Early education and engagement in Birch Hills County, Alberta

Abstract

Birch Hills was referenced several times during the SMR 2024 Summit in Calgary for proactively educating its residents about nuclear technology. At a recent council sponsored information session, residents were provided with up to date, accurate, unbiased information to ensure that they understood the issues before any discussion about soliciting or securing an SMR developer took place.

This early engagement was designed to inform at a time when people would be receptive, before the polarization that can occur when a project looms.

Importantly the presenters were independent with no vested interest in persuading people to accept an SMR so that no one would feel that the information might be being selected in order to sell an idea to them.

Sixty-three residents attended (including students from a local school) and following the event all were appreciative that the Council took such a progressive, inclusive, approach to informing them and many expressed their active support for an SMR project.

In this paper the information event is described, and the results assessed.