To the editor,
The passion of people in this region was on full display once again at the recent Touch-a-Truck event in Mildmay. It reminded me of how fortunate I am to work in a community of such wonderful and welcoming people. We witnessed firsthand so much positivity from community members who are excited about the future of South Bruce, about the science and innovation around deep geological repositories and about the real and responsible growth this national infrastructure project could bring for generations.
Hundreds of residents and families attended the event and many passed through the NWMO’s Mobile Learn More Centre. It was especially inspiring to see young scientists learning about Canada’s plan to safely contain and isolate used nuclear fuel. It’s very special to see their eyes light up when you show them a 400-million-year-old rock sample pulled up from 600 metres underground near Teeswater.
We know that what’s here is worth keeping and worth building on for future generations. Through the release of a series of peer-reviewed community studies, we are starting to see some of the potential impacts of the project, including strong and stable growth over many years.
For example, the studies have found the labour force needed for the project is already well represented in the region and will be replenished by the high number of graduates from universities and colleges in the area. During construction the NWMO estimates there will be more than 600 high-value jobs directly tied to the project, a number that increases to 700 jobs during operations.
Some people in those jobs will work out of the Centre of Expertise, which will house a technical and social research program, and technology demonstration program. The Centre will be home to scientists and specialists from a variety of disciplines. It will be a world-class destination for knowledge sharing across Canada and around the globe.
This region has the potential to preserve what makes it special today, while continuing to grow as a home to a thriving local job market with local businesses and flourishing community services.
The studies published so far are just the beginning. There is still a lot more information to come, as more local studies are completed over the next year, so please stay tuned. We’ll see the project’s potential effects on infrastructure, housing, health care, education, jobs, community services and more. Together we can use this information to identify opportunities, mitigate challenges, ensure a steady and planful approach to growth and most importantly to make informed decisions.
In the meantime, I look forward to our continued work in the community. We are committed to the process of site selection. This means that regardless of whether the project is sited in South Bruce, we want the community to be better off for having participated. That’s why we’ll continue to work with community groups to identify and support important projects and initiatives to promote community well-being.
We’re grateful to be part of this inspiring region and we are looking forward to exploring some of the real – and exciting – possibilities.
Tareq Al-Zabet
NWMO Director of Site Selection – South Bruce
