For more than a decade after the Canadian nuclear program was established, the wives of researchers were kept in the dark, initially about the work their husbands were doing but also of the laboratories where they did their work. We have recently come across a report written by Dr. David Keys (Scientific Advisor to the President, AECL) about a lifting of the curtain of secrecy in mid-1954. Dr. Keys wrote:
“The executive of the Deep River Women’s Club have requested, on several occasions, that permission be granted for a visit to the Plant of the wives of the men working there, as none of the wives had been permitted to enter the Plant area. As a result of deliberations with the President, it was agreed to bring all of those who so desired (with the exception of any pregnant women) into the Project on a guided tour of the NRX pile building, the Library and the Physics Research Laboratory. Nine bus loads, at half-hour intervals, left the Village and the tour took one- and one-half hours at the Plant. Husbands of some of the women on each bus, acted as guides. The 318 women who came appreciated the opportunity of seeing the laboratories and were also given a drive round the other parts of the Project. It was a very good act in public relations and well worth the time given to it by those who assisted. A small special folder was made up and presented to each wife as a memento of their visit.”
A search of the Canadian Nuclear Heritage Museum (CNHM) files, which have been meticulously catalogued by Tom Alburger, came up with a copy of this special memento. It was donated in 2021 by one of our visitors, former-AECL employee, Fred Backstein. The blue-covered, four-page artifact contains, in addition to a welcome written by Dr. Keys, a set of photographs of various buildings and labs at the Chalk River site. Noteworthy on the cover is the fact that the NRU building was not completely closed in as of that date (May 27, 1954).
A repeat tour for the ladies was organized on June 16, 1955, and the first Chalk River Open House was held September 22, 1956. It was attended by 962 people.
Visitors are always welcome to visit the CNHM to see our collection of artifacts and books or with the assistance of our guides, to explore our documents collection. To arrange a visit please send an email to info@ nuclear heritage.com
