Over the past two years, USP operations has taken on new challenges unifying resources with the former Alberta Common Ground Alliance and the Where’s the LINE campaign, introducing two new At Large Board members to the Board of Directors, securing ISO Certification and developing and rolling out a new revenue structure to name a few. And, during all of that, USP’s Contact Centre experienced some of the highest number of locate requests in recent memory – and it was all managed remotely. To the public, our members and the frequent users of our system, it was business as usual and we never missed a beat. That wasn’t just a happy coincidence, though. The shift to remote operations has been in the works for a very long time.

With their owners home more than ever, we needed to do a deep dive to ask the important questions - Do they enjoy their owners’ being home more? Does this result in more treats? More belly scratches? We went directly to the source to ask those pet companions how this has directly affected their day-to-day life.

At USP we ensure to be open and transparent with the TSC, while ensuring that we are not influencing the committee with any type of bias. The committee’s goals, objectives, and decisions are discussed and agreed upon between the members of the TSC. The decisions are then put through an approval process to ensure that a single stakeholder is not making decisions for the entire TSC.

My personal decision as to how I move forward aside, I am a senior manager of this company. My responsibility to the people who work for me must come before my personal feelings or opinions. Two years ago, it was easy to make decisions about keeping our staff safe. There was little pushback to what were seemingly obvious and nationally accepted choices. We will all work from home. We will meet virtually. We will cease all travel and in-person industry events. Now, that beacon of hope is streaming through, and people are anxious to resume normal operations. My job is still to stay informed and to follow government and health services guidelines – regardless of what anyone thinks is ‘right’.

The Education and Public Awareness Committee, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Common Ground Alliance, is supporting Astec Safety in hosting a Contractor Dig Safe Breakfast in Lloydminster this Spring. The Saskatchewan Contractor Dig Safe Breakfast program includes 21 industry sponsors that support our goal of preventing unnecessary damages and injuries due to unsafe digging practices.

In a corn drowning, pressure from the kernels on the rib muscles and diaphragm can become so intense they prevent any breath at all. Instead of drawing in air and releasing it by expanding the chest, everything gets compressed, with no more ability to inhale. The air already inside the lungs gets trapped, unable to get out. This is called compressional or traumatic asphyxia. The second deadly part of a corn drowning comes from suffocation. There’s an overwhelming urge to exhale but it’s impossible.

USP values safety above all else – this of course includes the well-being of our community. In the past we have always prioritized being charitable during the holiday season, however this year we are taking on a new challenge with a commitment to ongoing community engagement. Beginning in 2022, USP will be providing all of our employees with paid time off to volunteer in our community. We are hoping that this will inspire everyone within our organization to give back to the world they live in.

The next couple weeks are of course extremely crucial, while I put the final touches on our 2022 Training Program, which seeks to integrate and incorporate this (assumedly!) rag tag band of ne’er-do-wells, and teach them the basics of team cohesion, co-operation, and loyalty! Or maybe that was the plot to The Mighty Ducks (does that make me Emilio Estevez?) In either case, the time is quickly approaching where I’ll once again find myself deeply entrenched in the throes of another Agent training.