challenges, Lory grew his company’s business from zero to $500,00 annually but the extensive travel and disappointments with his employer, Lory found himself coping with depression. Further challenges with the company left him unemployed and in debt due to lost wages.

After working in another industry-related position that required extensive travel, Lory quickly realized that he was ready to find a more stable position that would also provide a work-life balance. It was this decision that led him to an operator in training role with the Ontario Clean Water Agency – GE Booth WWTP.  Lory recognized that this particular role meant different responsibilities and an Operator in Training wage, however he saw the benefits of attaining a high level municipal operator license and the opportunities it could bring.

Lory excelled and advanced quickly in this environment, taking on a manager role within a year. Within two years, he was awarded the newly created position of Senior Operations Manager which, he has held for the past four years.  He reflects on the irony of his work since he had decided he wasn’t interested in municipal or wastewater treatment work and now he’s doing both. A few takeaways from his story include keeping your options open and recognizing the need to take risks in your career.

Lory says he is now living his best life in Georgetown with his partner, two sons and two puppies. His advice to DC students and young graduates “to always make decisions and keep moving forward!  Don’t sit on the fence.  Consult your experience and knowledge, make an educated decision and roll with it.  Sometimes you’ll make good ones, sometimes bad ones and sometimes the good ones turn out to be bad and vice versa.  Either way, you’re always learning and moving forward.”

Lory’s immediate plans include a wedding in October 2020.  From a career perspective, he plans to obtain his OACETT Certified Engineering Technician (CET) designation as well as a Certified Associate Project Manager designation from the Project Management Institute.  His long-term plans include moving to the east coast, preferably Prince Edward Island, to a slower pace of life and contributing to their community as much as possible.