Preliminary Program
Pioneering New Nuclear in Western Canada
16-17 September 2026
| JW Marriott ICE District, Edmonton, Alberta
3rd Edition
Welcome Remarks by the Chair of the SMR Forum
Opening Keynote
Panel Discussion | Western Canada’s Nuclear Roadmap: Building Canada’s Next Nuclear Hub
As Alberta and Saskatchewan advance complementary nuclear strategies, Western Canada is emerging as Canada’s next major centre for nuclear development. This leadership dialogue will explore the policy priorities, utility planning, regulatory considerations, and market conditions required to translate momentum into deployment and position Western Canada at the forefront of Canada’s nuclear future.
Keynote Address | From Ambition to Delivery: Building Canada’s Next Nuclear Era by Rumina Velshi, Strategic Advisor, Torys LLP
Panel Discussion | Strategic Dialogue on Canada’s Next Chapter in New Nuclear
Featuring leaders of Canada’s utilities, this strategic dialogue will examine the future of nuclear energy, and the role utilities will play in delivering the next generation of nuclear projects. The discussion will explore electricity demand, deployment strategies, investment priorities, and opportunities for collaboration across provinces.
Panel Discussion | Financing the Next Generation of Nuclear Projects
An expert discussion on the financial frameworks required to make new nuclear projects investable and scalable. Topics will include revenue certainty, risk allocation, innovative financing models, public-private partnerships, and the policy tools needed to attract long-term investment.
Fireside chat | Saskatchewan’s Nuclear Pathway
Examining how Saskatchewan can build on its global uranium leadership to strengthen fuel security, attract investment, expand the nuclear supply chain, and support Canada’s long-term nuclear ambitions.
Panel Discussion | Powering Industrial Decarbonization and Competitiveness: The Role of Nuclear
Exploring how nuclear energy can support emissions reduction while strengthening the competitiveness of mining, oil and gas, hydrogen, petrochemicals, manufacturing, and other energy-intensive industries.
Panel Discussion | The New Nuclear–Critical Minerals Nexus
Examining the growing relationship between nuclear deployment, uranium, and the broader critical minerals ecosystem. The discussion will explore how integrated value chains can strengthen Canada’s industrial capacity, supply-chain resilience, and strategic position in the global energy transition.
Panel Discussion | Building Public Confidence in New Nuclear
Successful nuclear deployment depends not only on sound policy, financing, and technology, but also on public confidence. As Canada advances a new generation of nuclear projects, meaningful engagement, transparent communication, Indigenous partnership, and trusted institutions will be essential to building long-term public support. This panel will explore best practices for public engagement, addressing misconceptions, strengthening community relationships, and fostering an informed national conversation about the role of nuclear energy in Canada’s future.
Modern Nuclear Regulation: Enabling the Next Generation of Projects
As countries advance new nuclear programs, regulatory frameworks must evolve alongside emerging technologies and deployment models. This panel will examine how regulators, governments, and industry can strengthen predictability, improve licensing efficiency, advance international cooperation and harmonization, and support timely project delivery while maintaining the highest standards of safety, security, environmental protection, and public confidence.
Executive Dinner and Fireside Chat (Invitation Only)
An exclusive evening bringing together senior leaders from government, industry, utilities, finance, Indigenous organizations, and international partners for high-level networking and strategic conversation. The dinner will feature an intimate fireside chat with a distinguished leader, offering candid perspectives on the future of nuclear energy, economic competitiveness, and Canada’s evolving role in the global energy landscape.
Panel Discussion | Nuclear Energy as Strategic Infrastructure: The Global Perspective
Around the world, nuclear energy is increasingly viewed not simply as a source of clean electricity, but as strategic infrastructure underpinning economic competitiveness, industrial policy, national security, and technological leadership. This panel will examine how leading countries are integrating nuclear into long-term economic and energy strategies and what lessons Canada can draw from global experience.
Executive Dialogue | Delivering Nuclear Megaprojects: Governance, Risk, and Execution
The successful delivery of multi-billion-dollar nuclear projects depends not only on engineering excellence, but also on strong governance, disciplined execution, and informed decision-making. This executive dialogue will examine the leadership, governance frameworks, procurement strategies, project assurance practices, and risk management approaches that underpin successful major infrastructure delivery. Drawing on international experience across complex infrastructure projects, panelists will discuss how organizations can strengthen accountability, enhance transparency, and improve project outcomes while delivering the next generation of nuclear infrastructure.
Panel Discussion | Delivering New Nuclear: Building the Workforce and Supply Chain
Successfully deploying new nuclear projects requires more than technology it demands a highly skilled workforce and an integrated supply chain. This session will examine how governments, industry, educational institutions, and Indigenous partners can work together to build the talent, manufacturing capacity, and supplier networks needed to deliver Canada’s nuclear ambitions.
Panel Discussion | Securing the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Enrichment, Conversion, and Supply
Exploring the strategic importance of strengthening Canada’s position across the nuclear fuel cycle. The discussion will examine uranium leadership, conversion and enrichment opportunities, fuel security, and cooperation with allied nations to build resilient nuclear supply chains.
Panel Discussion |Powering Arctic Sovereignty: Nuclear Energy, Security, and Northern Development
A high-level discussion on how advanced nuclear technologies can support energy security, critical infrastructure, defence, and economic development across Canada’s North while reinforcing Arctic sovereignty and strengthening resilience in remote and Indigenous communities.
Featured Leadership Dialogue | Canada’s Strategic Future: Energy Security, Economic Competitiveness and Nation-Building with The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, 22nd Prime Minister of Canada
As Canada enters a new era of nation-building, energy policy has become increasingly connected to economic growth, industrial competitiveness, national security, and geopolitical resilience. This featured leadership dialogue will explore how strategic investments in energy, infrastructure, innovation, and new nuclear can strengthen Canada’s long-term prosperity, reinforce energy security, and position the country for sustained leadership in a rapidly changing global economy.
Remarks | The U.S. Nuclear Renaissance: Strategic Implications and Areas for Collaboration
The keynote will examine the accelerating deployment of new nuclear in the United States and its implications for North American energy security, industrial competitiveness, and continental cooperation.
Panel Discussion | Canada–United States Cooperation on New Nuclear
Building on the keynote, this panel will explore opportunities for bilateral collaboration in advanced reactor deployment, integrated supply chains, nuclear fuel security, investment, innovation, and continental energy security.
Panel Discussion | Nuclear Energy and the Digital Economy: Data Centres and AI
As electricity demand continues to rise, this session will examine the growing role of nuclear energy in powering data centres, artificial intelligence infrastructure, and the next generation of digital and industrial growth.
Panel Discussion | Advancing Knowledge, Talent, and Nuclear Innovation
Highlighting the role of universities, research institutions, industry, Indigenous partners, and governments in building the workforce, research capacity, and innovation ecosystem needed to support the successful deployment of new nuclear technologies.
Workshop by NWMO: Planning Canada’s Second Deep Geological Repository (Open | Additional Registration)