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Chalk River Laboratories siting

Chalk River, Ontario is officially chosen for the site of the new Defence Industries Limited “Petawawa Works.” The laboratories were transferred to the National Research Council of Canada in 1947, which acted as an agent for the federal Atomic Energy Control Board. The site was later incorporated as AECL.

A first for Canada

Zero Energy Experimental Pile (ZEEP) reactor comes online at the Chalk River site. This was the first controlled nuclear chain reaction outside of the United States. ZEEP was a small reactor which helped guide the development of the larger National Research X-perimental (NRX) reactor.

National Research Experimental (NRX)

The NRX research reactor comes online and generates the highest neutron flux in the world. NRX was a multipurpose research reactor used to develop new isotopes, test materials and fuels (including the first uranium oxide fuels which became the international standard), and produce neutron radiation beams for research. NRX went offline in 1992.

Neutron research

In the 1950's Dr. Bertram Brockhouse begins neutron beam research in the NRX reactor. This work won Brockhouse the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1994.

A breakthrough in cancer treatment

AECL produced the radioisotope Cobalt-60. This materials, still used today, which was first used for cancer treatment through work by two separate teams in London (ON) and Saskatoon (SK).

The creation of AECL

The National Research Council of Canada nuclear laboratory was transferred to the newly-incorporated federal crown corporation Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). NRX suffers a major accident but is rebuilt and restarted within 14 months.

NRU comes to life

The National Research Universal (NRU) reactor comes online and is the world’s most powerful research reactor. This is also the first reactor in the world to refuel online. The NRU is a multi-mission facility, used to develop radioisotopes, test materials and fuels, and produce neutron radiation beams for research.

Zero power, lots of possibility

The Zero Energy Deuterium (ZED)-2 reactor comes online at the Chalk River Laboratories. ZED-2 is still used for reactor physics and nuclear fuel research today.

Nuclear power to the grid

The Nuclear Power Demonstration (NPD) reactor comes online in Rolphton, Ontario and is the first nuclear power-generating reactor in Canada to prove the CANDU® concept. In the years following, CANDU reactors would come online in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Argentina, China, India, South Korea, and Romania.

WR-1: Whiteshell’s first reactor

Whiteshell Reactor (WR)-1 starts up in the Whiteshell Labs and is the world’s first organic-cooled research reactor.

Safer food through irradiation

The world’s first food irradiator, built and designed by AECL, goes into operation. This technology improves the safety and extends the shelf life of foods by reducing or eliminating microorganisms and insects.

SLOWPOKE

AECL designs and builds the prototype SLOWPOKE research reactor. It is sold to seven Canadian universities and research facilities, and one to the University of the West Indies in Jamaica.

Accellerating science (TASCC)

The Tandem Accelerator Superconducting Cyclotron (TASCC) produces the first beam at Chalk River Laboratories. Elements from protons to uranium can be accelerated to research nuclear, atomic, and environmental science materials.

A safer world through technology

AECL develops the Cerenkov Viewing Device (CVD) used by the International Atomic Energy Agency to monitor spent fuel inventory.

A safe and secure world

AECL tests bundles of American Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel at the Chalk River Laboratories in the NRU reactor. The tests are part of a Canadian government proposal to reduce world-wide weapon-grade plutonium by “burning” it in reactors.

Thorium fuels

AECL demonstrated Thorium fuel for use in CANDU reactors.

Muons for research and security

AECL, in conjunction with government agencies and industry, develop a muon detector to monitor transport containers for nuclear materials. The device is known as CRIPT for Cosmic Ray Imaging and Passive Tomography.

CNL “stands up”

On November 3, 2014, AECL launched a wholly-owned subsidiary named Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) is "stood up" to manage and operate the AECL laboratories, sites and projects.

Environmental remediation underway

CNL began two major environmental remediation projects: the Near Surface Disposal Facility to dispose of low-level radioactive waste; and the Nuclear Power Demonstration Closure Project to safely decommission the facility and complete the closure of the NPD site.

A global hub for SMR development

CNL launches its program to site a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) demonstration unit at one of its managed sites before 2030.

A revitalization of the Chalk River campus

AECL, on behalf of the Government of Canada, announced the investment of $1.2 billion into the revitalization of the Chalk River Laboratories. This includes the construction of new infrastructure, support buildings and the Advanced Nuclear Materials Research Centre.

A new lab for cyber security expertise

CNL opened the National Innovation Centre for Cybersecurity in Fredericton, New Brunswick, to focus on the protection of reactor and industrial control systems.

Enabling targetted alpha therapy

CNL launches a new program to advance the production, availability and scientific understanding of actinium-225, a rare isotope that has shown promise as the basis for new, cutting-edge cancer therapies.

Fighting a pandemic

In response to the urgent need for ventilators as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, CNL was part of an international effort to rapidly design and then get to market a ventilator that is simple to manufacture and safe for use.