Trenchless Technology Canada – Association Updates Winter 2022
CCGA
The Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA) was excited to host its 2022 CCGA Damage Prevention Symposium, Oct. 25-27, in person at the Fairmont Chateau in Whistler, British Columbia. This event was a signature event for the CCGA, attracting more than 215 damage prevention management professionals and decision-makers from across Canada. More than 30 speakers provided practical, relevant information that focused on damage prevention public awareness initiatives and expanding stakeholder knowledge on efforts to protect essential infrastructure. The format for the conference consisted of three days of professional development, workshops, panel presentations, networking events, along with an exhibitor tradeshow. For more information on CCGA and its 2023 Damage Prevention Symposium, visit canadiancga.com.
CERIU
The Center of Expertise and Research in Urban Infrastructures (CERIU) was created on March 31, 1994 to meet the needs of municipalities and local stakeholders. Its mission is to ensure the sustainability of municipal assets, through training, technical guides, pilot projects, consultation and collaboration with various municipalities, contractors, and universities in Quebec and elsewhere. Permanent councils and committees oversee CERIU’s activities that bring experts together from various fields affecting urban infrastructure, such as trenchless technology, climate change, etc. Trenchless technologies have a special place at CERIU. Since its inception, it has worked with municipalities to integrate these techniques for the renewal of sewer pipes and watermains. Moreover, several pilot projects have been carried out including fact emerged, sheets for popularisation purposes. Since 2020, CERIU has created a permanent committee dedicated to trenchless technology. The committee brings together experts in the field to discuss the latest innovations and to develop and disseminate new projects according to the needs of municipalities and stakeholders. The objective is to continue its leadership role in this field and to serve the community through sustainable assets that cost the least to maintain during their life cycle. For more information on the trenchless technology committee, contact Celia Abbas, P.Eng., M.Eng., project manager head of Permanent Consulting on Underground and Surface Infrastructure at celia.abbas@ceriu.qc.ca. For more information about CERIU, visit ceriu.qc.ca.
CUIIC
The Canadian Underground Infrastructure Innovation Centre (CUIIC) would like to thank its current members and the industry partners and municipalities that have worked with us to prepare our first research grant application on greenhouse gas reduction for the lifecycle of underground construction. There were 23 organizations and five universities that participated as part of this grant application. To become a CUIIC Member please visit cuiic.ca. As we continue to promote education and innovation in underground infrastructure, CUIIC is excited to announce the first CUIIC Academy on Pipeline Rehabilitation taking place in Mississauga, Ontario on March 21-22, 2023. The CUIIC Academy Webinar Series held virtually each month will also launch in 2023. To learn more about the CUIIC Academy for Underground Infrastructure Education please visit academy.cuiic.ca.
NASTT-NW
The NASTT Northwest Chapter (NASTT-NW) has commenced its Technical Lunches program in Calgary and Edmonton. Watch your e-mail for updates, speakers and locations. NASTT-NW elections will be coming up early in the new year, so please consider running for a spot on the NASTT-NW board of directors. A call for nominations will be sent out in January 2023. Additionally, organizing for No-Dig North 2023 in Edmonton has commenced. The event will take place Oct. 23-25. If you would like to volunteer your time to the committees, please contact Shane Cooper at shane.cooper@aecom.com to get involved! For more information about the chapter, visit nastt-nw.com.
ORCGA
The Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance (ORCGA) will celebrate 20 years of damage prevention advocacy and education in 2023. We will be kicking off a year-long celebration with the return of our in-person ORCGA Damage Prevention Symposium, Feb. 7–9, 2023, at the Caesars Resort and Convention Centre in Windsor, Ontario. Join other damage prevention professionals from around the province for engaging breakout sessions, networking events and our tradeshow. This event is a signature event for the ORCGA, attracting more than 250 damage prevention management professionals and decision makers from across Ontario. Stakeholder groups include engineers, contractors, municipal employees, field technicians, suppliers, business development managers, project estimators, infrastructure asset managers, oil, gas, electric transmission/distribution, telecommunications professionals, emergency management personnel, surveyors and provincial regulators. Meet with colleagues to exchange industry information, focus on public awareness initiatives for damage prevention and expand stakeholder knowledge on provincial efforts to protect essential infrastructure. Register by Dec. 30, 2022, to save $150 per person on a full conference registration (regularly $850 + HST). Registration includes all meals, breakout sessions, welcome and tradeshow receptions, as well as the 20th Anniversary Celebration networking event. Interested in presenting at this year’s symposium? Abstracts are now being accepted. Deadline to submit is Dec. 1. Visit orcga.com/events for full event details.
