ORCGA — April Dig Safe Month Overview

ORCGA Dig Safe Flag Raisings – April 2018

2018 saw a variety of events occur across the province in April and early May. Flag raisings and proclamations occurred at City of Sudbury, City of Oshawa, Town of Collingwood, City of Barrie with MP Nutall, the Mayor of Milton at Landscape Ontario, City of St. Catherines, St. Clair Township as well as two regions, the Region of Niagara and Region of Northumberland.

In addition, ORCGA provided greater support to TSSA’s Tim Horton’s Dig Safe Event expansion, repeated “On the Go” advertising and has attended the Sarnia Emergency Preparedness Day, City of Pickering Soil and Dig Safe Swag Giveaway and City of Cambridge Public Works Day in May.

“Dig Safe: Construction Safety in the GTA” – April 13, 2018

The City of Toronto welcomed the ORCGA into Council Chamber to present “Dig Safe: Construction Safety in the GTA.”

225 delegates attended from City of Toronto Water, Transportation, Engineering, Legal, Purchasing and HR, the Toronto Transit Commission and Metrolinx, as well as municipal employees from York, Peel and Durham regions, and key industry associations, such as Consulting Engineers of Ontario, Ontario General Contractors Association, Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario, Ryerson Institute for Infrastructure Innovation, etc.

Speakers included Michael D'Andrea, Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering & Construction Services, Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong, Matthew Pegg, Fire Chief & General Manager, Toronto Fire Services, as well as representatives from ORCGA’s membership who presented the Bloor St. West event and perspectives on municipal legal liabilities. In addition, multiple panelists from ORCGA stakeholder groups such as Gas/Oil, Telecommunications, Electrical Distribution/ Electrical Transmission, Municipal Infrastructure and Safety Organizations spoke to their respective damage prevention issues.

The latest issue of Ear to the Ground, with its relevant focus on “Municipal Underground Infrastructure”, and the 2017 DIRT Report were given to all attending delegates. In Doug’s closing remarks, he referenced the above publications, the CCGA Best Practices, and made a call to action to all attending delegates.

Both television and an influential construction magazine covered the event.