Seminar: Canadian Nuclear Legacy: How the Cold War Started Here

The presentation will explore the rich history related to discovery, innovation and deployment of nuclear technology in Canada. Beginning with the residency of Rutherford and his critical work in Canada that led to a Nobel prize, through WW2 and how Canada’s adoption of displaced scientists led to a “heavy water” expertise, and ultimately how this expertise led to the unique situation where Canada designs, produces and supplies all of its own nuclear technology, without access to enrichment technologies or third party sales. While many people are familiar with the US’s Manhattan Project, few people know the story of how the UK’s “Tube Alloy” project, a code name for their weapons research, ultimately led to Canada’s involvement in understanding nuclear fission, its commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and a technology that is still in demand today. As Canada looks to build its next generation of nuclear reactors it is considering the value of its made in Canada supply chain, its ability to make its own un-enriched fuel, and a technology that allows for ample production of radio-isotopes. This presentation will review that history, how it intersects with spies and treason at the dawn of the cold war, and how ultimately Canada produced a reactor design unlike any other.