The British Columbia Common Ground Alliance (BCCGA) Board of Directors are pleased to announce the appointment of Anita Huberman as their new Executive Director, ushering in a bold, industry-focused mandate to protect BC’s underground infrastructure and strengthen the province’s economic future. She begins her new position on May 1.

A recognized leader in economic development, public policy, and industry leadership, Huberman brings decades of experience working with government, business, and community stakeholders. Her appointment comes at a critical time as BC accelerates infrastructure development and strengthens its position as a competitive, opportunity-driven economy.

At a time when major projects are accelerating across energy, housing, and resource sectors, the role of the BCCGA has never been more critical. From natural gas and LNG operations to mining, construction, utilities, and telecommunications, damage to underground assets can halt projects, disrupt cities/towns, and cost millions.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are thrilled to officially welcome Anita Huberman as our new Executive Director,” said Tony Millikin, Board Chair, BCCGA. “Anita is a proven champion for BC’s economy and safety. The Board of BCCGA is excited to be working with Anita and her laser focus on moving the needle to protect workers, communities, and infrastructure throughout this great province of BC and beyond. Her leadership arrives at a pivotal time as we expand our collaborative efforts to ensure that every British Columbian can live and work safely around our vital underground networks.”

“BC needs to be an opportunity economy by protecting its underground assets,” said Anita Huberman, incoming Executive Director, BC Common Ground Alliance. “Every road, community, and major project depends on what lies beneath. Safe digging isn’t optional; it’s economic policy. If we want to build Canada and grow BC, we must prioritize underground safety as a foundational element of urban and rural planning. Every impact to a gas line, fibre network, or electrical system puts workers at risk, delays projects, and undermines investor confidence.”

The BCCGA works across a broad spectrum of industries that form the backbone of BC’s economy which depend on the integrity of underground systems. These include:

• Natural gas and LNG
• Mining and resource development
• Pipelines
• Residential and commercial construction (builders and developers)
• Electrical and utility infrastructure
• Telecommunications and fibre networks
• Municipal governments and public works
• Transportation and infrastructure development
  
  

Huberman will focus on scaling synergies between indigenous representatives, industry, government, and regulators to embed safe excavation practices into every phase of planning and development, in all of BC. Under her leadership, the BCCGA will intensify its advocacy, membership value, education, and enforcement alignment efforts to reduce infrastructure incidents and position underground safety as a core pillar of economic development policy.

About the BC Common Ground Alliance (BCCGA)

The British Columbia Common Ground Alliance is a non-profit, member-driven organization that is a part of a broader Canadian alliance dedicated to protecting underground infrastructure as a foundational component of economic growth and city-building. The BCCGA is focused on protecting underground infrastructure as a critical component of the Build BC and Build Canada economic agendas. The membership value proposition and the work of the BCCGA is committed to underground safety to deliver above-ground impact: faster project delivery, safer communities, and a stronger, more resilient economy. Dig smart. Build strong. Grow BC.

BCCGA brings together industry, government, and stakeholders to advance damage prevention practices, promote safe excavation, and safeguard the essential systems that power British Columbia’s economy. These underground assets such as natural gas and LNG, mining, construction, utilities, and telecommunications, are critical to delivering major projects across energy, housing, and resource sectors.

As project activity accelerates across the province, the importance of protecting underground infrastructure has never been greater. Damage to these systems can halt construction, disrupt communities, create safety risks, and result in significant economic losses. A resilient and opportunity-driven economy in British Columbia depends on the integrity and reliability of these assets.

BCCGA is open to membership from individuals, businesses and organizations committed to safety in ground disturbance and underground infrastructure across BC.

April 1, 2026 BCCGA and BC 1 Call met with Provincial MLA’s for the Proclamation of April Safe digging Month outside the BC Legislature

Pictured – MJ Whitemarsh BCCGA Education Committee, Ton Millikin BCCGA Board Chari, Adrian Dix Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, Donna Grant President BC 1 Call and Sonia Hartwelll Vice Cair BCCGA.

We invite you to explore our 2025 Annual Report, which showcases the activities, achievements, and momentum we’ve built together over the past year.

The BCCGA leadership team extends heartfelt thanks to our Board Members, member organizations, WorkSafeBC, industry partners, and all stakeholders and individual members whose dedication and collaboration have been central to our success in 2025. 

Your active participation, insights, and partnership have been the driving force behind our organizational evolution. Together, we’re building a stronger, more impactful BCCGA that will serve British Columbia’s damage prevention community with excellence for years to come.

We’re energized about the opportunities ahead in 2026 and look forward to continuing this important work alongside you.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to damage prevention as our shared responsibility.

Wishing you and yours a safe, joyful, and restorative holiday season!

Registration details are provided below, and we encourage everyone to participate.

The Canada Energy Regulator is holding a virtual workshop on damage prevention matters of interest on December 16, 2025 from 9:00 – 11:30 Mountain time.  

This workshop is being held virtually to best enable attendance; it is important that operations personnel responsible for Damage Prevention have the opportunity to attend as they are the personnel most likely to be working with the regulations, data and other information to improve safety outcomes.  Feel free to forward the invitation on to others in your organization or in the Damage Prevention community.

Microphones and chat will be open to enable discussion, please be prepared to participate.

The topics that we are planning to talk about at the upcoming workshop will include:

• Operation Beyond Design Limits (OBDL) and Damage Prevention
• Damage Prevention Safety Advisory SA 2025-02 – Safety and Damage Prevention Practices related to Large Scale Projects Near Pipelines
• DPR Contravention Data Overview
• Introduction to the new Virtual DPR Workshop web page.

If you have a subject that you’d like to present or discuss at this workshop or a future workshop, please contact Shannon Neufeld atShannon.Neufeld@cer-rec.gc.ca. The deadline for adding a session to this workshop is December 6^th.

We look forward to seeing you!

CER Damage Prevention Team

Follow B.C. Common Ground Alliance on LinkedIn and help protect what’s below – click here and then FOLLOW us, LIKE and REPOST our messages.

If you are posting about –

• Public Safety and Awareness
• Worker and Contractor Safety
• Critical Infrastructure Protection
• Regulatory and Compliance Awareness
• Member and Community Engagement

TAG us and we will help share your safety messages too!

#BCCGA #DamagePrevention #SafeDigging #UndergroundSafety #WorkerSafety

If you missed the meeting, we recorded the presentation and you can view it here.

The emerging technology is exciting and we hope to continue this conversation in the future.

Based on damage reports submitted by stakeholders from across the country, the 2024 DIRT Report offers national insights into root causes, high-risk behaviours, reporting trends, and opportunities for improvement. This year’s analysis continues to highlight the importance of collaboration among contractors, locators, infrastructure owners, and Regional Common Ground Alliances in reducing damages and strengthening Canada’s damage prevention culture.

Important Note: Socio-Economic Cost Estimate Under Review

The Board wishes to advise readers that the Socio-Economic Cost Estimate section, which has historically provided a national estimate of the broader economic impacts of underground infrastructure damages, is temporarily withheld from this edition.

The CCGA’s updated socio-economic costing model, currently undergoing quality review and validation with our consultant, has presented results that require further analysis to ensure clarity, consistency, and confidence for all stakeholders.

Once the model review is completed and formally accepted by the CCGA Board of Directors, the updated Socio-Economic Cost Estimate section will be added to the 2024 DIRT Report and re-released.

Commitment to Transparency and Continuous Improvement

The CCGA remains committed to providing accurate, credible, and actionable national damage data. We appreciate the ongoing collaboration of our partners and stakeholders as we continue to strengthen the quality and value of Canada’s damage prevention information. Stakeholders will be notified as soon as the updated section is available.

Click to access the DIRT reports on the CCGA Publications webpage

Agrology Landowner Event in Abbotsford – FREE

• Join us for an informative and relaxed gathering featuring appetizers and meaningful conversation. Together, we’ll explore how to work safely around pipelines and underground utilities located on or near your property.
• 3:30 pm to 6 pm at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Centre in Abbotsford
• Register here:  https://icba.simplesignup.ca/16124

Thursday, November 20^th, 2025

Ground Disturbance Breakfast – FREE

• Join us for breakfast and presentations by our member sponsors Trans Mountain, Fortis BC, Enbridge and ICBA focused on safe digging practices to ensure the safety of your crews and the protection of underground utilities.
• 7 am to 9 am at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Centre in Abbotsford
• Register here:          https://icba.simplesignup.ca/16125

Ground Disturbance 201 – $195

• Come for breakfast (or don’t!) and stay for the day of Ground Disturbance 201 Training and a certificate that’s good for 3 years.
• 9 am to 5:30 pm at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Centre in Abbotsford with lunch provided
• Register at www.globaltrainingcentre.com

Member’s Meeting and Special GeoHub Presentation:  The Future of Underground Infrastructure Mapping

• Join our Member Meeting and get updates on BCCGA’s activities and hear from the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship’s Emergency Management Division about their GeoHub.
• 10 am to 11:30 am in person at 203 – 2101 Holdom Avenue in Burnaby or on Zoom at  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6048050214.  The GeoHub presentation is scheduled from 10:30 to 11:15 am.
• Our Member Meeting is FREE and no registration is required.

Excavation incident summaries are based on information obtained as soon as possible after the incidents: they are preliminary and subject to change. Details have been edited to protect workers’ privacy.

See additional summaries online.