Editor’s Message: Innovation and Underground Infrastructure
One of the most exciting things to happen to the underground infrastructure industry in Canada was breaking as we closed out our Spring 2022 issue.
Just before we closed that issue, I received word that the Centre for Advancement of Trenchless Technologies (CATT) membership was set to vote on shuttering the long-standing trenchless institution headquartered at the University of Waterloo. While, shocking to hear, after talking to Mark Knight, CATT executive director, I learned two things. First, he wasn’t going anywhere, and that trenchless research would continue at the University of Waterloo. Second, there was something bigger and better on the horizon in terms of underground infrastructure education and innovation in Canada.
CUIIC is a new community of underground infrastructure professionals headquartered at the University of Alberta and under the direction of Alireza “Ali” Bayat, Ph.D., P.Eng., professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alberta and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Associate Industrial Research Chair in Underground Trenchless Construction.
Many know Ali from his work with the Consortium for Engineered Trenchless Technologies (CETT) at the University of Alberta. That organization also disbanded, making CUIIC the leading research and education centre focused on underground infrastructure in Canada.
I encourage you to read the story in this issue and when you are done, visit cuiic.ca to get involved.
See You Soon
I’ve said it before, while video meetings have a place in this world, the opportunity to meet and chat face-to-face is by far the best way to network and learn this industry. I am grateful that conferences are back, and I look forward to the opportunity to see you in-person. Looking ahead, I plan to be on the road for two shows in the second half of the year.
Looking to the end of July, I am actively involved in the marketing for the UESI Pipelines 2022 conference, which is set to take place at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, Indiana. The agenda features a plethora of trenchless related topics. Check that out at pipelinesconference.org/program. More information about registration is available at pipelinesconference.org/registration. The advance registration discount ends July 6.
Then in the fall, Canada’s NASTT chapters will work together to host No-Dig North, Oct. 17-19 in Toronto. This will once again provide an opportunity to educate others about the social, economic and environmental benefits of trenchless technologies. Plenty of info is available at nodignorth.ca.
Renew or Subscribe
One of the questions I am often asked when I am at a show has to do with subscriptions. How do I subscribe to Trenchless Technology Canada?
It’s simple, you can visit trenchlesstechnology.com/subscribe and fill out the form. Subscriptions are free. Our Canadian subscribers will automatically receive Trenchless Technology Canada quarterly along with monthly issues of Trenchless Technology.
Subscribers have the option to receive their magazines in print format or, taking the green approach, a digital subscription is available. If you want the best of both worlds, opt to receive both. Best of all, subscriptions are FREE to all subscribers in North America.
For those who already subscribe, it’s imperative that you renew yearly. This assures that you won’t miss a single issue and that your most up-to-date information is in our database. I know in the trenchless industry job titles or locations can change quickly.
Closing Thoughts
Whether you are a distributor, contractor, engineer or manufacturer, my door (well in this case email inbox) is always open. Feel free to reach out to me with news and story ideas or other ways in which we can improve the magazine.
Let’s connect at one of the aforementioned shows or virtually via your preferred conferencing program. I am always available to chat about this growing, and ever-changing industry.
Cheers!
Mike Kezdi, Managing Editor
E: mkezdi@benjaminmedia.com
O: 330-752-1916
