CNS Ottawa Branch Meeting

Chernobyl Two Day Tour
John C. Fraser

Date:              Wednesday 7th November 2018
Location:      Montgomery Legion, Lower Hall
                       330 Kent St, Ottawa, ON K2P 2A6 (between McLaren & Somerset W.)
Time:            6:00 pm         Mix & Mingle, Cash Bar
                      6:30 pm         Hot Buffet Dinner 
                                              (Roast Beef au jus, Veg. Pasta, Sides, Salad, Dessert, Coffee)
                      7:30 pm         Talk starts

Cost:            No charge for CNS members        $20 for non-members

On Wednesday 7th November, the Ottawa Branch of the Canadian Nuclear Society (CNS) is pleased to host a dinner and presentation event. Mr. John Fraser (biography attached) will provide a presentation on his recent visit and tour at the Chernobyl site in Ukraine.  

Ukraine is rich in tradition and history, yet in many ways it is also quite a modern country. The Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident occurred in 1986, in the northern part of the country. The accident contaminated a large area, resulting in the creation of an “exclusion zone” that extends into Belarus. John will share his pictures and insights from the visit, which include a summary of the accident as well as an update on the new Cover confinement structure that that been installed over the damaged reactor. There are also a number of interesting sites in the exclusion zone that illustrate the present conditions in the area and the radiological conditions of the sites. In total, the locations visited during the two days provided an interesting retrospective of the accident itself. He also visited the “Duga” Site of a huge abandoned antenna installation that is still not publicly understood.

Join us at this fine venue, greet new colleagues and former colleagues you have not seen for some time, enjoy a hot meal and what will undoubtedly be an interesting presentation.

Seating is limited – Please RSVP by Monday Nov. 5. To RSVP and for more information on this event please contact Ken Kirkhope ( ken.kirkhope@canada.ca ).

 ______________________________________________________________________

 John C. Fraser

With over forty years of nuclear power related experience, the industry still holds an interest for me.

My nuclear career included the positions of Shift Supervisor at Douglas Point and the Bruce Site. I was also a turbine and reactor maintenance project engineer. The latter involved the replacement of the “lid” on the Douglas Point reactor. At Bruce B I was the Business Administrator and then Comptroller. I kept an active interest in plant maintenance and operations and maintained my Green Badge Qualification.

In 1995 I joined the CNSC as an Examination and Certification officer, developing written and simulator examinations for the certification of nuclear plant operating staff. Special projects included participating in the oversight of the Pickering ISTB project and certification of staff for refurbishing Bruce Units 1 and 2.

Since retiring in 2010, I have tried to keep in touch with the Nuclear Power Program, which led to the decision to travel to Ukraine and visit the Chernobyl Site. My “exposure” literally and figuratively, to reactor repairs and refurbishment as well as the Safety Culture in current reactor operation, has given me a personal appreciation of the Chernobyl reactor accident and the continuing mitigation efforts.