Several years ago, I connected with Sylvie Poitras through a mutual friend. Sylvie is a distinguished illustrator and artist on canvas from Chicoutimi, Quebec who has also carved a unique niche in the world of sports art through her exceptional airbrush designs on goalie masks. As the founder and creative force behind Airbrush Zap, Sylvie has transformed protective sports equipment into captivating canvases that narrate personal stories and embody team spirits.​

I recently had someone reach out to me with a concern that a municipality wasn’t adhering to a Best Practice identified in the Canadian Common Ground Alliance’s Best Practices guide. While I certainly believe in promoting Best Practices to reduce risks, they are only a suggested work method.

April Dig Safe Month is an opportunity to spread awareness about Click Before You Dig and safe digging practices as construction and renovation projects kick off for the year. We encourage all our partners to join the campaign to keep Albertans safe. Support Dig Safe Month by ordering promotional items from our online store and distributing them within your community. Like and share safety reminders posted on X, Instagram, and Facebook. Share videos, graphics, and informational resources with your colleagues and customers. Check out our podcast.

We’re most of the way through the Spring Gauntlet of Document Review & Revision > Hiring > Training, and our outstanding group of trainees is blowing us away with their optimism and verve! There is an end in sight, but despite how tantalizingly close it may feel, we’re not quite finished here yet.

Securing a locate of buried utilities before initiating excavation projects in Alberta not only ensures your safety but can also lead to substantial cost savings. The process of securing utility locates is free when coordinated through Utility Safety Partners' "Click Before You Dig." In contrast, the repercussions of damaging underground utilities can be financially severe and pose significant safety risks (see “The Cost of Doing Nothing”).

In Canada, the societal cost of damages to underground infrastructure has been estimated to exceed $1 billion annually. Considering the province's extensive infrastructure and active industries, it’s estimated that damages in Alberta accounts for at least a quarter of this figure. The most frustrating metric? The root cause of over 40% of all damages to buried utilities in Canada is no locate request.

The damage prevention industry’s enthusiasm is, without question, extremely high. But – and I know I’m going to get bad press from this – I think it’s also one of its greatest downfalls and leads to the "enthusiasm paradox" – a situation where excessive enthusiasm leads to unintended negative consequences.

As winter's icy grip begins to loosen and the days grow longer, the arrival of the spring equinox marks a significant turning point in Alberta. Occurring around March 20th or 21st each year, the equinox is the moment when day and night are nearly equal in length. It signals the transition from winter to spring, bringing with it rising temperatures, melting snow, and the long-awaited return of digging season across the province.