The purpose of the Corporation is defined by its most recent mission statement adopted by the Board of Directors on 04 December 1998.
"The mission of Alberta One-Call Corporation is to prevent damage to buried facilities through education, advocacy, public awareness and dependable cost-effective communication and exchange of information between members and those intending to disturb the ground."
In the late 1970's, the Province of Alberta experienced unprecedented economic growth, primarily due to the development and expansion of energy related industries. This growth, together with the intense construction activity in rural and urban Alberta, created a severe risk of personal injury from an alarming number of damages to buried facilities.
Through the initiative of the Energy Resources Conservation Board and with the support of the Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Public Works Association, the Alberta One-Call System Committee was formed in September 1979 to investigate and prepare a feasibility report on the implementation of a one-call system in the Province of Alberta. The Committee comprised representatives from provincial, municipal, utility, pipeline and construction agencies.
In 1979, ground disturbance activities in Alberta caused over 8,600 damage incidents with direct costs in excess of $4,000,000.00 just for damage repair and loss of product. This sum does not include the costs incurred through loss of service, liability for property damage, personal injury, legal fees or administration.
The Millwoods pipeline disaster in Edmonton on 02 March 1979, which nearly cost one individual his life and forced the evacuation of 18,000 residents, resulted from an unreported hit on a propane pipeline. This incident was a major factor in the decision to implement a province wide one-call system.
Alberta One-Call Location Corporation was incorporated as a non-profit corporation under the Business Corporations Act of Alberta on 25 August 1982. In 1994, the name was changed to Alberta One-Call Corporation. There are 14 shareholders who are precluded from deriving any financial benefit from their shareholdings.
