The Society for the Preservation of Canada’s Nuclear Heritage Inc. (SPCNHI) has now reached the important milestone of 500 catalogued physical artifacts. The start of photographing, cataloguing, and assigning unique QR-code labels to each artifact received began on 29 January 2018 with the first catalogued artifact being the cast-bronze specifications plaque donated by Julian Bayley from the 25 MW generator at NPD which produced Canada’s first nuclear-powered electricity.
Since that time the Society has relied on the local community as well as AECL/CNL for generous donations of artifacts that range from gemstone-studded long-service pins to reactor “rabbits” and recently, a large model of an Advanced CANDU Reactor.
Some of the artifacts have arrived in a rather straightforward manner while others have taken some time to locate and acquire. One set of items the Society has been seeking for some time has been the red unmentionables used by workers in the Active Area of CRNL. After almost three years, the search has ended with a donation by Darryl Smith of CNL. It is highly appropriate that this set of items should be a “milestone” artifact.
The search for interesting as well as scientifically-important artifacts does not of course end with the acquisition of the unmentionables and the Society continues to welcome donations of more nuclear-related artifacts from the community. We hope that with the end of Covid-19 in sight, albeit perhaps only with the use of binoculars, we will again be able to welcome groups of visitors to the collection in the near future. Watch for signs announcing the dates of Open Houses.
In the meantime, the Society invites you to visit its website at www.nuclearheritage.com where we have recently added a large collection of group photographs going back to 1946 under the “People” tab as well as a growing collection of Pioneer Retrospectives honouring our Nuclear Pioneers. Contact the Society at 613 584 3055 or 613 584 -9210 for pickup of any additional donations or email the Society at info@nuclearheritage.com.
