Alumni Spotlight: Trevor Keefe
Aug 18, 2025 | Vanessa Tignanelli, Storyteller & Content Creator
Trevor Keefe (42) has found purpose and stability in a place he never expected. Raised on a farm in Shelburne, Ontario, he originally studied marketing and worked in the brewing industry. When his family was expecting their third child, he made the difficult decision to leave his job and return to school. He chose Canadore’s Environmental Protection and Compliance Technician program, drawn by the promise of outdoor, hands-on work and inspired by the professors who showed him how environmental work could support and shape communities. That realization sparked a new focus on water treatment—and a career path that would lead his family north.
Near the end of the program, Trevor saw a posting for a position with American Water Canada in Moosonee—a job that would help him earn his water and wastewater certifications. He moved north with his family for what was supposed to be one year. A decade later, they’re still there. Today, he’s the Manager of Infrastructure and Planning for the Town of Moosonee, a role that sees him wearing many hats in a small, fast-evolving municipality. He leads work on municipal planning, bylaw development, accessibility, and infrastructure maintenance, and is helping prepare the community for a major new regional health campus. His education at Canadore continues to serve him daily—from GIS and surveying to problem-solving and long-term planning.
Now, Trevor’s wife supervises the Apano Head Start program and their five children are being raised within the rhythms and culture of the Moose Cree First Peoples. He volunteers with minor hockey, chairs the high school board, and is deeply invested in the place he now calls home. The town, once known for weekly water main breaks and sewer backups, now benefits from consistent infrastructure and proactive planning. For Trevor, success means growing with the community you serve, building trust, laying roots, and contributing to a future everyone can be proud of.
“Canadore really opened the door to a life I didn’t expect. I just wanted to be outside—and I ended up building a career that supports an entire community.”
“Even ten years later, my professors still reach out and ask if there are ways their current students can engage with the work I’m doing.”
“Don’t be afraid to go somewhere remote. Take the opportunity. Learn as you go. You’ll be surprised what you can do.”
“At Canadore, the professors see where you want to go and help you get there. That made all the difference.”
“Don’t be afraid to take a job that doesn’t perfectly match your education. You’ll learn on the job—and those experiences might lead to something even better.”
“Going north can seem intimidating, but the opportunity and experience you get in a small, remote community is worth it.”
Trevor Keefe
Manager of Infrastructure and Planning, Town of Moosonee
Environmental Protection and Compliance Technician Program (Class of 2014)
#Alumni #Canadore College #First Peoples' Centre #Indigenous