2024 was another busy year for USP – and you can read all about it in our 2024 Report—but if you’re looking for the Coles Notes version, voilà!

While processing locate requests, the core function of the corporation, followed the anticipated peaks and valleys of the digging season, welcoming Rogers Communications Inc. and launching the long-anticipated Alternate Locater Provider Program (ALP) were, without question, the high-water marks on the year.

For years now, private property owners have called their local notification centres to ask why the locator did not mark all the lines on their property. Notification centres have struggled to explain the responsibility of the asset owner and the responsibility of the property owner.

The water may be muddy, but there are some general guidelines for understanding what will be typically marked by locators responding on behalf of USP members.

It wasn’t long ago that the “safety guy” was someone appointed to read up on safety information to be the on-site caretaker and play second (or third or fourth) fiddle to the site foreman. Today, safety is paramount on every jobsite, and you won’t even get a first glance if you don’t have a Certified Registered Safety Professional designation, which is a combination of education, professional development, and experience. The same can be said for environmental stewardship. Decades ago, we ploughed through the earth to make way for development without much thought given to flora and fauna. Thankfully, that’s just not the case anymore. Environmental science and stewardship is a respected discipline and affects all phases of every project.

Todd brings 30 years of diverse field and leadership experience across the public utility, natural gas distribution, and environmental/geotechnical consulting sectors to his new role as executive director of the Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA). Based in Riverview, New Brunswick, Todd's career is founded with strong operational roots and marked by his dedication to operational safety, process improvement, and risk management having led numerous high-impact initiatives focused on enhancing safety programs, regulatory compliance, and environmental protection.

A few weeks ago, Ontario One Call (ON1Call) announced it will phase out Call Before You Dig locate requests before commencement of the 2025 digging season. Their decision may seem cavalier, but it isn’t. Data is projecting that the day is coming when notification centres will transition all locate requests to the web. All it took was one notification centre in North America to do it first.

ON1Call’s announcement is smart, justified and will reduce damages even further in that province—which is precisely the end goal.

The Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA) is initiating a new report on the Societal Cost of Damaging Buried Utilities. The report refers to the broader economic, environmental, and social impacts that occur when underground infrastructure—including gas lines, water pipes, electric cables, and fiber optics—is accidentally damaged during excavation or construction. These costs go beyond the immediate repair expenses and affect businesses, communities, and public services.

Did I say last month that I was excited? Elated? Ecstatic about implementing our new CRM?

That guy was way too “up.” I am now very tired. Totalled. Tenacious taxing tasks have taken my energy, and I find myself turfed. It’s been a bit of a month.

That is to say, while I’ve been tirelessly working to get the Contact Centre ready for 2025, the fruits of my labour have nearly blossomed and I eagerly anticipate a smooth rollout of our aforementioned new CRM, and the hiring process is nearly complete as well!

Over the last two weeks of February, USP Farmer Safety Breakfasts were held in Vermilion on February 19, Camrose on February 20, Rimbey on February 25, and Lethbridge on February 26, offering local farmers important safety information on a variety of topics. The events were marked by very interactive Q&A sessions, where attendees engaged directly with the speakers and experts to dive deeper into the world of working safely around utilities that serve Albertans every day.