McMaster welcomes local industry and government leaders at Hamilton Nuclear Showcase

McMaster University and the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI) welcomed nuclear industry leaders and local elected officials to campus on June 27^th for a showcase of Hamilton’s world-class nuclear research, services, engineering and innovation sector.

“We were delighted to welcome leaders from Hamilton’s key nuclear partners to celebrate the successes of our local nuclear innovation cluster and discuss ways we can work together to advance innovations in nuclear energy, medicine and technology,” says McMaster’s assistant vice-president, research (nuclear), Dave Tucker.

With OCNI representatives from Stern Labs, Toshiba, Liburdi, Unified Engineering, Laurentis Energy Partners, McMaster University, Mohawk College, Ontario Power Generation and Bruce Power, the meeting allowed local MPs – Lisa Hepfner, MP for Hamilton Mountain and Dan Muys, MP for Flamborough-Glanbrook – to learn more about the work of Hamilton’s nuclear industry, and how that work is contributing to the economic and social prosperity of our region, province and country.

Director of the McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute, Stephen Veldhuis, who was recently tapped to chair the Canadian Advanced Manufacturing in Nuclear Alliance (CAMiNA), highlighted the work being done at the institute to develop new tools and processes in support of the nuclear energy industry.

Keith Skrepnek, Director of Business Administrative Services at Laurentis Energy Partners, spoke about the jobs created and environmental advances made through Laurentis and McMaster’s Clean Energy-Materials Sorting and Recycling Research Initiative – a project aimed at developing new sorting methods for low-level nuclear waste materials.

Vice-President of Finance and Business Development at Unified Engineering and McMaster mechanical engineering graduate, Edward Veckie, discussed how Unified Engineering’s technical expertise in product design and improvement helps advance innovations in the nuclear energy industry and support the Hamilton community, economy and environment. 

OCNI members also saluted Ron Oberth, President and CEO of OCNI, on his retirement and for his more than three decades of leadership in the Canadian nuclear industry, the last 11 as head of OCNI.  Bill Walker, the Member of Provincial Parliament for Bruce-Grey-Owen sound, has been appointed as OCNI’s new President and CEO.

Following the speaking event, attendees toured the McMaster Nuclear Reactor, where medical isotopes are produced and packaged for shipment to thousands of cancer patients in Canada and abroad each year.