At the First Annual Canadian Maintenance Industry Symposium, the AMCC welcomed Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek as our keynote speaker. Drawing on lessons learned from Calgary’s Bearspaw feedermain rupture last summer, she highlighted that infrastructure maintenance “isn’t just about pipes or roads: it’s about ensuring public safety, supporting growth, and preserving the quality of life in our communities.”

Mayor Gondek shared a four-point approach to address such emergencies: repair, review, ensure safety, and prioritize aging infrastructure nationally, emphasizing that Calgary’s experience is not a unique one. She shared that aging infrastructure is a widespread issue and requires urgent attention across all of Canada. To avoid future costly failures, she expressed how governments at all levels – as well as the private sector – should coordinate to prioritize infrastructure maintenance through strategic, nationwide investment. The AMCC’s work is crucial in shaping the future of infrastructure maintenance, and Mayor Gondek urged continued collaboration and innovation on our part to help generate long-term solutions to issues like the one Calgary was faced with in June 2024.

We thank Mayor Gondek for her insights and agree that neglecting maintenance is simply not an option.

Watch her presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBT_JU05OKw