In February 2026, Before You Dig Partners will implement improvements to the locate request software in BC, AB, SK and MB. The software update includes two new features that will have a significant impact on the way excavators, facility owners, and locators organize and manage locate request tickets. These features are Revision Numbers and Multi Dig Site Mapping.  

In early 2023, USP introduced Industry Recognition Awards that recognize Albertans in the damage prevention industry who demonstrate USPs core values of safety, advocacy, and engagement. We want to celebrate individuals and organizations who believe that damage prevention is a shared responsibility, who engage with others to drive continuous improvement, and who raise the bar for others. 

British Columbia has achieved remarkable progress in underground utility safety, and we owe a profound debt of gratitude to the USP Training Standards Committee for their exceptional work in helping us adapt their Ground Disturbance 201 STANDARD to our province’s unique needs. 

The 2026 CCGA Damage Prevention Symposium was held November 4-6 in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was the first time the symposium has been held in Atlantic Canada, and they did a fabulous job of welcoming attendees from across Canada. 

Next year, Utility Safety Partners (USP) will be taking a close look at how the locate request process can continue to evolve in the coming years. One option under review is requiring homeowners to submit all locate requests online, shifting away from Call Before You Dig. While no decisions have been made, USP is beginning a careful evaluation of the benefits, challenges, and community impacts of such a change. 

Canada, it’s winters and I have a long and confusing relationship.

I, like most Canadians have a strong ennui towards the cold, a firm and consistent knowledge that the Winter will be cold, dark, and full of shoveling, but also full of enjoyable time outside, and the strange magic that can only be experienced in -15c while surrounded by a monochromatic blanket of snow. 

My family watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation the other night, and as I watched, I found myself becoming uncomfortable as Clark Griswold demonstrated unsafe practice after unsafe practice – somehow only resulting in minor injuries (unless you are the family cat, I suppose. RIP Kitty). From overloaded electrical plugs, through ladder mishaps and tree fires, to illegal dumping resulting in a sewer gas explosion, it’s a wonder that any of them got through the holiday alive.

The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) issued Safety Advisory SA 2025-02,  Safety and Damage Prevention Practices related to Large Scale Projects Near Pipelines on 6 October, 2025.

Damage prevention is a shared responsibility among pipeline companies, project planners, contractors, and the broader community. The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) issues safety advisories to clarify expectations and reinforce regulatory requirements, aiming to prevent incidents and protect people, property, and the environment near federally regulated pipelines. 

Across industries, safety organizations, like Utility Safety Partners, play a crucial role in protecting people, infrastructure, and communities. They contribute to legislation, regulation, Standards and best practices, champion prevention, and provide the tools that keep workers and the public safe. But in today’s fast-moving environment, even the most established organizations face a critical truth: if they don’t clearly demonstrate value to their members, their survival is at risk.