​The activities of the Canadian Underground Infrastructure Innovation Centre are off to a strong start in 2023, thanks to the dedication and hard work of those on our committees, our staff, and the contributions of our member organizations. CUIIC now has more than fifty member organizations across Canada and the US, each of them with a valuable perspective on the underground sector. As we build a strong network of professionals including manufacturers, suppliers, and contractors, to consultants, utilities, municipalities, and non-profit agencies, we are forming a solid base from which to advance knowledge, share ideas, and push innovation.

It has been an eventful year with the Canadian Underground Infrastructure Innovation Centre (CUIIC). We appreciate the contributions of our more than forty member organizations across the country, as well as those who have been involved in our current activities.
 
I personally have enjoyed representing CUIIC at events including NASTT No-Dig North in Toronto, the Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA) Damage Prevention Symposium in Whistler, Canada’s Rural and Remote Broadband Community (CRRBC) Conference in Banff and the International Pipelines Conference in Calgary. It has been a privilege to meet and connect with so many in the underground sector across Canada.

Benjamin Media Inc. (BMI) and the Canadian Underground Infrastructure Innovation Centre (CUIIC) recently formalized an agreement establishing the CUIIC Academy to further underground infrastructure educational offerings across Canada.

CUIIC is led by Alireza Bayat, Ph.D., P.Eng., professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alberta and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Associate Industrial Research Chair in Underground Trenchless Construction.

Established in 2022, CUIIC is a member-driven, cross-Canada initiative headquartered at the University of Alberta with a focus on building a community of professionals who share a common goal: To foster innovation and to provide cost-effective, sustainable solutions to the challenges involved in building, assessing and rehabilitating underground infrastructure.

Upon its formation, one of CUIIC’s goals was the establishment of classes, courses, webinars and events to help further underground infrastructure educational opportunities across Canada. This partnership with BMI is another step forward in that direction.

​“As a world-class hub for research, innovation and education in underground infrastructure, the CUIIC is looking forward to working with Benjamin Media to launch the CUIIC Academy,” says Bayat. “Benjamin Media has played a leadership role for decades, promoting the importance of underground infrastructure, which makes our partnership on the CUIIC Academy a natural fit. The Academy will provide the most needed applied education on different aspects of underground infrastructure.”
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BMI provides turnkey event management services with experience in the underground infrastructure sector that spans more than 30 years. From seminars to large trade shows, the Benjamin Media Events Division delivers proven, quality services including marketing/promotional program development, advertising, logistical/planning expertise, exhibit management services and attendee recruitment/management.

 “We are excited to work with Dr. Bayat and CUIIC in establishing and developing the CUIIC Academy. The CUIIC Academy will bring important infrastructure education events and learning tools to all underground infrastructure stakeholders,” says Rob Krzys, president of BMI. “With more than 25 years of experience producing and promoting infrastructure events across North America, we are proud CUIIC has selected us to work directly with them, supporting the CUIIC Academy.”

To stay abreast of all CUIIC’s activities, including specifics about the CUIIC Academy, visit cuiic.ca or connect with CUIIC on social media. You can follow CUIIC on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/cuiic, Facebook at @CUIIC.Canada, Twitter at @CUIIC_Canada and Instagram at @CUIIC_Canada.