Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), the Country of Renfrew, the MRC Pontiac and the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation say they are co-ordinating an initiative to encourage Ottawa Valley companies to pursue commercial opportunities at the Chalk River Laboratories through partnerships with CNL’s major contractors.
Beginning in April, the organizations will host a series of information sessions and a workshop designed to educate local businesses on the gaps in service capabilities within CNL’s contractors, so that they can take steps to meet the necessary qualifications to secure sub-contract work.
“With the revitalization of the Chalk River Laboratories well underway, there will be lots of commercial opportunities in the coming years for businesses and contractors that have the right skills and capabilities,” CNL president and CEO Mark Lesinski said in a statement. “By holding these sessions, CNL is doing its part to ensure that local companies are properly prepared to take full advantage of these opportunities so that they can become part of our delivery team. Overall, we want to make sure that the local community benefits from our larger projects, wherever possible.”
Anyone who is interested in learning more about how to work at CNL or about partnering with CNL contractors is encouraged to attend one of the information sessions, which will be held in April in communities throughout the Ottawa Valley. These events are intended to provide attendees with an overview of CNL’s upcoming projects and insight to a more detailed workshop that will be held later in the month, which is designed to connect our local industry with CNL program partners directly. At the half-day workshop, participants will be able to speak with CNL’s major contractors, discuss partnership opportunities and take part in a variety of networking and training sessions.
Details of the upcoming engagements include:
April 2: Clarion Hotel – Settler Hall, Pembroke, ON | 7:30 – 10:00 a.m.
April 4: Campbell’s Bay R.A. Centre, Campbell’s Bay, QC | 8:00 – 10:30 a.m.
April 9: Sands on Golden Lake, Golden Lake, ON | 8:00 – 10:30 a.m.
April 11: Days Inn – Renfrew Room, Renfrew, ON | 7:30 – 10:00 a.m.
The half-day workshop will be on April 30 at the Makwa Community Center, Pikwakanagan.
CNL says it has recently began site preparation for the construction of non-nuclear buildings that are expected to provide employment for many trades, suppliers, and supporting businesses in the coming years.
CNL is also in the process of designing its Advanced Nuclear Materials Research Centre (ANMRC), a modern laboratory research complex that will serve as the backbone of its research and development infrastructure.