September 8, 2008

Associations

Ground Alliance seeks efficiency with move to regional councils in Ontario

VINCE VERSACE

staff writer

Spreading the message that underground damage prevention is a shared responsibility is the Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance’s (ORCGA) goal with its rollout of geographic councils.

“The absolutely unique thing about our organization is that when we come together, you have up to 18 different stakeholders there,” explains Jim Douglas, executive director of ORCGA. “You have people working together, and sometimes they may have differences, but they work together and that is the difference with us.”

The ORCGA has established six geographic councils to provide a better opportunity for current and future alliance members to get involved in the organization. The ORCGA currently has over 250 members and approximately 100 volunteers. The council areas (and their headquarter cities) are Niagara (Hamilton), North West (Thunder Bay), South (Chatham), North East (Sudbury), East (Ottawa) and West (Waterloo).

“The fact is, the province is so big and having members come in from Thunder Bay, Chatham and Ottawa to the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) for meetings is difficult,” says Douglas. “With the councils, members can now drive one hour in to their regional council rather than come down to the GTA.”

ORCGA stakeholder groups are wide-ranging and its issues include anyone that could be involved before breaking ground on a project and digging. Engineering and land surveyors, telecommunication representatives, safety organizations, equipment manufacturers and suppliers, utilities, municipalities/public works and road builders are among the 18 stakeholder groups the ORCGA includes.

“The initial perception about us was that we were just for excavators,” adds Douglas. “Now people understand that a group like design engineers or equipment suppliers all have a responsibility in damage prevention.”

The geographic councils will help increase ORCGA memberships via local contacts and assist with damage prevention stakeholder summits as well. Though there are selected cities to serve as council headquarters, meetings within that geographic region can move around, adds Douglas.

“In five short years we have built a solid foundation and these councils will help position us for the future,” adds Douglas. “The councils will allow people to get involved with the ORCGA and every aspect of it.”

For more information about the geographic councils and how to join visit www.orcga.com, email orcga@cogeco.ca or call 1-888-446-4493.

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