Leo Dougan (civil engineering)
Leo Dougan (he/him) is someone whose identity and lived experience guides his career focus. As a civil engineering student and an Indigenous person, he is deeply passionate about sustainable design and infrastructure, especially in water treatment.
He found a co-op position that aligned with these passions at Indigenous civil and environmental engineering firm .
Putting studies into practice
As a project engineer co-op, Leo was responsible for designing and drafting a variety of projects. He also connected with Indigenous communities and agencies, built models and map projects, performed construction inspections and field monitoring, and much more.
“There is a strong sense of community and togetherness at this company, and I think that who we are and what we do is a major aspect of that,” says Leo.
“It is special to have an employer that prioritises hiring Indigenous students—it’s not a matter of favouritism but it’s part of capacity building and what this company is all about. Hiring Indigenous students means being able to teach us about the work being done, and how we can support our own communities. It's uplifting fellow Indigenous peoples.”
Finding a supportive community
Leo is from the Red River Metis Nation in Manitoba, and is also Cree-Metis, Ojibwe, and Saulteaux. In Manitoba, many Indigenous communities do not have access to essential resources, including clean drinking water.
As part of the first generation to leave his family’s homelands, Leo chose UVic in part because of its civil engineering program, and in part because of the support available for Indigenous students.
“I have faced plenty of hatred and racism my whole life and have been made to feel ashamed and alone, like we are third class citizens in a "first world" country.”
Accessing support at UVic
Leo connected with Indigenous Co-op and Career Coordinator David Busch during his work search, and David helped connect him to Gwaii Engineering.
“David assisted me throughout the entire application and hiring process and was a great support,” says Leo. “He truly cares about his students and helping us succeed in school and our careers afterwards. He is someone committed to uplifting fellow Indigenous peoples.”
Connecting with Indigenous leaders
Leo worked closely with the team at Gwaii, many of whom are also Indigenous. He appreciated how the company takes great care to build strong and safe relationships with nations and communities, as well as with each other.
“The work that we do can be so complex,” says Leo. “Engineering is a collaborative process, and you never truly do something solely on your own. You always need a peer or supervisor to review your work, give feedback, and work together through constantly improving designs. I have felt respected and listened to, and my ideas and thoughts have been valued.”
Inspired by the work
Leo was also inspired by the impact that Gwaii’s project has on Indigenous communities.
“Knowing how much projects like the ones we do here would mean to my community and others back home, is a constant reminder about how important and inspiring this work is. I love being able to work with, engage, and uplift other nations.”
The impact of co-op
“This coop is supporting my career journey because this is exactly the work I want to do in the future,” says Leo.
“Doing a coop or internship is a great opportunity not just to get your foot in the door but to see what the work is actually like. You can study something you are really interested in, but you'll never really know what a career in that is like until you actually start working in it.”
Plans for the future
Leo hopes to bring his engineering studies, skills, and knowledge back to his community in Red River, to build sustainable infrastructure for Indigenous communities. He’d also love to be able to start his own engineering firm in his community.
“I want to work in water treatment, design treatment plants and systems for communities and help create jobs to keep these places running,” says Leo. “Clean drinking water should be a right, not a privilege, and I'm committed to working toward a future where all Indigenous communities have access to safe water.”
“I want to make a difference in the world by building water treatment plants and systems for Indigenous communities across Turtle Island. I want to assist in providing access to clean drinking water to fellow Indigenous communities, something that so many of us lack due to colonization, ignorance, and environmental racism.”