Followers of the early days of Chalk River will recognize the letters D.I.L. as standing for Defence Industries Limited. This was the Crown Corporation established during WWII to oversee the construction of various munitions plants in Canada and eventually the construction of both Deep River and the “Plant”.
Jean Cooper recently donated to the Society for the Preservation of Canada’s Nuclear Heritage Inc. a copy of the Nitro Journal – a monthly bi-lingual D.I.L. publication for its employees. The journal was published starting in 1940 from the Salaberrry Works near Montreal at Nitro, QC, and had a circulation of 2500. It continued until 1945.
The issue donated (Vol 5 NO. 6 (August-September, 1945)) is the 54th and the next issue was to be the last as the war was over and the staff of D.I.L. began to disperse.
Two items in the Journal are relevant to the nuclear industry. One is an article headlined: ”D.I.L. Assists in Canada’s Research In Atomic Energy – Pilot Plant now Nears Completion.” The articles goes on to state that C.D. Howe, following the attack on Hiroshima, issued a statement disclosing that “a pilot plant for the purpose of investigating one of the methods of making material which is required for the atomic bomb is nearing completion on a 10,000 acre site west of Petawawa Military Camp, not far from Chalk River, Ont.”
The article continues with a description of the organization of the effort involving D.I.L., Fraser-Brace, the Montreal Lab. and the National Research Council. A sub-headline then reads; ”Secret Well Kept”. It explains “Extraordinary security precautions exist in the three countries in which the research work is located and, in accordance with the established procedure, similar security measures are in effect in D.I.L.”
Grenville Smith Vice-President and General Manager of D.I.L. cautions; ”Other than the official announcement, there has been no relaxation whatsoever and no information may be divulged by the company or its employees; any information about the Canadian project will be made available to the public, including employees of C.I.L. and D.I.L. , exclusively in official releases from Ottawa”.
The Journal also had articles on many local events and issues in Nitro, not unlike the North Renfrew Times, and a gossipy column entitled “Village Whispers.” In it we learn “Mr. and Mrs. Ian Ritchie had as weekend guests Douglas Austen, once of Nitro then of Nobel and Rupert Wright also of Nobel.” All three of these families played roles in early Deep River and Chalk River life with Austen and Wright having long careers at the Plant.
The Society continues to welcome newspaper clippings and articles about the early days in the nuclear industry. Hard copies may be mailed to the Society at Box 441 Deep River, ON, K0J IP0 and digital copies may be sent to info@nuclearheritage.com.
