Water's Next Big Hit

What does Michael Jackson's career have in common with Canada's water industry?

The parallels between the career of Michael Jackson and the evolution of the water industry in Canada are uncanny. From his Motown days in the Jackson 5 to his glory days as the King of Pop and finally to financial problems and sad ending, Michael Jackson and the water industry have traveled similar paths.

In the early 1970s, the water industry in Canada was dominated by foreign players and Michael Jackson was part of the Jackson 5. Not quite ready to go solo, MJ was happy singing with his brothers. For the most part, many Canadian water companies were linked to United States and other foreign players.

The pinnacle of Michael Jackson’s career occurred when the Thriller album was released. This best-selling album of all time made him a global superstar and showed people that a small town boy from Gary, Indiana could make it big. Its 1982 release and subsequent success was a catalyst for water industry entrepreneurs in Canada to think beyond our borders. Innovative ideas, new technologies, and advanced systems, like good music could be exported worldwide.

Is it any coincidence that Hank Vander Laan at Trojan Technologies (founded in 1976) and Andrew Benedek at Zenon Environmental (founded in 1980) were able to grow their respective companies into global leaders at around the same time Michael Jackson was dominating the charts with hit-after-hit from Thriller?

In the 1990s, Michael Jackson released HIStory. Although not as successful as his earlier albums, it was critically acclaimed and was considered one of the top pop albums of that time.

The same decade saw the water industry in Canada mature.  Although it did not produce similar stars as the 1980s, Canada had developed a reputation of excellence in niche sub-sectors such as consulting, UV treatment, and membrane separation technology.

The 1990s also brought about some unsettling issues in both the personal life of Michael Jackson and the water industry in Canada.  Concerns over the export of water, the consumption of bottled water, the safety of tap water, and the realization that we did not in fact have an endless supply shook Canadians into waking up to the realities surrounding the politics, legalities, and safety of water.  At the same time, the world saw Michael Jackson face his own tumultuous times and legal issues.

With his untimely passing several weeks ago, many are now reflecting on MJ’s life, his music, and his legacy. For many, he will always be the King of Pop.  But soon, the world will be looking for the next “King.” Likewise, in Canada, after watching Zenon and Trojan grow, mature, and be sold to foreign companies, water professionals are looking for the next homegrown industry star.

With plenty of water problems plaguing the world, any one of the approximately 400 small and medium water-based companies in Canada could be the next big hit of the water industry.

Watch for more about Canada’s rising water stars in our November/December issue.