Home - Canadian Nuclear Laboratories

Strategic Priorities: Vision 2030

Small Modular Reactors

Our vision is to serve the world as a global hub for SMR research and technology. This includes the siting of demonstration unit built on a CNL managed site before 2030.Learn More

Actinium-225

A new weapon in the fight against cancer, CNL is conducting cutting edge research into targetted alpha therapies.Learn More

Environmental Projects

We are making significant advances in addressing Canada’s nuclear liabilities, including the launch of multiple “Canadian-first” projects in environmental remediation.Learn More

Safety & Security

CNL provides world-class capabilities in nuclear forensics, detection and cyber security for nuclear and other critical infrastructure.Learn More

Projects

Near Surface Disposal Facility

News

September 23, 2025
Refining Canadian drinking water guidelines: Chalk River Laboratories conducting research to clarify unclear effects of consistently ingesting small amounts of uranium

Communities located near uranium deposits that rely on underground well water for drinking are at higher risk of chronically ingesting......

Read More Refining Canadian drinking water guidelines: Chalk River Laboratories conducting research to clarify unclear effects of consistently ingesting small amounts of uranium
September 23, 2025
Paving the way to a safe, hydrogen-fuelled future — Chalk River Laboratories investigating hydrogen explosions to better protect people, infrastructure

Knowing how to predict the impacts of an uncontained, outdoor hydrogen explosion is key to protecting the workers, public, and......

Read More Paving the way to a safe, hydrogen-fuelled future — Chalk River Laboratories investigating hydrogen explosions to better protect people, infrastructure
September 09, 2025
From concept to test model – CNL’s Novel Tooling Team readies for prototype build of the portable manipulator

It’s a multi-year project to better worker safety in high radiation fields, while advancing the field of nuclear site decommissioning......

Read More From concept to test model – CNL’s Novel Tooling Team readies for prototype build of the portable manipulator
August 01, 2025
CNL and partners identified three Canadian locations to advance the design of renewable diesel production facilities

Leveraging the feasibility results from the NRCan-funded project, the project team is now aiming to complete the front-end engineering design......

Read More CNL and partners identified three Canadian locations to advance the design of renewable diesel production facilities

A Journey with Purpose

1944
Chalk River Laboratories siting
Chalk River, Ontario is officially chosen for the site of the new Defence Industries Limited “Petawawa Works.” The laboratories were transferred to the National Research Council of Canada in 1947, which acted as an agent for the federal Atomic Energy Control Board. The site was later incorporated as AECL.
1945
A first for Canada
Zero Energy Experimental Pile (ZEEP) reactor comes online at the Chalk River site. This was the first controlled nuclear chain reaction outside of the United States. ZEEP was a small reactor which helped guide the development of the larger National Research X-perimental (NRX) reactor.
1947
National Research Experimental (NRX)
The NRX research reactor comes online and generates the highest neutron flux in the world. NRX was a multipurpose research reactor used to develop new isotopes, test materials and fuels (including the first uranium oxide fuels which became the international standard), and produce neutron radiation beams for research. NRX went offline in 1992.
1950
Neutron research
In the 1950's Dr. Bertram Brockhouse begins neutron beam research in the NRX reactor. This work won Brockhouse the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1994.
1952
A breakthrough in cancer treatment
AECL produced the radioisotope Cobalt-60. This materials, still used today, which was first used for cancer treatment through work by two separate teams in London (ON) and Saskatoon (SK).
1952
The creation of AECL
The National Research Council of Canada nuclear laboratory was transferred to the newly-incorporated federal crown corporation Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). NRX suffers a major accident but is rebuilt and restarted within 14 months.
1957
NRU comes to life
The National Research Universal (NRU) reactor comes online and is the world’s most powerful research reactor. This is also the first reactor in the world to refuel online. The NRU is a multi-mission facility, used to develop radioisotopes, test materials and fuels, and produce neutron radiation beams for research.
1960
Zero power, lots of possibility
The Zero Energy Deuterium (ZED)-2 reactor comes online at the Chalk River Laboratories. ZED-2 is still used for reactor physics and nuclear fuel research today.
1962
Nuclear power to the grid
The Nuclear Power Demonstration (NPD) reactor comes online in Rolphton, Ontario and is the first nuclear power-generating reactor in Canada to prove the CANDU® concept. In the years following, CANDU reactors would come online in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Argentina, China, India, South Korea, and Romania.
1964
WR-1: Whiteshell’s first reactor
Whiteshell Reactor (WR)-1 starts up in the Whiteshell Labs and is the world’s first organic-cooled research reactor.
1965
Safer food through irradiation
The world’s first food irradiator, built and designed by AECL, goes into operation. This technology improves the safety and extends the shelf life of foods by reducing or eliminating microorganisms and insects.
1970
SLOWPOKE
AECL designs and builds the prototype SLOWPOKE research reactor. It is sold to seven Canadian universities and research facilities, and one to the University of the West Indies in Jamaica.
1985
Accellerating science (TASCC)
The Tandem Accelerator Superconducting Cyclotron (TASCC) produces the first beam at Chalk River Laboratories. Elements from protons to uranium can be accelerated to research nuclear, atomic, and environmental science materials.
1991
A safer world through technology
AECL develops the Cerenkov Viewing Device (CVD) used by the International Atomic Energy Agency to monitor spent fuel inventory.
2000
A safe and secure world
AECL tests bundles of American Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel at the Chalk River Laboratories in the NRU reactor. The tests are part of a Canadian government proposal to reduce world-wide weapon-grade plutonium by “burning” it in reactors.
2009
Thorium fuels
AECL demonstrated Thorium fuel for use in CANDU reactors.
2010
Muons for research and security
AECL, in conjunction with government agencies and industry, develop a muon detector to monitor transport containers for nuclear materials. The device is known as CRIPT for Cosmic Ray Imaging and Passive Tomography.
2014
CNL “stands up”
On November 3, 2014, AECL launched a wholly-owned subsidiary named Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) is "stood up" to manage and operate the AECL laboratories, sites and projects.
2016
Environmental remediation underway
CNL began two major environmental remediation projects: the Near Surface Disposal Facility to dispose of low-level radioactive waste; and the Nuclear Power Demonstration Closure Project to safely decommission the facility and complete the closure of the NPD site.
2017
A global hub for SMR development
CNL launches its program to site a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) demonstration unit at one of its managed sites before 2030.
2017
A revitalization of the Chalk River campus
AECL, on behalf of the Government of Canada, announced the investment of $1.2 billion into the revitalization of the Chalk River Laboratories. This includes the construction of new infrastructure, support buildings and the Advanced Nuclear Materials Research Centre.
2018
A new lab for cyber security expertise
CNL opened the National Innovation Centre for Cybersecurity in Fredericton, New Brunswick, to focus on the protection of reactor and industrial control systems.
2019
Enabling targetted alpha therapy
CNL launches a new program to advance the production, availability and scientific understanding of actinium-225, a rare isotope that has shown promise as the basis for new, cutting-edge cancer therapies.
2020
Fighting a pandemic
In response to the urgent need for ventilators as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, CNL was part of an international effort to rapidly design and then get to market a ventilator that is simple to manufacture and safe for use.

Environmental Protection

CNL factors sustainable development into all activities, from the boardroom to the lunchroom to the laboratory.

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Facilities

CNL’s Chalk River Laboratories are the largest single complex in Canada’s science and technology community. The site contains more than 50 unique facilities and laboratories including several licensed nuclear facilities.

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The science of tomorrow, today.

Strategic Priorities: Vision 2030

Restore and protect Canada's environment

Clean energy for today and tomorrow

Contributing to the health of Canadians

Small Modular Reactors

Actinium-225

Environmental Projects

Safety & Security

Projects

Port Hope Area Initiative

Near Surface Disposal Facility

NPD Closure Project

WR1 Closure Project

News

Refining Canadian drinking water guidelines: Chalk River Laboratories conducting research to clarify unclear effects of consistently ingesting small amounts of uranium

Paving the way to a safe, hydrogen-fuelled future — Chalk River Laboratories investigating hydrogen explosions to better protect people, infrastructure

From concept to test model – CNL’s Novel Tooling Team readies for prototype build of the portable manipulator

CNL and partners identified three Canadian locations to advance the design of renewable diesel production facilities

A Journey with Purpose

Chalk River Laboratories siting

A first for Canada

National Research Experimental (NRX)

Neutron research

A breakthrough in cancer treatment

The creation of AECL

NRU comes to life

Zero power, lots of possibility

Nuclear power to the grid

WR-1: Whiteshell’s first reactor

Safer food through irradiation

SLOWPOKE

Accellerating science (TASCC)

A safer world through technology

A safe and secure world

Thorium fuels

Muons for research and security

CNL “stands up”

Environmental remediation underway

A global hub for SMR development

A revitalization of the Chalk River campus

A new lab for cyber security expertise

Enabling targetted alpha therapy

Fighting a pandemic

Environmental Protection

Facilities

Model Development Laboratory

Biological Research Facility

High Pressure Water Test Loop Facilities

Mechanical Testing Laboratories

ZED-2 Research Reactor

X-Ray Diffraction Laboratory

Thermalhydraulics Laboratory

Delayed Hydride Cracking Facility

Contact us to learn more about CNL’s work in clean energy, environmental protection, and health sciences.