Ontario One Call

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.

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

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

• Underground utility locating
• Locate request service
• Damage prevention services
• Excavation notification system
• Infrastructure safety compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Guelph

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Landscape OntariominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOntario 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)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOntario 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/ON1Call
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnwjQMBxkG4QrPW2q5sbjpA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ON1Call
• Instagraminstagram.com/on1call
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ontario-one-call

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ontario One Call