Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) has announced that the Chalk River chapter of the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NAYGN) has been honored with the ‘Best Chapter in Diversity and Inclusion’ award by the NAYGN Awards Committee. This prestigious recognition was presented to Heidi MacLeod, Networking and Social Chair for the Chalk River chapter, during the NAYGN Continental Conference held earlier this month in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Chalk River chapter, consisting of over 200 members—most of whom work at the Chalk River Laboratories—was selected from more than 150 NAYGN chapters across North America. NAYGN itself boasts a membership of over 10,000 nuclear professionals.
Dylan Verburg, President of the Chalk River chapter, echoed this sentiment, stating, “The NAYGN Chalk River chapter is proud to be recognized through this award, which is due to the hard work of our membership and, in particular, the efforts of our DE&I Chair, Osama Ghani. As a chapter, we are committed to building respectful relationships within our workplace and the community. We are proud to be recognized as a leader in D&I amongst our industry peers and are committed to continually striving for excellence in this regard.”
One of the notable activities hosted by the Chalk River chapter this year was a webinar led by CNL’s Director of HR Governance and DE&I Coordinator. This event marked the launch of CNL’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) committee, providing participants with an overview of DE&I concepts and highlighting the significance of this new initiative within CNL. The webinar concluded with a call for applications to the committee and encouraged attendees to integrate DE&I principles into their work.
NAYGN, with chapters across North America, is dedicated to providing young nuclear professionals with opportunities to develop leadership and professional skills. The Chalk River chapter’s recent accolade underscores its commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment within the nuclear industry.
(Written by: Emma Butler)