In a landmark move for the Canadian energy sector, Oshawa’s Ontario Tech University has announced a strategic partnership to bring its world-class nuclear training to British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta. This week, Ontario Tech and Saskatchewan Polytechnic signed an agreement that makes the latter the exclusive delivery partner for the “nuclear career accelerator program” across Western Canada. Originally launched in Oshawa in 2025, the 11-week online upskilling program is designed to transition mid-career engineers and technical professionals into the rapidly expanding nuclear industry.
Ontario Tech is uniquely positioned for this expansion, as it remains Canada’s only university with an accredited undergraduate nuclear engineering program. The university’s specialized infrastructure, including its Nuclear Simulation Laboratory, allows it to offer foundational training in nuclear systems, safety, and regulatory frameworks. By partnering with Saskatchewan Polytechnic, the university is directly addressing a national labor crisis; the nuclear sector currently faces a 30% retirement rate alongside a projected 20% growth in workforce demand as Canada pushes toward net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The expansion is also a critical step toward the creation of the Western Canadian Nuclear Training Centre. This new hub will focus on preparing mining and energy employees for the shift toward small modular reactor (SMR) projects and regulatory compliance. Dr. Steven Murphy, President and Vice-Chancellor of Ontario Tech, noted that developing a highly skilled workforce “at scale” is essential for the country’s energy future. The partnership leverages Ontario Tech’s academic expertise and Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s applied learning model to create a “talent pipeline” that stretches from Durham Region across the prairies.
For the Oshawa community, this partnership reinforces Ontario Tech’s status as a global leader in clean energy education. The curriculum includes intensive courses in nuclear plant design, radiation protection, and heat transport—skills that are in high demand as Bruce Power and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) continue their multi-billion dollar refurbishments. By exporting this “Oshawa-born” program, the university is helping to standardize nuclear safety and technical training across the country, ensuring that the next generation of energy professionals meets the highest regulatory standards.
As the program begins its rollout in Western Canada, Ontario Tech continues to prove that Durham Region is the “engine room” of the nation’s nuclear strategy. Technical professionals in Western Canada looking to transition into the nuclear sector will now have access to the same industry-informed training that has made Ontario Tech graduates some of the most sought-after in the field. This partnership not only supports national energy goals but also cements the university’s reputation as a pioneer in proactive, industry-aligned higher education.
