Ron Motum

A 1974 graduate of the Chemical Technology program, Ron Motum spent more than 34 years in the chemical technology and operations sector, including 25 years at the Region of Durham in Whitby, Ont. Motum began his career while still a student with Durham College in the summer of 1973 with Bristol Myers Products Canada Limited as a quality control technician. Following his graduation, he moved to Industrial Electroplating Limited as a plant chemist before settling at the Region of Durham’s Works department in 1975. After spending 12 years as an operations technician, Motum worked as a laboratory co-ordinator for three years and a senior level operations technician for two years before being promoted to technical support supervisor. From 1992 to 2007, Motum was responsible for a staff of 26 and for the public works programs including sewer use, bylaw enforcement and water treatment. Following a short retirement in December 2007, Motum returned to the working world as a professor at Durham College, providing training for licensed distribution, collection and plant operations staff and teaching in the college’s Water Quality Technician program. With long-serving involvement in numerous associations, Motum has been a member of the Water Environment Federation and Water Environment Association of Ontario since 1976 and an associate member of the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technologists and Technicians since 1974. A Cub Scout leader and past president, secretary and member of the Whitby Kiwanis Club, Motum was the 1995 Chairperson of the Oshawa/Whitby Kiwanis Music Festival.