Canadian Nuclear Laboratories

We are Canada’s nuclear science and technology organization. We became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) in 2014. Under a Government-owned, Contractor-operated (GoCo) model, we manage and operate AECL’s sites and facilities throughout Canada. AECL owns these sites and their nuclear liabilities.

We develop peaceful applications for nuclear technology, using our expertise in physics, metallurgy, chemistry, biology, and engineering. Our services include research and development, design and engineering, specialized technology, waste management, decommissioning, and nuclear operations.

Our work focuses on clean energy, environmental protection, and health sciences. We have projects involving X-Ray Computed Tomography for nuclear fuel, studying radionuclide movement in permafrost, using neutron detectors for nuclear reactor health monitoring, and researching how radiation affects blood samples. We also develop Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), advance the production of actinium-225 for cancer therapies, and contribute to environmental remediation efforts like the Near Surface Disposal Facility and the Nuclear Power Demonstration Closure Project. In 2020, we helped rapidly design and bring ventilators to market during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our primary site, Chalk River Laboratories in Ontario, is Canada’s largest science and technology complex. It houses over 50 facilities and laboratories, including licensed nuclear facilities like the ZED-2 research reactor and the Advanced Nuclear Materials Research Centre. We also have locations in Whiteshell Laboratories in Manitoba, the National Innovation Centre for Cybersecurity in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and offices in Port Hope and Ottawa, Ontario.

We build and maintain relationships with all our stakeholders, including government, industry, academia, local communities, and Indigenous peoples. We integrate sustainable development into all our operations and are an equal-opportunity employer. We acknowledge and respect Indigenous history, rights, and title on the lands where we operate, and we work to advance reconciliation through engagement.

We employ about 3,000 people across our laboratory and project sites throughout Canada. We focus on developing our workforce, helping nuclear scientists, engineers, operators, and entrepreneurs grow. We strive to create a positive, employee-friendly work environment that supports personal and professional development, offering chances to gain skills and experience in many areas. We collaborate with industry, our supply chain, and the research community.