Dear Stakeholders,
Ontario One Call has several important updates to share. Here’s what’s covered in this newsletter:
- New Regulation: Continuation to Dig After Expiry of Validity Period, effective November 1
- System Enhancements: Locate request processing improvements, beginning September 11
- Events on October 1: Annual Meeting (registration closes September 29) and Industry Safety Awards Dinner (tickets close September 24)
Continuation to Dig After Expiry of Validity Period Regulation Takes Effect November 1
A new regulation under the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012 will come into effect on November 1, 2026, creating a new pathway for eligible excavation projects that need to continue beyond the locate validity period.
Where all regulatory requirements are met, excavators may be able to continue digging without requesting a relocate, for up to a total of 180 days from the date the last locate document was provided. The pathway is optional and includes specific eligibility, timing, documentation and self-attestation requirements.
Join Our Continuation to Dig Webinar Series
Ontario One Call is hosting two webinars to help stakeholders prepare for the new regulation.
Webinar 1: Understanding Continuing to Dig
This session will provide an overview of the regulation, including eligibility criteria, self-attestation requirements, excavator responsibilities, timing requirements and examples of when the pathway may or may not apply.
📅 Date: September 16, 2026 | 🕐 Time: 11:00am – 11:45am EDT
Webinar 2: Continuing to Dig in Practice
This session will include a brief recap of the regulatory requirements, followed by a demonstration of how Continuing to Dig will work in the web portal and additional scenarios and examples.
📅 Date: October 22, 2026 | 🕐 Time: 11:00am – 11:45am EDT
Locate Request Processing Improvements Coming September 11
Ontario One Call is introducing system enhancements designed to make locate request processing more efficient and reduce request suspensions.
The system update is scheduled for September 10, 2026, with users beginning to see the improvements in request handling on September 11, 2026. The way you submit a locate request will not change.
The improvements are expected to result in:
- Fewer Requests requiring clarification
- Less time spent resolving suspended Requests
- Fewer delays caused by Request suspensions
- More efficient Request processing
Ontario One Call is also improving how access roads and ramps are identified within the mapping system. Over the coming months, generic “RAMP” names will begin transitioning to more specific access road names to improve clarity and request processing.
No action is required. You can continue submitting locate requests through the Ontario One Call web portal as you do today. More information will be shared over the coming weeks.
October 1: Annual Meeting, Awards & Rebrand
October 1 will be an important day for Ontario One Call and Ontario’s damage prevention community.
2026 Annual Meeting
Ontario One Call’s 2026 Annual Meeting will take place on October 1 at 3:30 p.m. EDT at the Old Mill Hotel in Toronto, with both in-person and virtual attendance available.
The meeting is open to OOC Members and non-members, including members of the public, but advance registration is required for all attendees. Non-member attendees may attend the meeting but are not entitled to vote.
Members will be asked to vote on:
- The election of Directors, excluding those appointed by the Minister
- The appointment of incumbent auditor KPMG LLP
Registration for the Annual Meeting closes Tuesday, September 29 at 3:00 p.m. EDT. Attendance at the Annual Meeting is free for both Members and non-members.
Unable to Vote at the Meeting? Submit a Proxy
Members who are not planning to vote at the meeting may appoint a proxyholder to vote on their behalf.
A proxyholder must be a senior employee of the Member organization, or Members may appoint the Chair of the Board of Ontario One Call as their proxyholder.
Proxy forms must be submitted at least 48 hours before the start of the Annual Meeting, by September 29, 2026.
Please note that only one representative per Member organization may vote, either by proxy or at the meeting.
Continue the Evening at the Industry Safety Awards
If you are attending the Annual Meeting in person, we hope you will stay and join us for Ontario One Call’s second annual Industry Safety Awards Dinner that same evening.
The Awards Dinner will recognize the individuals, teams and organizations making a meaningful contribution to damage prevention across Ontario.
October 1 will also mark an important milestone for our organization. The Annual Meeting will be our final event as Ontario One Call, and that evening we will officially unveil and launch our new organizational name and brand identity.
Please note that the Industry Safety Awards is a separate ticketed event. Tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be available for purchase at the event.
Awards Dinner registration closes Thursday, September 24 at 3:00 p.m. EDT.
We hope you will join us as we recognize the achievements of Ontario’s damage prevention community and mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
