No-Dig North Preview – Canadian Show Goes International

2025 Brings ISTT’s Flagship Event to Vancouver

When it comes to trenchless events in Canada, it doesn’t get much bigger than No-Dig North. This year’s iteration of the event gets an added boost. It is the home to the ISTT International No-Dig Show.

Organized by the North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) and its three Canadian chapters, No-Dig North is set for Oct. 27-29 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

“No-Dig North provides a platform for Canadian professionals to share region-specific case studies. They collaborate on best practices and access training relevant to local regulations and conditions,” says Robert Epp, of infraStruct Municipal Services and chair of NASTT’s British Columbia Chapter. “It strengthens the Canadian trenchless community while fostering North American and global partnerships. This event drives innovation and sustainable infrastructure solutions.”

Epp, along with Craig Vandaelle, of Michels, serve as 2025 No-Dig North Planning Committee Chairs.

“With the growth of the trenchless industry its important role for NASTT to provide quality educational opportunities to the three regions it represents,” says Vandaelle. “No Dig North has been a tremendous success and continues to be the pinnacle trenchless educational event in Canada. It has helped promote the industry’s growth all across the country.”

Welcome to Vancouver

The venue for this global trenchless is the Vancouver Convention Centre. The year 2025 marks the second No-Dig North to visit the convention centre. It’s a favorite venue thanks in part to its stunning views of the North Shore Mountains and Vancouver Harbour.

“This year promises to be the largest ever as we further expand the reach. This is by hosting the ISTT International No-Dig. It will bring many delegates and exhibitors from around the world, further enhancing Canada’s role in the global trenchless technology market,” says Matthew Izzard, executive director of NASTT. “We have one of our largest exhibitor floors to date. This year we are adding an additional track to the technical paper sessions based on the record number of abstract applications received.”

The trenchless discussions begin Oct. 27 with a day of Canadian chapter meetings and a slate of NASTT Good Practices courses. The day closes with a two-hour networking reception with exhibitors in the exhibit hall.

The official kick-off of No-Dig North is Oct. 28 with the breakfast and keynote address. It is followed by a day of technical sessions and networking in the expanded exhibit hall. As mentioned earlier, this year organizers compiled five tracks covering a variety of topics. These include inspection, condition assessment, rehabilitation and new installation, and industry-related trends, issues, and concerns. Oct. 29 is filled with technical sessions and networking opportunities in the global exhibit hall.

No-Dig North Networking Events

NASTT’s No-Dig Shows are known for their stellar networking events. No-Dig North is no different. Organizers have scheduled several opportunities to network with peers.

Oct. 27 – Exhibit Hall Opening & Networking Reception

Open to all attendees, this event celebrates the start of the NASTT 2025 No-Dig North & ISTT International No-Dig.

Oct. 28 – Opening Breakfast & Keynote Address

Full Conference attendees are invited to the opening breakfast. They can visit with colleagues and learn all that is in store for the week.

Oct. 28 – Exhibit Hall Social Hours (Cash Bars)

Join colleagues in the exhibit hall to continue those conversations and switch gears before the Gala Awards Dinner.

Oct. 28 – Gala Awards Dinner (Ticketed Event)

This formal celebration is an ISTT tradition featuring a complimentary cocktail reception, plated dinner, international awards ceremony, and continued connection with your global trenchless community. Come dressed to impress– black tie encouraged. Cost is $100 after Oct. 1. Purchase your ticket(s) when you register to attend the conference.

“ISTT’s support of No-Dig North will be reflected with the greater breadth of exhibitors seeking international market opportunities, including a German Pavilion. There will be an increased technical paper program providing delegates with more education on global projects. The expanded networking program includes the prestigious Gala Awards Dinner. It will host the ISTT Awards and present the NASTT No-Dig North Project of the Year Awards in front of a global audience,” says Izzard.

Register Today

To register for No-Dig North, head to nastt.org/no-dig-north/registration-north/. You can save on your registration by becoming a member of NASTT, ISTT or its affiliated societies.

“At NASTT-BC, we’re incredibly excited about No-Dig North 2025 as the landmark event for the global trenchless community. The partnership with ISTT and the vibrant setting of Vancouver will make this an unforgettable experience from Sea to Sky,” says Epp. “We encourage everyone to join us to explore new technologies, forge connections, and contribute to advancing education and good practices for sustainable infrastructure.”

Mike Kezdi is managing editor of Trenchless Technology Canada.

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No-Dig North Exhibitor Previews

Inspection • Assessment • Implementation

Andrews.engineer (A.E) is a consulting civil engineering company specializing in Sewer Asset Management. We are the first and foremost sewer experts. Founded in 1993, the firm has worked with clients throughout Canada and around the world. A.E’s expertise in sewer asset management includes the collection and establishment of sewer inventory data, the management of large-scale sewer and maintenance hole condition assessment programs, and the management and design of sewer rehabilitation works.

See us in Booth #618.

LiquiForce Services, a PURIS Company

Since 1987, LiquiForce Services, a PURIS Company, has been maintaining and repairing pipelines for municipal, industrial and governmental clients. LiquiForce champions Single Source Accountability providing our customers with all services and associated materials, equipment, and labor to execute single or multiple projects of varying scope and size. Our vertical integration and ability to tightly control production and inventory of the liners are significant: increased schedule and cost efficiencies; better quality assuredness and control; greater synergy between design, manufacturing and installation; streamlined resolutions process; and quicker responsiveness.

See us in Booth #207.

Michels

The future of Canada’s energy and infrastructure needs require a contractor with integrated trenchless solutions to design, build, rehabilitate, and modernize infrastructure.

Established in 1997, Michels Canada is a full-service energy and infrastructure contractor providing tailored, culturally appropriate and environmentally sound solutions. Michels Canada is headquartered in Nisku, AB, with regional offices and yards in Vancouver, BC and Toronto, ON to partner with customers and the delivery of project aligned with national and provincial goals.

A global leader in trenchless construction, Michels’ mastery of sophisticated trenchless techniques like horizontal directional drilling (HDD), Direct Pipe®, microtunneling, and tunneling allow crews to build and rehabilitate pipelines and passageways under wetlands and cities, through mountains, and in other situations where traditional open-trench construction would not be practical or feasible. Specialized techniques like HDD, Direct Pipe®, and microtunneling, are also safe, environmentally sound ways to install water intake, outfall and shore approach pipelines.

Michels Canada’s experience working in Canada’s vast geography includes successful projects completed in cities, prairies, mountain ranges, wetlands, remote regions, extreme weather conditions, and challenging regulatory environments. Michels Canada supports projects in all locations with dedicated crews and specialized equipment, including sensitive ecosystems and habitats.

Through the combined strength of the Michels Family of Companies, Michels delivers complex energy and infrastructure construction solutions across North America, Europe and Australia with a strong focus on safety, sustainability, and innovation.

See us in Booth #500.

Primus Line® Rehab

Safe. Reliable. Sustainable. – Primus Line Flexible Pipe for trenchless rehabilitation.

Primus Line® Rehab is an innovative technology for the trenchless rehabilitation of pressure pipelines for different media such as water, gas and oil as well as different host pipe types such as asbestos cement.

The ideal flow characteristics resulting from an extremely smooth inner coating and optimized systems for high-, medium- and low-pressure requirements make Primus Line® Rehab an economical solution for the rehabilitation of ageing pipelines. In this way, network operators benefit from reliable operation and a sustainable investment in their assets.

With installation lengths of up to 2,500 meters/8,200 feet, a bendability of up to 90 degrees, a low machine requirements and installation speeds of up to 10 meters/33 feet per minute, Primus Line® Rehab makes the rehabilitation of ageing pipes simple and fast. This makes the system particularly suitable for environments with high geographical, economic, architectural or ecological requirements.

See us in Booth #GSP7 (German Pavilion).

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