A year in review, AECL accomplishes great things in 2011

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Chalk River, 2012 January 09— These past 12 months have been a time of great change and of great accomplishment for AECL. The sale of its commercial services division to a strong Canadian company, the events at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan and the relicensing of the Chalk River Laboratories have all brought change to the organization.  However, through this, AECL continued to deliver on its mission, applying its unique strengths in people and facilities to bring the benefits of nuclear science and technology to Canadians.

2011 Achievements:

In the wake of Fukushima, AECL reviewed its emergency plans and procedures to assure itself and the regulator that it was well prepared to respond to similar events.

AECL delivered on its mission of sound environmental stewardship through the management and environmental remediation of legacy waste at the Chalk River site.

AECL delivered on 98 per cent of its isotope commitments this year, helping to ensure the health of Canadians and others around the world.

AECL forged more than 100 new partnerships with universities, private industry and laboratories across Canada and around the world. Through these partnerships, AECL helps to develops highly qualified people for Canada, strengthening the economy and supporting continued business innovation.

AECL signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CANDU Energy Inc., recognizing the important relationship between the respective companies and providing a solid foundation for the future.  AECL continues to develop and maintain strong partnerships in Canada’s nuclear industry, an industry which employs, directly or indirectly, 71,000 Canadians.

With the sale of AECL’s commercial operations complete, its head offices were successfully relocated, creating more than 80 new jobs in the Upper Ottawa Valley and adding to the more than 2,700 full-time staff already employed at the Chalk River Laboratories.

Working alongside other Canadian defence partners, AECL is helping develop advanced systems to ensure the safety and security of our borders. We recently patented a muon tomography cargo inspection system, which can be used for the detection of illicit trafficking of nuclear material.

AECL employees continue to support community causes close to home this year, raising over $145,000 for the Renfrew County United Way, the United Way of Winnipeg, the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and the Salvation Army, among other worthy agencies.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) granted AECL a 10-year licence for the Port Granby Project. AECL will undertake the relocation and safe, long-term management of 450,000 cubic metres of historic low-level radioactive waste. This initiative is one of the largest environmental remediation activities of this nature ever undertaken in Canada, and AECL is proud to lead this project.

AECL, but more specifically NRU, became the first non-power nuclear reactor to achieve full membership to the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), an organization dedicated to helping members achieve the highest levels of operational safety and performance.

These accomplishments are a source of pride for AECL. Through a year of change, AECL employees remained committed to their work, and to their colleagues and partners throughout the company, across the country and around the globe. As AECL moves into 2012, it will continue to work with government, industry, and local communities to fulfill its directive, ensuring that Canadians and the world receive energy, health, environmental and economic benefits from nuclear science and technology with confidence that nuclear safety and security are assured. 

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For more information on these accomplishments please contact:

Patrick Quinn
Director, Corporate Communications
AECL, 1-866-886-2325

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