Back To Top
Home > About CNL > CNL Awards of Excellence

Awards of Excellence

Recognizing exceptional talent and dedication


The CNL Awards of Excellence recognize individuals and teams whose exceptional talent, dedication and accomplishments help CNL deliver on its brand promise as Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology organization.
CNL Awards of Excellence

D.F. Torgerson Discovery Award

CNL’s Awards of Excellence are organized into two categories. The first, known as the D.F. Torgerson Discovery Award, is named after CNL’s former Executive Vice-President and Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Dave Torgerson, and recognizes employees for the generation of new or innovative ideas and solutions, significant research or technical achievements, and new business initiatives.

Distinguished Merit Award

The Distinguished Merit Award is given to employees who have made exceptional contributions in productivity improvements, achievements of increased revenue, decreased operating costs, safety innovation or environmental initiatives, development or strengthening of new or existing partnerships, and the exploitation of these results.

2023/2024 Award Recipients

15 November, 2024

D.F. Torgerson Award: Methology for the removal of the first NRX calandria

THE D.F. TORGERSON DISCOVERY AWARD IS AWARDED TO:
Alan Taylor, Peter Reid, Stephane Charbonneau, Chris Recoskie, Andrew Toomey, Natalie Sachar, Christian Surette, Austin Hrynyk, David Yuke, Nicholas Simpson, Sean Green, Bradley Banville, Daniel Cadieux, Bradley Kuehl, Jonathan Wishart, Dwane Killeen, Andrew Toomey
For the methodology to evaluate and plan the removal of the first NRX calandria from CRL’s Waste Management Area.    CNL’s Reactor Segmentation team has a mandate to characterize and plan the removal of nine AECL legacy reactors. Included in this scope is the first NRX calandria which was removed from NRX in 1953 and buried in CRL’s Waste Management “A” facility. This object had been left untouched within its mound since it’s burial and its condition had not been clearly defined. The reactor segmentation team undertook a characterization campaign to better understand its condition, exact location and the radionuclidic profile of its material and contents which will lead to the development of future segmentation strategies and waste planning for this legacy object.
The waste characterization of the first NRX calandria (project WMAX) saw the installation of three standpipes above the buried calandria. These standpipes allowed in-house developed tools to cut into and access the calandria internals. Samples and videos were gathered from within the calandria which were analyzed and summarized in a waste characterization report. The project was successful in taking detailed photos showing damage to the calandria tubes, along with verifying the presence of fuel material left behind as the result of the 1952 NRX accident. The calandria characterization work was completed in May 2023.Building on the characterization work, the team also developed a fullscale mock-up of the NRX reactor calandria to prepare for future planned segmentation work. This design was completed by the Mechanical Equipment Development branch and fabricated by the on-site manufacturing team. The mock-up helped to successfully prove the segmentation methods, define tooling requirements, and define requirements for soil management. The successful mock-up work verified the highly effective segmentation approach, resulting in an economical solution to safely remove the damaged reactor calandria which will be completed in the next few years.
15 November, 2024

D.F. Torgerson Award: Small-specimen fabrication testing for irradiated materials

THE D.F. TORGERSON DISCOVERY AWARD IS AWARDED TO:
Vineet Bhakhri, Zhouyao Wang, Chris Dixon, James Trevail, Rob Beier, Sterling St Lawrence, James Valliant, Timothy Scott, Ziaul Haque, Michael Stewart, Kris Dunn, Hongbing Yu, Grant Bickel
For the small-specimen fabrication testing capability development for irradiated materials.                                           Since 2016, CNL has significantly advanced its capabilities in fabricating and testing small-scale mechanical specimens to cater to both domestic and international commercial clients, thereby enhancing its commercial revenue. Small-scale mechanical tests involve the fabrication and testing of specimens that range from millimetre to sub-millimetre sizes.
CNL has multiple advanced fabrication capabilities, namely focused ion beam (FIB) mill, laser ablation system, which are customized to produce high-quality miniature specimens from irradiated reactor components. CNL researchers have developed a FIB-based workflow to fabricate, and test micron-sized tensile specimens of specific microstructural features of interest, to directly observe deformation within ex-service materials. The results from these experiments have provided critical information for life prediction modelling of spacers, and the fracture toughness of irradiated pressure tubes.
The CNL team utilized this technique on Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF) claddings in a project funded by Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF)-Americas, a GE-Hitachi venture. The aim was to mechanically characterize a ceramic protective coating, only a few microns thick, and its interface with zirconiumalloy- based cladding. The results from this study were shared with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US-NRC) by the customer as part of the material qualification process.Experiments on shear testing of pressure tube rolled joints have been developed to address a need of Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to assess the effect of hydrogen pick-up on the mechanical integrity of the pressure tube at the ribs of the rolled joints. CNL’s team designed a small shear specimen geometry suitable for testing sub-mm sized specimens of pressure tubes. The specimen was fabricated using precision metallography and laser ablation. CNL researchers worked closely with an international meso-scale mechanical test system supplier to customize shear testing grips for miniaturized shear test specimens. Initial OPG funded developmental work has been performed on unirradiated pressure tube material in year 2023, and irradiated material testing has been planned for years 2024-25.
15 November, 2024

Distinguished Merit Award: Development of multi-physics multi-scaled coupled cold suite

THE DISTINGUISHED MERIT AWARD IS AWARDED TO:
Krishna Podila, Qi Chen, Peter Pfeiffer, Chenguang Li, Aleksandar Vasic, Yanfei Rao, Aneesh John, Geoffrey Waddington, Xianmin Huang, Tariq Jafri, David Wang, Alexandre Trottier, Sourena Golesorkhi, Ashlea Colton, Samuel Kelly
For the development of multi-physics multi-scaled coupled code suite for modelling SMRs.
This project is a culmination of several years of intensive research and development (R&D) work and marks the successful completion of two Annual Program of Work & Budget (APWB) milestones in FY23/24 and FY24/25.
The developed small modular reactor (SMR) modelling capabilities and the coupled code suite will serve as an enabler for the accelerated development and deployment of SMRs. First-of-a-kind analyses undertaken by this team resulted in the development of unique modelling capabilities at CNL that facilitate the execution of the multi-physics analyses for modelling transients in SMRs and microreactors.Development of an integrated modelling approach across three disciplines (3D high-fidelity, CFD along with system thermalhydraulics and neutronics) for a multiphysics capability was accomplished within this work. Specifically, the unique ability to undertake two-way and three-way coupled code analyses to simulate normal and transient scenarios for gas-cooled reactors (GCRs) and molten salt reactors (MSRs).
The path to net-zero emissions requires innovative predictive tools based on mechanistic principles and innovative technologies to gain detailed insights into the flow and heat transfer aspects of the non-water cooled reactor concepts. The highfidelity CFD modelling along with system thermalhydraulics and neutronics found in the SMR Multiphysics coupled code suite can be applied to evaluate reactor safety and determine needed experiments, a paradigm that can be leveraged to obtain detailed insights on where data is needed and reduce the experimentation cost. Modelling experience from this project has resulted in commercial work from a Molten Salt Reactor SMR vendor, Terrestrial Energy Canada Limited, under the CNL CNRI Program.Unique capabilities developed at CNL within this project have resulted in fruitful international collaborations with several partners including Idaho National Laboratories and Oregon State University under the US-Canada Nuclear Action Plan.The development of the coupled code suite for modelling transients in SMRs, an industry-first for advanced reactors in Canada, have and will continue to lead to an enhanced understanding of the core integrity and safe operation of the SMRs in Canada.
15 November, 2024

Distinguished Merit Award: Revitalization of CNL’s Travelling Flux Detector System for Neutron Flux

THE DISTINGUISHED MERIT AWARD IS AWARDED TO:
Luke Lebel, Kyle Barlow, Julian Atfield, Normand Lair, Luke Yaraskavitch, David Grand-Maitre, Toban Verdun, Carl Neggers
For the revitalization of CNL’s Travelling Flux Detector System for Neutron Flux Mapping in CANDU Stations.                                     The traveling flux detector (TFD) system is a tool that AECL/CNL has used for CANDU 6 flux mapping since the 1980s. With the closure of Gentilly-2, however, and after the completion of a large measurement campaign in 2012 during the Point Lepreau refurbishment, it was originally determined to have limited customers for new scan campaigns. With the system’s components ageing, and key experienced staff retiring, the sustainability of the system was in question in the late 2010s.
In 2021, OPG and Bruce Power both contacted CNL to perform flux scanning for their newly refurbished units, starting with Darlington Unit 3. OPG had attempted to perform similar flux mapping manually with their own instruments during the Unit 2 restart, but encountered many challenges. The renewed interest and prospect of new customers brought the TFD capability back as a CNL priority. However, it was necessary for CNL to rebuild the capability to be ready for the measurement campaigns for new include period after customers.This team was tasked with rebuilding the CNL TFD capability and conducting the measurement campaigns for the new customers. This involved a tremendous amount of work to grow the team of TFD operating staff, train them on the use of the systems, and refurbish the ageing components of the TFD equipment. In addition, the core team had to design support systems for coupling the TFD with the reactors and make the system ready for service at the sites, including the development of work plans and test procedures, and carrying out system tests. A project began to update the electronics systems and operating software. The team worked diligently and cooperated to complete this extensive effort and bring the TFD capability back into full service for CNL customers.
This culminated in TFD flux scan campaigns occurring in May/June 2023 for Darlington Unit 3 and August 2023 for Bruce Unit 6 during their post-refurbishment restarts. Moreover, additional scan campaigns are occurring at Point Lepreau (beginning in 2024 March and throughout the rest of the year around their current outage schedule), and at OPG Darlington to conduct post-refurbishment scans for Darlington Unit 1 in September. Customers are also engaging CNL to conduct flux scanning campaigns for the remaining Darlington, Bruce, and Pickering units upon their refurbishment. Additional avenues of TFD business and new capabilities are also being explored by the team given their understanding of the TFD capabilities and operational experience with the recent campaigns.
15 November, 2024

Distinguished Merit Award: Reduction of bioassay sampling with Facilities Decommissioning

THE DISTINGUISHED MERIT AWARD IS AWARDED TO:
Brittany Cole, Anthony Masters
For the reduction of bioassay sampling with Facilities Decommissioning.
Following the annual review of routine bioassay schedules across Facilities Decommissioning (FD), it was determined that there was a prevalence of overprescribed tests in the majority of employee bioassay test schedules. A team reviewed the bioassay samples for Facilities Decommissioning and identified the different employee categories within the department, reviewed all of the data for decommissioning, and identified the different employee categories within the department. This significant effort to organize the data and analyze the situation confirmed that given the risk present there was an excessive amount of bioassay.
With this information, the team then consulted with Internal Dosimetry to ensure that the changes being made were sound in terms of the risk presented. Brittany then changed all the categories listed in the Corporate Dosimetry System and ensured that the relevant changes were applied.
After a detailed review with Radiation Protection Management and Internal Dosimetry, changes were implemented to reduce the amount of testing specifically for Lung Counts and Plutonium sampling significantly.
These changes have reduced the cost of testing and increased efficiency by reducing the hours spent on testing to 1686 person hours saved per year.
15 November, 2024

Distinguished Merit Award: Computational Fluid Dynamics Study and Calculations

THE DISTINGUISHED MERIT AWARD IS AWARDED TO:
Luke Lebel, Sreeyuth Lal, Aneesh John, Brendan Barber, Jeffrey Fortin, Andrew Toomey
For the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Study and Calculations to Support Decision-Making for Decommissioning Strategies for Nuclear Facilities.
Large inventories of tritium have accumulated in Canada in the past few decades, from the activation of heavy water in CANDU® reactors. Through the lifetime of these reactors, as well as associated processing or research facilities, tritium has migrated throughout the buildings in which it was used; this also includes the uptake of tritium deep into the concrete of these buildings. As traditional remediation techniques that rely on surface contamination treatment would not be effective, and deep tritium remediation prior to demolition is difficult and still an area of active research, alternative solutions that rely on leaving the tritium in-situ are being pursued.
This project documented the completion of the milestone for conducting a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) study to support decision-making for decommissioning strategies for nuclear facilities. The study centred around B250 at the Chalk River Laboratories site and aimed to inform how much tritium can be left in-situ without compromising safety during open-air demolition.
“Open air demolition” approach results in material with active contamination being released into the atmosphere during the demolition activities, a risk that needs to be quantified. One of the challenges with this process, is that the dispersion around the buildings is often quite difficult to characterize, given the complex emission source and buildings nearby that result in convoluted wind field profiles. It is largely beyond the capabilities of classical modeling tools, but it is something that can be accomplished with higher fidelity modeling tools like Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). With many legacy buildings that have contained tritium in the past slated for decommissioning, if open air demolition is to remain an option while leaving tritium contamination insitu, advanced tools that can help quantify the worker dose should be evaluated as part of the tool set.
This study focused on demonstrating the methodology of applying CFD to decommissioning applications for worker dose evaluation, with the aim to use this knowledge for future projects as part of a decommissioning safety analysis tool set.The team demonstrated exceptional initiative by going beyond traditional modeling approaches, exploring high-fidelity simulations to address complex tritium dispersion challenges, and the effective application of CFD to this context represents a novel approach in decommissioning strategy development, especially in the context of radiological safety.
15 November, 2024

Distinguished Merit Award: Implementation of a new safety standard for the management of Perchlorat

THE DISTINGUISHED MERIT AWARD IS AWARDED TO:
Hooman Golshahi, Camille Gervais
For the implementation of a new safety standard for the management of Perchlorate hazard.
During decommissioning of facilities housing fume hoods contaminated with the presence of perchlorate salts, CNL recognized the need to improve the existing perchlorate testing procedure and to create an internal safety standard to address the risks associated during decommissioning and maintenance of fume hoods and associated exhaust systems contaminated with perchlorate salts. The initiative to develop and implement this new safety standard was led by the Industrial Hygiene (IH) Corporate Team.
For company-wide implementation, the IH Services group completed a large amount of documentation review including regulatory guidelines, research articles, industry practices and initiating discussions with internal and external stakeholder groups. An internal CNL working group was formed and included representatives from Facilities
Decommissioning, Maintenance, Radiation Protection, Waste Management, OSH, and Line SMEs. Hooman and Camille participated in many months of discussions and addressed operational and safety concerns raised during these working discussions. They presented on their proposed risk assessment decision criteria, dispositioned comments, and perchlorated contamination sampling strategy and analysis methodology, successfully establishing collaboration with the internal stakeholder to finally release the standard in September of 2023.The improvements in risk assessment, sampling strategy and analysis methodology established the framework to conduct decommissioning or maintenance work activities on perchlorate contaminated fume hoods or their exhaust systems with an approach focused on safety. Hooman and Camille plan to continue their research and improvements on the sampling and analysis strategies with further laboratory experiments and plan to submit proposals to publish an article describing all findings in NIOSH’s Journal of Occupational Safety and Health. This is planned for completion in October 2024.
15 November, 2024

Distinguished Merit Award: Development and commissioning of an internal pressure fatigue test rig

THE DISTINGUISHED MERIT AWARD IS AWARDED TO:
Qingwu Cheng, Changqing Zhang, Roman Lungu, Tibor Molnar, Timothy McCabe, Aidan Rutledge, Eli Simova, Krassimir Stoev, Michael Gharghouri, Stanley Okonji, Heidi Nordin, Gilles Danis For the development and commissioning of an internal pressure fatigue test rig.
The team displayed dedication, innovation and problem solving skills in a tight schedule with limited budget to develop a unique internal pressure fatigue test rig to assess the impact of a coating on the fatigue behaviour of fuel cladding. This unqiue apparatus used state-of-the-art technologies that when combined, enabled control of the test environment to measure strain in the specimen, cycles to fatigue failure and detection of fatigue failure. The test required heating specimens to high temperature (350°C), pressurizing internally with an oil to a maximum pressure of 50 MPa and cycling the internal pressure at a 1 Hz frequency. With the fatigue test rig built upon the biaxial burst apparatus (BBA), two key challenges needed to be overcome: the ability to cycle the pressure at a rapid rate (1 Hz) and acheiving a sufficiently uniform temperature on the test section. The high cycling rate of the pressure required significant design and testing activities to ensure that the cycling rate could be acheived, as well as ensuring that the cycling could be maintained reliably over the long duration of typical testing. Similarly, obtaining a sufficiently uniform temperature on the test section required novel design and testing efforts, especially ensuring uniformity at the high temperature of 350°C. In addition to the novel design challenges, the team had to ensure that testing could be performed safely and that the operator would be protected from the temperature and the sudden burst of the test specimens when fatigue failure occurred.
The development of this capability broadens CNL’s ability to service the Light Water Reactor (LWR) fuel Post Irradiation Examination (PIE), which is expected to be relevant for the qualification and licensing support of accident tolerant fuel cladding.
15 November, 2024

Distinguished Merit Award: HEPro installation at Bruce Power

THE DISTINGUISHED MERIT AWARD IS AWARDED TO:
Guy Leblond, Jacqueline Parco, Craig Stuart, Tyler Chaput, Karen Duffy, Ted Chiasson, Steven McGee, Mark Bernans, Bryon McConnell, Jennifer Shin
For the HEPro installation at Bruce Power
After a period of planning, collaboration and crtitical problem solving, the multiorganization team at the Research and Productivity Council, the University of New Brunswick’s Centre for Nuclear Energy Research, Bruce Power, Russell A. Farrow Limited, and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories successfully installed the HEPro Hydrogen Effusion Probe at Bruce Power Unit 6.
On August 03, 2023, at the first attempt at installation, it was discovered that the outer diameter of the target pipe at Unit 6 was larger than that of all the previous installations at other reactors and the connectors would not fit. Rapidly, the connectors were re-designed and remanufactured in New Brunswick, priorityshipped back to Bruce Power, staff returned to Bruce Power. On August 12, 2023 the second attempt at installation was made quickly and successfully on the first try, with the sealing performance significantly improving the performance requirements, and avoiding the reactor re-start Critical Path by approximately two weeks.
CNL’s staff, the staff at CNL’s sub-contractors (Research and Productivity Council, the University of New Brunswick’s Centre for Nuclear Energy Research), the staff at Bruce Power, and the staff at Bruce Power’s other subcontractors (Sargent & Lundy, Globotech, Russel A. Farrow Limited), through collaboration and hardwork delivered on the task safely, accurately and in great time, exceeding the client’s expectations.
15 November, 2024

Distinguished Merit Award: Breaking down Indigenous perceptions about the Whiteshell Laboratories

THE DISTINGUISHED MERIT AWARD IS AWARDED TO:Mitch MacKay, Gabrielle Gracey, Jeff Miller, Leslie Wilson
For breaking down Indigenous perceptions about the Whiteshell Laboratories.
Whiteshell Laboratories is situated on Treaty 1 and Treaty 3 territory. It is the traditional lands of several First Nations and part of the Homeland of the Red River Métis. CNL has been working hard to establish positive relationships with these Indigenous communities. Through major projects such as the WR-1 environmental assessment, the Whiteshell Land Use End State, and the Environmental Protection Program, it is clear that negative stigma exists in the minds of most Indigenous People.
The group of people nominated have collectively contributed to a substantial increase in positive relationships with these communities and important work that has reduced stigma about the site and the nuclear industry in general. Notable achievements by this team in FY 2023/2024 include numerous presentations about the safe decommissioning plans for WR-1 and tours through the facility, many Whiteshell site visits, the reconnection to the land through ceremony and prayer, collaboration on plans and documents for the restoration of the site, participation in the Nigaan Aki environmental monitoring program, and many community joint environmental monitoring activities on site.
The CNL team has invested in learning about Indigenous culture and have increased their knowledge on trauma-informed engagement. The work this team has done has translated into substantial reductions in psychosocial impacts felt by Indigenous people living near the site.
15 November, 2024

Distinguished Merit Award: Outstanding recovery of Whiteshell Fire Operations (Part 1)

THE DISTINGUISHED MERIT AWARD IS AWARDED TO:
Brent MacDonald, Adrian Bilton
For outstanding recovery of Whiteshell (WL) Fire Operations.
In April 2023 following an assessment of the WL Fire Protection Program, the WL site was placed into a safe stand down state. New WL Fire Chief Brent MacDonald and the WL Fire Protection team, supported by the CNL Fire Protection Program, implemented a year-long recovery plan. The recovery plan involved:
  • Realigning the WL Fire Protection organisation to separate the from the traditional organisation that was combined with the WL Security team.
  • Recruiting an excellent team of managers and firefighters.
  • Establishing a thorough training and practice exercise program that meets and exceeds NFPA and CNL corporate standards.
  • Procuring new fire fighting equipment to meet modern standards.
  • Updating approximately 100 procedures and supporting documents.
  • Implementing sustainable corrective actions to address numerous long-standing non-compliances.
The accomplishment of the outstanding recovery by the entire team over the past year, has enabled WL emerge from the stand down a stronger, site underpinned by more capable fire, security and emergency response organizations.
15 November, 2024

Distinguished Merit Award: Outstanding recovery of Whiteshell Fire Operations (Part 2)

THE DISTINGUISHED MERIT AWARD IS AWARDED TO:
Brent MacDonald, Adrian Bilton
For outstanding recovery of Whiteshell (WL) Fire Operations.
In April 2023 following an assessment of the WL Fire Protection Program, the WL site was placed into a safe stand down state. New WL Fire Chief Brent MacDonald and the WL Fire Protection team, supported by the CNL Fire Protection Program, implemented a year-long recovery plan. The recovery plan involved:
  • Realigning the WL Fire Protection organisation to separate the from the traditional organisation that was combined with the WL Security team.
  • Recruiting an excellent team of managers and firefighters.
  • Establishing a thorough training and practice exercise program that meets and exceeds NFPA and CNL corporate standards.
  • Procuring new fire fighting equipment to meet modern standards.
  • Updating approximately 100 procedures and supporting documents.
  • Implementing sustainable corrective actions to address numerous long-standing non-compliances.
The accomplishment of the outstanding recovery by the entire team over the past year, has enabled WL emerge from the stand down a stronger, site underpinned by more capable fire, security and emergency response organizations.