Networking event welcomes local companies and organizations interested in doing business with CNL and its major partners
Chalk River, ON – December 19, 2022 – Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology organization, is pleased to announce it hosted local businesses at its 2022 Supply Chain ‘Meet and Greet’, a networking event that was organized in partnership with the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan, the County of Renfrew and Pontiac Regional County Municipality. Held at the Pembroke Inn & Conference Centre, the event welcomed over 100 local businesses and suppliers interested in working with CNL and its many strategic delivery partner companies.
“As Canada’s national nuclear laboratories, CNL has a major economic footprint in the region, and we have a responsibility to extend commercial opportunities to local and Indigenous businesses wherever we can,” commented Joe McBrearty, CNL’s President and CEO. “Attendees who participated in this supply chain networking event were given the opportunity to meet with CNL and our major suppliers, learn more about the many commercial opportunities within our program of work, and explore potential collaboration opportunities, with both CNL and our partnership network. Overall, I think the event was a great success, and I want to thank all the local business who took time out of their busy schedules to attend.”
The afternoon event was designed to be as informative and interactive as possible to ensure the interests and needs of potential suppliers were met. In addition to providing attendees with the opportunity to network in a ‘tradeshow setting,’ the event also included a series of informative panel discussions covering topics related to CNL’s program of work, and the supply chain qualification process. Representatives from CNL and its 11 strategic delivery partner companies, as well as the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan, the County of Renfrew and Pontiac Regional County, were also on hand to meet with participants.
“This is the first time that CNL and its partners have hosted this event, but we do plan to hold it again in the future, so we really encourage all local businesses to attend, whether you operate a local garage, hotel, catering company or lumber yard,” commented Phil Colwill, CNL’s General Manager of Supply Chain. “This is not just for nuclear suppliers – it is intended for all local business in the region, so that CNL can get to know them and explore opportunities to collaborate with one another. There is a lot of work coming over the next decade at CNL, and we are going to do our best to leverage that work to help support the local economy here in the Ottawa Valley.”
CNL has made it a priority to localize its supply chain when possible and cultivate better relationships with organizations throughout the Ottawa Valley, extending economic benefits to the region. In addition to this event, CNL recently held its Industry Day earlier this year in June, an annual event that promotes engagement between CNL’s nuclear partners and local organizations and Indigenous communities. CNL also continues to maintain its online vendor portal, a website that provides comprehensive information about how to do business with the company. Finally, CNL recently signed a series of partnership agreements which prioritize the use of local resources in the delivery of its work, including the hiring of local vendors that live and work in the Ottawa Valley, and the use of Indigenous contractors.
CNL’s 10-year capital program is funded through a $1.2 billion investment from AECL on behalf of the Government of Canada and includes multiple new facilities as well as site-wide infrastructure upgrades to improve energy performance. CNL also has a large environmental remediation and restoration program including the Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI) and large-scale remediation at the Chalk River site in support of restoring and protecting Canada’s environment.
To learn more about CNL and its program of work, please visit www.cnl.ca.
About CNL
As Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology laboratory, and working under the direction of AECL, CNL is a world leader in the development of innovative nuclear science and technology products and services. Guided by an ambitious corporate strategy known as Vision 2030, CNL fulfills three strategic priorities of national importance – restoring and protecting the environment, advancing clean energy technologies, and contributing to the health of Canadians.
By leveraging the assets owned by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), CNL also serves as the nexus between government, the nuclear industry, the broader private sector and the academic community. CNL works in collaboration with these sectors to advance innovative Canadian products and services towards real-world use, including carbon-free energy, cancer treatments and other therapies, non-proliferation technologies and waste management solutions.
To learn more about CNL, please visit www.cnl.ca.
-30-
CNL Contact:
Patrick Quinn
Director, Corporate Communications
1-866-886-2325
