From the Editor: Growing the Trenchless Industry One Program at a Time

Greetings fellow trenchless professionals. You have, in your hands, or on your computer/tablet screens, the final issue of Trenchless Technology Canada for 2017. No need to fret, we have the December issue of Trenchless Technology yet to come and that will feature our annual list of the Top 50 Trenchless Engineering Firms, a must-read for those looking to put some numbers to the growth of our industry.

 

The growth of the industry was on display in September at the Trenchless Technology Road Show in British Columbia. The show, the second such event co-produced by CATT, NASTT-BC and Benjamin Media Inc., grew in attendees and exhibitors from the inaugural 2015 event.

RELATED: Trenchless on Display: Second West Coast Trenchless Technology Road Show Grows

Like other attendees, I was there to network and learn about new and exciting technologies and projects being done using trenchless technologies in Canada. Look for some of those stories and news items in our 2018 issues of Trenchless Technology Canada.

As I walked the halls at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel and the Richmond Convention Centre, the discussions I had with attendees and exhibitors alike were about the growth of the industry. One of the things that stuck with me came during Dr. Mark Knight’s state-of-the-industry address, and that’s the fact that in order for the industry to grow, utility owners need to start thinking in terms of long-term programs rather than one-off projects. The theory is simple, a contractor will gear up (new equipment, supplies, workers, etc.) if they know they will have several years of work ahead of them.

One of the first steps to creating a comprehensive program is asset management. Many in Canada are aware of the City of Hamilton and its role as an early-adopter of asset management. In our Summer 2017 issue, we highlighted Hamilton’s long-term trenchless rehab program as a result of its asset management efforts. Catch up by reading this story: trenchlesstechnology.com/hamilton-understands-impact-trenchless-rehab.

As we were approaching deadline, the news came across my desk – courtesy of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) – that FCM and the Government of Canada announced funding for 103 initiatives in communities across Canada through two new funding programs: the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program (MCIP) and the Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP). MAMP is a five-year, $50 million program designed to help Canadian municipalities strengthen infrastructure investment decisions based on sound asset management practices. The announcement includes more than $3.1 million in MAMP grants toward 75 projects in municipalities across Canada.

Visit fcm.ca and click on the Municipal Asset Management Program tab under programs for more information.

Sharing Your Story

One of the highlights of working on Trenchless Technology Canada is talking to the people working in the trenchless industry across Canada, hearing their stories, how they have grown their companies, how they embrace innovation and their concerns about the industry. 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 to better suit your needs.

Don’t forget to register for the 2018 Trenchless Technology Road Show, May 15-17, 2018, at catttrenchlessroadshow.ca.

Let me close by wishing all of our readers a joyous holiday season and a Happy New Year.

Cheers, and see you in 2018!

Mike Kezdi, Associate Editor

Trenchless Technology Canada

mkezdi@benjaminmedia.com

On Twitter: @MichaelKezdi