Canadian Nuclear Heritage Museum
51 Poplar Street, Deep River, Ontario
About the Museum
The Canadian Nuclear Heritage Museum, run by the Society for the Preservation of Canada’s Nuclear Heritage Incorporated (SPCNHI), is located at 51 Poplar St in Deep River, Ontario, the “Home of Canada’s Nuclear Pioneers”. Displays include reactor models, fuel and tools, radiation detectors; early computers, scientific equipment, memorabilia and personal items, and much else.
The SPCNHI is a federally-registered volunteer-run charity, incorporated in 2017. We collect, conserve, catalogue, interpret and display artifacts and documents from Canada’s long and wide history of nuclear science and technology: research, utilities, mining, universities, industry, government, health care, etc.
Our building, B462, is on loan from Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and is maintained by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. It was once home to administrative and maintenance activities in the town of Deep River, the bedroom community established in 1945 to serve the Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories.
The Canadian Nuclear Heritage Museum is located on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabe people. As a museum focused on a segment of Canadian history, we honour their enduring connection to this land, their rich cultural heritage, and their ongoing contributions to the community and country.
Interviews
Video interviews with pioneers of Canada's nuclear industry.
Our Collection
The Society endeavours to represent the entire Canadian nuclear story, and welcomes donations from individuals, corporations, educational institutions and others. Our collection includes over 1,000 books, thousands of other documents and photographs, and more than 600 physical artifacts.
Most of these were donated to the museum, but some larger models are on loan from Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. Some items are personal, such as retirement gifts and a rosary of Marcel Pochon (senior 1930s chemist at the Port Hope refinery); some are promotional, like the NRX and ZEEP reactor models; others are technical equipment, for example AECL’s first digital computer and the SLOWPOKE reactor control desk from the University of Alberta.
If you or your organization has items that may be of interest to us, please contact us.
Sample Artifacts
Virtual Tour
We joined forces with Owl Virtual Tours to produce a virtual tour of our museum, to allow you to see our collection from the comfort of your own home. If you want to see these items in person and get more information on them individually, please contact us for an in-person tour!
Location
- HOURS
The museum is not open regular hours as yet, but tours are readily arranged by contacting us. We have hosted visits by individuals, families, school classes, business organizations, clubs and other groups.
Deep River Landmarks
Deep River has had a number of famous residents over its its existence, including inventors, Nobel laureates, and a Soviet spy. Some of the addresses which housed these notable denizens have been collected into a map, shown below. Where available, historical photos and details of the life and work of the resident have been included.
You can click the icon at the top left corner of the map for more details. A physical version of this map is under preparation in association with the Deep River Public Library. If you have further suggestions or historical photos which may be appropriate for inclusion, please contact us at info@nuclearheritage.com.
Please note: The addresses formerly inhabited by famous residents are currently private residences. When touring these sites, please be respectful of their privacy and take utmost care not to disturb our neighours.
