Did you know that the former Director of Biology at CRNL, Dr. André Cipriani, was the inventor of the anti-nausea drug now known at Gravol? Do you know where four former Deep River residents (Sir John Cockcroft, Bert Brockhouse, Geoffrey Wilkinson and Art McDonald), who went on to be awarded Nobel prizes, lived? Do you know which former CRNL physicist was the lead scientist in the project to carbon date the Shroud of Turin, long claimed to be the shroud of Jesus Christ? Answers to these questions and many more scientific accomplishments by Deep-Riverites can be found in the “Homes of Canada’s Nuclear Pioneers” guide produced as a joint project between the Society for the Preservation of Canada’s Nuclear Heritage Inc. (SPCNHI) and the W.B. Lewis Library.
The guide was originally intended to be used during guided walks of Deep River in 2020 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the town. Unfortunately, the restrictions and problems caused by the arrival of Covid-19 caused a cancellation of almost all the planned anniversary events.
For several years Jim Ungrin of the SPCNHI has been researching the history of homes of prominent Deep River scientists. His information was reformatted by staff at the W.B. Lewis Library and designed into a fold-out guide by library summer student, Izzy Hersak. Sourena Golesorkhi, a SPCNHI Director, developed a labeled Deep River map showing the location of the houses discussed. Naomi Balla-Boudreau and her staff at the library then printed and folded the brochure for distribution at library events during 2021. Sourena, SPCNHI webmaestro, also took on the task of adding the guide to the SPCNHI website.
The Society has recently printed a larger number of copies of the guide, which can be picked up at the W.B. Lewis library, the town hall or from members of the Society Board. As the weather improves, the time has come to put on a pair of comfortable walking shoes and enjoy the walking tour. It begins at 1 Beach Avenue and wends it way past many locations on Beach and Parkdale before continuing to another 13 streets and locations in Deep River. Those of you not quite up to the walk could trade in your comfortable shoes for a comfortable chair near your computer or iPad and can follow the tour under the “Deep River Landmarks” tab at www.nuclearheritage.com.
