Ignace Hosts Inaugural Nuclear Youth Symposium for Future Careers

The Township of Ignace, Ontario, recently hosted its first-ever Nuclear Youth Symposium, bringing together over 100 high school students for a three-day event aimed at connecting youth with careers in nuclear energy and skilled trades. The symposium, which took place at the Ignace Recreation Centre from March 12 to March 14, 2024, sought to inform students about long-term job opportunities linked to the proposed deep geological repository for nuclear waste.

In November 2023, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) selected Ignace as the preferred site for this repository, which will store Canada’s nuclear waste deep underground. While the construction of the facility is still years away, anticipated to begin in the 2030s pending necessary approvals, the township is proactively preparing for the future workforce.

Mayor Kim Baigrie emphasized the event’s significance, stating that it represents a major investment in Ignace’s future. “This symposium will empower our young people with knowledge, necessary trade skills, and connections that will help shape the future of used nuclear fuel in our province and our country,” Baigrie remarked.

Hands-On Learning and Engagement

The symposium featured workshops, engineering demonstrations, and opportunities for students to engage with professionals from the nuclear, trades, and regulatory sectors. Ashley Cuglietta, the director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and Indigenous relations at Skills Ontario, noted the emphasis on hands-on learning. “They’re learning about different skilled-trade careers,” Cuglietta explained. “Whether it be carpentry and they’re building something or looking at becoming an electrician and they’re hooking up wires to make a light bulb turn on.”

The initiative aims to raise awareness about various skilled trades that students may not be familiar with. “We just want to increase the knowledge of youth,” Cuglietta added. Christy Radbourne, a director with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board, highlighted the importance of introducing students to career pathways at an early stage. “It’s really critical that we introduce students to ideas and to career pathways early, so that they can make the right choices in high school,” she stated.

Students from Ignace, Pickle Lake, and Dryden participated in the symposium, benefiting from hands-on activities tailored to engage those interested in trades and technical fields.

Future Planning and Community Involvement

The symposium also included a youth-led planning exercise that will contribute to the township’s strategic plan. Jake Pastore, the communications and outreach lead for Ignace, noted that students are expected to develop several significant recommendations for the township council. This initiative encourages high school students to consider careers in nuclear energy and skilled trades as Ignace prepares for upcoming major projects.

Pastore explained the importance of timing for the event, linking it to community milestones such as the planned construction of new homes and the development of a 65,000-square-foot NWMO Centre of Expertise, projected to create between 180 to 200 jobs. “We want these high school students to start thinking about their futures and hopefully staying in Ignace or coming back to this region to build their careers and families,” Pastore said.

While the plan to locate the repository in Ignace has garnered support, it has also faced opposition from various groups, including a coalition of First Nations. The First Nations Land Defence Alliance expressed their concerns in a letter to the NWMO, stating, “We have never received a response” regarding their apprehensions and demanded respect for their collective decision to oppose the site.

Other grassroots organizations, such as We the Nuclear Free North, have raised concerns about the safety of long-term nuclear waste storage and the risks associated with transporting radioactive material. Critics argue that there is insufficient scientific evidence to support the safe long-term burial of nuclear fuel and caution against potential risks related to container failures over time.

In response to these concerns, Pastore emphasized the township’s commitment to transparency and community feedback. He pointed out that there will be a five to seven-year regulatory process, allowing for public input from those with reservations about the project. “There will be opportunities for them to provide a voice around their concerns,” he stated, assuring that national and international nuclear agencies will oversee the process to ensure safety and technical standards are met.

The success of the Nuclear Youth Symposium marks a significant step for Ignace as it prepares its youth for future opportunities in nuclear energy and skilled trades, fostering a community that is engaged and informed about the implications of hosting Canada’s nuclear waste.