Technical and cultural tours

Port Hope Conversion Facility & Cameco Fuel Manufacturing
Thursday 10 - Friday 11 April 2025

Delegates will tour the Port Hope Conversion Facility where you can learn how uranium trioxide (UO₃) from Cameco’s Blind River Refinery is converted to either uranium dioxide (UO₂) or to uranium hexafluoride (UF₆). You will also visit Cameco Fuel Manufacturing’s Port Hope operation where natural uranium dioxide (UO₂) powder is pressed into pellets, fitted into zirconium tubes and then assembled into CANDU reactor fuel bundles.

Further details regarding registration and a detailed agenda coming soon.

Approximate timings

Thursday 10 April
12.30               Coach departs Montreal (approximate travel time of 5-6hrs). Lunch boxes provided on coach
18.30               Approximate arrival at Port Hope restaurant (set menu dinner, excluding alcohol, is included in the registration fee)
20.00               Coach to Hampton Inn (check in)

Friday 11 April

07.00-8.45    Breakfast, check-out and place luggage on the coach 

09.00              Cameco overview presentations (at Hampton Inn) 

  • Dale Clark, Vice-President Fuel Services
  • Dave Ingalls, General Manager Port Hope Conversion Facility
  • Doug Jensen, General Manager Cameco Fuel Manufacturing

10.00             Two coaches depart for Cameco's Port Hope Facilities
10.20             Arrive at one of Cameco’s Fuel Services Division Sites. After visiting the first site, will transfer to the second location
14.30             Depart Port Hope for Montreal (pre-ordered lunch boxes provided on coach)
20.30             Approximate arrival in Montreal* (approximate travel time of 5-6hrs)

 Note: Timings subject to minor change 

Important:

  • Transport to/from Port Hope is estimated as 5-6 hours
  • * Return transport will be arranged to Montreal; delegates have the option to arrange their own transportation from Port Hope to Toronto Pearson International Airport if preferred.  
  • Delegates are kindly requested to limit participation to a maximum of two people per company

Full details can be viewed here.

Cost: $440 USD

The registration fee above includes:

  • Transport to/from the facility (returning to Montreal)
  • Dinner on Thursday 10 April (excluding alcohol)
  • Overnight accommodation at Hampton Inn on 10 April
  • Breakfast at Hampton Inn on 11 April
  • Box lunch on 11 April (complimentary of Cameco)

Deadline to register: Thursday 6 March 2025; confirmation of attendance is subject to successful completion of pre-visit security check. 

 

 

Gentilly-2 Nuclear Reactor (Hydro‑Québec)
Friday 11 April 2025

The Gentilly-2 facilities are located on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River in Bécancour, Quebec, around 15 km east of the city of Trois-Rivières, and are owned and operated by Hydro-Québec. Commissioned in 1983, Gentilly-2 nuclear power plant ceased operations on December 28, 2012, after 29 years of safe operation. It had an installed capacity of 675 MW and was equipped with a CANDU (CANada Deuterium Uranium) reactor.

The visit covers an overview of the Gentilly-2 facilities, from its construction and operation to its shutdown and decommissioning. Visitors will learn about the features of a CANDU-6 plant, the fuel used at Gentilly-2 and the complete management cycle. The choice of Hydro-Québec for dry storage and the environmental monitoring program will also be covered.

Approximate timings

08:00              Departure from Montreal                                                                                         
10:00              Approximate arrival at Gentilly-2 facilities and security checks
10:45              Departure for Gentilly-2 public relations office                  
11:45              Lunch
12:45              Departure for Gentilly-2 exterior sites and installations
14:15              End of tour and departure to Montreal
16:30              Approximate arrival in Montreal

Note: Timings subject to minor change

Visitors must present two pieces of photo identification (driver's license, health card or passport) before they can tour the facility. Cameras, cell phones and handbags are prohibited inside the security perimeter.  Visitors can only enter designated areas. Pregnant and breastfeeding visitors, as well as nuclear energy workers, may have restrictions due to radiation dose limits. For accessibility considerations, unfortunately, the Gentilly-2 installation cannot accommodate visitors with reduced mobility.

Cost: $150 USD (includes transport to/from the facility and lunch)

Deadline to register: Thursday 6 March 2025; confirmation of attendance is subject to successful completion of pre-visit security checks. 

 

Places are limited for both tours, so you are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible to avoid disappointment (register your place as part of the overall registration).

 

Old Montreal Walking Tour
Thursday 10 April 2025

Join us for a cultural walking tour of Old Montreal, where we'll explore the city's historic architecture, uncover its diverse influences and delve into the rich cultural history that shaped Montreal into what it is today! Discover Montreal and visit its most beautiful buildings in Old Montreal, including Place d'Armes, Notre-Dame Basilica, the Pointe-à-Callière Museum, Rue Saint-Paul, Place Jacques-Cartier and Marché Bonsecours. 

14.00    Coach to tour meeting point
14.30    Guided tour of Old Montreal (small groups)
16.30    Finish tour and free time (delegates to make their own way back)

Note: Timings subject to minor change

Cost: $45 USD (includes transport to Old Montreal, no return transport)

Deadline to register: Thursday 6 March 2025

Places are limited for the walking tour.