Category: News

Located in Calgary, Alberta, the Canada Energy Regulator (Canadian Energy Regulator) is an independent energy lifecycle regulator responsible for federally regulated pipelines and power lines, energy development and trade. The Canada Energy Regulator also provides energy information to Canadians. As such, the CER sits at…

Join FortisBC and BCCGA on August 11th for a BBQ and baseball game at Nat Bailey stadium. The Vancouver Canadians are playing the Tri City Dust Devils. Parking is $10.  Wise words from the patron safety saint of the Social Committee (Don), if you plan to drink,…

Whenever crews work on underground infrastructure along the roadside, they’re in danger of being struck by passing vehicles. Working at the side of a road for any reason and for any amount of time means they’re considered roadside workers. And that means their employers have specific responsibilities…

What are the best ways to avoid cross bores? May 11 @ 10:30 CDT Register by May 11th here and access past sessions. Safety Alliance (ESA) virtual Town Halls are an open forum for all stakeholders to discuss concerns and present potential solutions to improve…

Great news for those working in the oil and gas industry – several Canadian Standards Association (CSA) technical standards are now available for free online access for one year. The CER and the Western Regulators Forum have been working with the CSA Group to allow Canadians to…

BCMSA is hosting in partnership with the BCCSA an Open Enrollment 3-day Utility Locate Specialist course at Langley Airport June 13-15, 2023! This training is Classroom & Hands on Practical so bring your PPE and Locate Equipment and register here. Course information can be found…

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac | November 21st – 23rd, 2023 The Canadian Common Ground Alliance is excited to hold its 2023 Damage Prevention Symposium, in person, at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac Quebec, November 21st – 23rd, 2023! This event is a signature event for the…

25 April 2023 | CER Website April is “Dig Safe” month. It’s a good time to remind people about safe practices anytime they’re digging, whether it’s for their job or at home. It’s important to know what is underground, such as buried pipelines or utility lines,…

Mike Sullivan – President, Utility Safety Partners  Print this Article | Send to Colleague Given the proliferation of QR Codes, I recently developed the ClickBeforeYouDig QR Code and strongly suggest it be incorporated in all damage prevention awareness programs and promotional documentation. It has been provided to…

Postponed to a later date. Anyone planning to dig and disturb ground should know how to dig safely and avoid costly repairs to underground utilities.  If you are involved with ground disturbance in any way, you and your whole crew should be at this free…

April 1st marks the official start of Dig Safe Month across Canada! The BC Common Ground Alliance and its members have designated April as Dig Safe Month in BC and have received a formal proclamation from the Province. Here are some ways you can participate:

Upload Damage and Near-Miss Data by March 31 The DIRT data submission deadline of March 31 is fast approaching!  All 2022 data must be submitted by this deadline to be included in the 2022 Annual DIRT Report.  Your data is critical to helping the damage prevention industry…

We hope you join us! Anyone planning to dig and disturb ground should know how to dig safely and avoid costly repairs to underground utilities.  If you are involved with ground disturbance in any way, you and your whole crew should be at this free…

As of January 1, 2023, licensed contractors are required to publish their company name and Technical Safety BC (TSBC) licence number when advertising regulated services to the public. Adding your TSBC licence number to your ads will help home and business owners easily determine who…

Canada Energy Regulator  The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has released its final investigation report on the 2021 Minell Pipeline incident. A farmer ruptured a natural gas pipeline in McAuley, Manitoba, while using a tractor to maintain a water drainage channel in his field. The pipeline…

Agriculture Safety Week in Canada is March 13-19, 2023. The CER wants to remind everyone about working safely on farms, especially when working near pipelines. Feel free to share these post on your own accounts! English: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn  French: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

The Canadian Association of Pipeline and Utility Locating Contractors (CAPULC) is proud to announce the successful completion and launch of the Underground Facility Locating and Marking Standard. As a leading industry association representing companies involved in locating buried facilities across Canada, CAPULC has over 100…

The ASTTBC registered utility locator certification program is the first of its kind in BC. It is designed to recognize the competencies of locators who work in various industries and to deliver an enhanced level of public safety. Learn more here. ASTTBC is in consultation…

We are seeking members to join the BCCGA DIRT Committee with our new Committee Chair, Jimmy Yip of Fortis BC. We encourage more people to make the routine submissions, and so it will be great to get a few folks together to discuss the possibility.…

Check out BC 1 Call’s latest newsletter which covers important and useful updates, including on the following:

Released for Final FeedbackCanadian Association of Pipeline and Utility Locating Contractors (CAPULC) has released their Pilot Draft of the Underground Facility Locating and Marking Standard. CAPULC’s objective was to develop a national line locating standard to ensure consistent practices across the country while allowing for…

Special Opportunity! The BC Common Ground Alliance (BCCGA) invites our member companies to join with our sponsors – ICBA, FortisBC an TransMountain – in displaying  their products and services with a table-top display at our upcoming contractor breakfast. DATE:                          Friday, November 18, 2022 TIME:                          Set up 6:30…

Join us in Whistler!

Canadian Association of Pipeline and Utility Locating Contractors (CAPULC) has just released their Pilot Draft of the NEW Canadian Locate and Marking Standards. CAPULC’s objective was to develop a national line locating standard to ensure consistent practices across the country while allowing provincial variations in…

The fourth annual CCGA National DIRT (Damage Information Reporting Tool) Report for 2020 is now available. Like previous years, this report presents characteristics, themes and contributing factors leading to buried infrastructure damages in Canada as reported through the DIRT reporting system.  Underground infrastructure provides crucial…

Fairmont Chateau Whistler British ColumbiaOctober 24th – 27th, 2022 The Canadian Common Ground Alliance is excited to hold its 2022 Damage Prevention Symposium, in person, at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler British Columbia, October 24th – 27th, 2022!  This event is a signature event for the…

On behalf of Canadian Energy Regulator: A job posting has just gone up for a Technical Specialist, Emergency Management Compliance on the Programs & Evaluations Team in System Operations. This position fills the role of Compliance Program Manager. Please feel free to share this job…

On behalf of Canadian Energy Regulator (CER)” The purpose of this letter is to provide you with information on recent CER improvements and more importantly, to seek your input and feedback on the regulatory improvement priorities identified in our 2022-25 Regulatory Framework Plan.   Our Regulatory…

Our Annual General meeting will be held via Zoom on June 9th, 2022 from 10 am to noon. The meeting will be held to conduct the following business: 10:00          Welcome and Introductions 10:10           Guest Speaker 10:45          Call meeting to order 10:45          Roll Call – Establish…

Fairmont Chateau Whistler, British Columbia October 24th – 27th, 2022 The Canadian Common Ground Alliance is excited to hold its 2022 Damage Prevention Symposium, in person, at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler British Columbia, October 24th – 27th, 2022!  This event is a signature event for…

Apr. 14, 2022 “Together we are stronger and safer.” That is the message from the BC Common Ground Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing damage to underground pipes, cables and conduits. They work alongside regulators, government, utility companies, construction groups and others with an interest…

BC 1 Call has just released its 2021 Report to Members & Partners, which includes new records: > 89,000 registered users 247,000 locate requests (up 14% over the prior record) 27 Educational partners who reference BC 1 Call in their professional training In addition, the…

April 1st marks the official start of Dig Safe Month across Canada! The BC Common Ground Alliance and its members have designated April as Dig Safe Month in BC and have received a formal proclamation from the Province. Click here to see the proclamation and…

April 1st marks the official start of Dig Safe Month across Canada! The BC Common Ground Alliance and its members have designated April as Dig Safe Month in BC and have received a formal proclamation from the Province. Click here to see the proclamation and…

The submission deadline of March 31st is fast approaching. All 2021 data must be submitted before the deadline to be included in the 2021 Annual DIRT report. If your company has no 2021 events to report, a Company Administrator should go to Submission Status on the DIRT Main Menu…

The Trenchless Technology Road Show is Canada’s largest trenchless technology event focused on buried infrastructure condition assessment, construction, renovation, asset management and subsurface utility engineering. Join them Live In Kelowna, BC from April 24-26, 2022. Registration now open. There will be several pre-CATT Courses offered on…

CTV News | Michele Brunoro | March 2, 2022 To Vancouver’s Michelle Petrusevich, the scenes of fire and devastation look like something out of a Hollywood war movie. In reality, they are the images sent to her by family in eastern Ukraine, where the Russian…

The Canadian Society of Safety Engineers presented the 2021 Outstanding Achievement Award to Michelle Petrusevich! She was recognized for her efforts in decreasing damage to the @FortisBC natural gas infrastructure by 19% in the past 2 years.

The CER shared the OPR Review Discussion Paper with Indigenous peoples, regulated companies and other parties and it contains questions that will help guide the conversation over the course of the comment period. To follow progress or to comment, please click on the link. The Canada Energy…

A message from Al Johnson, Head of Prevention Services, WorkSafeBC: Earlier in the pandemic, employers were asked to create and implement detailed COVID-19 safety plans. On July 1, 2021, those plans were replaced by a more general focus on Communicable Disease Prevention as the province…

Given the recent rise in Covid-19 infections and the Omicron variant, we regret that we have decided to cancel the Christmas Social originally scheduled on December 21st. We want to ensure that everyone stays safe and has a healthy and happy holiday season.

The 2020 CCGA National DIRT Report is now available. Please find both the English and French language versions attached. National DIRT Report 2020 – English Rapport National ORDI 2020 – French DIRT For Canada  Reporting damages into the Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) is critical for the…

BC 1 Call | December 2, 2021 Flood-Related Activities that Warrant a BC 1 Call Locate Request  Digging drainage ditches Cleaning up drainage ditches Dragging heavy equipment or structures to higher ground Use of BC 1 Call every time you plan to break ground can…

BC 1 Call – November 4, 2021 Professional projects that involve ground disturbance are challenging given the need to stay on time and on budget – all while managing various risks. It goes without saying: failing to anticipate and deal with risk factors can negatively…

BC 1 Call | Update posted November 26, 2021 Why This Matters During any state of emergency, avoiding damage to critical infrastructure and personal injury is of utmost importance. Resources are spread thin to deal with extraordinary cleanup work, making it especially important to click…

Wander the market’s winding alleys and discover authentic German delicacies: sizzling sausages, warming Glühwein (mulled wine), old world confections, and 80 other food and craft huts. Tuesday, December 21, 2021 Meet at 5:30 PM at the Vancouver Christmas Market Entrance JACK POOLE PLAZA (site of the Olympic…

Cansel is currently seeking an Account Manager on their Subsurface Technologies team (pipe locating & camera inspection) in Vancouver. Find out more…. and contact them directly.

To avoid preventable injuries, costly repairs, project delays and many other consequences of damagingunderground infrastructure, make sure you: 1) Submit your free locate ticket with BC 1 Call2) Follow their members’ instructions3) Expose the underground line, pipe or cable to find its exact location before…

VICTORIA – A StrongerBC program that refunds businesses the PST paid on select machinery and equipment will be extended for an additional six months. This extension will give businesses another chance to reduce costs and make new investments to adapt to the changes the pandemic…

Dear Municipal Employees, UESI recognizes the budgetary constraints common to many municipalities and the restraints surrounding event attendance. Considering this, The Centre for Advancement of Trenchless Technologies (CATT) and The Utility Engineering & Surveying Institute (UESI) are proud to announce that they will be providing the opportunity for…

BC 1 Call wants to thank all users of their service who have taken the time to rate their service in the 1-minute post-experience survey launched last September. So far this year, they have received over 1,150 responses from callers and online users. On average, over…

For over 40 years, Centrifrorce Products Ltd has been at the forefront of utility damage prevention. As part of their utility protection range for buried cables and pipelines, they manufacture the world-renowned Stokbord Cable Cover, alongside our Tapetile and Locata warning range. In this webinar,…

Position title: Call of Interest Instructional Designer / Appel d’intérêt Concepteur pédagogique Business Unit and Team:  System Operations / Programs and Evaluation /  Opérations sur le terrain / équipe de la gestion des urgences et de la sûreté  Closing Date : 10/09/2021 English: http://wapps/rdims/ViewDoc.aspx?Public=y&DocID=1357498 French: http://wapps/rdims/ViewDoc.aspx?Public=y&DocID=1358349

Position title: Regulatory Compliance Officer – Industrial Control System Security / Agent de la conformité réglementaire – Sûreté des systèmes de contrôle industriel Business Unit and Team:  Field Operations / Emergency Management and Security /  Opérations sur le terrain / équipe de la gestion des urgences et…

BCCSA is delivering the good news that the 2021 Virtual BC Construction Health & Safety Conference will take place on Thursday, October 14, 2021. This year’s conference will look at the theme of the construction industry’s capacity to embrace and overcome the challenges of the…

This fall, the BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) will launch Asbestos Control Training (ACT) a series of 5 courses beginning with Asbestos 101 (Awareness Training) with specialty courses to follow.  Courses are self-paced and accessible online 24/7. Asbestos Control Training is complimented by BCCSA’s newly…

Cansel is looking to hire an Account Manager (Inside Sales)- Subsurface Technologies Equipment and are looking for some people who have an experience as a locators and  who wants to continue their career in Sales.  See the following job description and contact them directly if…

On behalf of Canada Energy Regulator –> The purpose of this letter is to provide you with information on recent CER Regulatory Framework Program improvements and more importantly, to seek your input and feedback on the regulatory improvement priorities identified in our Regulatory Framework Plan. …

Help us spread the word! The Preventable Campaign is targeting underground infrastructure safety in May! Global News had DigSafe features on Wednesday – please share! FortisBC: https://bc.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2205260&jwsource=cl  Preventable: https://bc.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2205263&jwsource=cl  BC 1 Call: https://bc.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2205256&jwsource=cl And if you are on Facebook or Instagram… May 1-16 – https://www.facebook.com/8475622807/posts/10159136919787808 May 17-31 (IG) – https://fb.me/27AkQY4qLEfFC8D…

RFP 16007 ** Details of the Request For Proposals *** BC Hydro is seeking (1) one qualified Consultant or company who can provide all labour, equipment, and transportation for Transmission Standby Services on an “as when and required” basis as described herein for Vancouver Island,…

The Honourable Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low-Carbon Innovation, met virtually with our Executive Director Dave Baspaly today to proclaim April as Safe Digging Month in British Columbia. April is National Dig Safe Month across Canada. It’s a reminder about the importance of continuing to…

April is National Dig Safe Month across Canada. It’s a reminder about the importance of continuing to raise awareness on damage prevention and safe digging practices, especially with the start of the spring digging season. To commemorate this important month Danatec is offering special pricing…

APRIL 22, 2021 Member’s Annual General Meeting will take place at 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (MST) SAFETY CONFERENCE GUEST SPEAKERS Following the AGM, we have a great lineup of presenters. Join our guest speakers to learn first-hand information on the topics that resonate in…

Link to BC 1 Call Press Release. (Vancouver, BC – April 8, 2021) – A province-wide survey commissioned by BC 1 Call in February 2021 found that only three-in-10 respondents (28 per cent) correctly identified that BC 1 Call connects British Columbians with their members—organizations that own…

A great introduction to our vLoc 3 RTK Pro all-in-one Utility Locator and GNSS receiver, with an accuracy of 2.5cm possible. Vivax will discuss how to use this and a quick tutorial of their VM Map Cloud. Register Now.

The Provincial government has again pronounced April is Safe Digging Month. See the News Release and check out our formal Proclamation!

Every time you dig, you risk injury, loss of life, or damage to property if you hit buried cables, conduits, pipelines, or other facilities. Contacting BC 1 Call is the best way to find out what is buried in your dig site. Employers and supervisors…

In celebration of Damage Prevention Week, Infrastructure Resources is offering damage prevention professionals like you a very special price on the Global Excavation Safety Conference Virtual. Register by Sunday and use code SAFETY8254 for a registration price of only $195!  To register now, go to: https://globalescvirtual.com/product/global-esc-virtual-registration/ Global ESC…

The Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA) is continuing the Digging Deeper Digital Education and Networking Series – and you can still register! Given the uncertainties due to COVID-19, the CCGA is excited to provide an alternative: A national platform that virtually connects Damage Prevention Stakeholders, the series…

The submission deadline of March 31st is fast approaching. All 2020 data must be submittedbefore the deadline to be included in the 2020 Annual DIRT report. If your company has no 2020 events to report, a Company Administrator should go to Submission Status on the DIRT Main Menu and…

Consequential edits to the Filing Manual resulting from the coming into force of the CER Act (2019) and related updates, including the CER’s Early Engagement Guide, were published on the CER website on 6 August 2020. A series of periodic technical updates to the Filing…

DIRT Data Submission Deadline Approaching The submission deadline of March 31st is fast approaching.  All 2020 data must be submitted before the deadline to be included in the 2020 Annual DIRT report.  CGA has created short video tutorials on: How to upload a single reportHow to bulk upload…

The Excavation Safety Conference has been providing critical education to the damage prevention industry since 2004. The virtual event, April 6-8, offers a diverse selection of education, with multiple sessions offered with a Canadian perspective, including these: Damage Prevention Awareness for Homeowners in the time…

We are pleased to announce our 2021 partnership campaign with Preventable BC is now underway. Building on last year’s successful campaign, despite the challenges of the COVID 19 impacts, BCCGA will once again partner with Preventable for a multifaceted outreach during April, Safe Digging Month.…

Our 2020 Annual Report to Members is now available. 2020 has been an unprecedented year for the BC Common Ground Alliance for obvious reasons. The global pandemic that is affecting our communities is perhaps the greatest challenge of our generation. From March of this year,…

We extend a special greeting to express our sincere appreciation for your confidence over the past year and your collective commitment to safety. 2020 has been an unprecedented year for BC Common Ground Alliance and the sector as a whole. The global pandemic that is…

April 6-8, 2021 – Online, Worldwide When COVID-19 caused the cancellation of our 2019 live event, Infrastructure Resources immediately began the process of building a brand new way to experience the Global Excavation Safety Conference. They knew that, regardless of when live events returned, providing…

Improved Earthquake Performance and Resilience for New Buildings – Tuesday January 12th, 9 to noon BC Housing is offering a 3-hour webinar on January 12, 2021 from 9 am – 12 noon PDT entitled Building Smart: Improved Earthquake Performance and Resilience for New Buildings. This webinar…

Victoria, B.C. (December 14, 2020) – The Builders Code is honouring six employers with Builders Code Champion Awards for leading the way in advancing the culture of BC’s industrial, commercial, and institutional construction sector.  Their efforts have contributed to an increase in the participation of women…

To end this interesting year, we have decided to try a different kind of holiday social. Join us for a virtual get-together with Pamela Bragg from Sarkany HR Management and let us talk about “Managing Pressure and Maintaining Balance”.  When things are extremely busy and…

While this service is available for use, it is very important to Click or Call BC 1 Call prior to any excavation activities as the first step to damage prevention. Have you had a chance to try out the City of Vancouver’s new VanMap? This version…

 The Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA) proudly announces the Digging Deeper Digital Education and Networking Series. Given the uncertainties due to COVID-19, the CCGA is excited to provide an alternative: A national platform that virtually connects Damage Prevention Stakeholders, beginning October 2020 until May 2021 that offers…

The CCGA’s 2019 DIRT Report has been published and released in both official languages and posted to CCGA Twitter and Facebook. English Report / English Tweet French Report / French Tweet Facebook Postings English and French Please “like”, Retweet, etc. on social media and please circulate to your respective…

Ian Turnbull of FortisBC explains how you can reduce the risk of damaging natural gas lines or other underground utilities when working in your yard this fall. Click here!

Globe and Mail | PUBLISHED OCTOBER 15, 2020 This fall, you might be tempted to dig a hole in your yard to put in a fence or remove an old tree stump. If you’re spending more time in the yard while working on your laptop…

It has come to our attention that there is some confusion surrounding locator training courses and certification. The ASTTBC Registered Utility Locator Technician (RULT) program is designed to recognize the competencies of locators who work in various industries and to deliver an enhanced level of…

Last week, Global BC did an Open House segment about the importance of underground safety and contacting BC 1 Call before digging. Special thanks to all our stakeholders who helped to make this happen. Watch the segment now!

The Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA) proudly announces the Digging Deeper Digital Education and Networking Series. Given the uncertainties due to COVID-19, the CCGA is excited to provide an alternative: A national platform that virtually connects Damage Prevention Stakeholders, beginning October 2020 until May 2021 that offers…

Global News did an Open House shoot on Tuesday at Dave’s house to reinforce the importance of underground safety and using BC 1 Call before digging. The Open House segment will air Sat Sept 26 at 7:40am. GlobalBC will then post the video within a…

Excavator attachments when not used properly can pose a serious risk to workers and property.  When attachments disengage unexpectedly, serious injury can occur.  Please take a moment to answer the following brief survey on your experience with attachments. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2L798GW Your ideas and suggestions on this…

On August 21st, the Province released the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services REPORT ON THE BUDGET 2021 CONSULTATION – VOLUME I. BCCGA’s attendance and presentation are mentioned in the Executive Summary and then under the heading of Public Safety & Justice on…

SURREY, B.C., August 19, 2020 – Today, FortisBC acknowledged two Lower Mainland businesses that have shown that success and safe digging go hand in hand. The fifth annual FortisBC Excavation Safety Awardsare given to companies that submit a high number of requests into BC 1…

A joint venture between the BCMSA, BC Common Ground Alliance, BC Construction Safety Alliance, Public Works Association of BC, Technical Safety BC, and WorkSafeBC, this award was created as a way to recognize municipalities who follow safe underground disturbance practices. Recognizing local governments for activities…

Our 2020 Annual General Meeting will be held virtually on July 9, 2020 from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm through Zoom. There will be a short Board meeting following the AGM. The Agenda and Minutes from last year are available for your reference on the BCCGA…

With the recent launch of Phase 3 of the province’s Restart Plan, WorkSafeBC would like to update stakeholders on the guidance and support we’re providing to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in B.C. workplaces. The attached document outlines some of WorkSafeBC’s recent activities, including:…

On behalf of UESI AB-BC Chair, Darlene Cox: RE: UESI Alberta-British Columbia Chapter Spring 2020 Open Meeting Dear Members and Friends of the Utility Engineering and Survey Institute AB-BC Chapter, On behalf of the Chair of the Utility Engineering & Survey Institute (UESI) AB-BC Chapter…

Technical Safety BC has released its State of Safety and Annual Report for 2019. These reports document their work over the past year through stories and data on hazards, incidents, and safety management of technical systems in British Columbia. Here are some of the highlights from 2019 detailed in…

WorkSafeBC is waiving premiums for employers who are approved to receive the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) for furloughed workers (employees on leave with full or partial pay). WorkSafeBC recognizes the challenges employers are facing during this extraordinary time, and in light of the impacts…