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BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada
PETERBOROUGH COMMUNITY NEWS UPDATE
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Hello Peterborough Community,
I hope you're enjoying this lovely fall weather!
I'm excited to share that I will be attending the 2025 Women in Nuclear Canada conference, which will take place in Niagara Falls in early October. This event is an incredible opportunity for networking, collaboration, and sharing insights with fellow professionals in the nuclear industry, providing not only a chance to connect with inspiring women leaders but also to contribute to the growth and success of our community. I can’t wait to share my experiences with you next month.
Thank you to those who attended our September 23 Power Breakfast in collaboration with Innovation Cluster at the Holiday Inn Peterborough Waterfront. It was an insightful gathering where participants learned how BWXT plays a vital role in supporting the nuclear medicine industry.
This month we have many great updates. As always, please feel free to connect with me directly if you have any questions or would like to share feedback at kedwards2@bwxt.com or 705-698-1479.
Kind regards,
Krissy Edwards
Communications Specialist
BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada
| | Above: BWXT Peterborough employees honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, 2025. | | Join Us: Community Connect Information Event | | | | |
We’re pleased to invite you to meet with our team at our upcoming event!
Visit us on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at our pop-up tent located by BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada's parking lot at 1160 Monaghan Road. Here, you can interact with our team, ask questions and discover how we create the fuel that powers Ontario with clean energy and facilitates the production of life-saving nuclear medicine.
| | 2025 Soil Sampling Results Available | | |
On August 6, 2025, BWXT performed routine soil sampling for beryllium and uranium at multiple sites in Peterborough, including Prince of Wales Public School on Monaghan Road. A representative from Curve Lake First Nation’s Consultation Department and members of BWXT’s Community Liaison Committee were present during the sampling.
The independent laboratory analysis concluded that there is no evidence of beryllium or uranium impacting the tested areas. The 2025 concentrations were comparable to those from 2020 to 2024, all remaining well below Canadian environmental health guidelines. Additionally, a background sample was collected at Curve Lake First Nation’s Pow Wow Grounds.
At BWXT's facility in Peterborough, we assemble fuel bundles for CANDU reactors using natural uranium dioxide pellets. Uranium naturally occurs at low levels in the environment, contributing to "natural background radiation." Beryllium, a strong metal found in various everyday products, is used in small amounts at BWXT for joining components of the fuel bundles, with regulated programs in place to ensure the health and safety of employees and the public.
| | October Drill at BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada | | |
This October we will be holding a drill at our facility with local emergency responders to practice our emergency response.
We regularly perform drills to ensure response to an emergency
event is coordinated. All employees are trained on fire prevention measures, emergency situation responses, emergency evacuation routes and their specific responsibilities, and we have a comprehensive emergency response plan in place.
We use multiple tools to communicate drill information to community members in advance, such as mailers, banners and social media. We however do not communicate drill dates or times publicly as that would influence employee response, thereby defeating the purpose of the exercise.
Frequently Asked Questions:
I live nearby. What do I need to do during a drill or an emergency? During a drill or emergency at our facility in Peterborough we ask that you keep the entrance clear to ensure first responders are able to easily access the site.
BWXT contemplates all accident scenarios, including low probability events. There are no requirements for the public to shelter in place or evacuate during a drill or emergency due to a release of radiation from our site. No credible accident scenarios from a release of radiation were identified in the Safety Analysis Reports that would require shelter in place or evacuation. Neither site houses a nuclear reactor, but rather natural uranium, which cannot become highly radioactive until it is installed in a nuclear reactor.
How can I contact you during an emergency? You can contact our team by email at questions@bwxt.com or you can call us at 1.855.696.9588.
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September 25 Fire Alarm at BWXT Peterborough:
On Thursday, September 25, 2025, at approximately 4:40 p.m., Peterborough Fire Services responded to a fire alarm at BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada’s Peterborough facility in Building 21. All employees in the affected building were safely evacuated and were accounted for.
Peterborough Fire Services examined the situation and confirmed there was no detection of gas in the building. There was no smoke, fire or release of radioactive materials. At approximately 6:05 p.m., Peterborough Fire Services departed our facility, reconfirming there was no gas leak, no fire, and no release of radioactive materials.
Following Peterborough Fire Services assessment, BWXT’s Emergency Organization team reviewed the facility and concluded the site was safe for employees to return to work. Based on the assessment by Peterborough Fire Services and our site team, we can conclude there is no risk to our employees, the community or the environment.
| | | Ice Cream Fundraiser for Peterborough Humane Society | | |
Our recent Ice Cream Fundraiser in support of the Peterborough Humane Society was a tremendous success! Held internally, BWXT volunteers served Kawartha Dairy ice cream to employees in exchange for a donation. Joined by staff and volunteers from Peterborough Humane Society, including a very special -and adoptable- guest named Diesel (pictured below), we raised over $1,000 in just a couple of hours, thanks to our generous employees!
All proceeds were donated to the Peterborough Humane Society, where they will play a crucial role in the shelter and care for over 1,500 lost, injured, and abandoned animals each year. We look forward to future initiatives that support impactful causes within our community!
| | You're Invited: BWXT Peterborough Tour! | | |
Interested to see what we do in Peterborough? We're excited to invite you to a tour of our facility, where we assemble natural uranium fuel bundles for CANDU reactors, fabricate medical isotope targets to enable nuclear medicine, and design, engineer and manufacture highly advanced and technical systems and tooling for the nuclear power and nuclear medicine industries.
The fuel bundles manufactured by BWXT go on to power 25% of Ontario with carbon emissions-free, reliable energy, and play a crucial role in the production of life-saving nuclear medicine.
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: 1160 Monaghan Road, Peterborough
RSVP Required: See below for more information
Please note that spots are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who RSVP after we have reached capacity will be notified and placed on a waitlist for future tour opportunities.
For more information and to RSVP, please contact Krissy Edwards at kedwards2@bwxt.com.
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A few months ago we launched our BWXT Community Information Group on Facebook. This additional channel is another source for regular updates about BWXT in Peterborough.
Click the Facebook icon to the right to join as a member.
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Contact Us:
questions@bwxt.com
1.855.696.9588 (toll-free)
nec.bwxt.com
1160 Monaghan Road
Peterborough, Ontario
| | BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada (BWXT) has more than 60 years of extensive experience and innovation in the supply of nuclear fuel and fuel channel components, services, equipment and parts for the CANDU® nuclear power industry. This includes designing and supplying highly reliable equipment to fuel, inspect and refurbish reactors. Our employees assemble CANDU® fuel bundles using natural uranium dioxide ceramic pellets from our Toronto facility and zircaloy tubes from our Arnprior facility. BWXT’s fuel handling and reactor inspection and maintenance tooling and delivery systems, are also designed and manufactured in Peterborough. Our Peterborough and Toronto facilities are licensed by Canada’s nuclear regulator, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). Approximately 400 people work at BWXT in Peterborough in high-tech, manufacturing and administrative positions. The fuel bundles assembled by BWXT employees in Peterborough go on to power 1 in 4 homes and businesses across Ontario. | | | | |
