Montreal: November 29, 2024– AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear company with offices around the world, welcomes Dr. Ur Metser, Site Director of Medical Imaging at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Division Head of Molecular Imaging at University Health Network, as a new ambassador in support of the Canadians for CANDU campaign.
The Canadians for CANDU campaign was launched on February 28, 2024, and is proudly supported by organizations including organized labour, supply chain, nuclear medicine, education, and Indigenous Canadian organizations. Spearheaded by Co-Chairs the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien and former Ontario Premier Mike Harris, the campaign promotes the deployment of CANDU® nuclear technology at home and abroad in support of Canadian and global efforts to reach net-zero emissions.
CANDU technology remains the only nuclear power technology that co-produces the medical isotopes that are used in cancer-fighting treatments and the sterilization of medical devices. The current CANDU fleet in Ontario produces 50% of the world’s supply of Cobalt-60, which is used for medical device sterilization1. It is also the only nuclear reactor with the capacity to mass produce the cancer-fighting medical isotope lutetium-177, which is used as a targeted therapy, including for prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumours.
“I would like to thank Dr. Metser for his leadership in Canada’s development of medical and molecular imaging, and his support for CANDU technology,” said Joe St. Julian, President, Nuclear, AtkinsRéalis. “It is well known in the medical community that Canada will need to boost its production and processing capacity of medical isotopes to adequately meet the rise in demand. CANDU is the only technology that can address both our energy and public health needs at the same time.”
“The development of the next generation of CANDU reactor is crucial for ensuring a steady, reliable supply of medical isotopes that are vital in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases, offering hope and life-saving therapies to thousands of patients,” said Dr. Metser. “By investing in the CANDU reactor, Canada not only strengthens its position in the international healthcare community, but also demonstrates its commitment to advancing medical innovation at home.”
Sign up at canadiansforcandu.com to support the movement and follow on LinkedIn.
The CANDU moment
Canada enjoys world-leading expertise in the design, construction, operations, maintenance, and overall program management of nuclear reactors, supported by a highly qualified supply chain. CANDU technology is one of Canada’s most important innovations and remains the nation’s only domestically developed and licensed nuclear technology.
CANDU technology—which uses natural uranium—renowned for its safety, efficiency, and versatility, stands as a source of pride for Canadians and remains a leading force in nuclear innovation worldwide. Six decades after it was first developed, it stands as the linchpin of a vibrant Canadian nuclear ecosystem that supports over 89,000 stable and well-remunerated jobs across a wide variety of professional and skilled trades fields, not to mention researchers at our world-class universities and research institutions.2
CANDU intellectual property is owned by the federal government. It is a national strategic asset critical to the energy transition, supporting significant economic opportunities for Canadians.
The Canadians for CANDU campaign calls on the federal and provincial governments to support the only made-in-Canada nuclear technology on the market to help the country reach net-zero and support a thriving domestic nuclear ecosystem.
The choice is clear. It’s time to choose CANDU.
About Canadians for CANDU
Canadians for CANDU includes industry leaders, members of the domestic supply-chain, academics, and citizens who believe Canadian expertise and innovation has a leading role to play in the deployment of nuclear energy solutions at home and abroad. canadiansforcandu.com
About Dr.Ur Metser, MD, FRCPC
Dr.Ur Metser is the Division Head of Molecular Imaging at the Joint Department of Medical Imaging (UHN, Mount Sinai Hospital and Women’s College Hospital), Site Director of Medical Imaging at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and holds the position of Professor of Radiology, Department of Medical Imaging at the University of Toronto. Additionally, he is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (Canada) and an active member in multiple international professional societies including the Radiological Society of North America and Society of Nuclear Medicine, amongst others.
About AtkinsRéalis
Created by the integration of long-standing organizations dating back to 1911, AtkinsRéalis is a world-class engineering services and nuclear company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital. The breadth and depth of our capabilities are delivered to clients in strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear and Capital. News and information are available at www.atkinsrealis.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
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