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LET’S TALK PICKERING
Let’s Talk
PICKERING!
Dive into the City’s new digital space, where users can learn, engage, share in discussions, and collaborate.
This new and innovative digital platform connects residents with their municipal government and facilitates meaningful discussions on the programs, policies, and projects that are shaping Pickering now and into the future.
Residents, businesses, and visitors can browse the site, learn more about key City initiatives, and provide important feedback for staff and Council consideration. Live moderators monitor the site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which fosters a safe, welcoming, and collaborative user experience.
Featured projects have included Waterfront Parking, City Centre User Experience, Property Standards, and more.
Stay tuned for upcoming projects.
Visit LetsTalkPickering.ca to learn more, register as a user to have your say, and stay tuned for future engagement opportunities. Community engagement is one of our highest priorities. We need to remove barriers to participation by providing our community with an easy way to get involved – when and where they choose. We’re proud to offer our residents with an active say on the services, projects, programs, and initiatives that touch their everyday lives.
- Mayor Dave Ryan
STORY BY: OPG | PHOTOS COURTESY OF: OPG
Pickering’s past, present, and future clean energy leadership come together at Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) Canadian Centre for Nuclear Sustainability (CCNS). The Centre opened its doors a year ago and there is a lot to celebrate.
It will attract skilled jobs, innovative businesses and economic development to Durham Region while advancing solutions for minimizing nuclear materials and recycling clean materials. While much of the work is focused on decommissioning the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station (PNGS), the CCNS also has a broader mission: creating more sustainable solutions for the nuclear life cycle. For decades, PNGS has been a proud part of the community and has produced safe, clean, reliable nuclear power for Ontario’s homes, businesses, schools and hospitals. Now, the CCNS continues the clean energy legacy, bringing together industry, Indigenous communities and other community partners, academia and other stakeholders to build a future we can all continue to be proud of. “As owner of the largest CANDU reactor fleet in Canada, OPG has an incredibly unique opportunity to lead the nuclear industry in creating safe and sustainable solutions for the end of the nuclear life cycle,” said Carla Carmichael, Vice-President, Nuclear Decommissioning Strategy. “PNGS has long been a steady source of both electricity and lifesaving Cobalt-60 medical isotopes. The same excellence and spirit of innovation we brought to building and operating the plant will apply to decommissioning Pickering. But we know we don’t have all the answers. That’s why it’s so important to bring such a variety of expertise together to advance our shared goal. We know success will come when we all work together to build worldwide solutions right here in Durham.”
Under OPG’s current plan, Pickering’s units will stop producing energy in the middle of this decade. Following this, the fuel and water will be removed and the station will be placed in a safe storage state beginning the decommissioning process. This plan ensures the maximum economic benefits of the generation station in the community. “Our current decommissioning plans take into account operational experience, industry best practices and technological advances,” said Carla. “As a responsible operator, we are always looking for ways to enhance the plan. Through the collaboration and research CCNS enables, we are looking at innovations to safely and efficiently decommission that could lead to schedule opportunities.”
For Pickering, this means being home to a world-class facility that will attract skilled jobs, innovative businesses and economic development to the region.
“This new chapter begins with the type of innovation and collaboration we see happening at the CCNS,” said Mayor Dave Ryan, City of Pickering “Having this type of centre of excellence located here in Pickering allows us to build on the expertise and experience already here to create a regional hub for the nuclear supply chain.”
The CCNS and its work are a natural fit for Durham.
“Energy innovation is strong in Durham,” said Simon Gill, Director, Economic Development & Tourism, Region of Durham. “Durham’s established Energy Cluster with more than 10,000 highly-skilled engineering, environment, and energy sector workers, means that new high-tech suppliers and innovators will find the talent they need to grow and a supportive ecosystem to thrive. The work being undertaken by OPG and the CCNS demonstrates how OPG is positively impacting the province by building strong and safe communities while strengthening the economy.”
The CCNS exists to ensure nuclear energy always remains a benefit for future generations; it’s about building sustainability in an already clean industry. “We have heard time and again that nuclear power is a key building block of our lowcarbon future,” said Carla. “The innovative practices we develop through CCNS will help ensure long-term solutions for the broader nuclear power industry. We pledged in our Climate Change Plan to be carbon-neutral as a company by 2040, and to act as a catalyst for efficient economy-wide decarbonization by 2050 in the communities where we operate. The work we do at CCNS helps us meet that commitment.”
Just as PNGS has helped lead the way on clean, reliable power production, now OPG, through the CCNS, is bringing together the best in the industry and community to lead the way on decommissioning and long-term energy solutions. “The ongoing research and collaborative culture at the CCNS is a remarkable example of how municipalities, academic institutes and the nuclear industry at large can come together and spark real transformative change,” said Sabrina Nestor, CCNS Manager.
The CCNS recently established an annual $2-million innovation fund for new research and development projects that will help prepare for Pickering Nuclear Generating Station decommissioning and advance solutions for minimizing nuclear materials and recycling clean materials. The ideas, techniques and solutions that come from these projects will: • help reduce timelines and costs for the decommissioning project • enhance employee safety • advance solutions for minimizing nuclear materials and recycling clean materials • ensure the safety of the community and environment
Working with industry partner Nuclear Promise X, a nuclear innovation catalyst, the CCNS issued a Request for Innovative Ideas to gather ideas from the energy industry, academia, and other stakeholders to create sustainable solutions.
Nearly 300 submissions were received. After multiple vendor consultations and review meetings, OPG honed in on a handful of promising ideas. One example is a collaborative research study with CCNS partner Promation Nuclear to look at a substance that can safely remove nuclear by-products from surfaces. The strippable coating will reduce unwanted substances in the decommissioning environment, resulting in lower disposal costs and a cleaner environment. This product can be used on many surfaces including concrete, steel and valves. Another example is a collaborative study with CCNS partner Cavendish Nuclear to identify the future skillsets required for decommissioning and the forecast of demand during the decommissioning timeline. It will also consider current and future large infrastructure projects planned throughout the province that could impact industry workforce capacity. Cavendish Nuclear has done similar work on a decommissioning project in the UK and will use that experience to inform this study as they expand their Canadian footprint. “Early identification will help reveal any gaps that might exist and allow for time to build up the workforce through training programs,” said Sabrina Nestor, Manager of the CCNS. “The CCNS could also expand to provide a platform to exchange ideas and best practices at a global level.”
OPG has the opportunity now to identify skills that will be required in the future and develop solid plans to fill any gaps by building the workforce through skilled training for nuclear decommissioning projects, Nestor added.
To learn about more exciting innovation projects underway, visit theccns.com
What we do: We support OPG’s mission to achieve a net-zero economy by developing and promoting sustainable ways to minimize the impact of nuclear power generation throughout its entire life cycle. How we do it: By bringing together industry, community partners and homegrown talent to create innovative, long-term solutions. Why we do it: To prove that nuclear energy can be an enduring benefit today and for generations to come, far into the future.
The work the CCNS is doing is built on four foundational pillars: Environment: Creating sustainable plans for safe, environmentally and socially responsible decommissioning Economy: Creating economic stimulus and skilled job opportunities Innovation in the Industry: Innovating through collaborative research and development opportunities Community: Being involved in the local community through broad outreach and inclusiveness
CCNS
SPOTLIGHT
Carla Carmichael
At the helm of the CCNS and decommissioning is Carla Carmichael, OPG’s Vice-President of Nuclear Decommissioning Strategy and CCNS Lead. Carla is known for her leadership and advocacy for gender equality in the workforce, with a focus on breaking down barriers for women in the nuclear industry and skilled trades. “It’s exciting to plan for the future of the Pickering station,” said Carla. “CANDU is made-in-Canada technology. Now, we have the opportunity to shape its future and create a made-in-Canada plan for the end of the life cycle.”
Carla brings a wealth of experience to her role, having played a leadership role in the Darlington Refurbishment Project, one of
STORY BY: OPG | PHOTOS BY: David Leyes
Canada’s largest and most complex mega-nuclear infrastructure projects. Previously, she held senior leadership roles in finance and marketing in a variety of other sectors, including municipal government, private sector, not-for-profit and public auditing, and has both Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and MBA designations. Carla is a strong advocate of nuclear technology and the value it brings to the electricity and health sectors, the environment and the socioeconomic fabric of Ontario. She serves as a board member with CANDU Owners Group, Durham College Foundation, and Ontario Tech University, and is an active member of Women in Nuclear (WiN) and the Driving the Advancement of Women in Nuclear group (DAWN). She received WiN Canada’s Harriet Brooks award, recognizing her outstanding leadership contributions to the success of WiN Canada. The award honours the life and work of Harriet Brooks – the first female nuclear scientist in Canada; defying the odds in a male-dominated field.
With an innovative and forward-thinking approach, Carla is leading the CCNS toward strategic, innovative, and sustainable solutions for nuclear power.
