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What do two clipped fibre optic cables have in common with a $77 million disaster? More than you think.

Mike Sullivan recounts a personal travel nightmare that snowballed into a hard-hitting reflection on the staggering societal costs of utility damage.

What began as a delayed flight turned into an eye-opening experience involving 1,800 disrupted flights, 235,000 stranded passengers, and millions in lost productivity, business, and environmental damage—all traced back to a simple infrastructure mishap.

Mike breaks down the direct and indirect costs of such incidents, explores the gaps in utility protection and reporting laws, and emphasizes the critical importance of submitting locate requests.

Listen for:

1:05 How Did a Travel Delay Reveal a Bigger Safety Issue?

4:13 How Does Buried Utility Damage Impact Society at Large?

08:27 What Does $77 Million in Damage Look Like in Real Life?

17:29 Why Do Airlines Operate on Razor-Thin Profit Margins?

25:08 Can Repeat Offenders in Utility Damage Be Held Accountable?

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What if one simple change could slash utility damages to near zero?

Mike Sullivan brings together a powerhouse panel from both sides of the Canada-U.S. border to celebrate and dissect the incredible first year of the Alternate Locate Provider (ALP) program.

With only two reported damages out of over 30,000 ALP locates, this initiative is rewriting the rules of damage prevention.

Industry leaders—including Jamie Andersen, Iain Stables, Lance Norman, Wayne Jensen, and Ron Peterson share insights on how ALP is driving efficiency, improving safety, and changing the landscape of utility locating.

From enhanced collaboration to future scalability, this episode offers a blueprint for transforming infrastructure safety practices.

Listen For:

11:28 Why the ALP Had to Happen
16:15 Game-Changer for the Digging Community
20:44 Why This Could Go Global
53:34 Confronting the Controversy
59:21 The Future of ALP and Utility Safety

Guests:

WAYNE JENSEN

Website | Sign Up Page

IAIN STABLES

Email | Iain’s LinkedIn | Website | ATCO LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

JAMIE ANDERSEN

LinkedIn | Website| Facebook

LANCE NORMAN

LinkedIn | Website| Facebook | Instagram

RON PETERSON

LinkedIn | Website

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What does it take to turn unimaginable tragedy into a global movement for safety?

Mike Sullivan sits down with Carl Weimer, former executive director and current advisor to the Pipeline Safety Trust, to revisit the devastating 1999 pipeline explosion in Bellingham, Washington.

Carl shares his unlikely journey from environmental nonprofit leader to one of the most influential safety advocates in the pipeline industry.

Together, they explore the ripple effects of that tragic day, the formation of the Pipeline Safety Trust, the evolution of public engagement, and the ongoing challenges in pipeline safety across North America.

It’s a powerful conversation about accountability, transformation, and the lives behind the headlines.

Listen For:

2:03 - Unlikely Advocate

7:03 - The Day Bellingham Exploded

18:47 - $4 Million and a Mission

33:10 - Pushing Industry to Be Better

55:27 - Where Do We Go From Here?

Connect with guest Carl Weimer

LinkedIn | Pipeline Safety Trust

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Ever wondered what it takes to raise a superhero on four legs?

Mike Sullivan sits down with Miranda Turenne from BC and Alberta Guide Dogs to explore the incredible journey of raising, training, and placing life-changing service dogs with people who need them most.

From puppies to professional partners, these dogs transform the lives of those living with visual impairments, autism, or PTSD.

The conversation touches on the emotional, logistical, and deeply human side of this impactful work—plus, it all ties into Utility Safety Partners’ very first charity golf tournament benefiting this vital organization.

Listen For:

3:09 What BC & Alberta Guide Dogs is really all about

7:41 Miranda’s unique role as service dog matchmaker

10:30 How dogs “choose” their careers (or not!)

20:53 What guide dogs really do for people with visual impairments

35:35 The heartbreak and fulfillment of saying goodbye to a service dog

Connect with guest Miranda Turenne, Manager, Fund Development at BC & Alberta Guide Dogs

Website

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What do circus tents, telehealth numbers, and federal legislation have in common? They all played a surprising role in shaping Canada’s damage prevention landscape!

In this episode of the Safety Moment Podcast, host Mike Sullivan sits down with Todd Scott, the new Executive Director of the Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA), for a lively and nostalgic journey through the CCGA’s origins, milestones, and future.

From its humble, patchwork beginnings across provinces to national pushes like the 811 campaign and Senate testimonies, Mike and Todd reflect on the hard-won lessons, political bumps, and evolving strategies that built the CCGA into Canada’s national voice for damage prevention. With a new strategic plan in motion, Todd shares his vision for uniting regional partners, strengthening governance, improving data reporting, and ensuring the CCGA stays relevant.

Listen For

2:51 How the regional alliances formed across Canada

12:12 Alberta One Call’s crucial support for CCGA growth

20:46 When the circus almost struck a lateral line

36:21 Railways push back: Political challenges emerge

1:08:01 Symposium spotlight: Halifax 2025 preview

Guest: Todd Scott, Executive Director CCGA

Website | Email | LinkedIn

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What would you do if a colleague invited you to work in Colombia—armed guards, jungle airlifts, and all?

In this episode of the Safety Moment Podcast, host Mike Sullivan sits down with longtime friend and fellow pipeline veteran Brad Burlock to recount their high-stakes, eye-opening journey working abroad on the Enbridge-operated Ocensa pipeline in Colombia.

From sudden evacuations and military escorts to learning humility in a foreign work culture, this conversation sheds light on what it's truly like for Canadians working overseas—especially in high-risk industries.

Listen For

7:31 From Saskatchewan to Colombia

11:11“Would You Go to Colombia?”

26:40 Explosion Alert Mid-Flight

33:37 Snakebite Kit and Jungle Soldiers

56:56 The Learjet Card: Just in Case You’re Kidnapped

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Ever wonder what it's like to boldly go beneath the waves in your own personal submarine?

Mike Sullivan reconnects with childhood friend and submersible pioneer Charles “Chuck” Kohnen, CEO of SEAmagine.

Together, they dive deep—literally and figuratively—into Chuck’s journey of building state-of-the-art personal and scientific submarines in California.

Along the way, Charles shares stories of exploring uncharted ocean depths, discovering unknown species, and witnessing the tangible effects of climate change underwater.

Listen For:

0:15 Reuniting After 42 Years: From high school to submarines

5:23 Star Trek Dreams and Choosing Engineering Over Art

17:28 Accidental Shark Discovery and Scientific Fame

26:15 Who Buys a Personal Submarine? The Rise of Billionaire Buyers

31:30 Climate Change Below: 30°C Water at 100m Depth

39:04 Whale Shark Encounters and Nature’s Raw Power

45:04 OceanGate, Regulation, and Building Safe Subs

Connect with guest Charles Kohnen

LinkedIn | Website

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Safety outreach with a digital twist — what’s changing and why it matters?

Mike Sullivan sits down with Kassi Zaba, Manager of Stakeholder Relations, to uncover the evolution of utility safety outreach in Alberta.

Together, they reflect on their shared 14-year journey, from fax machines and phone calls to a fully digitized “click-before-you-dig” system and the upcoming launch of the Look Up and Live app to promote overhead powerline safety.

They also discuss the growing role of digital marketing, public awareness campaigns, and even touch on the philosophical challenge of balancing public education with infrastructure security.

Listen For:

1:30 Meet Kassi Zaba: From phones to stakeholder relations

4:05 From faxes to clicks: Alberta OneCall’s digital leap

9:07 Mandating the “click before you dig” revolution

13:35 Geofencing & targeting gamers for utility safety

17:32 The rise of the Ambassador Program

31:54 Look Up and Live: A new safety tool is coming

36:57 Navigating the public awareness paradox

Connect with guest Kassi Zaba

LinkedIn | Website

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