AWWA Member Spotlight – Rynette Moore-Guillaume, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

Rynette Moore-Guillaume is the director of operations at SaskWater in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. She oversees a team of 80 operators, 23 water and wastewater facilities and an extensive network of water supply and transmission infrastructure.

Education/certification: Master of Business Administration in Leadership, University of Regina; Environmental Systems Professional Engineer; Civil Engineering Technologist; Water and Wastewater Certification

What are some projects you’ve worked on? I have had a memorable career and worked on so many different projects with incredible people at SaskWater and the City of Moose Jaw. Each project has contributed value to the communities we serve and built upon our team’s operational excellence. Some of my favorite projects include the modeling of Moose Jaw’s distribution system, the introduction of SCADA remote monitoring at SaskWater, and the transition of new facilities to SaskWater. I’ve also been involved in water and wastewater training programs, asset management, setting up a Cross Connection Control Program, and developing the maintenance program at the City of Moose Jaw and SaskWater. 

What is one of your proudest accomplishments? Participating in a fundraising project with WaterAid Canada where I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in support of water projects in East Africa. Together, 22 Canadians raised $700,000 to provide safe drinking water to villages, which was truly rewarding. Completing the hike was the most physically challenging experience I’ve had, but it was even more of a mental victory. (Pictured above from left, Rynette Moore-Guillaume, Water Aid Canada fundraiser in Tanzania, with family.)

How have you benefited from your AWWA membership? My AWWA membership has supported me in attending conferences, workshops and many networking opportunities. It has also provided me with valuable water standards and information to support many different projects with my work. To promote professional growth in our sector, it is so important for people to continue to learn through ongoing opportunities, education and networking. The sector is changing, and we need to continue to adapt, be proactive and stay connected through our memberships. AWWA provides many tools to help people develop throughout their careers.

Describe your family and personal interests: My husband of 21 years, Keith, and I are blessed with two children, Ireland (16) and Zaid (13), who keep us busy with sports and school activities. Zaid was adopted from Ethiopia, and my travels to Ethiopia and other countries have fueled my passion for supporting international drinking water initiatives. As parents, it’s rewarding to witness our children’s drive and determination and we’re excited to see them continue to grow. Keith is also involved in the water sector, working at the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant as the operations and safety manager.

What would surprise people to know about you? One of my lifelong goals is to travel the world and experience different cultures. My husband and I have spent our holidays backpacking for the past two decades, and we have been to all seven continents. We now enjoy making more memories and seeing the world with our children.

What do you find rewarding about your work? My favorite part about working in this sector is the people. There are so many great people with different experiences and backgrounds. I work in a career that supplies our customers with vital services that are essential to their communities. I also find it very rewarding to lead and mentor people to their full potential, dealing with challenges and new opportunities.

Anything else you’d like to add? We are seeing a lot of changes in the water and wastewater world these days. Training and networking opportunities are more critical now than ever as we have many new operators joining our sector. We must continue to collaborate and learn from each other as we work to safeguard public health, protect the environment and meet regulatory requirements.