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AECL's origins date back to 1942 when a joint British-Canadian laboratory was set up in
Montreal, Quebec, under the administration of the National Research Council, to develop a
design for a nuclear reactor.
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The Nuclear Fission Process
From "Atoms at Your Service", 1974 (AECL) |
The possible use of nuclear
energy for electric power production was discussed in the early years of the nuclear
research program, but the first definitive key decision came early in 1953 when C.D. Howe
stated in the House of Commons, "Here in Canada we believe that the time has come to
undertake the development of atomic power in this country, and discussions are going on as
to ways and means of bringing about that development. We feel that the production of power
is the concern of those who distribute power, organizations like the Hydro Electric Power
Commission of Ontario, or the major privately-owned power companies." Half a century
after Rutherford's discoveries, Howe, MacKenzie and Laurence were pushing Canada into 20th
century high technology. "Canadians were no barefoot waterboys when atomic science
matured into nuclear technology," writes Ray Silver, a journalist and author who has
been observing the nuclear scene for more than 40 years. |
| Howe's conclusion led quickly to another key decision when Atomic
Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) agreed to set up a study team, headed up by Harold Smith
of Ontario Hydro, to look at a small power reactor. In addition to Ontario Hydro staff,
the team had representatives from other utilities, industry and consulting engineers. The
specific goal was to have generating stations with excellent safety, environmental, and
reliability characteristics, developed and made in Canada, so as to provide an overall
benefit to the Canadian community. |
| The ZEEP Reactor - Canada's First
Nuclear Reactor
Early Years of Nuclear Research in
Canada (pdf file) Reprinted courtesy of Atomic
Energy of Canada Limited
Other sites for Canadian Nuclear
Power:
AECL -- History of Atomic
Energy of Canada Limited |