Protecting the Environment. Preparing for the Future.

Revitalizing the Land for Communities and Conservation

Sixty years ago this July, the first family moved to the new town of Pinawa, Manitoba. The town, nestled on the bank of the Winnipeg River on Treaty 3 Territory, was built for the employees of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), who would continue to move to the area and work at the much-anticipated nuclear research station.

The growth of the town was mirrored by the research taking place 14 kilometres away at Whiteshell Laboratories and, at its peak, there were close to 1,400 employees working on-site who helped contribute to nuclear research that has benefitted Canadians and people around the world.

Research funding was significantly reduced and, in 1998, the Government announced the closure of Whiteshell Laboratories. Restoration activities have been underway since then and all research has been moved to the Chalk River Laboratories site in Ontario.