Oct 27, 2025
On November 27, 2025, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) will hold its annual public meeting. AECL will be providing updates related to the organization’s achievements of the past year and its plans.
Date and Time: November 27, 2025, 1:00pm – 3:00pm Eastern Time
Location: Chalk River Laboratories, 286 Plant Road, Chalk River, Ontario
Jim Burpee, Chair of the AECL Board of Directors, Fred Dermarkar, President and CEO, and AECL staff will present at this meeting and will be available to answer questions from the public. Please note that this event can be attended virtually and in person. The content and material will be presented in both official languages, with simultaneous translation available when joining virtually.
Attending Virtually
Members of the public who will join the meeting via the webcast are invited to provide questions in advance of the meeting via email at [email protected]. This mailbox will also be monitored for any questions received during the meeting. Best efforts will be made to answer questions received via email during the meeting within the allocated time; unanswered questions will be responded to in writing directly to requestors following the meeting.
Attending in Person
To attend the event in person, individuals must register before November 20, 2025, to allow for security verifications. To avoid delays during the public meeting, participants who are attending in person must arrive 30 minutes in advance for processing. Please note that visitors will be escorted while on site. Coffee and tea will be provided.
For any questions, please contact: [email protected], 1-888-220-2465.
Click here to register for the event: https://comms.aecl-eacl.ca/2025-public-meeting
Accessibility Considerations
The event is held in a building with elevators and accessible bathrooms. The meeting area also includes wheelchair access. An accessible shuttle is available under request for transportation between the main gates to the meeting area. If you require any accommodations to attend this meeting either virtually or in-person, please email [email protected] or call 1-888-220-2465.
Sep 3, 2025
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) today provided an update on the contract transition for the management and operation of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), as part of the Government-owned, Contractor-operated model.
In June, following a competitive procurement process, AECL announced that Nuclear Laboratory Partners of Canada Inc. (NLPC) had been selected as the Preferred Bidder for the contract to manage CNL. NLPC is a partnership with three primary joint venture partners, BWXT Government Group, Inc., Amentum Environment & Energy, Inc., and Kinectrics Inc., with Battelle Memorial Institute included as key subcontractor.
Since the announcement of the Preferred Bidder in June, AECL, CNL and NLPC, as well as AECL’s current contractor, Canadian National Energy Alliance (CNEA), have been engaged in activities to support a smooth transition. This includes, for example, finalizing plans and facilitating knowledge transfer between CNEA, NLPC and CNL.
The transition, however, will be delayed from the originally planned date of September 13, 2025, until such time as an outstanding regulatory review of the transaction is completed by the Competition Bureau. The exact date will be communicated at a later time.
In the interim period, AECL has put in place an extension to the contract with CNEA to provide continuity of operations and leadership at CNL. Teams at NLPC, AECL, CNEA and CNL will continue to plan and prepare for a smooth transition. Importantly, the focus continues to be on the continuity of safe and secure operations – this is a collective priority for all parties.
This change in the transition date does not affect ongoing work, projects and priorities of CNL, as CNL’s missions and mandate are not changing, and it continues to be responsible for operating AECL’s sites and assets.
About the Government-owned, Contractor-operated Model
Since 2015, AECL has delivered this mandate through a Government-owned, Contractor-operated model, which means that a private sector organization, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), is responsible for managing and operating AECL’s sites. With this arrangement, both AECL (owner) and CNL (operator) are enduring entities with the Contractor (currently Canadian National Energy Alliance) being either renewed or replaced through a competitive procurement process.
Under the Government-owned, Contractor-operated model, AECL owns the sites, facilities, assets, intellectual property and responsibility for environmental remediation and radioactive waste management. CNL is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the sites, is the employer of the workforce and responsible for all licences and permits.
AECL’s GoCo model is such that the vast majority of spending is being done in Canada through the funding provided to CNL to operate AECL’s sites in Canada – 95% of the spending is done in Canada.
CNL’s operations include more than 4,000 employees in Canada at AECL’s Chalk River Laboratories (Ontario), Port Hope Area Initiative (Ontario) and Whiteshell Laboratories (Manitoba), along with other satellite sites.
About Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) is a federal Crown corporation with a mandate to drive nuclear opportunities for Canada. Working through a Government-owned, Contractor-operated (GoCo) model that is executed by its contractor, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, AECL enables nuclear science and technology through its Chalk River Laboratories, Canada’s largest research complex, and by engaging with academia and private industry to advance nuclear innovation. It is committed to advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. It also manages the Government of Canada’s radioactive waste responsibilities. AECL continues to own the intellectual property for the CANDU® reactor technology and is accountable for deriving optimal benefit from this technology for Canada. Read more on AECL at www.aecl.ca.
Jul 29, 2025
Innovative academic program contributes to a strong and sustainable talent pipeline for Canada’s national nuclear laboratories and Canadian nuclear sector
Chalk River, ON – July 29, 2025 – Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology laboratory, and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), a federal Crown corporation with a mandate to drive nuclear opportunity for Canada, are pleased to announce that they have signed five-year extensions with all nine universities currently participating in CNL’s Academic Partnership Program (APP). Developed to ensure Canada’s R&D community is ready to fully support the country’s ambitious climate change goals through nuclear energy – the APP is helping to establish a talent pipeline for the nuclear industry; encouraging collaborative research projects; and, facilitating joint access to the infrastructure, technology and expertise at Canada’s national nuclear laboratories.
Since it launched in 2022, the APP has grown rapidly, beginning with early participants that included McMaster University, the University of Ottawa and Ontario Tech University in 2022; Western University, the University of Waterloo, the University of New Brunswick and Queen’s University, who joined in 2023; and, the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan, which saw the program expand west in 2024. These renewals extend the original agreements for an additional five-year period, positioning the Academic Partnership Program for continued growth and success.
In its third year, the APP has engaged with over 7,000 students from across Canada. Among the many highlights is the launch of the Undergraduate Student Research Experience with McMaster University – a competitive, 16-week, experiential learning program designed to inspire and prepare future leaders in nuclear science and engineering. A similar program is also underway with Ontario Tech University, known as the Ontario Tech-CNL Graduate Immersive Experience Program. This week-long experience welcomes 15 graduate students to the Chalk River campus to learn about fusion technology, fusion fuel cycles and other fusion-related research, offering the opportunity to engage CNL leaders and tour facilities associated with this clean energy technology.
These programs are in addition to the organization and delivery of numerous student engagement events and opportunities, including mentorship support, participation in guest lectures, student conferences and panel discussions, graduate and undergraduate research poster sessions, and capstone and design projects. CNL staff have directly participated in these engagements, sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm, making each event an enriching experience for students.
“On behalf of CNL, I want to express how excited and energized we are to extend these agreements with all of our university partners, and we look forward to sustaining the momentum we’ve built with the APP program over the next five years,” commented Dr. Stephen Bushby, Vice-President of Science and Technology at CNL. “This program comes at a time when the nuclear industry is poised for significant growth, with small and large-scale nuclear reactors planned for construction here in Ontario, and other provinces moving closer towards nuclear deployment for the very first time. To make this clean energy future a reality, we need a new generation of nuclear engineers and technologies, and this program is intended to establish that talent pipeline.”
“AECL is proud to support the Academic Partnership Program, which plays a vital role in building Canada’s nuclear future,” highlighted Karen Huynh, AECL’s Director of Strategic Programs and Partnerships. “By connecting students and researchers with our national nuclear laboratories, we are not only investing in the next generation of nuclear professionals, but also fostering the innovation needed to meet Canada’s priorities in health, clean energy, safety and security and the environment. These renewed agreements reflect our shared commitment to collaboration, talent development, and scientific excellence. It presents an opportunity for us to work collaboratively in new initiatives such as the Canadian Nuclear Learning School to coordinate education, training, knowledge management and workforce development across Canada’s growing nuclear sector.”
For CNL, the APP has already strengthened its reputation as a hub for experiential learning, leading to a 90 per cent increase in co-op hires from universities participating in the program. Last fiscal year, 40 per cent of CNL’s new full-time hires who were previously co-op students came directly from APP partners, quickly demonstrating the effectiveness and value of the program as a talent pipeline. Collaborative research projects are also growing, with nine external funding proposals submitted this year, an increase of 125 per cent over the previous year, suggesting improved coordination in research proposal development as the APP continues to mature.
“In the first few years of this program, we’ve been able to implement a long list of meaningful and impactful engagements with students and future nuclear professionals, and we see lots of opportunities to grow the program in new ways,” added Dr. Gina Strati, Director of the Academic Partnership Program at CNL. “In particular, we’re looking forward to leveraging this university network to drive further innovation in nuclear R&D, with a focus on addressing the priorities of AECL’s Federal Nuclear Science & Technology Work Plan.”
Thanks to the support of AECL, CNL has just recently established new scholarship awards to support student education and development at partner universities. Through these agreements, CNL has committed a total of $260,000 in scholarship funding for science and engineering students, to be delivered over a three-to-five-year period. These scholarships not only directly invest in student success, but encourage interest in nuclear science, engineering, and other related disciplines.
If you’d like to learn more about Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, including its Academic Partnership Program, please visit www.cnl.ca.
About CNL
As Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology laboratory and working under the direction of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), CNL is a world leader in the development of innovative nuclear science and technology products and services. Guided by an ambitious corporate strategy known as Vision 2030, CNL fulfills three strategic priorities of national importance – restoring and protecting the environment, advancing clean energy technologies, and contributing to the health of Canadians.
By leveraging the assets owned by AECL, CNL also serves as the nexus between government, the nuclear industry, the broader private sector, and the academic community. CNL works in collaboration with these sectors to advance innovative Canadian products and services towards real-world use, including carbon-free energy, cancer treatments and other therapies, non-proliferation technologies and waste management solutions. To learn more about CNL, please visit www.cnl.ca.
About Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) is a federal Crown corporation with a mandate to drive nuclear opportunities for Canada. Working through a government-owned / contractor-operated (GoCo) model that is executed by its contractor, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, AECL enables nuclear science and technology through its Chalk River Laboratories, Canada’s largest research complex, and by engaging with academia and private industry to advance nuclear innovation. It is committed to advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. It also manages the Government of Canada’s radioactive waste responsibilities. AECL continues to own the intellectual property for the CANDU® reactor technology and is accountable for deriving optimal benefit from this technology for Canada. Read more on AECL at www.aecl.ca.
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CNL Contact:
Philip Kompass
Director, Corporate Communications
1-866-886-2325
[email protected]
