Landed the Job

Feb. 27, 2026

For Edelnario (Del) Jr. Garcia, health and safety is personal: he loves knowing his work helps people go home safely every day. Now a Health and Safety Manager with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, he shares how Seneca Polytechnic helped him translate international experience to Canadian expectations, and why persistence, consistency and mastering the basics have shaped his career growth.

Before coming to Canada, I worked in the Philippines as an Occupational Health and Safety Country Manager. My health and safety career began more than ten years ago when a ministry of labour inspection required me to implement a safety program at my workplace. I had already completed a Bachelor’s in Electronics Communication and Engineering and was working towards my Master’s in Crisis Management and Disaster Resiliency but when my family and I moved here, I realized many of my certifications were not recognized here, so I chose Seneca’s Workplace Safety and Prevention program.

Seneca offered the right mix of a strong core curriculum, hands-on labs, and most importantly, clear coverage of Ontario and Canadian legal requirements. While health and safety fundamentals are similar worldwide, regulatory frameworks differ and Seneca’s curriculum helped me build a solid understanding of regulatory expectations and professional practices, which was essential to transitioning my career in Canada. The field placement also stood out for networking opportunities, industry exposure and direct pathway to employment. 

King Campus was a peaceful and welcoming place to study. The natural setting helped me stay focused and I spent most of my days in the library while also completing my master’s program. The campus was small, quiet and supportive, which gave me exactly the environment I needed to stay disciplined and to succeed.

My field placement at Seneca played a major role in helping me build my career in Canada. My placement was originally supposed to last only four months, but the organization asked me to stay longer. That extension helped me expand my network, gain additional experience and build stronger professional connections. By March 2023, weeks before graduation, I accepted a Health and Safety Manager role with a Vaughan manufacturer, then progressed to Metrolinx and later to the City of Toronto in Water and Wastewater Treatment. The program also supported me in earning my Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation. That credential has been a major milestone in my career growth and has helped me reach the position I hold today.

I have recently started a new role as Health and Safety Manager with Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO). In my new role, there’s a balance of strategic responsibilities and direct engagement in the field. While meetings and planning will be part of my routine, I value coaching the most — walking through the site, speaking with employees and contractors and helping them understand how to work safely. I am also part of a broader team responsible for health, safety, security and emergency preparedness. 

I learned the importance of networking. Building professional connections in Canada helped me demonstrate my skills and opened doors to opportunities. I also strengthened my public speaking skills. Although I had taught in the Philippines, presenting in a diverse Canadian classroom was a new experience. My professors encouraged me to lead portions of class, which helped build confidence and communication skills.

Technically, industrial hygiene was the most impactful new area of learning. While familiar to me in the Philippines, it is applied much more rigorously in North America. Learning industrial hygiene gave me a much deeper understanding of how to assess and protect indoor air quality. This technical skill was both new to me and incredibly valuable for the work I do now.

My long-term goal is to expand my impact as a health and safety leader while deepening my work as an educator. Over the next decade, I aim to progress into senior leadership where I can mentor larger teams and shape organization-wide safety systems.

At the same time, teaching is where I feel the strongest sense of purpose. I already teach part-time at Centennial College, Fanshawe College and Anderson College and I can see myself moving toward a full-time faculty role in the future, guiding the next generation of safety professionals to lead safe, effective workplaces.

I love knowing that I help people go home safely every day. Protecting the moments that matter — birthdays, time with family, simple routines — is what makes the work meaningful. The job can be challenging, but it’s incredibly rewarding. Every safe shift, every prevented injury and every person who returns home unharmed reminds me why keeping people safe is not just a responsibility, but a privilege.

Persistence and consistency. I’ve always been willing to work hard and keep moving toward my goals. That discipline has shaped my certifications, career opportunities and led to my recognition as one of OHS Canada’s Top 25 Under 40 in 2025. For me, success isn’t about perfection; it’s about being the person who shows up every day and puts in the effort to reach the goal.

I have a strong eye for developing and implementing management systems. They may not seem highly technical, but they bring together processes, roles, standards and procedures into a structure that keeps an organization compliant and safe over the long term. I’ve built these systems in China, Australia and Canada and I’ve seen how they continue to support an organization long after I’ve left. 

Never forget the basics and be consistent. I often share a lesson from Kobe Bryant — he said the basics were what carried him, even at the height of his career. The same is true in any field. If you stay grounded in the basics and apply them consistently, you’ll go far.

For international students, my biggest message is to plan ahead. Have a plan A, B and C. Your study years and post‑graduate work permit period require focus and discipline, but they shape your future here.

At the same time, embrace Canadian culture while staying grounded in your own. Seneca played a big part in that transition — my professors, the support I received and the consistent communication, all helped me learn how to communicate, appreciate diversity and prepare for a future in Canada.