Ontario One Call
Ontario One Call is a legislated public safety administrative authority that operates the mandatory web-based notification system connecting anyone planning to dig in Ontario with the buried infrastructure owners who must respond with locate markings.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersGuelph, Canada
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Ontario One Call does
Ontario One Call is a legislated public safety administrative authority established under the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012, operating as the mandatory communications link between individuals planning to dig and buried infrastructure owners across the province of Ontario, Canada. The organization does not physically mark underground utilities; rather, it routes locate requests from excavators (homeowners, contractors, construction firms) to registered infrastructure owner members (gas, electric, telecom, water utilities, and municipalities), who then deliver the actual locate responses.
Its core technology is a web-based notification platform built around a self-serve web portal where excavators submit locate requests, track status, and manage documentation, supplemented by 24/7 phone support (1-800-400-2255) and a dedicated member-side toolset that includes 360 Feedback (locate status reporting), Maps on the Web (buried infrastructure map validation), and Subscriptions on the Web (Notification Instruction Form validation). The platform is organized into 13 geographic reporting regions spanning Ontario, and supports a Dedicated Locator service model for large-scale and long-term projects, Sewer Safety Inspections for cross-bore hazard detection, and a suite of training products (GroundWork, KnowR!sk, GroundWork Pro Dedicated Locator Edition).
Ontario One Call operates a freemium revenue model on the user side — locate requests are free for all homeowners, contractors, and excavators — and is funded entirely through recurring membership fees paid by infrastructure owner members. Marketing and stakeholder engagement are delivered through a multi-channel mix including SEO-driven website content, YouTube tutorials, social media (Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube), industry partnerships (Landscape Ontario, AORS), a member-facing marketing toolkit, and a 2025-launched annual Industry Safety Awards program. The entity functions as a private, quasi-governmental authority with no disclosed parent company, public listing, or external funding.
Ontario One Call firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ontario One Call
- Legal name
- Ontario One Call
- Website
- https://ontarioonecall.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Ontario One Call is a legislated public safety administrative authority that operates the mandatory web-based notification system connecting anyone planning to dig in Ontario with the buried infrastructure owners who must respond with locate markings.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ontario One Call industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Underground Infrastructure Notification / Damage Prevention Services
- NAICS
- Services to Buildings and Dwellings (5617)
- SIC
- Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Damage Prevention & One-Call/811 Programs (Third-Party Excavation Risk) (EUAJADAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Underground transmission & distribution cable EPC (civil + cable install) (EUADAKAB)
Keywords
Where Ontario One Call is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Guelph
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ontario One Call business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Infrastructure Owner Membership Fees: Infrastructure owners (utilities, municipalities) pay membership fees to Ontario One Call to participate in the notification system and receive locate requests.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free locate request service for all excavators |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Ontario One Call product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ontario One Call operates a legislated web-based locate notification platform that connects any person planning to dig in Ontario with the buried infrastructure owners (utilities, municipalities) responsible for marking underground assets. Excavators submit requests through the Web Portal at no charge; infrastructure owners receive notifications, mark their lines, and report clearance via the platform. The core offering also includes the Dedicated Locator service model for large-scale projects, training/education programs, and Sewer Safety Inspections.
Product overview
Ontario One Call operates as a public safety administrative authority offering a communication platform between excavators and buried infrastructure owners. The core offering consists of the Public Utility Locate Service and Web Portal for managing locate requests, complemented by the Dedicated Locator service for large-scale projects. The company also provides educational programs including GroundWork Course, KnowR!sk, and GroundWork Pro Dedicated Locator Edition for training. Additional platform tools include 360 Feedback, Maps on the Web, and Subscriptions on the Web for Infrastructure Owners, along with Sewer Safety Inspections for identifying cross bore hazards.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GroundWork: An online course designed for people who apply for and manage locates as part of their job, delivering step-by-step instructions on submitting precise locate requests.
- KnowR!sk
- GroundWork Pro Dedicated Locator Edition
Products and services
- Public Utility Locate Service Core mandated service that connects Ontario residents and contractors planning to dig with buried infrastructure owners, facilitating notification and marking of underground utilities for safe excavation. Free for excavators; funded by infrastructure owner membership fees.
- Web Portal Online self-serve platform for submitting locate requests, tracking request status, managing locate documentation, and accessing member systems for infrastructure owners. Available 24/7.
- Dedicated Locator Service Service model where a single locate service provider is contracted by a Project Owner to locate all underground infrastructure within a project area. Designed for large-scale and long-term projects to streamline coordination.
- GroundWork Course Online educational program for people who manage locates and construction projects, providing step-by-step instructions on submitting precise locate requests.
- KnowR!sk Flexible, scenario-based micro-learning modules that promote safety awareness, strengthen compliance, and improve locate request performance for excavation professionals.
- GroundWork Pro Dedicated Locator Edition Professional training program designed for Dedicated Locator service providers working on large-scale projects, covering the Dedicated Locator process, collaboration, and project efficiency.
- Sewer Safety Inspections Free inspection service that checks for cross bore hazards in sewer lines before blockages are cleared, available 24/7 via emergency phone line to prevent gas line damage and explosions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 4,222 reported damages to underground infrastructure in Ontario in 2023 (ORCGA DIRT Report)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Ontario One Call
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ontario One Call technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Ontario One Call partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Landscape OntariominorOntario One Call has partnered with Landscape Ontario to promote safe excavation practices. The partnership offers exclusive course pricing for Landscape Ontario members on Groundwork and KnowR!sk training programs. Free samples are available for members.
- AORS (Association of Ontario Road Builders)minorOntario One Call and AORS partnered to advance safe excavation practices in Ontario, particularly for road construction and infrastructure projects.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ontario One Call competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BC One Call: British Columbia's legislated one-call notification center for excavation safety. Direct peer operating an analogous 'request-a-locate' platform connecting excavators with buried infrastructure owners under provincial regulation.
- Miss Utility (Miss Utility of Maryland): Maryland's one-call notification center operating a similar excavator-facing notification platform with utility-owner membership. Direct US state-level peer to Ontario One Call's function.
- Gopher State One Call: Minnesota's one-call center serving as the communications link between excavators and underground facility operators. Comparable US state-level notification center with member-funded revenue model.
- Info-Excavation (Quebec): Quebec's regional one-call center coordinating locate requests between excavators and underground infrastructure owners. Directly comparable Canadian provincial peer with similar legislative mandate.
- USA North 811: Underground service alert notification center serving northern California and Nevada. Direct peer operating under the US 811 framework with comparable excavator notification and infrastructure-owner membership model.
- JULIE (Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators): Illinois's one-call system providing free locate-request services to excavators and serving as the communication link between excavators and member utility owners. Closest US analog in structure and scale.
- Alberta One-Call Corporation: Alberta's mandatory one-call notification service for damage prevention. Directly comparable quasi-governmental one-call authority serving infrastructure owners and excavators in another Canadian province.
Broad incumbents
- Common Ground Alliance (CGA): US-based national organization dedicated to preventing damage to underground infrastructure. Comparable as the industry-level coordinating body for damage prevention best practices, DIRT reporting, and one-call system standards.
Emerging players
- PelicanCorp: Provider of software and managed services for 'before-you-dig' and asset protection, supporting one-call centers and infrastructure owners globally. Comparable as a technology and operations peer in the damage-prevention notification space.
- Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) — Underground Utility Locating Services: Vertically integrated utility offering locate and damage-prevention services. Comparable as an infrastructure-owner-side participant in the underground notification ecosystem that Ontario One Call coordinates.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ontario One Call social profiles
Digital presenceOntario One Call financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ontario One Call leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Ontario One Call funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ontario One Call M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ontario One Call
What does Ontario One Call do?
Ontario One Call operates a legislated web-based locate notification platform that connects any person planning to dig in Ontario with the buried infrastructure owners (utilities, municipalities) responsible for marking underground assets. Excavators submit requests through the Web Portal at no charge; infrastructure owners receive notifications, mark their lines, and report clearance via the platform. The core offering also includes the Dedicated Locator service model for large-scale projects, training/education programs, and Sewer Safety Inspections.
Is Ontario One Call a public or private company?
Ontario One Call is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Ontario One Call founded?
Ontario One Call was founded in 1996. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Ontario One Call based?
Ontario One Call is headquartered in Guelph, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Ontario One Call make money?
One revenue line is on record: infrastructure Owner Membership Fees.
Who are Ontario One Call's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BC One Call, Miss Utility (Miss Utility of Maryland), Gopher State One Call, Info-Excavation (Quebec), USA North 811, JULIE (Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators) and Alberta One-Call Corporation. Common Ground Alliance (CGA) is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are PelicanCorp and Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) — Underground Utility Locating Services.
Does Ontario One Call have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ontario One Call.
What industry is Ontario One Call in?
Ontario One Call's product category is Underground Infrastructure Notification / Damage Prevention Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAJADAH, Damage Prevention & One-Call/811 Programs (Third-Party Excavation Risk), with a secondary code of EUADAKAB, Underground transmission & distribution cable EPC (civil + cable install). Its NAICS code is 5617 and its SIC code is 8744.